I am always reminded in these Exodus passages that God gives us the wisdom we need for the tasks He has for us. What a gift!! I was spent yesterday as a mom feeling like tackling the three year old tantrums was impossible and begged God for wisdom. Today was a sweet reminder that I have the wisdom I need, he will FILL me with it, because one “task” he’s given me is raising my children.
These verses are so special to me. I remember when I was trying to decide wether to go to South Korea for a year or not. These verses were my prayer to God, that if he wasn’t going to go with me, I didn’t want to go. As my year comes to an end here, I can see that God was with me. Even though I wasn’t always faithful and at times I would be so afraid, God never left me. What could I have ever done to deserve his love? He’s just so good! And he will help you too! God is faithful!
I love this passage. “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” -Matthew 16:25-26
Oh it can be totally confusing. I feel like I’m this world that’s what we want are black and white. In God’s world it’s not all black and white. I feel like the “work” on the sabbath is intent. Are you working on sabbath for your own glory or God’s glory? It takes me back to the story of Mary and Martha. Martha was working doing things that need to be done and that can be good. Meanwhile, Mary is listening to Jesus. If Martha was working with intent for God’s glory that whole story would have been different. Whatever we do has to be with intent for God’s glory and His kingdom. Deny ourselves and take up His cross.
In Matthew 15, Jesus accuses the spiritual leaders for maintaining their traditions (man made) and not the law, so much so that they are making Gods word void! In this passage, Jesus warns the disciples of the “leaven” of the Pharisees which could be a reference to the bad teaching of the Pharisees that had nothing to do with God’s word/law!
I took multiple things from this reading. When Aaron made the golden calf and told everyone we must worship it. He took control over everything. I took it in to our perspective in today’s world and asked myself what we worshiped? I came up with things like phone computers technology. I realized we spend so much time on that and “worship” them that we never make time for god and put matters into our own hands because we are too impatient to sit and wait for everything he has prepared for us and the blessing he has waiting for us.
I struggled with today’s reading in Exodus, and after some prayer I think it’s because some of these passages make God seem more “human” to me. He strikes out in anger, Moses uses a moral/political argument to change His mind, and His speaking to Moses in the tent as a friend is jarring to me. I live in a time when the only God with a physical form is His son, Jesus. I didn’t realize that this concept of God has created some distance between me and the Father, to the point where any other description of Him that is specific and emotive puts doubt in my heart. I’m still working this out with Him.
I’m in the process of deciding where to go to college and I’ve been under so much stress because it doesn’t look like I’ll have enough money to go to any of the places I applied. I was so humbled and brought to tears when I read about how the disciples didn’t have any bread. Jesus rejected their worry! I’m learning to trust that He will always provide.
Wasn’t Aaron just anointed as priest in yesterday’s text? And in today’s text, he has already fallen prey to sin. A good reminder to be on guard against the Devils evil plan and our complete dependence on Jesus for every moment.!
I enjoyed the two passages today because they both told about situations where people tried to take control. The Israelites took control after Moses delayed in coming down from the mountain. Peter tried to take control by telling Jesus that he wouldn’t let others harm Jesus. The Israelites didn’t trust and didn’t persevere through Moses’s absence. Peter couldn’t fathom Jesus coming to harm. Both parties acted and spoke out of fear. The fear that God wasn’t powerful enough. I will try to remember to trust the ways of God instead of preserving my sense of control.
I think it’s that it wasn’t yet time for Jesus’s deity to be revealed. The disciples were also not yet very able to spread Christ’s message because they themselves still had trouble understanding it. They constantly were asking him to explain himself and his parables.
Reading Exodus has been a little bit of a struggle for me. I feel like I keep getting caught in the small details and the monotony of it all. I don’t like the rules and regulations, and I don’t like the idea of a God constantly bringing wrath to His people. But then….I realize that maybe the reason all of this exists is so that I can realize how desperately I need him. Maybe the reason why all of these rules exist is to make me acutely aware of how insufficient I am to achieve righteousness in God’s eyes. All of the cruelties and details in Exodus point *directly to the cross.* Where I fail, Jesus succeeds. Where I sin, Christ has redeemed. When I act out and deserve the wrath of God, I am graciously forgiven, because HE ALREADY PAID THE PRICE. God is not a cruel God. He is loving. He is good, but He is just. Before Christ, His people deserved the anger and punishment. Now? I still deserve it, but Christ has already died for me. Thank You, Jesus!
