Bible Challenge, Week 15: The People – Blessings and Curses

The book of Deuteronomy is two things: a renewal of the covenant between God and his people, and Moses’ farewell.  Except for a brief introduction and a postscript, all of it is in Moses’ own voice, as he summons the people to give them a history lesson–all the amazing things their God has done over the last 40 years.

Now they stand on the brink of a new chapter in their saga.  Looking over Jordan, they see the promised land.

It’s time for a second covenant ceremony, and a reminder of what a covenant is.  The notion of a solemn agreement between a king and his underlings wouldn’t have been foreign to the people; it’s how things were done back then.  But God adds an element they might not have been expecting, an angle foreign to covenants at the time.  Any guesses?

Click here for the printable download, with scripture passages, discussion questions and activities:

Bible Challenge Week 15: The People – Blessings and Curses

(This is a continuation of a series of posts about the “whole story” of the Bible.  I plan to run one every week, on Tuesdays, with a printable PDF.  The printable includes a brief 2-3 paragraph introduction, Bible passages to read, a key verse, 5-7 thought/discussion questions, and 2-3 activities for the kids.  Here’s the Overview of the entire Bible series.)

Previous: Week 14: The People – Sacrifice

Next: Week 15: The Nation – Home at Last

Bible Challenge, Week 13: The People – Tabernacle

After last week’s fiasco, most of us would have ditched our “chosen people.”  The Lord even indicated that that was his inclination, but Moses (speaking in human terms, from a human perspective), “changed his mind.”  Or, as the first paragraph of the download puts it,

After the golden calf incident, God declared that He would let the Israelites go on to the promised land, but He would not go with them.  Moses intervened again: if God would not go with them, it wouldn’t be worth going.  The tabernacle was God’s answer.

Of course the Lord does nothing on the spur of the moment–even the words, “spur of the moment,” mean nothing in regard to a Being who lives outside of time.  So this was the plan all along.  But what was the purpose of the tabernacle?  And what made it even possible?

Click below for the printable download, which includes scripture readings, thought questions, and activities:

Bible Challenge Week 13: The People – Tabernacle

(This is a continuation of a series of posts about the “whole story” of the Bible.  I plan to run one every week, on Tuesdays, with a printable PDF.  The printable includes a brief 2-3 paragraph introduction, Bible passages to read, a key verse, 5-7 thought/discussion questions, and 2-3 activities for the kids.  Here’s the Overview of the entire Bible series.)

Previous: Week 12: The People – Failure!

Next: Week 14: The People – Sacrifice

Bible Challenge, Week 12: The People – Failure!

“All the LORD commands us, we will do.”  I’ve heard people say it’s easy to obey God.  Maybe they don’t realize how easy it is to think they’re obeying God, while they’re really obeying their own insights and personal revelations.

True obedience begins with true worship.  “You shall have no other gods before me” is not just about graven images to some fertility deity, or even a well-meant stand-in for Yahweh when he seems to be occupied elsewhere.   It’s also about bowing down before your own ideas about him; casting him in your image, rather than the reverse.

Aaron’s intentions might actually have been good, or what we would consider “good.”  Maybe he knew better, but was trying to keep the situation from getting out of hand.  But guess what?  The situation got out of hand anyway.  Before judging him too harshly, I need to think about myself.  With all the advantages of insight and knowledge I have (which Aaron and the primitive Israelites did not) how many times have I failed to worship the true God?

Click here for the printable download of this week’s challenge:

Bible Challenge Week 12: The People – Failure!

(This is a continuation of a series of posts about the “whole story” of the Bible.  I plan to run one every week, on Tuesdays, with a printable PDF.  The printable includes a brief 2-3 paragraph introduction, Bible passages to read, a key verse, 5-7 thought/discussion questions, and 2-3 activities for the kids.  Here’s the Overview of the entire Bible series.)

