Day 47

Chapter 23 of Exodus contains more laws to follow.  The first part is laws of justice and mercy.  It contains a lot of rules about how to treat your fellow man and enemy.  It basically tells us that we should be compassionate to everyone around us no matter how much we dislike them.  The next portion really intrigued me.  It talks about the sabbath day and how we are only to work six days a week and to rest on the seventh.  The part I found interesting was the first little bit about working the land for six years and on the seventh year letting the land lie unplowed and unused.  I will admit I am not a farmer by any means but just wonder how this might effect crop growth in those first six years.  We then learn about three festivals that they are to have to worship the Lord.  The Lord gives a few instructions for these festivals.  The last portion of chapter 23 talks about the angel the Lord is going to send before the Israelites.  The Lord basically tells them that he is going to protect them as long as they do not worship other gods or practice their ways.  To me this sounds pretty simple and a no brainer of a situation, but I have a feeling that it will be difficult for them since they seem to be very stubborn.

Exodus 24 tells of the covenant the Lord makes with the Israelites.  After the Lord finishes speaking to the Israelites they make an alter and offer up sacrifices.  The Israelites agreed to all that the Lord had to say.  Moses, Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu along with seventy elders then went up the mountain as God had commanded.  Moses continued up to the top of the mountain as God had instructed.  For six days a cloud covered the mountain, finally the Lord spoke to Moses and told him to enter the cloud.  Moses was in the cloud for forty days and forty nights.  I can not fathom what the Israelites must have thought about this time period.  To hear that your leader has entered into a cloud and then the waiting.  You would have to believe that they started to believe that something had happened to him and he was not coming back.

We have come to my favorite chapter of Matthew.  Chapter 28, the greatest part of the crucifixion.  We begin by seeing Mary Magdalene and the other Mary going to see the tomb where Jesus was laid to rest.  An angel comes upon the tomb like a violent earthquake.  He is so bright that the guards are basically scared to death.  The angel then appears to both of the Marys and tells them that Jesus has risen.  Yep, that is right, He has risen.  The best part of the whole book of Matthew right there.  He has risen, nope just can't say it enough.  The joy we have of knowing that we have a God that has defeated death.  The next portion tells how the guards were bribed to make it sound like the disciples came in the night and stole Jesus body.  This confabulated story is mentioned a few times in other chapters of the Bible.  Jesus then meets with the disciples in Galilee and gives them advice that not only they are to follow but we are to follow as well.  Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations , baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matt. 28:18 - 20)

Well, guess what?  That brings us to the end of our third book of the Bible.  Those still reading congratulations.  Tomorrow we will begin reading the book of Mark.

Tomorrow's reading is:
Exodus 25, 26 and Mark 1:1 - 22