I loved the passages from today. Love the intimate relationship of Moses and Jesus. So amazing that we can have a friendship with the savior of the world! However, does anyone understand how it says the Lord talked to Moses face to face as a friendship yet later in the chapter it says how no one can see His face because of His glory. How do the two of these things go together?
Becca, Theophany-“Theos” = God, Manifestation of God before incarnate Jesus & Christophany “Christos” = Christ-pre-incarnate Christ…or any time The Lord came in human/tangible form before He came to earth introduced as Jesus in NT.
Did anyone else have the corresponding gospel from Mark in church this morning? We did and my vicar was saying that v 23 was a reference to satan tempting Jesus in the desert, another example of how Jesus might be able to do it his own way, ignoring God’s plan. Jesus’ rebuke is a reminder that satan tempts us to depart from God’s plan and we must put that temptation “behind us”. I thought that was really interesting!
Couldn’t finish my comment before, so here goes. What benefit is it if I gain all kinds of recognition and praise and acclaim? Immeasurable wealth? Important career? Many dear friends? If I got all of that and didn’t have a relationship with God … if I “lost my soul” … I would be lost! Forever.
this verse is hitting me form multiple angles today. I read this in Matthew today and the corresponding account in Mark is the gospel appointed for tomorrow if your church follows the revised common lectionary. when I get the same message from multiple sources, I know I need to pay attention.
These passages today were so dynamic. I find the interactions between God and Moses both completely normal conversation and absolutely breathtakingly divine. They are friends! I sometimes think so much of fearing God and looking to Him from below and bowing down and knowing I am not worthy. While these things are true and the adoration, humility and worship is appropriate He also desires intimate friendship with His children. Sometimes it’s hard to reconcile the different characteristics of God that we see in scripture. But today, I’m just sitting in awe of the beauty of all of those dichotomies. Lord, so often I try to make sense of who you are, forgetting that your majesty is far too great for my mind to conceive. Thank you that even still, you reveal yourself to me. I anxiously await the day I will see your glory face to face and run into Your arms. Thank you Abba!
This morning’s passage in Exodus touched my heart. “Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to a friend” (33:11). What a beautiful image of the intimacy and relationship the two had. I want this intimacy, this friendship.
Then Moses goes on to say in verse 15, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here.” Lord, make it our hearts desire to be near you, to know you as a friend, and to ache for you when we feel distant. We want to be where you are. As we walk through life trying to navigate, make it our biggest desire to be by your side, to go where you go, and keep away from where you are absent. Give us clarity as we seek you, God.
I’m digging Exodus – I’ve never truly captured this before. What caught me this morning was when Moses was talking with God, to see their relationship. So open and honest. And how The Lord responded.. 17 “I will indeed do what you have asked, for you have found favor with me, and you are my friend.”
Man! How those words can seem simple yet so powerful!!
I have been so refreshed in realizing the gravity of the Gospel through reading Exodus. I decided to write a blog about what I’ve learned most recently. It’s too long to comment it all, but it’s really cool because the Lord is AWESOME! Here’s a link to the blog post if you’re interested! https://madisonwatson12.wordpress.com/2015/02/27/the-turban-plate/
There’s SO much in both of today’s reading! I love that we are so deep in Moses’s life and tomorrow we will read about the transfiguration. In the Matthew reading, I do find it interesting that when Jesus talks about people “taking up their cross” it’s before he died that way in front of them. I think that we forget that part because we already know the end of the story..but at that point, they did not know that he was going to take on the cross for them, us and everyone. That’s so profound!
Also, does anyone know the meaning of the reference to the Israelites being “stiff necked?”
Look at Peter in v.17. He is the Rock on whom the church will be built. 6 verses later he’s being told to get out of God’s way, even Peter fails. Look at what his name means: peter= the rock, simon= he has heard. Peter is the rock who heard. If hard headed Peter can hear the truth, get in Gods way and still be chosen to lead, so can we all. God will still use us even after we mess up or get in his way. That gives me peace because I am also hard headed and so not perfect but I can still be used by God
Amber I was struck by this as well and felt encouraged. I often feel like if someone is angry at me they will stay angry forever or write me off as a person. But that’s certainly not the case with Jesus and Peter. Thank you for pointing this out!
