Exodus 15-19 (Wilderness and Sinai)
Approaching God with reverence (Exod 19:16-25)
Exod 19:16-25 Christians often contrast our open approach to God (Heb 10:19-20) with the distance kept by Israel at Sinai (Exod 19:12-13). However, we should not drive too great a wedge between the OT people of God and ourselves and…
Be prepared! (Exod 19:10-15)
Exod 19:10-15 For the past few weeks in NZ, we have heard the repeated warning to prepare for another COVID outbreak, yet many have remained complacent and impatient of such advice. As the threat has now become reality, we realise…
All that the Lord has spoken, we will do! (Exod 19:7-9)
Exod 19:7-9 A girl in the young adults’ group I belonged to was getting married and at her wedding the minister emphasised the importance of putting the other person first in the relationship and prioritising love for them before one’s…
A kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Exod 19:1-6)
Exod 19:1-6 One of the questions that Christians face in connection with the Old Testament is how to understand the role of the Mosaic Law. The Law for us evokes the hypocrisy of some Pharisees condemned by Jesus and pernickety…
Jethro’s advice (Exod 18:13-27)
Exod 18:13-27 A church I was involved in my teenage years went through a period of revival when a number of folk from different age groups came to faith. One of those was a middle-aged woman who was very controlling…
That they may know that I am God (Exod 18:1-12)
Exod 18:1-12 For many who live with family members who are not Christians, feeling that invisible separation is a heartache. When we ourselves have experienced God’s redemption, it saddens us to see a gap between us and our loved ones…
Fighting Amalek (Exod 17:8-16)
Exod 17:8-16 As I read blogs on the internet, I am aware of the sense of despair that many around the world feel facing the COVID pandemic. While NZ lives in a bubble of safety for now, other countries around…
Water from the rock (Exod 17:1-7)
Exod 17:1-7 A friend of mine likes to travel but she was reminded some years ago what a difference it makes when she has her husband with her to take care of the details, book the airport shuttle, ensure that…
A jar of manna (Exod 16:31-36)
Exod 16:31-36 Whenever a friend of mine travels to another place, she likes to buy a small but useful item such as a scarf, so that it can remind her of her holiday. Someone else tends to do the same…
Manna and the Sabbath (Exod 16:22-30)
Exod 16:22-30 During New Zealand’s recent COVID-19 lockdown, some people experienced a period of enforced inactivity. At the same time, I suspect that this did not stop anxieties especially when it came to questions about the security of one’s job…