Here is the secret of how to live justly in response to the Grace of Almighty God and also how to preserve the community of faith. These Chapters in Exodus 19 to 24 teach us about Justice - how to husband agriculture responsibly - spelling out minimum fellowship requirements for this Hebrew people which apply to us today in so many ways - and how to walk in God’s Ways.

To express it another way - God is teaching us how to treat each other - how to treat our neighbours - and how we are to regard and respect our gracious and merciful and loving God.

If a man does not know the Word of God, he is in trouble - and when we consider the nation, if man does not know the Word of God, the nation, the community, society are all in trouble.

We have to work at it too. God has not one single good word to say about lazy people!

If you know what Jesus says to us through the Word then things happen, not only is there growth and maturity, but the Word influences our behaviour and our attitudes.

Airline pilots are thoroughly examined every six months regarding their ability to fly aircraft - to keep their licence - and not just medically. It can be good for us too to examine ourselves closely on a regular basis - and see if we pass the stringent test of the manual. Of course, we are involved in self-examination too each time we approach the Table to eat the bread and drink the wine. I Corinthians Chapter 11.

This was a great breakthrough. We are here because we became involved in one of God’s great breakthroughs into the life of men - through Jesus Christ.

And, thinking of the importance of the Bible we also need to remember that this Book is a miracle. It has been supernaturally preserved down through these past 2,000 years. And God says, “That’s My Book”.

All the time we read these verses - and as we read these lessons from the life of Moses and the people of God - we get involved in the excitement of seeing the people of God moving on.

Paul never settled down when he knew that Jesus was calling him to keep moving on. He never camped and decided that was where he was going to remain. These people kept their eye on the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire.

Every time we come to the Bible - expect to see something of the pillar which is guiding and directing and leading.

In these Chapters God is doing something exciting and thrilling on the earth - and there were horrid and horrible things happening too.

When we become involved with God - when we become involved with Jesus - just like Moses and these chosen people - He asks of some of us, what he may not ask of others. That can be hard to accept to begin with. As long as you remain in the Word - and hold to the Covenant and to the book of the Covenant - that can save us from years of heartache - and perhaps years of wandering around in the wilderness - not knowing what to believe - or what to do next - and not knowing where to go next.

When you see someone going round and round in circles, that is sure sign of confusion. You never see Jesus Christ going round in circles, confused.

We are called to be committed to the God of the Bible. The Bible is our authoritative absolute which Jesus Christ has given us, by which we can test all our experiences, and determine our fundamental viewpoints, that are to be foundational for our living.

None of us can afford to base our life upon anything other than God and His Word. We cannot base our life and ministry upon a rumour - or a myth - or a legend - or upon something that may not be true. We base our life upon this holy Word - which is inspired by the Holy Spirit - and brought to life by the risen Christ.

These Chapters were and are vitally important to Israel - and they are vitally important too to those of us who belong to God through Jesus Christ.

When the Hebrews disobeyed these commandments, things went wrong in Israel - and God in His Love and Mercy would raise up a man - a leader - to call the people back to His ways - and as they returned they began to prosper again, just as the Lord had promised.

As soon as man realises that he has gone wrong - and returns openly and publicly and repentantly to Jesus Christ - as soon as he is forgiven - things begin to change - and he begins to prosper once again.

When a man no longer believes in God - when a man no longer believes in His Word - it is not that he no longer believes - he just believes anything - and will go into all kinds of philosophies and activities.

What God has to say to us time and time again is, “There is only one God and I do not change”. Many years ago a colleague sensed God saying to him - “You and I are incompatible and I change not”.

In Jesus Christ, we are called to be a Covenant people in Exodus 23 verses 20 to 33, where we read of what man is called to do and what God promises to do. God was sending an angel to guard - and to bring them into the place which he had prepared for them - verse 20. The people are to respond carefully and positively.

“Pay attention - do not rebel - listen carefully.”

Verse 22 - I will be an enemy to your enemies - and oppose those who oppose you.

Verse 24 - we are called in Christ to have nothing to do with false religion. This is our part of the Covenant - and this is what they had to promise. Total commitment and total obedience and dedication to God our loving heavenly Father - and to Jesus Christ and His Word.

Now, do take time to study the text and may our living God richly bless you as you study His Holy Word.

Sandy Shaw

Sandy Shaw is Pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship, Chaplain at Inverness Prison, and Nairn Academy, and serves on The Children’s Panel in Scotland, and has travelled extensively over these past years teaching, speaking, in America, Canada, South Africa, Australia, making 12 visits to Israel conducting Tours and Pilgrimages, and most recently in Uganda and Kenya, ministering at Pastors and Leaders Seminars, in the poor areas surrounding Kampala, Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.

He broadcasts regularly on WSHO radio out of New Orleans, and writes a weekly commentary at http://www.studylight.org entitled “Word from Scotland” on various biblical themes, as well as a weekly newspaper column.

His M.A. and B.D. degrees are from The University of Edinburgh, and he continues to run and exercise regularly to maintain a level of physical fitness.

Sandy Shaw
sandyshaw63@yahoo.com

Tags: Education, inspiration, leadership, Moses, Motivation, Secret, spiritual, Study, truth

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