Burunche’s Blog

Exodus 34: A New Copy of the Covenant

1 Then the Lord told Moses, “Chisel out two stone tablets like the first ones. I will write on them the same words that were on the tablets you smashed. 2 Be ready in the morning to climb up Mount Sinai and present yourself to me on the top of the mountain. 3 No one else may come with you. In fact, no one is to appear anywhere on the mountain. Do not even let the flocks or herds graze near the mountain.”

4 So Moses chiseled out two tablets of stone like the first ones. Early in the morning he climbed Mount Sinai as the Lord had commanded him, and he carried the two stone tablets in his hands.

When God originally gave Moses the Ten Commandments, God Himself gave Moses the two stone tablets on which the Commandments were inscribed. But when Moses saw the Israelites worshiping the golden calf, he threw those tablets on the ground, smashing them. Now God wants to create new tablets. Because Moses destroyed the first ones, God orders him to chisel out tablets and bring them up to Mount Sinai. Then God will again write out the Commandments on those tablets. Why doesn’t God demand that Moses write out the Commandments? God wants to make sure the Commandments are full and complete. This is to ensure authenticity and also to protect Moses, so later the Israelites can’t blame Moses when they find anything they don’t like.

5 Then the Lord came down in a cloud and stood there with him; and he called out his own name, Yahweh. 6 The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.
7 I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren;
the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations.”

WOW! Even though God forgives iniquity, rebellion, and sin, He does not excuse the guilty. Guilty people bring curses on their families for four generations. Here, God is not being unfair but merely stating the generational effects of sin. It’s popular to assume that our actions affect only ourselves, but that is far from the case. Children copy what they see their parents doing, and the results can be devastating. Parents who abandon children to chase some mid-life dream teach children that the sacred responsibilities of parenthood are dispensable at the whim of a parent. Children in such families can be left with severe abandonment issues and struggle to trust others. Fathers who are emotionally distant, failing to protect their daughters, can leave daughters who harden their hearts and become tough because they have no other choice. Counselors who work with those addicted to drugs or other compulsive forms of behavior know many of those with whom they work come from families with various addictions.

8 Moses immediately threw himself to the ground and worshiped. 9 And he said, “O Lord, if it is true that I have found favor with you, then please travel with us. Yes, this is a stubborn and rebellious people, but please forgive our iniquity and our sins. Claim us as your own special possession.”

Here Moses is performing one of his greatest feats-interceding for the same people who have already repeatedly hurt and disappointed him. It’s easy to pray for those who have been kind to you; however, it’s a different matter when you’re begging God to forgive others who are likely not repentant. As Moses is interceding, he is demonstrating another of the pathways to spiritual peace. Later, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus will advise his listeners, “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.” (Matthew 5:43-45) 

10 The Lord replied, “Listen, I am making a covenant with you in the presence of all your people. I will perform miracles that have never been performed anywhere in all the earth or in any nation. And all the people around you will see the power of the Lord—the awesome power I will display for you. 11 But listen carefully to everything I command you today. Then I will go ahead of you and drive out the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.

12 “Be very careful never to make a treaty with the people who live in the land where you are going. If you do, you will follow their evil ways and be trapped. 13 Instead, you must break down their pagan altars, smash their sacred pillars, and cut down their Asherah poles. 14 You must worship no other gods, for the Lord, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you.

15 “You must not make a treaty of any kind with the people living in the land. They lust after their gods, offering sacrifices to them. They will invite you to join them in their sacrificial meals, and you will go with them. 16 Then you will accept their daughters, who sacrifice to other gods, as wives for your sons. And they will seduce your sons to commit adultery against me by worshiping other gods. 17 You must not make any gods of molten metal for yourselves.”

The One True Living God is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and Last. God knows everything that will happen, and He knows that eventually, the Israelites will forsake Him and run off after the demonic religions of their neighbors. After all, Aaron has just created a golden copy of one of the Egyptian deities. But if God knows all this, why is He bothering to warn Moses? God wants His warnings to be recorded so that later they will bear witness against idolaters, and His warnings remain for all of us as well.

In Matthew 6:22-23, Jesus warns his followers, “Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. ²³ But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!” Few people wake up one morning and announce, “I think I’ll just go follow the Devil!” No, we fall away from God by degrees. First, we gradually stop praying and worshiping privately. We begin making all our decisions without consulting God. Next, our tastes in music, literature, and videos gradually shift to something secular. We begin to find ourselves attracted to things that would previously have disgusted us. We may begin dressing more immodestly, excusing ourselves by saying that we are only following fashion trends.

These changes can happen gradually or suddenly, depending on our exposure to outside influences. One veteran missionary couple in Ghana recounted the story of two young men who came to northern Ghana to start a new ministry. But in the process of cultural familiarization, these fellows chose to visit a very evil shrine, one in which visitors are required to strip naked before entering. Our friends did everything they could to warn these men to have nothing to do with that shrine; however, curiosity prevailed over common sense. The men toured the shrine but soon left Ghana, having abandoned their plans for ministry.

These days, it’s nearly impossible to read some of the stories posted on Facebook or other sites without being exposed to pornographic material in advertisements. One fine pastor we knew found himself addicted to on-line pornography and struggled for freedom and deliverance for years. Even though our friend succeeded in getting free, the toll this struggle took on his body allowed cancer to develop, and he eventually died with the cancer.

The lessons are clear: If you want peace, have nothing to do with darkness in any form! Flee! Run! Shun anything having to do with darkness and beg God to keep your mind, your thoughts, and every part of your body spiritually, emotionally, and mentally clean.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, please keep us true to You in every way-our thoughts, our actions, our entertainment, and our life styles. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 33:12-17 The Promise of God’s Presence

12 Then Moses said to the LORD, “Look, You have been telling me, ‘Lead this people up,’ but You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have found favor in My sight.’ 13 Now if indeed I have found favor in Your sight, please let me know Your ways, that I may know You and find favor in Your sight. Remember that this nation is Your people.”

