End of Leviticus, beginning of Numbers

Numbers. What an appropriate title.

Umm. . . I'm sick, sore throat, achey, nauseated.

But no discharges or open sores, so to my knowledge if I were an Israelite in the time of Moses, I would not have to stand by myself and shout, "unclean! unclean!" Although today when it was just me and the kids and my daughter was insisting that I play with her (and I did--Well, I listlessly moved around some playschool figures.) the being by myself part didn't sound so bad.

Anyway, this is really all that I can do.

Almost finished with Leviticus

More laws in Leviticus

Chapter 18 goes into all of these laws about sexual relations. Do not have sex with your mother's sister. Do not dishonor your father's brother by approaching his wife to have sexual relations; she is your aunt. Do not have sexual relations with an animal. Anyway, there are about 18 of them. Then it gives the reason for going into all these laws: The people in the land of Canaan do these things. God tells them that the people are defiled and that the land is defiled and that the land will vomit them out. I guess it just dawned on me that most of these rules did not occur in a vacuum, that they were laws made to keep the Israelites from becoming like the tribes of people around them. Well, besides the fact that it isn't a good idea to for someone to have sex with their father's daughter, and so forth.

Contrast that to the people God wants Israel to be: Israel is not to reap to the very edges of the field, but leave gleanings of their harvest for the poor and the widow. Also, in the year of Jubilee everyone is to return to his own property. Basically, the year of Jubilee is a big wealth redistribution program. Special care is given to those who become poor. God instructs the people not to lend money at interest or sell food at a profit. This gives more biblical credence to U2's Bono for his work on third world debt relief. Such programs do have a biblical basis.

One other note. The Ten Plagues corresponded to 10 Egyptian Gods. Egyptians worshipped snakes and other animals so when Moses' staff turns into a snake then eats the snakes of the other magicians, the message is clear, "I am God, Yahweh." Anyway, the Nile river turning to blood was linked to the god Hapi, The frogs were linked to the god Heqt. The cows that died during the livestock plague were linked to the gods Hathor, Apis, and Mnevis. (I got this out of the 90 day Bible participants guide.) So maybe that is why God demands the sacrifice of Bulls, goats, sheep and rams--to keep the people from worshipping the animals.

Deep into Leviticus

The great thing about the 90 day plan is that I started Leviticus today and I finish is tomorrow.

The ministry of the priests. Okay, Leviticus tells me what the priests do. Basically they operate a slaughter house. So all of the work, the beauty of the Temple. The ornamentation. The gold. All of it surrounds the bloody slaughter of animals.

I raised sheep and cows growing up. These weren't just animals you just herded into town. These animals had to be especially selected and prepared for slaughter. You don't want a bull that could be featured in a Rodeo traipsing through the temple. And bulls, even young ones, can be dangerous animals.

All of this must have been a graphic display of what man's sin does to creation. Israel had conducted a beautiful temple according to God's instructions, then also according to his instructions, made it a slaughter house. And remember, these animals were without blemish. The priests were in charge of slaughtering perfection and somehow this blood provided a means for God to be among his people.

So through the slaughter of animals by the priests in the Temple, God orchestrates a way for his people to commune with him.

The priests also seemed to function as doctors. They examined skin ailments and functioned as a sort of CDC for Israel. They were responsible for declaring someone unclean or clean. And if that person required purification, the priests did that. Just as blemished animals would not have been allowed at the Temple, neither would be blemished people.

So now what do we do? Now with Christ inside of us we are the Temple and we are priests. How do these ancient practices given to God's selected people inform us how to live for today?

End of the Exodus

In the beginning of Genesis it is all about being naked.

Now, in Exodus, God is preparing a place for himself among his people, and it seems to be all about the clothes. All of chapter 28 concerns the clothing of the priests. Starting in chapter 35 we are told about the Tabernacle. The place where God resides among his people. In a way, this Tabernacle is His clothing. Before the fall, Adam and Eve walked with God, they were naked and felt no shame. Now, because of our sin and imperfection and God's holiness and perfection, if the Israelites do not take extra precaution to wear just the right clothes, if they fail to make the right clothes for the tabernacle, they risk death.

One troubling part of scripture: Exodus 32:27-29. After the worship of the cow, Moses asks, "Whoever is for the LORD, come to me." The Levites come. Then Moses tells them that God wants them to strap on swords, go throughout the camp, and kill their brother and friend and neighbor. 3000 people died that day. Moses tells the men that they are blessed because they, "were against your own sons and brothers, and he has blessed you this day." Later, God sends a plague upon Israel.

