EMMDEV 2011-04-15 [Moses Meditations] 2a. Limits

You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; Exodus20:4-5

Worshipping a mountain or a tree or a rock as your god is dealt with in the first commandment. In fact, one would think that the first commandment pretty much covers everything... (What part of "no other gods" is hard to understand?!?)

The second commandment deals with making images, it has to do with making your own gods. It's about creating a god that suits you. This is powerfully covered by Isaiah who talks about wealthy people using gold to make their idols and poor people using wood. They cast and carve them carefully so that they "do not topple" lest the kids bump "god" over when they're running around the house! (See Isaiah 40, pasted below)

The second commandment has to do with picking and choosing what you want your god to be like. It is about limiting God. When we make an idol we are trying the "concretise" God. Andrew Greeley suggests that idolatry is about "making an absolute of the relative." Making an idol means we are trying to get a "handle" on God.

While we don't have many physical idols today, there are many Christians today who are guilty of adapting their "picture" of God to suit themselves.
- Many have a "name it and claim it theology" turning God into a heavenly vending machine.
- Many have a "critical judge with a big stick" theology
- Many would like to put God in a box, confidently saying "God will never..." or "God will always..." when actually they are going beyond what is revealed in Scripture.
- This is particularly true in the area of "spiritual warfare" where many people have got caught up in "spiritual cowboys and crooks" and they have developed a complex set of "rules" and "prayers" (more like spells) that go beyond what Scripture actually teaches.

The second commandment is about God's sovereign freedom. He is bigger and greater and more complex than we can grasp and we should not limit Him. When people made idols they had the "measure" of their god - there was no room for mystery. When we deal with the one true God, there will always be mystery for we can never have the full measure of Him.
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Isaiah 40:18 To whom, then, will you compare God?
What image will you compare him to?

19 As for an idol, a craftsman casts it,
and a goldsmith overlays it with gold
and fashions silver chains for it.
20 A man too poor to present such an offering
selects wood that will not rot.
He looks for a skilled craftsman
to set up an idol that will not topple.

21 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
Have you not understood since the earth was founded?

22 He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth,
and its people are like grasshoppers.
He stretches out the heavens like a canopy,
and spreads them out like a tent to live in.
23 He brings princes to naught
and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.
24 No sooner are they planted,
no sooner are they sown,
no sooner do they take root in the ground,
than he blows on them and they wither,
and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.

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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/

EMMDEV 2011-04-14 [Moses Meditations] 1. Exclusive Relationship

You shall have no other gods before me. Exodus20:3

If the commandments reflect the nature and character of God, then what does the first command teach us?

It is tempting to think that the first and the second commandments portray God as insecure, narcissistic and full of petty jealousies, but that would be to grossly underestimate the nature of God.

God is completely good, all powerful, all glorious. The bottom-line is not that God is _dependent_ on our worship (He is not a needy God) but quite simply that He _deserves_ it. He is so glorious, so majestic, and so magnificent that glory naturally belongs to Him. It's like gravity - you can't go against it.

If I were to ignore gravity and walk off a cliff, what will happen to me? Will I float gently down? No, I will begin to accelerate downwards at a rate of 10m/s until I reach terminal velocity and meet the ground with a terminal crash!

Our Creator is magnificent - just look at the stars!
Our Father in Heaven is majestic - just watch the sunsets!
Our King is glorious - just spend some time trying to understand DNA!
Our Saviour is worthy of worship - just think about the cross.

When He calls us to worship Him alone, He is simply telling us the truth. There is no-one and no-thing that can fill God's shoes. If we worship anything else, we are worshipping a fake.

The universe "just works" when its Creator is acknowledged.
Trying to ignore or replace Him is like trying to ignore gravity: we're going to get hurt.

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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/

EMMDEV 2011-04-13 [Moses Meditations] God's CV

And God spoke all these words:
2 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery..." Exodus20:1-2

We come now to the giving of the Ten Commandments. Moses has had the people prepare themselves. Sinai is rattling and smoking like a volcano and the people can hear God's voice like thunder. Moses has headed up the mountain and the people are waiting in anticipation...

Many people see the ten commandments as the ten-rung step-ladder into heaven. They think that the commandments were given as a way of proving our worthiness for heaven.

The Pharisees of Jesus' day had turned the Ten Commandments into an entire system of piety. They elaborated on the rules, adapted the rules for changing circumstances, in some areas they made the rules more manageable and in other places they turned one commandment into multiple boxes to be ticked.

But they missed the point! The ten commandments are not a "Save-yourself-plan" but a picture of what our God is like.

In Isaiah 6 we read that the angels around the throne describe God as "Holy Holy Holy." The Ten Commandments give us some idea of what the angels mean...

When we look at the Ten Commandments from the perspective of the character and nature of God rather than a list of do's and don'ts there is a lot that we can learn. The ten commandments show us what God likes and doesn't like. They give us an insight into the things that are issues for Him. The Ten Commandments are like a timeless CV for the Almighty.