14 And the LORD answered, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

15 “If Your Presence does not go with us,” Moses replied, “do not lead us up from here. 16 For how then can it be known that Your people and I have found favor in Your sight, unless You go with us? How else will we be distinguished from all the other people on the face of the earth?”

17 So the LORD said to Moses, “I will do this very thing you have asked, for you have found favor in My sight, and I know you by name.”

13 Now if indeed I have found favor in Your sight, please let me know Your ways, that I may know You and find favor in Your sight. Remember that this nation is Your people.” 14 And the LORD answered, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

 If ever there was a lonely man, Moses would be it! Once, Moses trusted his brother Aaron, but the golden calf incident ended that. The seventy elders who shared the covenant meal stayed in their tents during the orgy, refusing to exercise leadership as if the recent covenant with God meant nothing. Now Moses has only his young assistant Joshua, but the generation gap creates problems. Moses is eighty years old while Joshua is less than half that.  Frankly, Moses needs some assurance. What if his strength fails? What if his memory fades? What if the Israelites rebel again and stone him? Moses is acutely conscious that without his leadership, the Israelites might just wander off into the wilderness and die there, and he feels totally inadequate to the situation.

I can sympathize with Moses! These last few weeks, we have been clearing out the possessions we have left in America. We are preparing to relocate to Ghana semi-permanently. We are trying to work out all kinds of details while we visit friends and family.

When we return, I will be one of two doctors for a hospital that serves 120,000 people. My constant prayer is that God will keep us physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually sharp and that He will raise up other doctors to take up the work so our patients will not suffer. I beg God for us to be a blessing as long as we live. We need God’s assurance that His presence will go with us and that He will give us the rest we need to continue the work.

Psalm 73:25-26 tells us, “Whom have I in heaven but You? And on earth I desire no one besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” This past summer, we have had the wonderful opportunity to attend several class reunions and other events where we have seen long-time friends and family. Time has changed all of us, carving lines on our faces, giving some of us grey highlights in our hair while others have lost their hair entirely. It has been both poignant and moving to reunite; however, we remain conscious that we might be seeing loved ones for the last time before eternity. Only God remains eternal and unchangeable.

18 Then Moses said, “Please show me Your glory.”  There is nothing wrong with asking God to show us His glory. Here Moses is not asking out of pride but from desperation. Moses needs a vision of God that will remain with him during the tough times. Who knows what other problems the Israelites will cause? Moses loves God, just as God loves Moses. Even though Moses has met with God on Mount Sinai already, Moses remains hungry for a larger vision of God. God is always ready to show us more of Himself, for He is infinitely kind and gracious. We are the ones who falter and fail to ask. There is nothing wrong with any of us asking God to show us His glory, for such visions can help sustain us through dark days.

Recently, we visited elderly friends whom we have loved for years. Now the wife’s memory is failing, while the husband’s strength is waning. But even when the wife can’t remember simple things, her constant response remains “Hallelujah!” The husband is caring tenderly for his beloved and continuing to fellowship with God.

19 “I will cause all My goodness to pass before you,” the LORD replied, “and I will proclaim My name—the LORD—in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”  

20 But He added, “You cannot see My face, for no one can see Me and live.”

21 The LORD continued, “There is a place near Me where you are to stand upon a rock, 22 and when My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will take My hand away, and you will see My back; but My face must not be seen.”

If any of us were to be exposed to the full glory of God, we would be vaporized in an instant. God hides us in the cleft of the rock so that we can glimpse His glory without being destroyed by it. As we age, may God continue to reveal more and more of His glory, and may we continue to seek His presence. For in His presence, there will be peace and rest.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, please help us to continue to seek Your presence as we age. Please keep us mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually sharp all our days. And please give us Your peace and Your rest. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 33 The Command to Leave Sinai (Deuteronomy 1:1–8)

1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of the land of Egypt, and go to the land that I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ 2 And I will send an angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. 3 Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people; otherwise, I might destroy you on the way.”

OUCH! Until now, God has manifested His presence with the Israelites by sending a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. The Israelites have come to take God’s presence for granted, assuming they can do whatever they want in God’s presence. But what happens the day the Israelites creates the golden calf idol? Evidently, that pillar of cloud is still there as a witness while God’s people lurch into idolatry and orgies. Only the Levites, apart from Aaron, pay attention to God’s presence. Now God threatens to remove His presence from the Israelites, lest they sin so grossly that God has no choice but to destroy them.  

4 When the people heard these bad tidings, they went into mourning, and no one put on any of his jewelry. 5 For the LORD had said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. If I should go with you for a single moment, I would destroy you. Now take off your jewelry, and I will decide what to do with you.’” 6 So the Israelites stripped themselves of their jewelry from Mount Horeb onward.

 This statement serves as a wake-up call for the Israelites. Suddenly, they remember that the God who has led them is the same God who has destroyed an entire Egyptian army. If God withdraws His presence, they will be vulnerable to attack from all the surrounding tribes. This is also the God who has been providing quails and manna, as well as water in the wilderness. If God withdraws His presence, what catastrophes might occur? But why does God order them to remove their jewelry? The Israelites got most of that jewelry from the Egyptians as they were fleeing Egypt, which means that much of the jewelry would have figures of Egyptian deities or charms of various kinds. Undoubtedly, the Israelites worshiping the golden calf wore as much jewelry as they could during the celebration. God wants the Israelites to remove their jewelry as a sign of mourning and a demonstration of repentance and obedience and as a sign that they are truly turning away from the Egyptian deities many of them have worshiped. Eventually, this jewelry will be used to create the tabernacle for which Moses has received instructions.

What about us? Is there anything we are doing or saying or even wearing that will separate us from the presence of God? Do we swear carelessly? Watch videos we shouldn’t? Gossip, damaging another’s reputation? Discourage people? Compensate for feelings of inadequacy by overeating, binge shopping, or other compulsive behaviors? Pray! God is waiting for us to leave all those things behind and allow Him to fill us with His love, His grace, and His peace.

