The Bible Challenge: Day 21

The scriptures read are Exodus 4-6, Psalm 18: 21-50, and Matthew 19.

Exodus 4. Moses is still trying to get out of leading his people out of Egypt. "They won't trust that I came from God." "Here are a few signs to convince them." "I stutter." "Fine, your brother can do the speaking. But you're going!"

Mighty casual leave-taking of Jethro. The equivalent of "I gotta go and do something."

Why is God trying to kill Moses after sending him out? Or is it stated this way because at this point in Jewish theology everything, good or bad, is attributed to God? The threat to Moses is vague. Was he sick? Anyway, Zipporah discerns that their son needs to be circumcised, something Moses neglected to do, and she does it herself. She seems ticked off at her husband. Reluctance to do what God commands seems to be Moses' besetting sin.

Aaron meets up with his brother and they start organizing the Hebrews.

Exodus 5. The first meeting between Moses, Aaron and Pharaoh does not go well. In fact, Pharaoh thinks the Israelites are lazy and makes their work harder. The Israelites blame Moses and Moses complains to God. "We're doing what you're saying, God? Why do things seem to be getting worse?" A common question among believers who really try to follow God.

Exodus 6. God gives Moses a pep talk. Moses is still pessimistic and can't stop talking about his stutter. Plus a family breakdown. Then back to Moses and his stutter.

Psalm 18:21-50. The exhilaration of triumph.

Matthew 19. Love Peterson's phrasing here, though, of necessity, it leaves out other interpretations. I've always taken Jesus' quizzical remarks about being a eunuch as referring to his own unmarried status, highly unusual among rabbis. His remarks on marriage are clear enough. Certainly a "don't cast stones if you've sinned" moment for those who are looking for external causes of the regrettable decline in the value placed on marriage. The best way to prevent divorce is to impress on people clear thinking before entering into marriage.

Then Jesus and the rich guy and more squirming for those of us who are members of the top 2% in the world, a world where the average wage is $2 a day. Do our possessions possess us? Could we give up everything for Jesus?

Love the way Peterson phrases Jesus' response to the disciples', "Then who has a chance at all?" "Jesus looked hard at them and said,'No chance at all if you think you can pull it off by yourself. Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it.'"

Also I love his line about the "Great Reversal."