Previous: Week 11: The People – Sinai

Next: Week 13: The People – Tabernacle

 

Bible Challenge, Week 11: The People – Sinai

Two weeks ago we read how Moses first met Yahweh on Mt. Horeb.  This week, Moses has a famous meeting with God on Mt. Sinai.  Did you know it was the same mountain?  Moses has become the mediator of a covenant, and now the people are called to a covenant ceremony similar to Abraham’s in Genesis chapter 15–but bigger.  Much bigger.

Also, last week we learned that Yahweh was far superior to the gods of Egypt in power.  This week we learn his superiority in another aspect, which is so taken for granted these days we forget how utterly striking it was for the time.  It’s connected with the idea of ‘holiness’–a word we’ve encountered but haven’t examined very closely.  Now is the time to do that, with fire on the mountain and the people of God coming face to face with their deliverer and Lord.

For a printable download of this week’s reading challenge, click below:

Bible Challenge Week 11: The People – Sinai

(This is a continuation of a series of posts about the “whole story” of the Bible.  I plan to run one every week, on Tuesdays, with a printable PDF.  The printable includes a brief 2-3 paragraph introduction, Bible passages to read, a key verse, 5-7 thought/discussion questions, and 2-3 activities for the kids.  Here’s the Overview of the entire Bible series.)

Previous: Week 10: The People – Deliverance

Next: Week 12: The People – Failure!

Bible Challenge Week 10: The People – Deliverance

The stage is set for a great contest between the God of Israel and the many gods of Egypt.  Almost all cultures at that time worshipped many gods, and each deity was limited to control of a particular land, city, or natural phenomenon–not one of them was in control of everything.  But the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was about to draw a line in the sand, so to speak, and challenge the “gods” of Egypt to come out and fight.

Pharaoh thinks he is in control–he owns Egypt, doesn’t he?  He’s put his mark on the people of Israel, and they belong to him.  But God will override Pharaoh’s claim with an indelible mark of His own, ensuring that these people will never be erased from His mind, or from history.

An 80-year-old shepherd is on his way to Egypt with a thundering message . . . .

Click here for the printable download of this week’s Bible Reading Challenge:

Bible Challenge Week 10: The People – Deliverance

(This is a continuation of a series of posts about the “whole story” of the Bible.  I plan to run one every week, on Tuesdays, with a printable PDF.  The printable includes a brief 2-3 paragraph introduction, Bible passages to read, a key verse, 5-7 thought/discussion questions, and 2-3 activities for the kids.  Here’s the Overview of the entire Bible series.)

Previous: Week 9: The People – Moses

Next: Week 11: The People – Sinai

 

Bible Challenge, Week 9: The People – Moses

The sons of Jacob have become tribes, and the tribes will become a multitude called “Israel.”  God started with one man who trusted him (Abraham), chose one of his sons (Isaac) to carry on the promise, and chose one of that man’s sons to continue.  From the grandson with two names (“Cheater” and “Striver”) God is building a great nation.  It seems that Genesis has a happy ending.  But two problems come up right away . . .

Something huge is about to happen, certified by an explosion of supernatural events.  As much as unbelievers scoff at the Bible as a “book of fairy tales,” miracles are not that common in its pages (and fairies are  nonexistent).  God reserves miracles for special events, and we’re coming up on a big one.   But first we need a messenger, a human agent to put events in motion: someone who was planned for, and set aside, and providentially preserved for a time such as this.

To learn more, click here:

Bible challenge Week 9: The People – Moses

(This is a continuation of a series of posts about the “whole story” of the Bible.  I plan to run one every week, on Tuesdays, with a printable PDF.  The printable includes a brief 2-3 paragraph introduction, Bible passages to read, a key verse, 5-7 thought/discussion questions, and 2-3 activities for the kids.  Here’s the Overview of the entire Bible series.)

Previous: Week 9: The Promise – Joseph

Next: Week 11: The People – Deliverance

 

Pharaoh’s Heart: a Case Study

Ex. 3:19-20: “But I know that the King of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand.  So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders I will do in it; after that he will let you go.”