The Tent of Meeting

7 Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it at a distance outside the camp. He called it the Tent of Meeting, and anyone inquiring of the LORD would go to the Tent of Meeting outside the camp. 8 Then, whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would stand at the entrances to their own tents and watch Moses until he entered the tent. 9 As Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and remain at the entrance, and the LORD would speak with Moses. 10 When all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they would stand up and worship, each one at the entrance to his own tent.

11 Thus the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young assistant Joshua son of Nun would not leave the tent.

When the Israelites repent, the cloud of God’s presence remains with them. Moses pitches his tent outside the camp, designating it as a Tent of Meeting for anyone who wished to inquire from the Lord. We don’t know how many people visit the Tent to pray; however, when Moses enters the Tent, the pillar of cloud representing God’s presence remains at the entrance of the Tent, demonstrating that God is meeting with Moses personally. God and Moses have friendly conversations. The very idea is mind-boggling. The Creator of the Universe is speaking directly with Moses. But what is equally mind-boggling is that God is ready to speak to any of us at any time if we will only listen. God has created us to have fellowship with Him.

Notice something else: When Moses goes to speak with God, Joshua accompanies him. But even after Moses has left the Tent of Meeting, Joshua remains there to speak with God. God is drawing Joshua to Himself, teaching him and forming him so that eventually he would be able to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land.

One last thing: When Moses enters the Tent of Meeting and the pillar of cloud stands before the Tent, all the Israelites stand at the doors of their tents to worship. These people have repented and are learning to reverence God. It is impossible to worship God with an unrepentant heart.

Nobody is perfect apart from God. God knows our weakness and our failings. One of the most amazing things about God is His willingness to meet with us, to forgive us, and to clean us up if we will only let Him. 1 John 1:5-10 tells us, “5 And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us. “

Please don’t read these verses and despair! When we give God even a thumbnail’s worth of obedience, He can work with that and begin the cleanup process. One simple prayer I love is to pray “God, make me willing to be willing.” Once we give God permission, He can begin working in our hearts and do amazing things with us. Andrew van der Bijl was a Dutch mercenary soldier who became a fervent Christian, smuggling Bibles into countries closed to the Gospel. When Andrew wasn’t sure he could pray for God to change him, friends suggested he pray, telling God he was willing to be made willing to change. That prayer was sufficient. Andrew went on to found the ministry Open Doors. At the time of Andrew’s death in 2022, Open Doors was active in over 60 countries. The ministry distributes 300,000 Bibles and 1.5 million Christian books and materials annually. The group is active in providing relief, aid, community development, and trauma counseling, while advocating for persecuted Christians around the globe.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, please help us to change into the people You want us to be. We are willing to be made willing, and we give You permission to change us completely so that our natures become like Yours. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.   

Exodus 32:25 Moses saw that Aaron had let the people get completely out of control, much to the amusement of their enemies. 26 So he stood at the entrance to the camp and shouted, “All of you who are on the Lord’s side, come here and join me.” And all the Levites gathered around him.

27 Moses told them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Each of you, take your swords and go back and forth from one end of the camp to the other. Kill everyone—even your brothers, friends, and neighbors.” 28 The Levites obeyed Moses’ command, and about 3,000 people died that day.

29 Then Moses told the Levites, “Today you have ordained yourselves for the service of the Lord, for you obeyed him even though it meant killing your own sons and brothers. Today you have earned a blessing.”

It’s one of the most horrible scenes from the Bible. Crumpling to the strident demands of the Israelites, Aaron has created a golden calf idol. Moses returns from Mount Sinai to find the Israelites engaged in an orgy. Infuriated, Moses has thrown the stone tablets containing the Ten Commandments on the ground, but now he must halt the orgy. In the distance, Moses can see enemies of the Israelites watching and sneering. Everybody knows an orgy when they see one; these people have forfeited all claims to holiness. So much for their God!

Moses knows he can’t do anything by himself, so he stands at the camp entrance and shouts for help. Immediately, all the members of Moses’ tribe of Levi rush to Moses’ side. Notice that nobody else rushes to help Moses, not even the seventy elders who previously ate the covenant meal with God. Everything was great for those seventy as long as they were being honored, but now that Moses needs support? Forget it!

There’s only one way to halt this mob, and Moses doesn’t hesitate. “27 Moses told them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Each of you, take your swords and go back and forth from one end of the camp to the other. Kill everyone—even your brothers, friends, and neighbors.” 28 The Levites obeyed Moses’ command, and about 3,000 people died that day.”

This extreme measure works. The Levites move through the camp, killing all those actively involved in the orgy but leaving everyone else alone. Three thousand people is quite a large number; however, remember that Moses has led 600,000 men out of Egypt, not counting women and children, making the total population of the group between 1,500,000-2,000,000. Three thousand people would only be 0.2% or less of a total group of 1,500,000. If the Levites are concentrating on only killing those actively worshiping the golden calf, this means that the vast majority of the Israelites are not involved but are back in their tents, waiting to see how things will turn out.

Crunching the numbers, the next question is this: Assuming God is guiding the Levites, does this mean that these 3,000 people are the ones who have demanded an idol while the rest of the Israelites have remained silent? Or have the other Israelites joined in the demands for an idol but have then retreated when the orgy starts? It would seem that as Moses’ tribesmen, the Levites have not involved themselves in worshiping the golden calf. Perhaps these men know Aaron and realize how weak he actually is. At any rate, the Levites have had to sacrifice friends and neighbors, showing no mercy even as these people have begun pleading for their lives. For the rest of their lives, the Levites will be haunted by the memories of this day.

As the Levites are standing horrified at what they have had to do, Moses commends them. “29 Then Moses told the Levites, “Today you have ordained yourselves for the service of the Lord, for you obeyed him even though it meant killing your own sons and brothers. Today you have earned a blessing.” Although the Levites did not realize it, their willingness to sacrifice those nearest and dearest to them has qualified them to become priests before the Lord forever.

Sometimes following God completely requires sacrifices we never thought we would have to make. Peter and the other disciples walked away from thriving businesses, homes, and families. Matthew 19:27-29 records the story. “Look,” Peter replied, “we have left everything to follow You. What then will there be for us?”

Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for the sake of My name will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.” One man wanted to follow Jesus but had all sorts of excuses as to why he couldn’t do it immediately. Jesus told him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62)

We always have choices. We can choose to leave everything that would hold us back and follow God, or we can try to hang onto people, places, and things. But we will only find peace when we are willing to give up everything for the sake of the call. Millard Fuller was a businessman and lawyer who became a millionaire by age 29. But when Millard and his wife Linda felt God calling them, they gave up everything to enter lives of Christian service. Together, the Fullers founded Habitat for Humanity, an international organization that builds affordable housing for poor and disadvantaged people. Habitat has blessed millions of people throughout the world, all because a couple chose to follow Jesus radically rather than enjoy a comfortable lifestyle.

As I am writing these words, my husband and I are facing a daunting task. We are clearing the last of our belongings that have been stored in America for years. Giving away furniture, cookware, clothing, and dishes is not difficult; however, now we are struggling to sort papers and photos. Here, the struggle involves dealing with memories and reminders of loved ones, the toughest proposition of all. Which things are worth scanning and saving to the cloud? What does God want us to do?

Very few of us will ever be called on to take the same measures as the Levites or even as the Fullers. But each of us must face this question: Is there anything keeping me from getting to God? What must I give up to become close to God? As long as you are placing a higher value on whatever it is than you are on your relationship with God, you will have turmoil. When you make that last sacrifice, you will find peace. May God help each of us so that we will freely surrender those things that are blocking our relationships with Him!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to follow hard after You all the days of our lives, abandoning anything that threaten our relationships with You. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 24:14 Moses told the elders, “Stay here and wait for us until we come back. Aaron and Hur are here with you. If anyone has a dispute while I am gone, consult with them.”

15 Then Moses climbed up the mountain, and the cloud covered it. 16 And the glory of the Lord settled down on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days. On the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from inside the cloud. 17 To the Israelites at the foot of the mountain, the glory of the Lord appeared at the summit like a consuming fire. 18 Then Moses disappeared into the cloud as he climbed higher up the mountain. He remained on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

Seventy of the Israelite elders, plus Moses and Aaron, Nahab and Abihu, Aaron’s sons, and Joshua have just shared a covenant meal with God without being struck dead. These men have seen the Face of God. God is now calling Moses to the mountaintop to give him specific instructions on how the Israelites are to serve Him. Meanwhile, God has delegated Aaron and Hur as problem-solving leaders. Surely, having seen God and having entered into a covenant with Him, these seventy elders should be able to support Aaron and Hur and handle the Israelites; instead, they fail miserably.

Exodus 32 The Gold Calf

32 When the people saw how long it was taking Moses to come back down the mountain, they gathered around Aaron. “Come on,” they said, “make us some gods who can lead us. We don’t know what happened to this fellow Moses, who brought us here from the land of Egypt.” 2 So Aaron said, “Take the gold rings from the ears of your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me.”

Right here is where Aaron falls short! Not counting Moses and Joshua, who are on Mount Sinai, seventy elders, plus Aaron’s two sons, plus Aaron also shared the covenant meal with God. That’s seventy-three men, each one of whom might demonstrate awe for God and leadership. Does Aaron even try to engage these other men? Who knows? Perhaps those men are simply waiting for Aaron to ask them before becoming involved. Perhaps Aaron is jealous of Moses and wants to prove that he can handle everything by himself. All we know is that when given the chance to stand firm for the One True Living God, Aaron collapses morally.

Aaron could remind the Israelites that the Egyptian gods they are demanding were powerless before the Lord, but he doesn’t. Instead, Aaron does one of the worst things possible; he capitulates and creates an idol of Apis, an Egyptian deity represented by a bull, a deity of strength and fertility.

3 All the people took the gold rings from their ears and brought them to Aaron. 4 Then Aaron took the gold, melted it down, and molded it into the shape of a calf. When the people saw it, they exclaimed, “O Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of the land of Egypt!”

This incident proves several things: Aaron is a wimp who has no regard for the One True Living God, even though he’s already witnessed so many miracles. While Moses has been spending time with God, Aaron clearly has not. Notice that Aaron fails to involve the seventy elders who also shared that covenant meal. Where are those guys? Hiding in their tents?

Aaron’s two sons are no better, for they also ate and drank in God’s presence, but now they are hiding in the background. “Aaron hasn’t asked for help, so let him handle it!”

5 Aaron saw how excited the people were, so he built an altar in front of the calf. Then he announced, “Tomorrow will be a festival to the Lord!”

“The Lord!” Aaron, which Lord are you talking about? The same Lord who has already forbidden creating any graven images or fancy altars? The same Lord who has called Moses to the top of Mount Sinai while covering the mountain with fire and smoke and shaking the ground on which you’re standing? The same Lord whose face you saw as you shared a covenant meal in which you promised to be true to Him forever? That Lord?

The story of the golden calf is one of the many failures of faith described in the Bible. There are many ways to examine this story. First, there is the failure of seventy-three men who came off Mount Sinai after sharing a covenant meal with God, seeing His face, and living to tell about it. What did these men say to their friends and families and to all the people under their authority? Did these men accurately share the details of the covenant with God, or did they simply preen, assuming they had become God’s favorites? Obviously, nobody was teaching anyone the fear of the Lord. Next, these men did not share Moses’ instructions to remain, to wait, and to take any problems to Aaron and Hur.

For all we know, Hur might have tried to speak up; however, Aaron might have been intent on gaining popularity with the people. After all, what if Moses were never to come down off the mountain? At that point, Aaron would become the logical leader and HE would get all the respect and attention Moses had been getting.

The saddest part of this story is that God was giving Moses all the instructions the Israelites would need, not only for their journey, but for millenia of worshiping Him. This involved process took forty days and forty nights. Had Aaron and his sons and the seventy elders handled the Israelites wisely and promptly, they could have stifled the muttering before it reached epic dimensions. But these men remained silent, perhaps hoping someone else would handle the problem. Notice that the forty days and nights had ended and that Moses and Joshua were returning down the mountain at the time Aaron produced the golden calf. The waiting period was nearly over; a few more hours would have seen Moses’ return. But the Israelites committed heresy just as God was about to bless them. The end results were anything but peaceful!

