Struggling

It has been absolutely forever since my last post it seems.  I finally decided that I'd better just start typing, and eventually I'll be caught up with Kristi :)  Some of the things that stood out to me while reading the exodus of the Israelites were as follows:

~God had to give Moses the Ten Commandments two times because the first set was smashed to pieces in anger.

~The manna from heaven is flaky and fine, life frost covered trees in the winter.  It is said to be white in Exodus 16:31 but pale yellow in color in Numbers 11:7, looks like coriander seeds, and tastes like honey wafers.  Can you imagine going out and collecting jars of this every morning? Aaron placed 2 quarts of manna in the Ark of the Covenant so that future generations could see it as a testament to what God provided for his people.

~God also provided quail in the evening for the people according to Exodus 16: 8 and 11.  Here I am confused though. In reading these passages, I assumed that God provided quail every evening just like the manna was provided every morning.  However, in Numbers 11, the Israelites start complaining that they want meat, and God gets so angry he says he'll give them so much meat they will vomit because they'll be so sick of it.  Turns out, not only did he provide a ton of quail, the complainers were struck with a terrible plague and died.  Because of this account in Numbers, I assume that the quail were not an every evening type of provision. 

~If the people were going to build an alter to God with stone, they must all be natural stones.  If the stones were shaped they became unfit for holy use.


~God loves beauty and intricacy, just in case you hadn't picked up on that from observing nature :)  His instructions regarding the tabernacle and priestly garments were incredibly detailed and specific.  Every instruction spoke of beauty.  Blue, scarlet, and gold thread; gold, silver, and brass metals; precious stones-a different and specific one to represent each tribe of Israelites (by the way, the priestly garments matched the tabernacle), acacia wood and almond blossoms.  An interesting thing about almond blossoms:  God had them crafted on various things throughout the tabernacle...the lamp stand with it's arms comes to mind immediately.  Almond blossoms look similar to cherry blossoms and symbolize hope.  Now, I don't know who decided this or how long ago it was decided, but it's pretty amazing to me.  Think about it...God filled his tabernacle with a symbol of hope.  That hope was later fulfilled in Jesus.

~Aaron had to wear a medallion of pure gold engraved like a seal with "HOLY TO THE LORD" on the front of his turban.  This allowed him to take on the Israelites guilt when they consecrated their sacred offerings and then God accepted the people. 

~Moses had quite the work out routine climbing up mount Sinai to talk with God.  In Exodus 19:20-25, God called Moses up the mountain only to tell him to go back down and get Aaron up there too.  I'm thinking my first thought would have been, "Couldn't you have told me that before I got all the way up here?!"

~What is the point of all the yeastless bread?

~Lev. 25:18 says that if the people want to live securely in the land they need to follow God's decrees and obey his regulations.  In 25:23 it states that the land must never be sold on a permanent basis because it belongs to the Lord, and the Israelites are only foreigners and tenant farmers working for him.

~So many things make me think about what is going on in Israel today.  The old testament is filled with so many things the people are supposed to do generation after generation, and I wonder how much of it is being followed today.

~Of course, the other thing that stood out to me was how incredibly stubborn and silly the Israelites were.  For instance, God tells them to collect manna in the morning but not save any for the next day.  What happens, some people save it for the next day, and it is really not good anymore.  That took one day for the people to disobey.  The only day you are to save it over night is the night before the Sabbath so that no work is done in order to honor the Sabbath.  God specifically states there will be no manna on the morning of the Sabbath so the people were to gather twice their need the day before.  Then some knuckleheads still go out on the Sabbath searching for manna wondering where it is! I know this is true in all of our lives.  God tells us not to do something but we go do whatever it is anyway.  But the Israelites had so many signs and wonders!!! All the plagues they witnessed in Egypt; the parting of the red sea, the manna, the quail; Moses' face shining so brilliantly he had to cover it; they had an every day, every minute reminder with the pillar of smoke by day and the pillar of fire by night, and the list goes on.  They even saw God and ate a covenant meal in his presence for crying out loud!!! (Exodus 24: 10-11) How could you keep complaining and doubting?  Then again, I'm sure God is wondering the same thing about me.

This is going to have to do for now so I'll leave you with one of my favorites...Numbers 6:24-26

~May the Lord bless you and protect you.  May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you.  May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.~