I was really confused about those verses but your perspective cleared that up for me! Man am i grateful God used Moses (a murderer who asked if God could call someone else more worthy) and Peter( an imperfect human). Thank you for your words Amber. I am so encouraged by the readings lately!
I get tickled every time Jesus calls out His disciples… “Do you still not get it?” “Are you so dull…”. I laugh because He chose to entrust the Gospel to this group of people, to build His Church. I laugh because we are the disciples now. We are the ones who don’t “get it” all the time yet He has entrusted us with the same Gospel. It’s a humbling thought to me.
Loved what you said. I laugh at that too! Every Time I read the gospels I feel more and more sure I would’ve been a Pharisee. Or at the least a “dull” disciple! Every time I roll my eyes or laugh at the disciples (or the OT Israelites) I have to remember that I’m the same as them! I keep doubting, keep relying on myself or making other “gods” etc. And yet Jesus is patient and keeps working in me despite all the doubt and self-reliance–my weakness over and over just showcases His strength. I need God so bad!
23 But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”
Peter’s comment of not wanting to believe the Lord would go to His death was one of rationale and logic – not something we would typically associate with Satan speaking. It was a totally natural thought to not want the Lord to die this way, but the second part of this verse struck me – how we are thinking of our own interests, not God’s. Anything that is not aligned with God’s interest is, well, from Satan. There’s no gray parts in God’s eyes..and although harsh, this is what truth is. Praying that He would keep gaining more of our hearts for His interest, that eventually His will would fully be our will in all our life circumstances.
12 ……Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight.
My prayer is for God to know my name!That is all the fame I need.
I think it’s amazing how Moses was able to turn God from his anger before Moses saw for himself what the Israelites were doing! It made me think, this is exactly why we need Jesus at his right hand! Jesus makes pleas for us when we bring God to anger! I also find it interesting that when Moses came down and saw the commotion himself, he became enraged & God decided to punish them, based on Moses’ anger towards them! I had no idea he chose a group (Levites) of out the thousands to kill some of the Israelites for their worship to the golden calf! I am glad I learned that today. God decided to plague them as well. I think it’s important to recognize that God gets angry! That is not to say he doesn’t love us when he does decide to discipline us, because he disciplines us in love.
I loved the chance to reflect and thank Jesus for being our intercessor as well. I’m thankful that God gets justly angry. There is a lot in this world that is dark and twisted and deserves that judgement. But I’m also thankful he is perfectly loving to His children. Only we worship a God who is equally just and merciful!
something so amazingly God to go along with this: the number of Israelites who died on the day they turned to a false god (3000) correlates exactly with the number of people in the New Testament at the Pentecost who turned their hearts towards God (also 3000)!! That’s so gorgeous to me!
There are SO many good tidbits in Exodus 33!
“Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.””
Matthew 16:15-16 NLT
It’s crazy how quick the Israelites turned. A good reminder of how we can be as well!
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Matt. 16:26 the foot of the cross is the only truly level ground.
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“my presence will go with you and I will give you rest”
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20But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” That’s our Holy & awesome God!
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I am always reminded in these Exodus passages that God gives us the wisdom we need for the tasks He has for us. What a gift!! I was spent yesterday as a mom feeling like tackling the three year old tantrums was impossible and begged God for wisdom. Today was a sweet reminder that I have the wisdom I need, he will FILL me with it, because one “task” he’s given me is raising my children.
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Exodus 33:14-15
These verses are so special to me. I remember when I was trying to decide wether to go to South Korea for a year or not. These verses were my prayer to God, that if he wasn’t going to go with me, I didn’t want to go. As my year comes to an end here, I can see that God was with me. Even though I wasn’t always faithful and at times I would be so afraid, God never left me. What could I have ever done to deserve his love? He’s just so good! And he will help you too! God is faithful!
