The Study of Exodus with Tina Rains - Chapters 21-24

Exodus 21- 24

Today we are in Exodus 21 through 24. We're talking about the Book of the Covenant. This section of Exodus is dealing with basic laws. Primarily these laws deal with the protection of human life and property. These laws were based on the character of God and principles expressed in the 10 commandments. The people were asked to obey God and obligate themselves to Him.

The Book of the Covenant actually starts an Exodus 20 verses 22 to 26. In the John Maxwell Leadership Bible, they highlight the “Law of the Picture”. God establishes a clear example. His people were given the instructions and explicit consequences as well. A clear picture was laid out by God. He laid out severe consequences. People have to understand the whole picture and the consequences. Often times humans actually need a visible demonstration.

We see explicit laws and consequences in these books. 

In the laws, He addressed:

1. servants
2. capital crimes
3. children and parents
4. kidnapping 
5. injuries
6. slaves
7. a pregnant woman injured 
8. injured by an animal
9. property damage animals injured or killed
10. stealing of animals
11. crops
12. other people’s belongings
13. miscellaneous laws
14. rape
15. sorcery
16. bestiality
17. idolatry
18. selfishness
19. reviling authority
20. delay of obeying
21. defiled meat
22. justice 
23. observing the feasts

God was very clear and addressed so many issues that are prevalent today. God left nothing out. I encourage you to read each of these chapters and ask the Lord how He would want you to apply these laws in your life. The 10 commandments and the book of the covenant are given to us by God as a rule book but also as a gift. When we love God with all our hearts we want to obey Him and be more like Him. We find it so much easier to keep his law.  It doesn't mean life will be easy. It doesn't mean life will be perfect (or that we will be perfect).  It does mean we can have peace and joy in the midst of it because we are right with God. God is a God of grace and He is also a God to be feared & honored. He knows our hearts. I believe the number one thing he is looking for is for us to love him with all of our hearts. When we do, we have freedom, peace, joy, and victory. There are penalties for breaking His laws. Many of my worst times in life were a consequence of sin. God didn’t cause it, however, He allowed it. Life is a choice. When we surrender to Him, we win. There is freedom and that is the greatest gift we have from following our Savior. We are His MASTERPIECE and he has great plans for us.  We are all sinners. The beautiful thing is that as we get closer to Him, we choose to sin less, worship more, and grow exponentially. It is such a gift. He loves us so very much!

In chapter 24 we see where the people responded in verse 3 “Everything the Lord has said we will do.” Moses then wrote it down. In verse 12 God called Moses back to the top of the mountain where he would give him the tablets of stone with the law and commandments that God had written. Moses stayed up there for 40 days and 40 nights (verse 18).

In Exodus 24 verses 1-7 We see a great example of The Law of Buy-In: Leading Change as taken again from the John Maxwell Leadership Bible.

The Israelites are off to a new start. They had to change their lifestyles. It took shrewd leadership. 

“Peter Drucker helps us to learn from Moses about how to lead people into change even in the wilderness:

Lessons from the wilderness:

• Magnify the plagues. To make the pharaoh release God's people, Moses called down the plagues and he didn't stop until the old system gave way. At this stage, problems are your friend. Don't solve them; they convince people that they need to let go of the old way.

• Mark the ending. What a symbolic and memorable “boundary event” Moses had in the crossing of the Red Sea! After his people walked through the waters on dry land, there was no turning back.

• Deal with the “murmuring”. Don't be surprised when some lose confidence in your leadership somewhere between where they came from and where they're going. Moses heard things like, Does our leader know the way? We've never done it this way before! What was so bad about Egypt? In times of transition, look for opportunities to show concern for how your people feel; Interact with the strugglers.

• Give people access to decision-makers. Thanks to Jethro, Moses appointed a new cadre of leaders to narrow the gap between the people and the decision-makers. As a result, the people felt more connected.

• Capitalize on the creative opportunity of the wilderness. it was in the wilderness, not the promised land, that a big innovation took place: God handed down the 10 commandments. Some of your biggest breakthroughs will also take place in the wilderness.

• Resist the urge to rush ahead. It often seems that little happens in the wilderness, but great transformation takes place there. Don't jeopardize it by hurrying ahead or removing the pain of giving birth to a new vision. Let God do his work.

• Understand that “wilderness leadership” is special. Moses did not enter the promised land. His kind of leadership fit the transition time, where things seemed confusing and fluid. The nation needed Joshua to enter Canaan, because he led the military, and because a settled life required new skills. Movements and organizations don't always need a new leader, but they do require a new style of leadership once the transition is complete.”

I love how the Bible is constantly giving us great examples of leadership.

In Exodus 24:9-18, God calls us to worship him. In John 4: 23-24 God is seeking people to worship him “in spirit and in truth". “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you” James 4: 8. God created us in his image. He is calling for his people to worship him, not because we have to, but because we want to. 

May you be blessed, today sister! God is doing new things and great things in you and through you. May you sense his presence greater than ever. Spend some time worshipping today. Draw close to our Father and be blessed.

Much love,

Tina

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