Exodus 32 thoughts

While Moses was on the mount getting the Commandments from the Lord, they wanted to have gods they could see and hold to say they brought them out of Egypt. They hadn’t seen Moses in a while and didn’t know what happened to him. So they asked Aaron to make idols for them, which he went along with.


Aaron was 2nd in command, 1st in Moses absence. He was the one responsible for making sacrifices to the Lord. Instead he took their jewelry and made calf’s for them. When Moses came down and saw it, he confronted Aaron who blamed it on everyone else. He had so many excuses and to him none was his fault. Moses commanded those to serve the Lord to come out of the camp, and the Levities responded.

They had to purge the sin from the camp. About 3000 men were killed that day. What about the rest? They did nothing to stop it, but they apparently served the Lord. They had to eat the commandments God wrote, i.e. they weren’t free themselves.

After the sin was purged Moses returned to the mount to re-commune with God and to make an offering. Crazy thing 32:32 Moses tells God to blot his name out too if Israel is to loose her inheritance. He totally stood in the gap for the people he loved. Do we?

God's wrath was stayed.

Angels named in the Bible

Recently I was asked about which angels were named in the Bible and if satan was one of them. This assessment is what i came up with.

In various religions and extra-biblical literature there are several other angels named, for the purpose of this the term angel shall refer to the celestial beings described with the term "angel".

In the Bible there are 3 definite Angels mentioned by name.

Gabriel: And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, (Luke 1:26)

Micheal: Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. (Jude 1:9)

Apollyon/Abaddon: And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon. (Revelation 9:11)

There is another being that is mentioned by name Lucifer/Satan. In examining what his estate is and whether it's as an angel, cherubim, or seraphium I will provide references and let you come to your own conclusions. the verses will follow the explanations.

1*Angel: The idea of Lucifer (Isa 14:12) being a fallen angel is a tradition in the catholic church, even alleging the possibility of being an archangel. Tradition and common thought aside we know from earlier Scriptures Michael is an Archangel. In Revelation 12:7 we are told he has angels – meaning authority as a leader over them, also being numbered among them. 2 verses later in Rev 12:9 we find the dragon (satan, that old serpent, the devil) also is numbered among his angels over whom he has command because they followed the dragon during the fall in Rev 12:4.

2*Cherubim: Those that subscribe to the idea Lucifer/Satan is a cherub see Isa 14:12 and notice similarities between what is written/said there and what is in Eze 28:11-19 about the king of Tyre. There is a deceleration that he was there in the garden, which a man could not have lived to Ezekiel's day and had been in the garden . In verse 14 it states he is a cherub.

3*Seraphium: The idea that the devil could be a seraphium is a little harder to explain. The word “Seraphium” is from the Hebrew “sarap” which means “to burn or poisonous.” Thus, seraphim are known as the “burning ones” which reflect their burning love for God. In Isa 6:2 and 6:6 the word rendered “Seraphium” is same as “fiery” in Numbers 21:6,8 when relating to serpents. We know from Genesis 3 that the devil appeared as a serpent. In Isa 14:29 God uses an example of a flying fiery serpent as an illustration for the judgment to come using the same word as used for satan in the garden with a similar description.

1.

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! ( Isaiah 14:12)

And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, (Revelation 12:7)

And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. (Revelation 12:9)

And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. (Revelation 12:4)

2.

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! ( Isaiah 14:12)

Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.

(Ezekiel 28:11-19) *Emphasis added.

3.

Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. (Isaiah 6:2)

Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: (Isaiah 6:6)

Strong's words H8314, H5175

And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. (Numbers 21:6)

And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. (Numbers 21:8)

Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina, because the rod of him that smote thee is broken: for out of the serpent's root shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent. (Isaiah 14:29)

Hhhhhhhmmmmmm.........

So I was reading a friends blog about missing friends and family, and I was wondering.

I was wondering if sometimes when I am not close with the Lord if I miss Him like I miss friends and family that I'm not around. Does He miss the old days, when I used to walk with Him, and talk with Him, and when I was excited I was His own? I know when I left my parents' house my mom called me like everyday for a while and always "checked up" on me. And even today my parents "check-in".

So what about God? I can barely go a couple days not seeing a friend before I become saddened. He obviously is greater than I. And, when I'm away, He has others who tell Him He is loved when I don't, so that makes it alright. Right?

Okay, maybe not so much, because I have more than one friend (I have 3, maybe 3.5) but though I am with some friends I still miss hanging with the others. And i have learned that time makes no difference. I miss people I haven't seen in years just the same.

So now I feel real bad, because I know that when I invest in a relationship just to see it fall away later, it sucks. And this is what has happened. Jesus vested heavily in me, just to have me throw it to the side. So now I am left in need of a Redeemer..... Who should I call? Ghost busters????? No, that's not right. Well maybe I should call up an old friend and see if He knows what I should do.........
Oh, there it is He said redeem the time for the days are evil. Oh, and though He missed me, He's glad to hear from me again. Something about even though I left Him, He never left me. But that's all for another time.