“You do not have in mins the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” That really gives us some perspective
God didn’t “do away with” the rituals through Jesus, He fulfilled them completely. Jesus is our purification once and for all.
16Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” -ellie
May we also set our minds not on the things of man but on the things of God, forsaking the glory of the world and taking up our crosses daily.
I love this passage. “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” -Matthew 16:25-26
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Praise the Lord!!
Oh it can be totally confusing. I feel like I’m this world that’s what we want are black and white. In God’s world it’s not all black and white. I feel like the “work” on the sabbath is intent. Are you working on sabbath for your own glory or God’s glory? It takes me back to the story of Mary and Martha. Martha was working doing things that need to be done and that can be good. Meanwhile, Mary is listening to Jesus. If Martha was working with intent for God’s glory that whole story would have been different. Whatever we do has to be with intent for God’s glory and His kingdom. Deny ourselves and take up His cross.
I agree- it was confusing that the punishment was death, but I think the laws were needed to show they could not do it and needed a Messiah
Oh the glory of just the back of our Almighty. praise.
Lord let your presence be evident in our lives!
In Matthew 15, Jesus accuses the spiritual leaders for maintaining their traditions (man made) and not the law, so much so that they are making Gods word void! In this passage, Jesus warns the disciples of the “leaven” of the Pharisees which could be a reference to the bad teaching of the Pharisees that had nothing to do with God’s word/law!
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Agreed!
I took multiple things from this reading. When Aaron made the golden calf and told everyone we must worship it. He took control over everything. I took it in to our perspective in today’s world and asked myself what we worshiped? I came up with things like phone computers technology. I realized we spend so much time on that and “worship” them that we never make time for god and put matters into our own hands because we are too impatient to sit and wait for everything he has prepared for us and the blessing he has waiting for us.
So good!
I struggled with today’s reading in Exodus, and after some prayer I think it’s because some of these passages make God seem more “human” to me. He strikes out in anger, Moses uses a moral/political argument to change His mind, and His speaking to Moses in the tent as a friend is jarring to me. I live in a time when the only God with a physical form is His son, Jesus. I didn’t realize that this concept of God has created some distance between me and the Father, to the point where any other description of Him that is specific and emotive puts doubt in my heart. I’m still working this out with Him.
I would be honored to see the back of God.
I’m in the process of deciding where to go to college and I’ve been under so much stress because it doesn’t look like I’ll have enough money to go to any of the places I applied. I was so humbled and brought to tears when I read about how the disciples didn’t have any bread. Jesus rejected their worry! I’m learning to trust that He will always provide.
I’m graduating college in May and let me tell you… the lord provides! He is the best Father ever, all we have to do is lean on Him.
Wasn’t Aaron just anointed as priest in yesterday’s text? And in today’s text, he has already fallen prey to sin. A good reminder to be on guard against the Devils evil plan and our complete dependence on Jesus for every moment.!
I enjoyed the two passages today because they both told about situations where people tried to take control. The Israelites took control after Moses delayed in coming down from the mountain. Peter tried to take control by telling Jesus that he wouldn’t let others harm Jesus. The Israelites didn’t trust and didn’t persevere through Moses’s absence. Peter couldn’t fathom Jesus coming to harm. Both parties acted and spoke out of fear. The fear that God wasn’t powerful enough. I will try to remember to trust the ways of God instead of preserving my sense of control.
That’s such a good way of looking at it! Thank you!
Love that, KK
Bless because I was about half way to skimming the rest of Ex! Thank you for sharing and connecting the dots!
Matt16:20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.
Can someone help give insight on this? I thought the disciples were supposed to be spreading the word of Christ? Thanks!!
I think it’s that it wasn’t yet time for Jesus’s deity to be revealed. The disciples were also not yet very able to spread Christ’s message because they themselves still had trouble understanding it. They constantly were asking him to explain himself and his parables.
27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.
Sometimes this Hope , that I will one day see my friend JESUS is the only thing I have to hold on to.