So many times, we pray and then expect God to respond immediately, not realizing that some answers to prayer take preparation. Sometimes, we are the problem for we are not prepared emotionally, physically, mentally, or spiritually for the way in which God chooses to answer our prayers. I was called to be a missionary at the age of 11; however, God did not activate that call until I was 38 years old. By that point, I had the training, experience, and maturity necessary to act on the call.

Sometimes God delays giving us money because He knows we wouldn’t handle it properly. Sometimes God’s answer remains “No,” because He knows we are asking for something that would eventually hurt us. God’s timing and His judgment are perfect.

Want peace? Wait on God’s timing and while you’re waiting, ask God to change You so that You will be able to handle the answers to your prayers the way He intends.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to wait patiently for Your perfect timing, even if waiting becomes difficult. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 24:12 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain. Stay there, and I will give you the tablets of stone on which I have inscribed the instructions and commands so you can teach the people.” 13 So Moses and his assistant Joshua set out, and Moses climbed up the mountain of God.

14 Moses told the elders, “Stay here and wait for us until we come back. Aaron and Hur are here with you. If anyone has a dispute while I am gone, consult with them.”

15 Then Moses climbed up the mountain, and the cloud covered it. 16 And the glory of the Lord settled down on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days. On the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from inside the cloud. 17 To the Israelites at the foot of the mountain, the glory of the Lord appeared at the summit like a consuming fire. 18 Then Moses disappeared into the cloud as he climbed higher up the mountain. He remained on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

Moses and Joshua set out for Mount Sinai. Joshua stays somewhere on the lower slopes of the mountain while Moses climbs further up and God’s cloud of glory covers the mountain for six days. Then God calls Moses to come up even higher. As Moses climbs higher, God’s glory appears on the mountaintop like a consuming fire. Then Moses disappears into the cloud and remains on the mountain for forty days and forty nights. Joshua remains on the lower slope, patiently waiting for his leader to reappear. But what about the Israelites at the foot of the mountain?

When God invited Aaron and his two sons and the seventy other Israelite elders to dine with Him, he was setting them apart so that they could later bear witness to Him and to His glory. We might think that Moses’ trip up the mountain deprives the Israelites of leadership, but that is far from true. The Israelites already have the tier system of judges to handle various levels of complaints. Now God has specially honored these men by sharing a covenant meal with them. These men have actually seen God in His glory, or as much of His glory as they can handle. Seventy-three men should be enough to provide leadership when the justice system proves inadequate. God has already planned for the time Moses will spend on the mountaintop. The big question is, will these men God has selected exert leadership or fail in their duties?

What is the source of your peace? If your peace depends on a charismatic leader or on a major public figure such as a popular singer or movie star, the day that person dies, your peace will be gone. Recently, Dolly Parton died with cancer. In the wake of her death, millions of people grieved, feeling that somehow, she had managed to touch their lives in ways nobody else could have. While Dolly did many wonderful things in her life, she would be the first to tell people to worship God and not her.

Sometimes, we insist that our peace must depend on someone else or something else apart from God, but nothing is permanent apart from Him. Years ago, Robert Frost wrote a poem about the transient nature of beauty, “Nothing Gold Can Stay.”

Nature’s first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf’s a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

If you know the story told in Exodus, you know that the Israelites are about to come to grief because they are insisting on Moses being their source of peace, rather than the God who has done miracles ever since the beginning of the Egyptian plagues. But what about us? Where does our peace come from? Are we depending on investments? Looking at company failures and Ponzi schemes should cure us of that notion. Are we depending on our health? Aging can bring cancer, Parkinson’s Disease, arthritis, and a host of other problems. Sometimes, family members whom we have trusted prove faithless. Our hope must be built on God, for nothing else and nobody else is permanent. And remember God’s promises in Hebrews 13:5-6. “Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to always remember that You are the only true Source of peace. Help us to trust You throughout our whole lives. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 24:1 Then the Lord instructed Moses: “Come up here to me, and bring along Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of Israel’s elders. All of you must worship from a distance. 2 Only Moses is allowed to come near to the Lord. The others must not come near, and none of the other people are allowed to climb up the mountain with him.”

3 Then Moses went down to the people and repeated all the instructions and regulations the Lord had given him. All the people answered with one voice, “We will do everything the Lord has commanded.”

4 Then Moses carefully wrote down all the Lord’s instructions. Early the next morning Moses got up and built an altar at the foot of the mountain. He also set up twelve pillars, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 Then he sent some of the young Israelite men to present burnt offerings and to sacrifice bulls as peace offerings to the Lord. 6 Moses drained half the blood from these animals into basins. The other half he splattered against the altar.

7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it aloud to the people. Again they all responded, “We will do everything the Lord has commanded. We will obey.”

8 Then Moses took the blood from the basins and splattered it over the people, declaring, “Look, this blood confirms the covenant the Lord has made with you in giving you these instructions.”

9 Then Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel climbed up the mountain. 10 There they saw the God of Israel. Under his feet there seemed to be a surface of brilliant blue lapis lazuli, as clear as the sky itself. 11 And though these nobles of Israel gazed upon God, he did not destroy them. In fact, they ate a covenant meal, eating and drinking in his presence!

So far, everything looks good. Even though the Israelites have previously rebelled over food and water, right now they are vowing, “We will do everything the Lord has commanded. We will obey.” Moses sacrifices bulls as a peace offering to the Lord, splattering the blood over the people to confirm the covenant the Lord has made. And now Moses, Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, Aaron’s two sons, plus seventy Israelite elders climb up the mountain. These men not only see God without being destroyed but also enjoy a covenant meal in his presence. Moses is thrilled; for once, the Israelites appear to be behaving themselves. And now Moses and the others are enjoying the deep abiding peace that can only come in God’s presence.

