Pastor Bob DuPar
February 6, 2008
Journal Entry
Scripture
Exodus 23:14-25:40; Matthew 24:29-51; Psalm 30:1-12; Proverbs 7:24-27.
Observation
Today was the most difficult day for me so far in the reading. There were a lot of confusing references/verses.
In Exodus 23:20-21 when God refers to His “angel,” I believe that this is a preincarnate appearance of Jesus – especially since He says, “My Name is in him.” “Name” is capitalized and it means God’s attributes are in him.
What an amazing experience to be on a mountain top with God! Moses and Aaron and the 70 elders saw God and ate and drank with Him. And then, Moses was called individually by God further up the mountain, into a cloud, where he met with God for 40 days and 40 nights! Wow!
It’s confusing in Matthew 24:34 when Jesus says,
“I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.”
What Jesus meant was the generation of people living in that future day will see the completion of all the events. Jesus was not referring to the generation listening to Him then, for He had already said the kingdom had been taken from that group (21:43). That first-century generation would experience God’s judgment. But the generation that will be living at the time these signs begin to take place will live through that period and will see Jesus’ coming.
Also, in Matthew 24:36 when Jesus said,
“No one knows about that day or hour (referring to the 2nd coming), not even the angels in heaven, not the Son, but only the Father,” He was referring to the Son (Himself) in His earthly, human, self-imposed limitations state (Philippians 2). For, Jesus is divine and omniscient, and He knows all things.
Application
I need to start anticipating and enjoying my times with God with a greater realization that I am in His presence. I envy Moses’ experience with God. And yet, God promises each one of us as believers the same thing. He’s not only with us, He lives in us! O that I would act like it!
Prayer
“Lord, I desire to spend more time in Your presence – more time listening, less time talking. Help me to crave this time, to guard it, and to come away changed.”
posted by Bob DuPar @ 11:02 AM
6 Comments
6 Comments:
Re: your "preincarnate appearance of Jesus" comment. Is it that the role of this angel, sent by God with a promise of guidance if they obeyed, parallels what Jesus fulfilled in His ministry, that we know it refers to Jesus?
Book of the Covenant v.tablets of stone?
Psalm 30:9: The psalmist sounds totally desperate here... as if he's trying convince God he's worth more alive as a worshiper than dead as dust.
Re: Prov. 24-27: Do the majority of scriptures on the topic of adultery portray women as the seducers / enticers and men as the hapless victims?
Thanks.. terrific blog.
You can't play with us unless you ask easy questions!
First, the angel. I see this as a preincarnate appearance of Christ for 2 reasons: 1. That the angel is able to "forgive" - something which only God can do. 2. As I said, because the text says that he bears God's name. And, in the Hebrew that means to possess God's attributes.
Second, I'm not sure what your Q is about Book of the Covenant v. tablets of stone. Help me.
Finally, yes most of Scripture portrays the woman as the seducer. I guess it's because women are so beautiful and men are visually oriented. If God had made men more attractive & women visually oriented maybe there would be more references to men seducing women. Although, I find it very interesting that in the Feb. 5th reading, Exodus 22:16 outlines a law and stipulation for men who seduce virgins! So, apparently there was enough of this going on to warrant God laying out a punishment for such actions.
God says you have to let everyone play in the sand box. And no throwing sand! Besides, He's using you as one of my teachers. Scot says you may not have figured on that.
Q. re: book of covenant v. tablets of stone? see Ex. 24:7 v. 24:12. Can you tell me more about the Book of the Covenant in verse 7?
BTW... you so motivated me. Did you see my blog? Please do comment. Sent link last week. Not sure if you received. Getting so much out of it! God is just amazing!
Ya, I told you I saw your blog & that I thought it was great! I look into the Covenant Q
Blessings!
sorry.. didn't receive initial blog input. honest.
Hey, let's play stump the blogger! :)
Re: Q about "book of the covenant" in Exodus 24:7 versus "stone tablets with the law and commandment" in Exodus 24:12... this is what I found:
The law of Moses was given orally and perpetuated in the following ways:
1. by being written on tables of stone (Ex. 24:12; Ex. 31:18),
2. by being written in a book (Ex. 24:4,7,8; Deut. 31:24-26; Heb. 9:18,19),
3. and it was made a part of the national life by being taught to each new generation, talked of in their homes, bound upon their hands, written upon the posts of their houses, on their gates (Deut. 27:1-8) and publicly proclaimed in the ears of the nation (Deut. 11:26-32; Deut. 31:9-13).
Specifically, the "book of the covenant" or "cepher ha-berith" (hebrew), was the name given in Ex. 24:7 to the collection of laws found in Ex. 20-23, as the terms of the covenant made with Yahweh, and given for Israel’s guidance until a more complete legislation should be provided. In this covenant between Yahweh and Israel, Moses served as mediator; animals were sacrificed...
I just didn't understand all of the different ways the law of Moses was recorded and passed on.
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