Reading Exodus has been a little bit of a struggle for me. I feel like I keep getting caught in the small details and the monotony of it all. I don’t like the rules and regulations, and I don’t like the idea of a God constantly bringing wrath to His people. But then….I realize that maybe the reason all of this exists is so that I can realize how desperately I need him. Maybe the reason why all of these rules exist is to make me acutely aware of how insufficient I am to achieve righteousness in God’s eyes. All of the cruelties and details in Exodus point *directly to the cross.* Where I fail, Jesus succeeds. Where I sin, Christ has redeemed. When I act out and deserve the wrath of God, I am graciously forgiven, because HE ALREADY PAID THE PRICE. God is not a cruel God. He is loving. He is good, but He is just. Before Christ, His people deserved the anger and punishment. Now? I still deserve it, but Christ has already died for me. Thank You, Jesus!
Wow! Beautifully put thanks for your insight
I loved the passages from today. Love the intimate relationship of Moses and Jesus. So amazing that we can have a friendship with the savior of the world! However, does anyone understand how it says the Lord talked to Moses face to face as a friendship yet later in the chapter it says how no one can see His face because of His glory. How do the two of these things go together?
Becca, Theophany-“Theos” = God, Manifestation of God before incarnate Jesus & Christophany “Christos” = Christ-pre-incarnate Christ…or any time The Lord came in human/tangible form before He came to earth introduced as Jesus in NT.
I could not help but share my thoughts on the past few chapters in Exodus on my blog and facebook page.
http://desiretomoldagodlymarriage.blogspot.com/2015/03/gods-desire-for-meticulous-detail.html?m=1
Did anyone else have the corresponding gospel from Mark in church this morning? We did and my vicar was saying that v 23 was a reference to satan tempting Jesus in the desert, another example of how Jesus might be able to do it his own way, ignoring God’s plan. Jesus’ rebuke is a reminder that satan tempts us to depart from God’s plan and we must put that temptation “behind us”. I thought that was really interesting!
Mt 16:16 “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”
Couldn’t finish my comment before, so here goes. What benefit is it if I gain all kinds of recognition and praise and acclaim? Immeasurable wealth? Important career? Many dear friends? If I got all of that and didn’t have a relationship with God … if I “lost my soul” … I would be lost! Forever.
this verse is hitting me form multiple angles today. I read this in Matthew today and the corresponding account in Mark is the gospel appointed for tomorrow if your church follows the revised common lectionary. when I get the same message from multiple sources, I know I need to pay attention.
I laughed out loud at Aaron, “I threw the gold in the fire, and out came a calf!”
That totally made me chuckle.
These passages today were so dynamic. I find the interactions between God and Moses both completely normal conversation and absolutely breathtakingly divine. They are friends! I sometimes think so much of fearing God and looking to Him from below and bowing down and knowing I am not worthy. While these things are true and the adoration, humility and worship is appropriate He also desires intimate friendship with His children. Sometimes it’s hard to reconcile the different characteristics of God that we see in scripture. But today, I’m just sitting in awe of the beauty of all of those dichotomies. Lord, so often I try to make sense of who you are, forgetting that your majesty is far too great for my mind to conceive. Thank you that even still, you reveal yourself to me. I anxiously await the day I will see your glory face to face and run into Your arms. Thank you Abba!
Amen to that, Becca!
This morning’s passage in Exodus touched my heart. “Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to a friend” (33:11). What a beautiful image of the intimacy and relationship the two had. I want this intimacy, this friendship.
Then Moses goes on to say in verse 15, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here.” Lord, make it our hearts desire to be near you, to know you as a friend, and to ache for you when we feel distant. We want to be where you are. As we walk through life trying to navigate, make it our biggest desire to be by your side, to go where you go, and keep away from where you are absent. Give us clarity as we seek you, God.
Yes, Becca. Thank you for this comment, even a year later it’s speaking to my heart.
I’m digging Exodus – I’ve never truly captured this before. What caught me this morning was when Moses was talking with God, to see their relationship. So open and honest. And how The Lord responded.. 17 “I will indeed do what you have asked, for you have found favor with me, and you are my friend.”
Man! How those words can seem simple yet so powerful!!