Exodus

2:20 Moses and us get rewarded, no good deed is overlooked.
3:3 Moses stopped the way he wanted to go, and headed toward God.
3:11-12 Moses asked God, "Who am i?", God's response... "Who am I?"
4:14 God stops saying "say" and starts saying, "do"
12 The blood covered them to save, not their ethnicity.
13 Sacrifice of the firstborn (redeem) Jesus is the first born of all creation.
13:17-18 God lead them through the wilderness, He was in control the whole time - leading.
14:14 The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace!
14:31 People will believe God as He does works in your life.
16:4 In the same way do we eat our bread?
18:11 People know God is alive and powerful when He shows up in their lives.
19:5 We are a treasure unto God if... Tit 2:1, 1Pet2:9
19:6 We're them... Rev 1:6, 5:10, 20:1
20:26 God is our covering... Gen 3:7, I Cor 11
22:29 Don't delay to tithe.
23:20 His Angel is sent before us to keep us in the way and to prepare a place.
25:2 Offerings are given with the heart not hands.
28:30 The Holy Spirit should be on our heart continually before God, not just in.
29:34 Blessings left for tomorrow are lost.
29:37 Our lives are suppose to be on the altar, if so we and the people we touch should be holy.
30:15 All, both rich and poor, are treated as equal.
34:29-35 God's glory rubbed off on Moses, does it do the same on us?
35:22 Everyone who wanted had an opportunity to participate in making the altar.
36:5-7 The people brought so much they had to be told to stop.

An Offering

Exo 36:5-7 And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the LORD commanded to make. (6) And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing. (7) For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much.


This passage has me thinking, "When God told Moses to ask for an offering of the people, they gave so much they has to be told to stop, it was too much."

It is a bit convicting that their dedication was so much they not only gave too much already, but they were still giving more and had to be told to stop. This is the same group of people that just a couple chapters before wanted a golden calf made, and before that were murmuring becuse the food was not what they wanted. The story of Israel's journeys mirror life a lot.
They have their ups and downs, their victories and defeats, and their own trials. I love to see how God uses them and takes care of them inspite of their actions.

What is the thing that is most compelling about them? They are usually wholly given to whatever task, even as Peter was. They are indifferent whether it is a task glorify God or against him, their whole hearts and lives are fully vested, there is no half way. Their lives are ones of dedication, not as most lives today, which suffer from timidness and slothfulness. Now to focus that on Christ...

Lord teach me dedication solely to the tasks You have.

The Wilderness

Mat 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

I have been looking at this verse over and over again. What is it saying, I know there's a deep truth here, but for some reason it is a mystery. I'm trying to draw it out, and the best I can come up with seems lacking.

Here I see just after an amazing time in His life Christ is then led into wilderness to be tempted, That God would not only allow us to be tempted but lead us into it seems unnerving to be honest.

But then again it is my wisdom - or rather lack thereof - that tells me that. Israel was lead into the wilderness to keep them from being dismayed by battles before they were strong enough, also God was able to meet Moses face to face because of there position and He showed Himself strong as a provider during this time. The old adage, If God brought you to it, He can get you through it.

After Jesus went to the wilderness (knowing it was the wilderness and still choosing to go) He was thrice tempted, and I think I can learn from each. First was on His authority, satan told Him if He was God He could turn the rocks into bread so He could eat (He'd been fasting). Jesus responded not by arguing with satan, but by quoting Scripture in it's proper context to remind Himself and satan what the Word is.

Then, satan proved he knew the Bible as well, he quoted Scripture (out of context). This lets me know that not only does satan know Scripture, He uses it out of context to manipulate the situation. In the garden he asked Eve, hath God said, then misquoted Scripture to lure her. We need to know Scripture, but we also need to know its proper context. Christ responded with Scripture in its own proper context.

Finally, satan tempted Jesus with a kingship that was rightfully His anyway. The only problem here was that it was before His rightful time, so to get it now he'd have to bow to satan. To me this rings loud, because I often want what is rightfully mine, but I just don't want to wait for it.
Here we see Christ waiting, powerful. Again He responds with Scripture.

I need to respond with Scripture in it's proper context to fight back against satan when attack, but is the wilderness just for my benefit? God forbid.

The previous chapter Mt 3:1 John was in the wilderness, and he was preaching there. I am suppose to minister to others regardless of my estate.
Lord help me to be a righteous testimony for you, regardless of whether I'm in the wilderness or on the mountain top.

Why?

Job 42:5-6 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. (6) Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

So many times I stop and ask, "Lord, why ...". It has been a steady theme (though at times it has decreased and others increased it has always been there). Recently I was talking to a friend and thinking, why do I ask "why?"

It seems a little simple, and it reveres the juvenile game of asking, "Why?" and being told, "Because", "Because, Why?" back and forth. I decided this was a problem for me and it needed a little more research, so I did a little investigating, below is what I found.

I am not alone, there are about 50 verses of people asking, "Why, Lord?" and 40 asking, "Why God?" In the midst of all these there are 2 passages that really stand out and have a crazy outcome.
John 9:1-7 is a good example (included at the end) The man was not blind due to sin, but rather the reason he was "suffering" from blindness was so God could show the world Christ had the power to heal. He was used to show the world Christ power, so it is sometimes in my life.
The other really awesome passage is in Job. Job is overtaken by a lot of trash even though the Bible declares he was righteous and after his 3 "friends" keep trying to tell him he is guilty, he starts to wonder and ask God, Elihu responds to him he is innocent, but thats not enough God say He will answer all of Job's questions if Job can answer one of God's. God takes 4 chapters to ask Job a list of questions, to which Job responds, oops. And realizes "Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. (9) For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Shall I give what I cannot keep, to obtain that which I can never loose? Will I lean on my own understanding, or will I acknowledge Him in ALL my ways? The question, "Why?" may present itself, but my response will be "Because God."

-Here's to accountability!-



John 9:1-7
(1) And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
(2) And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
(3) Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
(4) I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
(5) As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
(6) When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,
(7) And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.