Notice too, those who think that Commandments are about saving yourself, that God introduces Himself: "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery." He is the God who saves - we don't save ourselves.

Join me as we start with the first command tomorrow...

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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/

EMMDEV 2011-04-12 [Moses Meditations] co-inky-dink?

Welcome back after the school holidays!
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The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. 14 When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, "What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?" Exodus18:13-14

A COINCIDENCE is when God does a miracle and decides to stay anonymous.

We all know the account of Moses and the advice his father-in-law Jethro gives him about delegating responsibility... It's one that is used in business leadership courses even today.

Here's the scene: Moses is busy from sunrise to sunset adjudicating over the affairs, great and small, of the Israelites. Jethro advises him to appoint leaders over tens, fifties, hundreds and thousands and to delegate responsibility to them. Moses followed Jethro's advice and it worked out well...

But the co-inky-dink in the story is the fact that Jethro's visit just so happened to come _just_ _after_ the victory over the Amalekites (this was our EmmDev just before the holidays) where Aaron and Hur had stepped in and held Moses' arms in the air so that the Israelites would win the battle.

My question is: Would Moses have been as open to his father-in-law's advice if he had not recently experienced the power of teamwork first-hand?

I find it wonderful to to look back on important developments in my life and to realise that God has been leading me, using one experience to prepare me for the next and bringing the right people along the way who will walk the next stretch of the road with me.

Thanks be to God for His Providence!

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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/

EMMDEV 2011-03-25 [Moses Meditations] Teamwork

8 The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, "Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands."

10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up--one on one side, one on the other--so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. Exodus17:8-13

So, who won the battle? Joshua, Joshua's army, Moses, Aaron and Hur, or God?
- Joshua: who led the army and who the Bible credits?
- Joshua's army: who actually did the fighting?
- Moses: Who prayed for them?
- Aaron and Hur: Whose support kept Moses focussed on his job?
- God

The obvious answer is God - and technically that is the correct answer.
The fascinating thing is that God chooses to work in a team.
- God didn't need Joshua, the army or Moses.
- God was teaching them about teamwork.

Sometimes we get to be the general, sometimes we get to be the footsoldiers, sometimes we get to be the ones doing background work (like prayer, admin, and caring) and sometimes we are the encouraging supporters.

Every person in the equation is important and every person in the equation needs to depend on God to help them play their part.

Sometimes the victory is credited to the general, and the encouragers are not necessarily acknowledged, but everyone is needed!

I'd like to end with a focus on the role of Aaron and Hur. Recognising the need to encourage and support others doesn't always come easily. With Moses it was easy to recognise that his arms got tired and there were visible results when his arms got tired.

It is not always easy to see when someone's battery is going flat and one can't always see the immediate and significant effects that the discouragement of someone who works "behind the scenes" can have.

Make time to encourage the faithful folk who work behind the scenes. It could make a big difference.
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EmmDevs will be taking a break for the school hols...

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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/

EMMDEV 2011-03-24 [Moses Meditations] Learning...

Then the LORD said to Moses, "I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. Exodus16:4

This chapter contains fairly detailed instructions for something fairly straightforward: the daily collection of food. God provided Manna for the Israelites. It came every morning except for the Sabbath and the people were to gather enough for the day and double on the day before the Sabbath.

It seems pretty simple and mechanical:
wake up, collect manna, eat manna, walk, set up camp, go to sleep, wake up, collect...

But there were some important lessons to learn:
1. God is faithful and reliable.
2. Trust God day by day
3. Learn to follow instructions
4. Some habits are good...

Unfortunately the Israelites soon tired of the routine and complained bitterly. Keith Green parodies the Israelites complaining about Manna:
"And in the morning it's manna hotcakes. We snack on manna all day.
And they sure had a winner last night for dinner, flaming manna soufflé...
What... Oh no, manna again?
Oh, manna waffles...
Manna burgers...
Manna bagels...
Fillet of manna...
Mannaroni...
Bamanna bread!"

But there are some rhythms that are profitable to repeat over and over and over again. A world-renowned concert pianist still plays scales and a world class athlete still does push-ups.
And we still need to turn to God's Word daily and talk to Him in prayer.

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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/

EMMDEV 2011-03-23 [Moses Meditations] Practical Healing

23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter...
25 Then Moses cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became sweet.
There the LORD made a decree and a law for them, and there he tested them. 26 He said, "If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you. Exodus15:23-26

Jamie Buckingham was a well-known author who regularly conducted pilgrimages for people who wanted to walk in the footsteps of Moses and the Israelites.

He offers a very practical interpretation of this passage...
Most of the water in the oases in the Sinai had high contents of calcium and magnesium, making them bitter or brackish. It also made the water act as a laxative. The Arab guides who accompanied him used to jokingly say, "one cup and you go for a week."

Throwing branches into the water released sap which bound with the some of the chemicals and sank to the bottom, reducing the bitterness.