I have been so refreshed in realizing the gravity of the Gospel through reading Exodus. I decided to write a blog about what I’ve learned most recently. It’s too long to comment it all, but it’s really cool because the Lord is AWESOME! Here’s a link to the blog post if you’re interested! https://madisonwatson12.wordpress.com/2015/02/27/the-turban-plate/
There’s SO much in both of today’s reading! I love that we are so deep in Moses’s life and tomorrow we will read about the transfiguration. In the Matthew reading, I do find it interesting that when Jesus talks about people “taking up their cross” it’s before he died that way in front of them. I think that we forget that part because we already know the end of the story..but at that point, they did not know that he was going to take on the cross for them, us and everyone. That’s so profound!
Also, does anyone know the meaning of the reference to the Israelites being “stiff necked?”
My study bible says stiff-necked refers to the stubbornness of the people toward God.
Look at Peter in v.17. He is the Rock on whom the church will be built. 6 verses later he’s being told to get out of God’s way, even Peter fails. Look at what his name means: peter= the rock, simon= he has heard. Peter is the rock who heard. If hard headed Peter can hear the truth, get in Gods way and still be chosen to lead, so can we all. God will still use us even after we mess up or get in his way. That gives me peace because I am also hard headed and so not perfect but I can still be used by God
Amber I was struck by this as well and felt encouraged. I often feel like if someone is angry at me they will stay angry forever or write me off as a person. But that’s certainly not the case with Jesus and Peter. Thank you for pointing this out!
I was really confused about those verses but your perspective cleared that up for me! Man am i grateful God used Moses (a murderer who asked if God could call someone else more worthy) and Peter( an imperfect human). Thank you for your words Amber. I am so encouraged by the readings lately!
I get tickled every time Jesus calls out His disciples… “Do you still not get it?” “Are you so dull…”. I laugh because He chose to entrust the Gospel to this group of people, to build His Church. I laugh because we are the disciples now. We are the ones who don’t “get it” all the time yet He has entrusted us with the same Gospel. It’s a humbling thought to me.
Loved what you said. I laugh at that too! Every Time I read the gospels I feel more and more sure I would’ve been a Pharisee. Or at the least a “dull” disciple! Every time I roll my eyes or laugh at the disciples (or the OT Israelites) I have to remember that I’m the same as them! I keep doubting, keep relying on myself or making other “gods” etc. And yet Jesus is patient and keeps working in me despite all the doubt and self-reliance–my weakness over and over just showcases His strength. I need God so bad!
So true Anna – love your perspective. Thanks for sharing!
23 But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”
Peter’s comment of not wanting to believe the Lord would go to His death was one of rationale and logic – not something we would typically associate with Satan speaking. It was a totally natural thought to not want the Lord to die this way, but the second part of this verse struck me – how we are thinking of our own interests, not God’s. Anything that is not aligned with God’s interest is, well, from Satan. There’s no gray parts in God’s eyes..and although harsh, this is what truth is. Praying that He would keep gaining more of our hearts for His interest, that eventually His will would fully be our will in all our life circumstances.
No gray areas- love it! Thanks for this reminder!!
12 ……Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight.
My prayer is for God to know my name!That is all the fame I need.
I think it’s amazing how Moses was able to turn God from his anger before Moses saw for himself what the Israelites were doing! It made me think, this is exactly why we need Jesus at his right hand! Jesus makes pleas for us when we bring God to anger! I also find it interesting that when Moses came down and saw the commotion himself, he became enraged & God decided to punish them, based on Moses’ anger towards them! I had no idea he chose a group (Levites) of out the thousands to kill some of the Israelites for their worship to the golden calf! I am glad I learned that today. God decided to plague them as well. I think it’s important to recognize that God gets angry! That is not to say he doesn’t love us when he does decide to discipline us, because he disciplines us in love.
This touched me too – how we are actually in a position to intercede and “negotiate” with the God of the universe. Amazing!!
I loved the chance to reflect and thank Jesus for being our intercessor as well. I’m thankful that God gets justly angry. There is a lot in this world that is dark and twisted and deserves that judgement. But I’m also thankful he is perfectly loving to His children. Only we worship a God who is equally just and merciful!
Yes! We need a God equally just and merciful! Thank you for saying this!
something so amazingly God to go along with this: the number of Israelites who died on the day they turned to a false god (3000) correlates exactly with the number of people in the New Testament at the Pentecost who turned their hearts towards God (also 3000)!! That’s so gorgeous to me!