For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

    The proverb writer lists seven things which God detests. We sometimes think that some of these are worse sins than others, forgetting that the thought process behind the “least” of these is the same as behind the “worst”.

    I cannot speak with the same confidence the psalmist expresses. I have not always acted with integrity and my trust in the Lord has wavered. However, I will still place myself before God and request that He test me and try me. I will not sit with the deceitful and do not associate with hypocrites. I will bring myself before God and throw myself on His mercy.

    When Jesus was confronted about where He got the authority to drive the merchants out of the Temple He responded with a question which showed the unwillingness of the official leadership to take a stand. They claimed the authority to speak for God, yet when challenged to take a stand they were unwilling to either admit their previous failings or stand up to popular opinion. Jesus then told two parables which each condemned them in different ways.
    First Jesus showed us that being righteous requires action, not just lip service. We are asked to compare those who, when asked, refuse to commit to take actions to help others. Yet, when it comes time to action, their actions actually do benefit those less fortunate than themselves. There are others who are constantly telling us how much they desire to help those less fortunate than themselves. Yet their actions, even those they claim are intended to help (maybe even especially those actions), always seem to benefit only themselves and their friends. God is not fooled when we claim to do His will but do our own, nor is He fooled when we make a show of rebellion but do His will anyway.

    Then Jesus shows us that the religious leaders who had confronted Him had been given legitimate authority. However, they had failed to live up to the obligations which went with that authority. As a result, they would be stripped of their authority and God would give it to others. The same will happen to those who have been given authority today if they make the same mistake. God does not give authority to people in order for them to serve their own interests. He gives it to them in order for them to serve others and to serve Him. Are we using whatever authority God has given us to do so?

    When the Israelites left Egypt, God did not lead them on a direct path to Canaan. The direct path would have led them into confrontation with armies prepared to face a potential invading Egyptian army. God knew that if the Israelites, at this time, were confronted by organized resistance they would divide and scatter. So, He had Moses lead them in a direction which would allow them to face an armed foe which they could not escape by scattering. How much of their path was determined by divine intervention and how much by Moses’ experience from 40 years tending his father-in-law’s flocks is open to debate (although, to be perfectly honest, I believe that Moses’ forty years tending flocks was part of God’s divine intervention).
    As expected, when the Israelites were confronted by an army (in this case, Pharaoh’s pursuing army), they panicked. However, there was no place to go that offered hope of escape. Moses responded to their panic by telling them to keep calm and watch what God would do. God responded to their panic by telling Moses to raise his staff over the see which was behind them, dividing the sea. The Israelites fled through the division in the sea as if on dry ground. When Pharaoh’s army pursued they became bogged down. It is worth noting that the Israelites would have been on foot. The animals they would have had would have been herds of sheep and goats. They may have had (and probably did) wagons with wide cargo wheels, designed to go over rough ground, drawn by draft animals, which would have had broad hooves. The Egyptians on the other hand were mounted, mostly on chariots. The chariots would have had narrow wheels, optimized for speed. Any riding horses they had would have also been optimized for speed (or at least more so than draft animals) and thus had narrower hooves. Thus the Israelites would have been able to pass over the dried crust of the mud that was on the bottom of the sea as if it was hard, dry ground. The Egyptians, on the other hand, with their narrower wheels and hooves would have broken through the crust to the mud underneath (the fact that the Israelites had crossed ahead of them would have made matters worse). In this case, and in these circumstances, the Israelites were able to cross much faster than the Egyptian army. This was the only circumstance where a large group of mixed civilians could have outpaced an army. It also explains why the Egyptian army was unable to escape when the waters returned.
    When the Israelites reached the other side and witnessed the destruction of the pursuing force, they praised God and sang of His glory. Do we look at our lives and give God credit for “our” victories? Or do we think our success is a product of our brilliance and hard work? When things go well in my life, I will sing this song (or something similar):

     I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. In order to make that possible I read the passages and write my thoughts a day, or more. in advance. My work schedule has recently changed, meaning that I may not have time every day to complete these. As a result, I am trying to get several days ahead. I hope this does not negatively impact the quality of these posts (if that is possible). If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

     This passage is such a great metaphor for the way in which God often leads us to the ministry He has planned for us. He led the Israelites out of Egypt, but in order to keep them from facing opposition they were not yet mentally or spiritually prepared for He led them by a circuitous path. In addition, He led them in such a manner as to make it seem that they were helpless and could be easily recaptured by the Egyptians. How often do we react the way the Israelites did when the path on which God has led us has brought us to a place where we can see no way out?
     I just realized that I am often like Moses in that situation, but not because my faith is so strong. No, I call out to those around me to not be afraid, but to stand and watch what God will do because I am scared to the core of my being and doing that is the only way I can avoid curling up in a ball and crying in fear. I wonder if that was what Moses was doing, covering his fear? I will say this from my experience, loudly telling those around you to stay calm and trust in God is a wonderful way to actually feel calm and to trust in God for deliverance. This story gives a great illustration of God’s deliverance when all seems lost. No matter what situation you find yourself in, remember, it is not possible for it to be more desperate than the situation the children of Israel found themselves in here. They were a collection of untrained rabble, with their women and children and all of their possessions weighing them down facing what was one of the finest fighting forces of the day. Yet they emerged victorious with no casualties while their enemies were wiped out for all practical purposes, without ever exchanging a blow with their enemies. God did indeed fight for them, and He will fight for you.

     The leading priests and religious elders confronted Jesus and wanted Him to tell them where He got the authority to throw the merchants and money changers out of the Temple. In response, Jesus asked them to first tell Him where John the Baptist’s authority to baptize came from. Now I have often heard this as a clever move by Jesus to reveal the nature of their question as a trap and to get out of answering it (since it was a trap). And that is not wrong. However, there is more to it than that. Jesus’ question actually reveals something about the source of authority. The religious leaders refused to answer Jesus’ question because to say John’s authority came from God raised the question of why they did not follow John’s teachings, which would have thus also been from God. On the other hand if they said that John’s authority was merely human, they were afraid that the crowds would tear them apart. This demonstrated their own unwillingness to stand up for what they believed was right in the face of human opposition. Jesus on the other hand had just stood up for what He believed was right in the face of the clear opposition of the political authorities.
     Jesus then tells a story about two brothers. Their father approached each of them in turn and asked them to go work in the fields. The first brother told his father that he would not go, but later changed his mind and went to work. The other brother eagerly agreed to do as his father asked, but then did not actually do so. This is quite a direct commentary on so many of those who consider themselves Christians. They are quick to say they will act according to God’s will, but are often hesitant to actually go out to proclaim God’s forgiveness to sinners and to show God’s love to the needy. Which son am I?

     I read this psalm and realize how much I have fallen short, but this psalm inspires me to strive to do better going forward.

• I have not always acted with integrity

Forgive me, Lord

• I sometimes waver in my trust in God

Forgive me, Lord

• I sometimes forget your unfailing love

Forgive me, Lord

• I do not always live according to your truth

Forgive me, Lord

• I spend time with liars
• …and sometimes go along with hypocrites

Forgive me, Lord

• I wash my hands to declare my innocence

Forgive me, Lord

But now I stand on solid ground because I put my trust in the blood of Jesus Christ and not myself. I will publicly praise the Lord

     I never noticed how the seven things in this passage all feed into each other. All of these sins grow out of the sin of pride. Those who think they are more important than others lie, steal, and kill without compunction because they believe that others do not deserve to be treated with respect.