Author: Jim Pruett

February 26, 2014

Thoughts About What We’re Reading…

Is the Tabernacle Boring?

Here in our reading, in Exodus 25, God declares His desire to dwell in the midst of His people and gives them instructions on how to build His sanctuary – the Tabernacle.

The dwelling of God in the midst of His people is a significant biblical theme.

Way back in the garden of Eden, we are told God walked through the garden in the “cool of the day”. Creation was the sanctuary in which God dwelt with Adam and Eve.

The tabernacle, like the garden of Eden, here in Exodus is where God dwells, and various details of the tabernacle suggest it is a mini-Eden. These parallels include the east-facing entrance guarded by cherubim, the tree of life (lampstand), and the tree of knowledge (the law).

The tabernacle is a tented, mobile palace, so to speak, for Israel’s divine King.

Solomon in 1 Kings 6 builds the Temple as a more permanent structure for God’s dwelling.  But when the people forsake God He forsakes the Temple and it is destroyed by the Babylonians.

Although rebuilt by King Herod, the Temple system in the days of Jesus was far from glorifying God. We read about this in the Gospels as Jesus speaks out against the Temple system and its leaders.

All seems lost… until…

We read in John 1:14 that with the coming of Jesus, God had come to dwell – to “tabernacle” among us.

We learn later in John that Jesus’ own body was the temple that would be destroyed and raised.

Thus, Jesus is the resurrected temple, He is the foundation and cornerstone of a new temple – us, the New Testament people of God.  We serve as the dwelling place for God through the Holy Spirit.

This same biblical theme is carried even further in Revelation 21-22, the new earth, the new Jerusalem.  God will be the temple, and we, His people, will have our dwelling in Him.

Thus God’s dwelling in the tabernacle was a step toward the restoration of paradise, (think Eden but better) which is to be completed in the new heaven and earth.

How cool is that?  Maybe reading about the Tabernacle is not so boring after all!

Until next time…keep reading…
Jim

February 20, 2014

Thoughts About What We’re Reading…

He Will Make A Way…

Wow – 400 years have passed since I last blogged; well you know what I mean. In the past week we have gone from the close of Genesis, through the first 15 chapters of Exodus.

In Genesis, we read about the plight of the human race, its need for salvation, the promised seed, and the covenant promises made with Abraham and his descendants.

Much has changed since we last read the story of Joseph.  Here in Exodus, we read how the sons of Jacob have become the nation of Israel. The people have found disfavor with the Egyptians and have been enslaved as a nation.  They are crying out for a deliverer and God raises up Moses to deliver his people from Egyptian rule in divine and dramatic fashion, despite the opposition of the greatest superpower in the ancient world at that time.

Exodus highlights the power and character of God, who remembers His promises, punishes sin, and forgives the penitent, despite the unbelief and disobedience of the people themselves.

As we come into Exodus 14 and the great parting of the Red Sea we are reminded that even in our most difficult times, God will make a way, when it seems there is no way.

I read a book years ago entitled, “The Red Sea Rules” by Robert J. Morgan.  I like this quote from the book,

“Exodus 14 provides a biblical method to process difficulties by faith, in the light of God’s almighty presence, providence, promises, and power. The Red Sea may roll before us; the desert may entrap us (brings a smile to us here in Lancaster, CA); the enemy may press us on our heels. The past may seem implausible and the future impossible, but God works in ways we cannot see. He will make a way of escape for his weary, but waiting, children.” 

We serve a Big God – He will make a way…

Until next time – liking and sharing these posts are appreciated, as it lets me know someone is reading them…


Jim

February 12, 2014

Thoughts About What We’re Reading…

But God Meant it for Good…

As we come to the close of our reading in Genesis, I was struck by the power of these words in Genesis 50:20, … “but God meant it for good.“

It is not easy to see the good when things are tough, especially when things just seem unfair, but Joseph did.  Joseph kept his eyes on God, his redeemer. Joseph believed in the promises of God, even through the evil storms he would face.

After plotting to kill him, his brothers instead find it more profitable to sell him into slavery.  Joseph is taken to Egypt, the lowest of slaves.  Yet through his integrity, faithfulness and hard work Joseph rises up the ranks. He is falsely accused by his benefactor’s wife and sent to prison.

While in prison, Joseph befriends the Pharaoh’s cupbearer and after two more years, he is brought in front of Pharaoh and again through his integrity, faithfulness and hard work, and the sovereign grace of God, rises to the rank of Prime Minister.

How did Joseph survive? He kept his eyes on God. Joseph knew God. He knew that God is sovereign and God is good. Joseph always gave the glory to God.  It was God who interpreted the dreams, not Joseph.

Joseph will eventually be re-united with his family, and live to enjoy his great grandbabies.

One thing we might overlook in this story of how God works is the pressure of the culture that surrounded Joseph.  Joseph would have been about 17 when he came to Egypt.  Joseph lived to be 110.  That means Joseph spent 93 years in Egypt in a hostile spiritual environment.

He was second only to Pharaoh.  Pharaoh was considered to be a god by his own people. Joseph must have been under intense and continuing pressure to conform to Egypt’s customs. Under similar circumstances, many would have capitulated. Yet Joseph remained a man of faith. He believed in a future hope – when his redeemer would come and save His people. Even on his deathbed Joseph knew God would restore his people and move them into the land of Canaan, as described in Genesis 50:23-24.