What is the significance of the covenant meal? An AI search reveals the following: The covenant meal in Exodus 24 holds profound significance as it symbolizes the establishment of a sacred relationship between God and the Israelites.

Covenant Establishment

• The meal represents the formal ratification of the covenant between God and His people, marking a commitment to follow His laws.
• In Exodus 24:11, the elders of Israel eat and drink in God’s presence, signifying restored fellowship and divine acceptance.

Spiritual Symbolism

• This meal is not merely a physical act but a spiritual communion, reflecting a higher walk with God.
• It emphasizes the importance of devotion over obligation, as the Israelites share this meal out of love and reverence.

Connection to New Testament

• The covenant meal foreshadows the Last Supper, where Jesus refers to His blood as the new covenant, linking the Old Testament practice to the New Testament understanding of salvation.
• This continuity highlights the significance of sacrificial offerings in both covenants, reinforcing the theme of redemption.

Where do the food and drink come from for this meal? Obviously, God supplies everything, including the setting in which Moses and the others enjoy the meal. These men either sit or recline in God’s presence, being comfortable while they eat and drink. Why should an all-powerful, all-knowing God stoop to accommodate these men? God, who is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, already knows that many of these men will soon rebel against Him. God knows that Aaron is so weak that when pushed, he will help create a golden calf and give credit to the Egyptian deity that calf represents for delivering the Israelites rather than glorifying God. God knows that Nadab and Abihu will later commit such gross heresy that He will have to command the ground to swallow them, their families, and all their possessions. And yet, God entertains these men, giving them a fine meal along with His peace and blessing.

This story depicts many miracles. The Israelite elders see God and do not die; in fact, they eat and drink in His immediate presence. The group make it up and down the mountain unscathed. Most of important of all, the group enjoy the Presence and the Peace of God. You might imagine that having experienced such a once in a lifetime event, these men would remain faithful to God forever; however, some of them fail miserably. Some members of the group are likely changed forever, carrying God’s peace in their hearts for the rest of their lives, while others trudge back down the mountain, enjoying a feeling of superiority without any need to worship or adore the God who has allowed them to glimpse Him.

And now, what about us? True, God has never fed us with celestial food and drink, but we are alive and breathing. Psalm 150:6 adjures us, “Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord!”  Psalm 104:33 says, “I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.” 

Want peace? When God gives you a mountaintop experience, don’t blow it! WORSHIP HIM!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, we praise You for all the special times You have given us. Help us to worship You in spirit and in truth. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 23:20-33 A Promise of the Lord’s Presence

20 “See, I am sending an angel before you to protect you on your journey and lead you safely to the place I have prepared for you. 21 Pay close attention to him, and obey his instructions. Do not rebel against him, for he is my representative, and he will not forgive your rebellion. 22 But if you are careful to obey him, following all my instructions, then I will be an enemy to your enemies, and I will oppose those who oppose you. 23 For my angel will go before you and bring you into the land of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites, and Jebusites, so you may live there. And I will destroy them completely. 24 You must not worship the gods of these nations or serve them in any way or imitate their evil practices. Instead, you must utterly destroy them and smash their sacred pillars.

Moses is enlightening the Israelites on everything God has been telling him. When Moses announces that God is sending an angel before the Israelites to protect them and lead them safely, the Israelite elders are probably buffing their fingernails on their robes and congratulating themselves on being God’s special people. But are these men really listening to the precautions that accompany these promises? “21 Pay close attention to him, and obey his instructions. Do not rebel against him, for he is my representative, and he will not forgive your rebellion.” By now, the Israelites have already threatened to stone Moses and Aaron at least two or three times, and we have no idea how much grumbling has been going on in the camp. When it comes to obedience, these folks are pretty clueless, no matter what they think of themselves.

25 “You must serve only the Lord your God. If you do, I will bless you with food and water, and I will protect you from illness. 26 There will be no miscarriages or infertility in your land, and I will give you long, full lives.

Again, God is giving great promises attached to major warnings. God already knows many Israelites have Egyptian idols hidden in their tents and that some of these people are still slyly making sacrifices and repeating certain rituals invoking Egyptian deities.

27 “I will send my terror ahead of you and create panic among all the people whose lands you invade. I will make all your enemies turn and run. 28 I will send terror ahead of you to drive out the Hivites, Canaanites, and Hittites. 29 But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals would multiply and threaten you. 30 I will drive them out a little at a time until your population has increased enough to take possession of the land. 31 And I will fix your boundaries from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, and from the eastern wilderness to the Euphrates River. I will hand over to you the people now living in the land, and you will drive them out ahead of you.

By now, the Israelites are REALLY strutting around and feeling good. Listening to these promises, the Israelites might think that they won’t even have to fight for the land but simply show up. Tood bad they aren’t paying close attention when God gives the next warning.

32 “Make no treaties with them or their gods. 33 They must not live in your land, or they will cause you to sin against me. If you serve their gods, you will be caught in the trap of idolatry.”

How would you like to be Moses? You have just come down from Mount Sinai bringing God’s commands to the people in great detail. As you begin explaining everything, you can already see that half your audience is distracted and paying very little attention. Even though God has illuminated Mount Sinai with fire, smoke, lightning, thunder, and the sound of divine trumpets, it doesn’t take the Israelites very long to fall into complacency.

It’s a human trait for us to hear selectively, choosing those facts we find appealing while ignoring anything unpleasant. How likely are people to ignore warnings? A quick internet search reveals the following:

People are quite likely to ignore warnings due to various psychological and social factors.

Psychological Factors

• Risk Underestimation: Many individuals underestimate risks, believing that they are unlikely to encounter negative outcomes. This mindset can lead to ignoring safety warnings.
• Perceived Relevance: Warnings may be viewed as exaggerated or irrelevant, causing individuals to downplay their importance.

Social Influences

• Social Proof: People are more likely to ignore warnings if they see others doing the same. Conversely, visible adherence to warnings by peers can create social pressure to comply.
• Near Misses: Frequent near misses can lead to complacency, as individuals may feel that they have escaped harm in the past and thus ignore future warnings.

