Exodus and Week One Questions

EXODUS 39
Paying attention to the descriptions of the priestly garments helps me to understand why God singled out a few people to fill with the Holy Spirit, gifting them all the knowledge and skill needed to carry out His instructions for everything related to the tabernacle.

It also makes me wonder how heavy these garments were and whether Aaron and the later priests started out with the strength to wear them or if He blessed them with extra strength whenever the garments were worn.

EXODUS 40
God said that the anointed priesthood of Aaron and his sons would continue for all generations to come. Are there still Aaronic priests out there somewhere?

It is written that Moses set up the tabernacle: set the bases, frames, poles, spread the tent and covering and then placed all the holy items where they belonged. No one else is mentioned and the section concludes with "And so Moses finished the work." Did he do all this work alone? How did he get those huge coverings and curtains up by himself?

THE GLORY OF THE LORD: Would I be more obedient to Christ if I had such a clear and obvious sign as the cloud and fire that told Moses when to go, where to go and when to stay?

WEEK ONE QUESTIONS
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Reading Assignment Genesis 1:1 - Exodus 40:38

FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS:
1a. How was your reading this week?

One week's assignment took almost two weeks for me to complete. Perhaps this will be the 180 day challenge for me rather than 90.

1b. What challenges did you face in getting your reading done?

Poor time management and lack of discipline.

1c. What was the most effective thing you did to meet those challenges?

I set up reminders to pop up on the computer to stop what I'm doing and read the Bible.

2. What kind of reading routine seems to work best for you, given your activities and schedules?

Reading in the late afternoon or after the girls go to bed. Sometimes both if necessary.

3. As you read the Bible this week, which particular thought(s) and/or event(s) stood out to you or surprised you? Why?

God made a covenant with Noah's family AND all the animals that He would not flood the entire earth like that again.

I never before picked up on the animals being included in that covenant. It makes me hopeful that there will be plenty of animals to play with when my time here is over.

4. Which question(s) came up during your reading for which you'd like to find answers?

Did Moses actually see the face of God or was Moses in the presence of His glory? It is written that Moses spoke with God face to face, as a man speaks with a friend. Then it is written that no one may look upon the face of God and live. So, how exactly did Moses talk to God face to face?

DISCOVERY QUESTIONS:
1. In what ways did Adam and Eve's sin affect their offspring and the world in which they lived?

They had to work, and work hard at that, to get anything to grow and make a living.

Basically Adam and Eve's sin made life hard for all that came after them as they had released the knowledge of evil, as well as good. Perhaps they did not understand good fully while living a life of ease in a beautiful garden with all of their needs taken care of.

2. What kind of a man was Abraham? What plans did God want to accomplish through him? What did God commit himself to do?

Abraham followed God but was not perfect.

God's ultimate plan was to redeem all of us through Abraham's descendants ... one in particular (obviously).

God committed to give Abraham more descendants than could be counted. He also committed a certain area of land to belong to His chosen people starting with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

3. As you read about what happened to Joseph and how situations in his life worked out, what surprised you? If you were writing a novel about his life, what would you title it? Why?

There are a number of things that surprise me about Joseph's life story. I guess the biggest is how he kept a good attitude and trusted in God regardless of what happened to him.

I would title my novel "God's Dreamer" because dreams (his own and others) were so central to his story. Dreams made his brothers jealous and angry. Dreams got him out of prison. Dreams gave him power over all Egypt and beyond.

4. In what ways do you think Moses changed between his time in the Egyptian court and when God spoke to him from the burning bush forty years later? What do Moses' objections to God's call to deliver Israel from bondage reveal about his insecurities and view of God?

I think Moses was more deliberate and even-tempered. I can't think of the words to express myself. Moses came from the highest class and then had to run away and fend for himself. He might have thought the rules didn't necessarily apply to him growing up in the palace. Life outside the palace may have taught him that they do.

Moses felt he was a poor speaker and did NOT want to talk in front of people. Moses thought that people might just dismiss and ignore him.

His view of God? I'm not sure. Moses seemed to think perhaps God had made a mistake in choosing him. God doesn't make mistakes!

5. What kind of a picture of God are you developing through your reading so far? What are some of God's characteristics and attributes, and how did he demonstrate them to His chosen people?

God loves us very much (an understatement) and wants what is best for us. He has great patience but if you don't come around eventually ... watch out If you turn against Him and intentionally participate in behavior that He expressly abhors He will remove His hand of protection.

God provided bread, water and meat to His people while they wandered the desert for forty years. This demonstrated both His caring and the consequences for willfully going against Him.

6a. What do you think was God's purpose in providing the Israelites with so many specific instructions regarding daily life and worship?

To teach them the proper way to live. The way that would be healthiest for them in every way. Above all to teach them to be obedient to Him.

6b. What did God demonstrate, through the tabernacel, about His commitment to be with His people?

It was a physical/visible dwelling place for His glory. They could literally see when He was with them. I know that everything to do with the tabernacle is a foreshadowing of Jesus, unfortunately my tiny brain has yet to fully grasp it. If I have grasped it at all yet.