The subject came to our evaluation facility after being fished out of the Nile River.  In spite of those somewhat humiliating circumstances he did not seem humbled, or aware of his status.  He refused to state his given name, even when offered a multiple-choice test [Please check one.  My name is a) Rameses II, b) Ptolemy I, c) Aten III].  Instead he insisted upon being addressed by his title.  After a brief consultation, the staff decided not to remind him he was by no means first or last of that title.  It is an unfortunate tendency of those kings to identity with their own pantheon—not merely as a representative of the gods but as a god himself (cf. Isaiah doc., 14:17).

The subject was asked to give his version of events.  He unfolded a grandiose drama of heroic resistance in the face of overwhelming odds: blood, hail, swarms of gnats and flies, thick darkness, etc.  He insisted that through it all, his will held firm.  The few times he appeared to waver and make concessions were only strategic retreats.

Examiner: How would you describe yourself at this point?

Pharaoh: Strong. Firm.  In spite of obstacles and blows.

Ex: “Bloody but unbowed”?

Ph: (pleased with the terminology) Exactly.

Ex. What made you finally release the Hebrews?

Ph. What made me?  Nothing made me.  They crept out like skunks.

Ex. Didn’t you receive a shock in the night? Wake up to wails and screams?

Ph. What do you mean?

Ex. Can you tell me who this is?

The subject was shown an image of his son, the crown prince.  After one glance, he turned away.  It might be more accurate to say he recoiled.

Ex. Sir?  Can you tell us?

Ph. I hate him.

Ex. Excuse me?

Ph. I do not excuse you, or your wretched, spiteful deity.

Egypt is my land.  He had no business—

Ex. What are your thoughts about this statement:

For this reason I raised you up, that I might show my power in you,

and that my name

Ph. Stop!  (pause) He’s a liar.

The man’s countenance twisted until it resembled one of the demons, which was rather unsettling.

Ex. One moment please.

After a whispered conversation, the Examiner returned and placed a document on the table.

Ex. I am authorized to read you the part of the official record in which

our supervisor revealed his plans ahead of time to his servant Moses:

You shall speak all I command you and your brother Aaron shall tell Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go out of his hand.  But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, Pharaoh will not listen to you.  Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and bring my hosts, my people the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment.  The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from–*

The subject rose to his feet, snatched the document, and stomped on it.  Not content with that, he jumped up and down on it, raging incoherently.  His words below are approximate, delivered in sputtering syllables:

Ph. NO ONE raised me up!  I am born of the Sun God Ra,

whose bright blood runs in my veins!

The subject was physically restrained.  After some moments evaluation continued.

Ex. Can you say your heart has softened at all?

Ph. What?

Ex. In our experience, all human hearts are in need of softening,

but yours shows a remarkably resistant composition—

Ph. Of course it’s remarkable!  Everything about me is remarkable!

Ex. We mean, the LORD provided additional rigidity for his own purposes,

but you were already—

Ph. That was not ‘the Lord’!  That was me!

Ex. Our record shows—

Ph. Let me see that.

He turned the now-rumpled document on the table and searched its columns.

Ph. There! You see?  Here, and here and here: “Then Pharaoh hardened his heart.”

The phrasing is slanderous, though.  It should read,

“Then Pharaoh displayed his iron will.” Do you have a stylus?

Ex. Er . . . No.  The record will stand.

It shows that you had ample opportunity to repent but declined to do so,

which we attribute to an obstinate refusal to yield to any authority outside yourself.

That is not remarkable.  Now, if you will step this way for further processing . . . .

The subject had not yet had his say, but with the application of moderate force he was sent below to the office of the Accuser, who had sufficient means to fire his heart to a coal.

Conclusion: This office has received complaints that the subject was not treated fairly but rather used as a pawn in the contest of “the gods.”  Let the record show that the subject possessed rich reserves of pride and obstinacy, intensified by his position (for which he could take no credit), and susceptible to the process our superior calls “hardening.”  His will, freely operating, fit within a greater Will.

Justice is served.

*Exodus 7:2-5