Buckingham postulates that the Israelites came from Egypt with gut-fulls of bugs, parasites and worms. (Is this why they were so good at belly-aching?) The waters of Marah (on day three of their journey into the wilderness) was God's practical way of cleansing the people from all their intestinal bugs.

If we understand that the waters of Marah had a healing purpose then the juxtaposition of the idea of healing in v26 with the Marah story makes sense.

Sometimes we encounter hardship along the way and we are quick to complain - we don't always realise that God is working through these experiences to strengthen, heal, cleanse and prepare us.

I am not saying that God is the author of evil and suffering, but we also need to realise that God's way is not always the easiest one. He has a bigger picture in mind. He is more interested in our long-term healing than our short-term comfort. We have to trust that He _is_ the God who heals us and that He will work in unexpected ways.

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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/

EMMDEV 2011-03-18 [Moses Meditations] Praise and Family

20 Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron's sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing. 21 Miriam sang to them:
"Sing to the LORD,
for he is highly exalted.
The horse and its rider
he has hurled into the sea." Exodus15:20-21

Miriam was Moses' brother. She was the young girl who followed the basket that had Moses in it and suggested to Pharaoh's daughter that she organise a Hebrew woman to nurse the baby.

She is introduced here as Aaron's sister and as a prophetess. It seems unusual to leave out her connection to Moses out but I think there are two reasons for this:

Firstly, Aaron's role would ultimately be a priestly one. He would be the one in charge of worship at the tabernacle and responsible for the priests. In the light of the praise song that Miriam brings (probably the oldest song of praise we have recorded in Scripture) and her role as a prophetess it makes sense to introduce her in relationship to Aaron.

Secondly, we also know that later in the story Aaron and Miriam make a grab for some of Moses' authority and it may be that we are being prepared for this by having our attention drawn to their connection.

This passage highlights family and faith and gives us the positives and the negatives. On the positive side: No-one knows us better than family does. They see us "warts and all" and when Moses' family follow in his footsteps in ministry, it validates the sincerity of Moses' faith and example.

On the negative side, even with family ambition and jealousy can creep in and we see this when Aaron and Miriam make a grab for more power. What is good to see is that they are able to sort it out and they return to making a positive contribution.

Finally, as we go into the weekend, let us take note of Miriam at her best, throwing her head back and dancing with exuberant joy at God's goodness. It is great when God's people offer Him hearty praise for the good things He has done. Let's do that this Sunday!

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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/

EMMDEV 2011-03-17 [Moses Meditations] Be Still and Know

Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." Exodus14:13-14

The Israelites have left Egypt. Pharaoh has changed his mind and is pursuing with his army. The Israelites are terrified. (It's one thing to take the slave out of slavery and another to take slavery out of the slave!)

When panic sets in, it brings some of its buddies:
- Blame: "It's your fault Moses!"
- Assume the worst: "It's better to be slaves than to die"
- Fight or Flight

Before the Israelites can get to fight or flight (although some may say that they are already fighting with Moses!) we hear Moses bringing a strong and comforting word:
- Do not be afraid!
- Stand firm!
- God is busy doing something big!
- Be STILL!

Moses is not panicked - he's not blaming, assuming or locked into fight/flight. He is still, open and receptive.

And wonders follow!
The sea parts
The Israelites pass through
The Egyptians are foolish enough to follow.

We are prone to panic. Being still allows even an unbeliever to make a better decision. But for the believer, being still really means "Be still and know that He is God." We affirm that we are not god, our circumstances are not god, our problems are not god, our enemies are not god, but our God is the God of the parted sea, the cross of forgiveness and the empty tomb!

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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/

EMMDEV 2011-03-16 [Moses Meditations] Hardened Heart

3 But I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and though I multiply my miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt, 4 he will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and with mighty acts of judgment I will bring out my divisions, my people the Israelites. 5 And the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of it." Exodus7:3-5

This is a difficult subject. Does God make people's hearts hard? People are often offended at the idea that God hardened Pharaoh's heart so that the Israelites and Egyptians would see His glory. Was that fair to Pharaoh and his people?

We have to put it more precisely:
"Does God turn innocent people into evil people?"
or "Does God give evil people enough rope to hang themselves?"

How _does_ God harden Pharaoh's heart?
With repeated appeals and miracles (the plagues) to do the right thing!
Pharaoh said "NO!" ten times!
He had ten momentous opportunities to do the right thing.
He had ten encounters where it was clear that God was at work.
He was given ten clear signs of God's power yet he did not listen.

In the calling of Isaiah we see a similar construct:
God tells Isaiah "Go and tell this people:
" `Be ever hearing, but never understanding;
be ever seeing, but never perceiving.'
Make the heart of this people calloused;
make their ears dull and close their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears, understand with their hearts,
and turn and be healed." (Isaiah 6:9-10)

How does Isaiah carry out his calling?
By repeatedly calling the people to repent and return,
by warning them of the coming judgement if they do not repent
and by painting the most incredible pictures of the coming Messiah.

How does God harden hearts? By giving people so many opportunities to repent that when they refuse to, they only have themselves to blame.

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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/