Author Archives: WhittleThinker

God Defines More Laws (Exodus 22)

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Bible Summary:

  1. Stealing sheep or cows can result in restitution up to five times the loss, and the thief can be sold as a slave if he cannot pay.
  2. A homeowner is innocent of killing a burglar at night, but guilty of murder if done during the day.
  3. If an animal strays and eats someone’s crops, the owner must repay the loss.
  4. If a fire gets out of control and destroys a neighbor’s crops, the fire starter must pay for the damages.
  5. If the money a man holds for another is stolen, he must make an oath at the place of worship that he did not steal it or face the penalty for stealing.
  6. If a man cares for another’s animals and they are stolen, he must repay the owner.
  7. If a man seduces a virgin who is not engaged, he must pay the bride price for her, even if the father refuses to allow him to marry her.
  8. Put to death, any woman practicing magic, any man having sex with animals, and anyone offering sacrifice to another god.
  9. Do not mistreat foreigners, widows or orphans.
  10. If you lend money to the poor, do not collect interest.
  11. All disputes are to be resolved at the place of worship.
  12. Do not speak evil of God.
  13. Do not curse the leader of your people.
  14. Give offerings of grain, wine, and olive oil when they are due.
  15. Give God your first-born sons, cattle, and sheep.

My Thoughts:

More Laws: These laws from 3500 years ago were likely the basis for our laws today.

Supporting Organized Religion: I believe this story announces the beginning of organized religion. All disputes are to be resolved at the place of worship, which were headed up by Moses’ appointed judges. People were to support these “priests” with regular offerings of grain, wine and olive oil.

First-born Interpretation: I do not read the first-born law literally, as in sacrificing them, but as giving the first-born sons into the priesthood and the animals for food.

Struggling with Bible study

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I am really struggling with this Bible Study. My original plan was to read straight through from Genesis to Revelations, but now I am at a crossroads. I am close to finishing my third month – started 9/7/11 – and I have not even made it through two books of the Old Testament. At this rate it will take over three years before I will get to the really good stuff in the New Testament.

I glanced at the first chapter of Matthew and noticed it refers to significant events in the Old Testament I have not reached yet, like King David and the exile of the Jews. I do not even know when or why they started calling them Jews instead of Israelites. I want to understand the history before I read the New Testament, but I am anxious to get there. Christmas approaching and the thought of celebrating the birth of Jesus are not helping.

My Thoughts:

Decisions: After re-reading the above, I find it funny that I have made this such a weighty decision. It does not matter which way I go, just as long as I continue. It is kind of like life, we tend to make simple things difficult.

Getting to the Good Stuff: Some of us are so anxious to get to the good stuff that we try jumping ahead only to find we still need to put in the work to attain our goal. That is okay. Take your step back, get to work, and keep at it. You will reach your goal in the right time.

Others delay gratification too long and miss out, like the old couple who planned to travel the world after they retired, but were disappointed when they were too weak to go very far.

Balance is the key, and trick to life. Work hard now, but also try to enjoy yourself some along the way!  God bless!

God Gives First Laws (Exodus 21)

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Bible Summary:

God gives Moses and the Israelites laws about treating slaves, handling violent acts, and responsibility for their animals.

Male slaves are to be freed after six years and can take their pre-slavery wives, but no others. Or, they can choose to stay with their family as slaves for life. A daughter sold as wife must be returned if the buyer does not like her. If a man takes a second wife, the first is to be treated fairly or set free.

These violent acts are punishable by death: deliberately killing another man, hitting or cursing parents, or kidnapping someone for sale or to keep as a slave.

These violent acts have lesser punishments: injuring another – pay for lost time and care until well; killing a fetus – pay what the woman’s husband demands, subject to a judge’s approval; harming a pregnant woman – punished with life for life, eye for eye, or wound for wound.

Owners are responsible for the actions of their animals and must pay restitution if an animal harms someone or another animal. Owners can be put to death if they had been previously warned and an animal kills someone.

My Thoughts:

First Laws: Once Moses assigned judges, he needed laws for everyone to follow and consequences if they did not. The first laws were for common disputes of the era over slaves, violent acts, and animals. No traffic laws just yet.

Social Norms: It is hard to believe the Israelites, just set free from Egyptian slavery, continued to keep their own slaves.  But, it was the social norm of the time. The patriarch owned the entire family and could sell them as he saw fit. All daughters were sold to husbands.

It makes you wonder what social norms we have that seem strange to others, like shaking hands, leaving a tip for a waiter, driving on the right, wearing ties to work, and of course silly ones like burping and passing gas.

The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20)

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Bible Summary:

God speaks the Ten Commandments to Moses and the Israelites:
1. Worship no other God.
2. Do not worship any images or idols.
3. Do not use God’s name for evil.
4. Do all your work in six days, rest on the seventh day and worship God.
5. Respect your father and your mother.
6. Do not commit murder.
7. Do not commit adultery.
8. Do not steal.
9. Do not accuse anyone falsely.
10. Do not desire another man’s house, wife, or anything he owns.