Now consider the fact that Moses has nearly 2 million people whom he is trying to train as well as lead, many of whom were likely full-bore idolaters while in Egypt. Not the people in this group are Israelites, for there are those who accompanied the Israelites out of fear or curiosity. Moses knows that God means exactly what He says; however, some of these people still have a very small idea of God, assuming He is simply one more deity that can be propitiated with the right rituals.

We might read these verses and smugly comfort ourselves with the idea that we CERTAINLY would have paid close attention and would have obeyed God instantly. But is that really true? We just studied the Ten Commandments; how many times do we fail to obey the commandments about not taking God’s Name in vain? How many times have we said, “Oh, I could just KILL that person!” Romans 3:23 tells us that “All have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God.”

One political party in Ghana has as a slogan, “No Curve, No Bend!” indicating that they are straightforward in their dealings. We find peace when we study God’s Word and follow His commands, refusing to argue or compromise. May we all handle God’s Word carefully!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to be obedient in both small things and big. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 20:22-26 Idols and Altars

22 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites this: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven: 23 Do not make any gods to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold.

24 “‘Make an altar of earth for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats and your cattle. Wherever I cause my name to be honored, I will come to you and bless you. 25 If you make an altar of stones for me, do not build it with dressed stones, for you will defile it if you use a tool on it. 26 And do not go up to my altar on steps, or your private parts may be exposed.’

The Israelites are huddled at the base of Mount Sinai, quivering in their sandals. The mountain has erupted with fire and smoke and the blaring noise of divine trumpets. Nothing the Israelites have previously experienced has prepared them for this! Now that God has laid out the Ten Commandments, He is giving rules for the fashion in which He is to be worshiped, and it’s not like anything the Israelites have ever seen before.

Sure, the Israelites have seen plenty of altars before in Egypt, and they figure that’s how altars are supposed to look like. Now God is totally changing the rules.

The Israelites are used to elaborate Egyptian altars with inscriptions, carved bas relief figures on the walls, altars inlaid with gold and precious stones, and figures representing the sun, moon, and stars, animals, and even reptiles. Stunningly beautiful altars invite worshipers to worship them as well as the deities being honored.

In some mid-eastern cultures, altars are approached by long flights of stairs, and priests climbing those stairs reveal their genitalia as they climb. Depending on the deity being worshipped, in some countries, priests might not wear undergarments, although Egyptian priests wear linen breeches beneath their other robes.

God wants the Israelites to do things as simply and cleanly as possible so that they will worship Him and not an altar or a statue or any other deity. God also knows that people become what they worship, and He wants to be the sole focus of their worship. God demands that the Israelites either build altars from earth or from undressed stones. No carved images. No gold inlays. Eventually, God will order the Israelites to create a simple bronze altar that they can carry as part of the furnishings of the tabernacle. Solomon’s temple will also contain a cedar wood altar overlayed with gold, but still quite plainly designed although skillfully crafted.

In Deuteronomy 27 Moses gives God’s commands about the way in which the Israelites are to worship him in the Promised Land. 11 That same day Moses also gave this charge to the people: 12 “When you cross the Jordan River, the tribes of Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin must stand on Mount Gerizim to proclaim a blessing over the people. 13 And the tribes of Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali must stand on Mount Ebal to proclaim a curse.

What happens later when the Israelites begin straying from God? After King Solomon dies, his foolish son Rehoboam loses most of his kingdom by threatening the Israelites that he will use and abuse them even more than his father has. The prophet Ahijah has already prophesied that God will give Jeroboam ten of the twelve tribes to lead. Ahijah continues to promise that if Jeroboam will remain faithful, God will found a dynasty for Jeroboam as lasting as that of David’s. Jeroboam leads a rebellion, and ten of the twelve tribes split off, leaving Rehoboam only the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. Sadly, Jeroboam is faithless and refuses to believe God. Jeroboam goes on to mess up by creating his own religion so his people will desert the worship services God has commanded to take place in Jerusalem.

1 Kings 12:25-33 Golden Calves at Bethel and Dan

25 Then Jeroboam fortified Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. From there he went out and built up Peniel.

26 Jeroboam thought to himself, “The kingdom will now likely revert to the house of David. 27 If these people go up to offer sacrifices at the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem, they will again give their allegiance to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah. They will kill me and return to King Rehoboam.”

28 After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves. He said to the people, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.” 29 One he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. 30 And this thing became a sin; the people came to worship the one at Bethel and went as far as Dan to worship the other.

The golden calf is often associated with the Egyptian god Apis. In ancient Egyptian religion, Apis was a sacred bull worshiped in the Memphis region, considered a manifestation of the god Ptah and linked to fertility and strength. Even though Jeroboam KNOWS God has delivered the Israelites, he listens to his fears and his pride, trading on the Israelites’ knowledge of Egyptian deities. And worse is to come.

31 Jeroboam built shrines on high places and appointed priests from all sorts of people, even though they were not Levites. 32 He instituted a festival on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like the festival held in Judah, and offered sacrifices on the altar. This he did in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves he had made. And at Bethel he also installed priests at the high places he had made. 33 On the fifteenth day of the eighth month, a month of his own choosing, he offered sacrifices on the altar he had built at Bethel. So he instituted the festival for the Israelites and went up to the altar to make offerings.

By refusing to believe God and trust Him and then instituting his own religious, Jeroboam cursed his family. Rather than God establishing a forever dynasty for Jeroboam, only four generations of his family ruled before being eliminated.

Even later, King Ahaz of Judah imports an altar from Damascus during his reign, specifically noted in 2 Kings 16:10-16. This event occurs after he visits Damascus to meet with Tiglath-Pileser, the king of Assyria. An idolater who has already sacrificed a son as a burnt offering to Molech, Ahaz s is impressed by the altar he has seen there and orders a replica to be constructed for the Jerusalem Temple, replacing the original bronze altar. Ahaz commits other desecrations in the temple, all of which are faithfully recorded in 2 Kings 16.

