We left off yesterday at the beginning of a list of 613 laws that elaborate on the basic 10. Now, I must admit that I am not a lawyer or a bible scholar. I do have a degree in accounting, but I'm pretty sure that that one mainly would fall under "Thou shalt not steal." Now, alot of these are mainly common sense. You know, just be nice to each other! After all the children of Israel were ALL related. I know some families where this isn't such good news. Frankly, I admit to having been pretty much shocked about the things people do to each other, all the while convincing themselves how right they are, and how it's justified in some way. Alot of the commandments are just common sense. The ten commandments are recognized as a moral foundation in Jusaism, Christianity and Islam. Everyone is related in some way to someone, if only we could go back far enough, we could trace our lineage to Noah and to Adam! That should mean something. It's mindbogling to me when I imagine the possibilities. At about that time I give it to God.
In today's bible passage, there are further laws about personal injury, some of which we mentioned yesterday. Followed by laws about protection of property, social responsibility, justice and mercy, sabbath, and three annual festivals, I know that Moses wrote the first 5 books of the Bible. (These are called the pentateuch, which is greek for 5 books. That's about the extent of my scholarly information.) I imagine him in the role of judge and settling disputes and hearing these cases all day long. There must have been some common occurrences to make it necessary for the 613 laws to be written down by Moses. Something else that strikes me about these laws, is that even though they were written aeons ago, many of them are things people are still doing to each other today - though the punishments have changed in some cultures anyway.
At the end of Chapter 23 God tells Moses that he is sending an angel ahead of the people to guard them and guide them. They were to listen to him and do what he told them. He would protect them from other tribes of people not chosen by God.
Then God told Moses to come up on the mountain with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu and 70 elders of Israel. Moses was to go up to the Lord alone though. When Moses told everyone about all the Lord's words and laws they all said they'd do all the Lord had told them to do. Then Moses wrote it all down. Moses made a blood sacrifice and sealed his covenant (promise) with God. Then Moses, Aaron, Nadab and Abihu as well as the 70 elders went up to Mt.Sinai and saw God and ate and drank. I don't know why I am surprised that it sounds like they had a reception. Why not? We are talking about God here and with God nothing is impossible. Under God's feet was a pavement of sapphire as clear as the sky. God told Moses that He would give him the stone tablets on which He had written the law and commandment to use to teach the people. Moses went with Joshua further up the mountain and left the others below with Aaron and Hur in charge. A cloud covered the mountain for 6 days. It looked like the mountain was on fire to those remaining below. On the 7th day God called to Moses then he entered the cloud and spent 40 days and 40 nights there. During this time God gave Moses specific instructions and plans for his sanctuary or tabernacle and told him to follow the design precisely.
God tells Moses to tell the Israelites to bring him an offering. Moses is to receive these offerings given by men whose hearts prompt them to give. A free will offering - literally. The list of what was needed in order to create God's sanctuary, were highly valuable items - the best of the best - precious metals, gemstones, linen yarn in vivid blue, purple, and red, and goat hair, animal skins, acacia wood, olive oil, spices, and anointing oil and incense.
Tomorrow read Exodus 25:10-27:21
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