Posted on February 4, 2009 at 8:28am.
You know how you have an impression about something, but don’t know that you do, until you find or discover something else that refutes the impression you have? If you have followed this so far - that’s what happened to me in the Scriptures this morning. Now, I know God is a personal God - the same yesterday, today, and forever but I often have thought about Him as more “corporate” in the Old Testament, and more “personal” in the New Testament. Sure there were folks who walked with God, great men like Moses, David, and others who had a close relationship with God, but they always seem to be “special” men. A lot of God’s dealings seem to be through great leaders like this, to his people. And in Exodus, he is clearly moving, leading, directing His people, and hearing from them, hearing their cries, and responding to their needs. The sense I pick up on is “plural” when it gets beyond those called leaders, but today I stumbled over a phrase that reminded me that God has always been personally involved with His people, individually. As God was instructing His leaders to gather the resources necessary to build the Tabernacle, he said this in 25:2 “Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from each man whose heart prompts him to give.” God, back in the day longing for a heart response in His relationship with man, God today - in the day - longing for a heart response to Him, a surrendering, a prompting, a movement in us toward Him. May our hearts prompt us to bring all we have to Him in relationship today. Corporately, and personally.
Posted on February 2, 2009 at 7:22am.
Woke up, wide awake at 4am. Tossed and turned for an hour, all kinds of thoughts rattling around in my head from “the girls”- to church stuff. The more I tossed and turned, the more awake and wrest-less I became. I finally reached for the light and my Bible (don’t worry - Terri was already up, and bless her heart - when she sees the light on she brings me a cup of coffee - I know how good I’ve got it.) I am still plodding through Exodus, and I began to read chapter 23 - where God sent an angel to His people to go ahead of them, to lead them, to guard them, to be present with them. I started wishing I had an angel this week, for the thought of it is a bit overwhelming to me today. I wished I had someone to lead me, hem me in, protect me, lead me - I love that over the top supernatural presence of the Old Testament - and though I am slow on the uptake sometimes it finally occurred to me - a second thought, I admit. I have the Holy Spirit who promises to be all of that, and more. So, I braved the cold, got out of bed, and am looking to His lead today.
