January 29th | Exodus 23
Rules for Life
I love a good list of rules. And the book of Exodus gives us just that- a nice list of rules for how the Isrealites should live life. Some of the rules that we are reading about seem out of touch for us today-like the ones chapter 22 about oxen butting each other or not covering up pits or later in chapter 23 when it commands them not to boil a young goat in its mother’s milk. But then there are others like the first verses of chapter 23 that jump off the page at me and scream “Hey you! Pay attention!”
23:1 “You shall not spread a false report.”
YIKES. I don’t like to admit to how many times I’ve fallen into that one and I bet you don’t either. How often do we choose not to silence gossip and slander? Maybe we aren’t the ones starting the gossip- but not putting it rest is just as sinful.
23:8 “You shall not take a bribe.”
Go with me here…how many times do you keep quiet or not stand up for what is right because you’re trying to help out someone who has helped you before? Sometimes we don’t have to physically “take” a bribe- but we don’t do what is right because of other’s opinions.
23:12 “On the seventh day you shall rest.”
This rest doesn’t just mean you should kick your feet up and relax and watch a football game or your favorite movie- although I think that is okay to do too! This rest is the Sabbath rest- it is our time to stop working and to pause and remember that God is in control. It gives us a much needed opportunity to refocus our attention and our heart back on him.
23:14 “Three times a year you shall keep a feast to me.”
This might be my new favorite Bible verse! I love a good potluck…don’t you?! Back to the point…God tells them to have these feasts mentioned to help them remember WHO HE IS and WHAT HE HAS DONE. We need moments, too, where we can pause and reflect and remember what he has done for us.
The Israelites needed these reminders for how to live a holy life to honor and commune with a Holy, perfect God. God gave them this list of “rules” for living because he KNEW they would sin- there would be conflict because they were sinful people who lived in a sinful world.
Would they fail at keeping them- you betcha! But, God knew that and that’s why he sent his son Jesus- the only one who could uphold and fulfill the law perfectly.