God is righteous. God is Holy. God is love. God is justice. He can not have a half hearted emotion. He is forgiving, but not in the sense that we are forgiving. Most of my forgiveness that I give myself credit for is more a result of apathy than true forgiveness. Someone honks the horn at me because I've failed to move as quickly as they would like after a light has turned green. Eventually. Mainly because this person really doesn't matter to me. God never has that luxury. Everyone matters, everyone's actions matter to God.

God goes to a tremendous amount of trouble to Tabernacle with his people. It is obvious that he so desires to walk in a garden with us again.

Day 6

God intends for Isreal to be his treasured possession.

He says, "Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." He gives the 10 Commandments and then elaborates upon them with the specific laws concerning alters, servants, injuries, property, social responsibility, justice, mercy, and Sabbath laws. He also tells them about the three festivals they are to have each year. Most of these laws seem like common sense to us, but that is because they have been in effect for so long, and they are the laws that have permeated much of Western Civilization. I don't think The Egyptians would have thought about helping the poor or the widow or the foreigner.

It will be interesting to see what happens when Israel does gain power. Are they a compassionate people at that point? A kingdom of priests and a holy nation? I also don't think they got days off in the Egyptian culture, but I'm not sure. Toward the end of the Roman civilization nobody was working which is one reason why it came to an end.

I like the idea of three festivals a year. Today I'm going to get out my calendar and plan a couple of breaks a year, and I'm going to work at making Christmas a truly stress free holiday. I'd better start now on the latter.

Moses and the plague

Most of us wish God would speak as plainly to us as he did to Moses. If God called from a burning bush, I'd know it was God. If God sent ten plagues to my enemies, I'd know it was God. If God led me by a pillars of fire and cloug, parted the Red Sea and killed my enemies who had also just given me all of their jewelry because they liked me . . . okay that's weird, but I'd know it was God.

The Israelites needed this kind of miracle. They'd been in a foreign land, forced to serve another master and God had become foreign to them. God, in a very powerful way, reintroduced himself. Pharoah, essentially had been their God. He used slave drivers and foremen. He made them work harder and harder. The more God worked, the harder Pharoah made them work--taking away their straw they used to make bricks. (I can identify. I taught High School English.) Their yoke under Pharoah was hard. I think it is important to note that when God comes, the first demand he makes of the Israelites is that they perform the Passover, and then they are to celebrate. How odd that the first demand of your God, whom you have not heard from in 400 years, is Celebrate!

So far this passover thing is looking great! I'd love to do nothing for a week except cook.

The main theme of today is unmistakeable. God is God. He is in control. He is the one who delivers from slavery. He sets us free. We are never to forget. In fact, he demands the first born of every womb and every first born son must be redeemed. All of this echoes back to Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac.

One other thing: It seems in every culture that the first born child is very important. That something is key to being first born. Typically inheritance and kingship is passed down to the first born, but it seems that God often uses the youngest child. Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, these are all youngest sons.

The end of Genesis

What a great story!

They should make a movie.

This last day was about Joseph's rise from prisoner to second in command of all of Egypt. His position is all the more stunning when you read, "he came out and, controlling himself, said, "Serve the food. They served him by himself, the brothers by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because Egyptians could not eat with Hebrews, for that was detestable to Egyptians."

In fact it mentions several times that the Israelites are detestable to the Egyptians. Does God show his favor upon the detestable? Is that what Christ did? If we are to do what Christ did, should we show favor on those who are detestable to us?

Joseph is a prime example of faith in hardship. And his story reminds me that God uses trials in our lives to shape us for the tasks he has for us to accomplish. He is also always sure of his father's love. None of the other brother, besides Benjamin, ever experience that kind of unconditional love, so I feel sorry for Reuben who seeks love in his father's bed, then seems to spend the rest of his life making up for that sin. In the end, judging by Jacob's prophecy for Reuben, he never does experience the unconditional love of the father. Joseph, on the other hand, has far more reason to hate his brothers and yet he is grieved after his father's death when they do not really believe he has forgiven them.

I wonder why Joseph enslaved the people of Egypt. Was that really necessary? Did he show compassion on the Egyptians? Were the Israelites supposed to be a blessing to the nation of Egypt? Were they a blessing?