How are we to worship God? During his encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well, Jesus told her, “But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23-24)

These days, some churches are going in for light shows and special effect such as smoke machines during worship in hopes of encouraging adrenaline-fueled enthusiasm. But what happens when special effects become the highlight of the service, rather than the Word of God? In an article entitled “Can the Holy Spirit Inhabit Smoke Machines in the Sanctuary?” Manuel Luz takes a critical but loving look at such practices. Luz writes, “But there are pitfalls and tripwires all around these issues of which we must be acutely aware. As A.W. Tozer warned, “Worship is no longer worship when it reflects the culture around us more than the Christ within us.”

At the crux of all these trends is the desire to help worshipers worship, to meet God in a transcendent and transformative way, and to give God glory. And that’s a good thing. The holes in our hearts can be filled only by God, and it is the calling of the church to help people become heart-filled and soul-alive.” This article is part of the first chapter of Luz’s book Honest Worship: From False Self to True Praise and can be found on https://churchleaders.com/worship/worship-articles/334799-can-the-holy-spirit-inhabit-smoke-machines-in-the-sanctuary.html/2.  

Earlier generations might have gotten caught up in the use of pipe organs, orchestras, incense, and glittering vestments for the choir. In some churches, the congregation is still encouraged to dress as richly as possible while in others, anything goes including very short shorts worn by kids lighting the candles on the altar. But Tozer’s comment is the best one: “Worship is no longer worship when it reflects the culture around us more than the Christ within us.”

May God help us so that we will always worship Christ and not become distracted by special effects of any kind. Only then will we enjoy God’s peace.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to worship You in spirit and in truth. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 20:17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

This is the last of the Ten Commandments, and one of the most comprehensive. Here God is forbidding His people from coveting anything that belongs to those around them. But what does the term “covet” mean? “To covet” means to have an intense desire for something that belongs to someone else. This term often implies a longing that is fueled by envy or an insatiable wish for what others possess. It can suggest a wrongful or inordinate desire, particularly when it disregards the rights of others. Here, “an insatiable wish” indicates a wish that cannot be fulfilled or appeased, no matter how hard someone tries.

While the Israelites remained in Egypt, it’s likely that they coveted the Egyptians’ possessions, their freedom, and their social status. Israelite women might have coveted the clothing they saw Egyptian women wearing. Egyptian nobles would certainly have had better food than the Israelites. But as the Israelites were leaving Egypt, the same Egyptians loaded the Israelites with their most precious possessions, begging them to leave as quickly as possible.

When I was a child, my mother would describe anyone envying someone else for any reasons as being influenced by a green-eyed monster. In fact, Mom was quoting Shakespeare. An internet search reveals the following: The term “green-eyed monster” refers to jealousy and originates from Shakespeare’s play Othello. In Act 3, Scene 3, the character Iago warns Othello about jealousy, describing it as a monster that mocks those it consumes. This metaphor illustrates how jealousy can take control of a person, leading to destructive behavior and emotional turmoil.

The phrase captures the essence of jealousy as a powerful, consuming emotion that can lead to tragic outcomes. Despite warning Othello of the danger of jealousy, Iago actually inflames it, manipulating Othello by suggesting that his wife, Desdemona, may be unfaithful. In the play Othello, jealousy consumes Othello, eventually causing him to murder Desdemona. When Othello learns of Desdemona’s innocence, he commits suicide because he is consumed by remorse.

This commandment helps distinguish the Law of Moses from other ancient codes of justice. When asking the question regarding moral regulations in ancient codes, we find the following: Ancient codes often addressed moral emotions indirectly rather than explicitly forbidding them. While there are no known ancient legal codes that outright ban moral emotions like empathy or guilt, many codes established guidelines for behavior that implicitly shaped emotional responses.

Key Examples:

• Hammurabi’s Code: This ancient Babylonian code included laws that emphasized justice and retribution, which could influence feelings of guilt or responsibility in individuals. It aimed to regulate behavior through consequences rather than addressing emotions directly.
• Ancient Egyptian Laws: These often promoted virtues like Ma’at (truth, balance, order), which encouraged moral emotions such as compassion and fairness, rather than forbidding them.
• Greek Philosophical Texts: While not legal codes, texts from philosophers like Aristotle discussed emotions in the context of virtue ethics, suggesting that moral emotions were essential for virtuous living rather than something to be suppressed.

Overall, ancient codes focused more on regulating actions and societal order than on the emotional states themselves. While many of these writings hint at jealousy as being wrong, this commandment leaves no room for doubt: jealousy is wrong, period. Those who begin by admiring another’s possessions should watch themselves carefully, least they find themselves beginning to covet. When we covet anything, we cheapen ourselves and leave ourselves open for Satan to attack in all kinds of ways. It’s a very short jump from “I WISH I had what he/she has” to “I DESERVE to have what he/she has” to “I MUST have what he/she has.” The final step in this parade is “I will SEIZE what he/she has or destroy them in the process.” Notice that we can begin by merely admiring someone else’s possessions but end in thievery and possibly assault or even murder.

Hebrews 13:5-6 tells us, “5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” 6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” When we trust in God and rest in Him, we have peace, a deep abiding peace that comforts and consoles us. We don’t have to envy anybody else, for God is our Provider and He will give us those things we need.

Perhaps one of the most poignant poems about the fallacy of envying someone else is this poem:

Richard Coryby Edward Arlington Robinson

Whenever Richard Cory went down town,

We people on the pavement looked at him:

He was a gentleman from sole to crown,

Clean favored, and imperially slim.

And he was always quietly arrayed,

And he was always human when he talked;

But still he fluttered pulses when he said,

“Good-morning,” and he glittered when he walked.

And he was rich—yes, richer than a king—

And admirably schooled in every grace:

In fine, we thought that he was everything

To make us wish that we were in his place.

So on we worked, and waited for the light,

And went without the meat, and cursed the bread;

And Richard Cory, one calm summer night,

Went home and put a bullet through his head.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to be content, realizing that You are the Source of all things good and that You will give us what we need. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.