Joseph could look back on his life, the stormy times, times of hardship and loneliness and say… “but God meant it for good.”

And Joseph would look forward to a future hope with joy. As should all of us as we pray – “Thy kingdom come”…


Jim

February 6, 2014

Thoughts About What We’re Reading…

As we transition from the life of Jacob to Joseph – I thought a few implications might be helpful to some of you.

One implication to this story involves the consequence of sin. The sin of deceit. Jacob deceived his father Isaac back in Genesis 27 with the skin of a goat.  Now, he is himself deceived by his sons with the blood of a goat. Although Joseph is alive, Jacob will suffer the loss of a child and the pain and grief that goes with it.

Also, remember Rebekah would not see her son Jacob again.  She would die before his return.  The deceit she “cooked” up with her son would cost her dearly as well.

As the story of Joseph unfolds much like the story of Job, we are reminded that the apparent hiddenness of God does not mean He is absent or uncaring. Our “Big” God is in control even when we cannot see it.

The promised Messiah will come through the line of Jacob, the nation of Israel.  God is moving His people to Egypt and the story of Joseph helps us to see how they get there. In the book of Exodus, coming soon, we will fast-forward 400 years, to witness their exodus from Egypt.

Another observation and implication some may not see is the reference to Dothan. Joseph is betrayed by his brothers at Dothan and sold into slavery. Hundreds of years later, in Dothan, a story unfolds of our mighty and “Big” God at work.

Often times our fears and anxiety are the result of spiritual blindness – we just do not see God’s hand.  In 2 Kings 6, (read it and we will give you extra credit) we read the great story of Elisha and the famous chariots of fire.  The servant of Elisha awakens one morning and sees the mighty Syrian Army surrounding the city.  They have come to capture Elisha. His servant, like many of us at times, does not see the mighty hand of God at work.

He cries out to Elisha, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”

He does not see with his physical eyes what Elisha sees – the invisible world, God’s mighty hand – horses with chariots of fire.  It is only after Elisha prays that the servant can see them.

Hmmm…  only after prayer…

Until next time – keep reading…


Jim

January 29, 2014 Aside

Thoughts About What We’re Reading…

So…  why Genesis?

Dr. D. A. Carson, in his book The Gagging of God: Christianity Confronts Pluralism argues that, in order to be effective witnesses to Christ in our age, we will have to go back to the Bible and learn to present our case as the Bible itself does.

With that thought in mind, we begin with the doctrine of God as Creator, who He is and what He has done. We help people to understand how human beings are created in God’s image and are therefore responsible to God for what they do.

We describe how we have fallen from that high calling and intent, and how we now need someone to rescue us from ruin.

We must trace the narrative line of the Bible, through Abraham, Moses, David, and the other great Old Testament figures up to the climactic appearance and work of Jesus Christ.

Carson points out that our world is as spiritually ignorant and pagan as the world into which the gospel of God’s grace, both in its Old Testament and New Testament forms, first came.

So… follow me and many others as we explore these great themes through Genesis. I challenge you to hang in there and do the reading, listen to the Sermon series, review the discussion questions and read through Genesis in awe of our mighty God and the people He called to be His own.

In the next couple of days, I will post a few thoughts on the story of Abraham and highlight portions of the story that might help you to dig deeper.

Until then…

Jim

January 22, 2014

Thoughts about What We’re Reading…

Thoughts on Job

Whew!!! We did it. Tomorrow, Job will encounter God. After all the discussion about the age old problem of why do the righteous suffer, God will reveal Himself in majesty and power.

Job tries to justify himself, his three counselors charge him with sin, and Elihu’s explanations also falls short of the answer. So in Job how do we address the question of Why do the righteous suffer? What implications can we find?

After looking through a few commentaries on Job, I blended together the following thoughts:

Many people wonder why they should undergo affliction, why they should experience tragedy, heartache, and adversity. For anyone, suffering is hard to comprehend, but especially so when it strikes the undeserving. When pain does not seem to be punishment for wrongdoing, it is puzzling.

The Book of Job addresses the mystery of unmerited misery, showing that in adversity God may have other purposes besides retribution for wrongdoing.

This book also addresses the problem of attitudes in affliction. Job’s experience demonstrates that a believer, while undergoing intense agony, need not renounce God. Question Him, yes; but not deny Him.

Like Job, he may long for an explanation of his experience; but being unable to comprehend the cause of his calamity, he need not curse God. Though Job came close to doing so, he did not actually denounce God as Satan had predicted.

The Book of Job also teaches that to ask why, as Job did (3:11- 12, 16, 20), is not wrong. But to demand that God answer why, as Job also did (13:22; 19:7; 31:15), is wrong. To insist that God explain one’s adversities is inappropriate for it places man above God and challenges God’s sovereignty.

It was not until God revealed Himself in His majesty and power (chapters 38- 41) that Job, “perfect and upright” though he was, turned from his own goodness and confessed:”Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes” (42:6).

Then it was that, having seen himself to be worse than anything he had ever done, Job emerged from suffering into blessing and restoration.

Hope this helps – Jim