Getting to know God

I forget that Jacob and Issaac and Abraham didn't have a Bible, they didn't have priests, or Daystar, or Christian radio. And they aren't Christian--that should be obvious. If I were Jewish and reading this, I'd be offended (sorry.)

If you look at humanities relationship with God as a marriage, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are basically at the meeting God for coffee stage. At any rate, God seems quite merciful.

Also, so far the prayers issued by these guys sound more like the kind of deals made with Vinny the loan shark, instead of God almighty. Abraham haggles for Lot's life. Jacob prays twice and both times are for his own life. Once on his way from his home and once upon his return. On his journey from home, Jacob promises to worship God and give God a tenth of what God gives him if God grants him safety. Gee, thanks Jacob. I God, appreciate your sharing with me MY stuff! On the way back he reminds God of his promise. He says, "I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant." All in all he seems a bit more humble.

I like this part: All of the guys from Haran are waiting with their sheep until everyone arrives. Then they are all going to move the heavy rock from the well so that the sheep can be watered. I'm assuming they all are needed to move the rock. But when Jacob lays eyes on Rachel, "he went over and rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well and watered his uncle's sheep." It reminds me of another stone that later is rolled away because of love from another opening. One that allows the masses to partake of its living water.

Jacob, though he is the one that receives the blessing, refers to himself when speaking to Esau as "your servant". He later says, "For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have recieved me favorably." Perhaps we take our own sin nature and interpret scripture in a way that God does not intend. Perhaps God selected and gifted Jacob to serve--to find his fulfillment in bowing down to his brother Esau. It is interesting how much of Jacob's energy is spent aquiring wives, flocks, sons, etc. But he sees the face of God when he experiences the forgiveness of his brother, the very person he had fled.

One other thing. The Israelites are not called Abhramites or Isaacites or Jacobites. They inherit the name Israelites, "Struggles with God" and it is a name they still employ to this day.

Why Jacob

His name means "he deceives."

And I can't help but wonder: Are you setting your child up for failure in the very beginning by giving him such a name?

Esau, on the other hand, means hairy. Hardly awe inspiring, but certainly not the kind of name that will instigate a life of crime.

So why Jacob? Why did God choose Jacob instead of Esau? Did he choose, or did he simply set up the contest. But why should Jacob win? After all he does deceive.

Jacob seems to understand the importance of The Blessing. He is willing to lie, cheat, steal to get it. In Chapter 25:34, it says, "So Esau despised his birthright." So it seems that Esau exhibits a lackadaisical attitude toward being the first born and the grandchild of Abraham. Maybe God was offended. If I had a precious family heirloom and I gave it to my firstborn child and he shrugged his shoulders, and asked if he could have a Happy Meal toy instead. I'd be offended. And I'd probably take it from him and give it to his bratty little brother, who, even though he gets on everyone's nerves because he just will not stop until he gets his way. Even though he is a mamma's boy, and momma spoils him. He is dying for the gift.

Jacob is given a name that indicates action. Esau, well, his most outstanding characteristic--he had a hairy body.

Another thing: Isaac was comforted after his mother's death by Rebekah. Frankly, Sarah and Rebekah seem very similar. In a time and place where women rank just above sheep in importance, they make decisions that carry weighty consequences. AND they talk to God. They here from him firsthand. God gives a vision to both women and both women single handedly try to bring it about (I think Lady Macbeth and several of the Desperate Housewives are modeled upon Sarah and Rebekah. All get wind of visions and then act in stunning connivance to bring about their plans.) If Sarah had been a bit more patient, the whole sad Ishmael story might not have occurred as it did. I'm not a man, but if my father had me circumcised at 13 with all the medical advances present in @ 1800 B.C. and then sent me away a couple of years later into a desert I might birth a nation "that lived in hostility toward all [my] brother's" as well.

I don't think we will ever be able to know for certain why God chose Jacob. Perhaps it is best we do not know. If we did, many of us would try to make ourselves into something we are not. In effect we would live a second hand life: Trying to fit into someone else's calling instead of taking up our own.

Day One

Items of Interest

Parallels between the Creation Narrative and the Flood Narrative.