My Thoughts:

The Ten Commandments seem to boil down to: worship God, rest one day a week, treat others well, and do not covet what other people have.

More: I believe the last commandment is in jeapordy the most today and the reason people are so unhappy. Everyone seems to want more: a bigger house, a more expensive car, a bigger TV, and so on. They even seem to discard their husbands and wives to trade-up to a better spouse. The road to happiness is paved with cherishing what you already have.

God’s Boundary at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19)

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Bible Summary:

The Israelites arrive at Mount Sinai. God tells Moses to remind them what he did to the Egyptian and how He carried them like upon eagles wings. He asks them to keep his covenant and to be his chosen people. The people agree.

God tells them to purify themselves and then He will come down the mountain to see them. They are not to cross a boundary though, upon death by stoning or being shot with arrows.

On the third day, thunder, lightening and clouds appear above the mountain. A loud trumpet blasts and the people tremble with fear. They stand at the foot of the mountain with Moses to meet God. The mountain is covered in smoke as God comes down on the fire. God asks Moses to bring Aaron up the mountain, but no one else.

My Thoughts:

Chosen People: This story is the first instance of the Israelites being called the chosen people, at least in my Bible. I believe it was to give them the confidence to overcome 430 years of slavery.

Ruled by Kings: I grew up with a loving God so fearing Him is so foreign to me. It kind of seems like the Israelites moved from the king of Egypt to being ruled by the “kings” of Israel through the fear of God.

NEWS: Faster than light?

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Scientist are having a hard time believing test neutrinos went faster than the speed of light from Switzerland to Italy since that is impossible by Albert Einstein’s Theory of Relativity. The test was confirmed twice, but in a third test the scientist are saying the results must be wrong.  Now, if I remember my science history correctly, Einstein’s theory in 1906 changed our thinking about Sir Isaac Newton’s Laws of Motion, by improving upon them. Perhaps Einstein’s theory needs a tweak after 105 years?

Learn more about the OPERA and ICARUS experiments in the Study rejects “faster than light” particle finding story at Reuters.

Moses Appoints Judges (Exodus 18)

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Bible Summary:

Moses’ father-in-law Jethro brings Moses’ wife and two sons to Mount Sinai. Moses tells Jethro all about what happened in Egypt, the hardships the Israelites have endured since, and how God saved them. Jethro praises the Lord above all gods.

Moses spends the whole next day settling disputes among the Israelites. Jethro watches, tells Moses it is too much work for one man, and suggests he teach them God’s commands and appoint leaders different sized groups. Moses appoints these leaders who judge small disputes and only bring him difficult matters, which lessens his burden.

My Thoughts:

Organizational Structure: Jethro teaches Moses how to organize the Israelites into a more manageable structure and to delegate the work to lower leaders, so he does not have to spend his whole day settling disputes.

Asking for Help: Like Moses, it is sometimes hard for us to ask for help. We think we can do it ourselves, we can do it better, or we do not want to burden someone else. Normally we end up being overworked and stressed out.

Change your thinking and it can dramatically improve your life. The key is to switch from doer to teacher. Yes, you can do it yourself, but you could also give someone else an opportunity to learn a new skill and to shine. And, yes, you will definitely do it better, but just think how they will feel once they master it. Treat them like a toddler learning to walk though: let them do it on their own, expect them to make mistakes, and give them encouragement and praise for even little successes. Last, it is not a burden to learn a new skill that can be used for the rest of their life.

In the end, you will be less stressed and have have helped someone along the way.

Israelites First War (Exodus 17:8-16)

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Bible Summary:

The Amalekites attack the Israelites at Rephidim. Moses calls Joshua to pick out some men to fight back. The Israelites do well as long as Moses raises his stick on a hill above the battle, but falter when he lowers it, so Aaron and Hur bring him a stone to keep the stick held high all day until they win.

My Thoughts:

The Stone: There are many ways to interpret this story. It can be viewed strictly as a historical event where the Israelites won their first battle. Or, the focus can be placed on Joshua stepping up to Moses’ call to begin what becomes a long military career. Another approach is how God helped the Israelites again through Moses’ use of God’s stick to help his troops. And, one could always talk about how they never would have won without Aaron and Hur’s help.

But, I would like to focus on one other element of the story – the stone. The stone seems to be a very insignificant part of the story, but without it the Israelites would have lost and we likely would not be studying the Bible today. The stone carries the weight and does its job without complaint. The stone receives no acknowledgement, no praise, but that is okay because it is just a stone.

Sometimes we feel like the stone. We may be the pivotal part of the operation, hold up our role, and then someone else receives all the glory, like Joshua and Moses. Don’t let it get you down. God knows what you did and He will reward you. Hopefully I am speaking for Him today by sending you a heartfelt “Thank You.”