• As Noah and his family exit the ark they are told to bring out all of the animals so "they can multiply on the earth and be fruitful and increase in number upon it." (This is same language used in the blessing God speaks upon His creation.)
• Noah, like Able, brings a pleasing sacrifice of animals to God.
• God blesses Noah and his sons with same language used in the creation story, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth."
• INTERESTING CONTRAST: After be fruitful command in creation story God tells Adam and Eve that he gives them every seed bearing plant and every tree that has fruit in it. He gives animals every green plant. In the account of Noah, he gives the animals as food.
• Sin and nakedness are connected in both accounts and after their nakedness is revealed a curse is issued.

Lesson: I think God is showing us just how deeply scarred this world is. Our sins, evil cannot be wiped away by a giant flood. Ironically, the flood only serves as a dam that stems the tide of sin. He is showing us that the Earth is too deeply scarred. Our sin nature is too deeply embedded within us. Another solution is needed. We can't pick up, move locations and expect for our problems to go away. Sin has invaded all of creation.

Other things I noted:

The dove brings back an olive branch. Is this why a dove and olive branch are universal signs of reconciliation and peace?

Much is written about the differences between man and woman. Those differences existed before the fall so they are an important part of who we are. But I'm impressed with how God seems to really take the time to show Adam how Eve is very much the same as him (and very different from all of the animals he had just named.) In fact, this is what Adam most notices about her: "This is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, for she was taken out of man." Perhaps Men are not from Mars and women are not from Venus, but after the fall there was a great desire to be about that far away from one another. Anyway, the fall is largely about division and the creation of a world in tension. Of men and women who long to be intimately known but also fear such nakedness.

I think it was Martin Luther that said before the fall men and women were equal. After the fall we are not. He also said that God gave men big shoulders and small rears because men were created to lead. He gave women small shoulders and large rear ends because women are to follow. So my pear shape is also a result of the fall. Poor Eve, she is already blamed for the pain of child bearing. If you ask me, I think Luther is piling on at this point. And of course, here I am being selfish and thinking about what I am missing out on because Eve had to eat the apple.

Of course, I have my apple a day as well.

But if I were perfect and I loved perfectly, and felt the separation between me and someone I'm willing to die for. . . Well, I wonder how God felt and still feels at our fall.

Tips for the weeks

Most of these Tips are taken from the Bible in 90 Day Participants Guide written by Ted Cooper Jr. with Stephen and Amanda Sorenson.

• Make a commitment to read the Bible in 90 days.
• Don't expect to remember everything you read. Just focus on what you do recall. Don't worry about the rest. This is not a Kay Arthur type study. (I mention her because she is a great teacher, but I will not be going into the depths of study that she does in this reading.)
• Pay attention to what you do understand. Focus on the obvious.
• Break up your readings at least twice this week. Try to read half in the morning and half in the evening (or when the kids go down for a nap.)
• If you have made a commitment to read with me and you fall behind, do not try to catch up. Simply start with that days reading.

First day: January 16th, Monday

In my Bible, I'll be reading 12 pages a day. Here is the schedule for the first week:

1. Mon: Genesis 1-16
2. Tues: Genesis 17-27
3. Wed: Genesis 28-39
4. Thurs: Genesis 40-50
5. Friday: Exodus 1-14
6. Saturday: Exodus 15-28

Okay, I've decided to make a concession. I'm giving myself Sundays off. So instead of taking 3 months it will take 3.5 months.

Why 90 days?

First, this is something that I believe will work for me. It may not be for everyone. But here are my reasons:

• I have tried the year plans and I can typically last for about three months.
• The Bible that I am using is geared for 90 days. (Can be found for about $14 online.) It has the readings mapped. Each reading is 12 pages a day.
• I am not reading as I would read the Bible for a Bible study class. Instead, I am reading like I would read a novel or a book. There are other times for close readings of the text, but this is not what this reading is geared toward.
• N.T. Wright encourages reading the Bible as a 5 Act play. 1) creation 2) fall 3) Israel 4) Jesus 5) the age we live in right now. We are responsible for the 5th act and we are to use the first four acts to inform the 5th act. This doesn't give us liscense to just make things up out of thin air, all must be in keeping with acts 1-4; however, it does give us a place, under Christ's authority, to participate in the "working out" of the 5th act. My point: A fast reading of the Bible allows us to understand it as a narrative.

One final point, I won't be studying what I read as closely as I might in a Bible Study class over say the book of John. In college my freshman year (when I wasn't really paying attention--and should have been) my college pastor was teaching on John. When I graduated from college, I believe he was still teaching on John. A great way to really study the text, but certainly not the only way.