Victory Dance
Two books into the Torah, and we have just happened across the oldest portion of scripture.Exodus 15 is perhaps the oldest portion of scripture. Why is that? Because it was sung besides the Red Sea, by a group of people, in an act of liturgy. This was likely written down long before the rest of the Torah. It contains some of the most "raw" revelation of God.
God is depicted as a warrior God. Israel sings his praises like children applauding their favorite super-hero. "He has thrown the horse and the rider into the sea!" "He is my Father's God" His "Right hand shatters the enemy." This God is the toughest God that could ever exist. This God split a sea in half by blasting it with His nostrils. There is no statement of Monotheism per se, but there is a view that he is the supreme God. He is the toughest God. He destroyed the Egyptian gods, He conquered Pharaoh, he delivered them from Egypt, and because of that, He is the best God.
The song boasts about how the inhabitants of Canaan have already been defeated. The song shows their true confidence in God. They know that if God delivered them from Egypt, then surely, God can give them the land that was promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
But eventually...
The murmuring begins. "If only we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger."
It's funny how this happens almost immediately in the text. God is shown as faithful, and his people are shown as fickle. God demonstrates amazing power, they believe, they get a little hungry, and they doubt God's ability. God delivers them from this doubt by giving them bread and quail. He tells them to only gather for the day, but never for two days, unless it's the day before the Sabbath, then he would allow them to gather for two days.
It's funny how this happens almost immediately in the text. God is shown as faithful, and his people are shown as fickle. God demonstrates amazing power, they believe, they get a little hungry, and they doubt God's ability. God delivers them from this doubt by giving them bread and quail. He tells them to only gather for the day, but never for two days, unless it's the day before the Sabbath, then he would allow them to gather for two days.
God is teaching his people to trust him. They are not to worry about the next day, but to believe in God's promise. God said that he would bring more Manna tomorrow. God oftentimes asks us to trust him for our sustenance. He has delivered us, and he will not let us go. He did not rescue us, He did not save us, He did not die for us, just to see us wither and die in the wilderness.
Now, Jesus said that He came from heaven, and compares Himself to the manna which fell in the wilderness, and tells us to eat His flesh. The body and the blood of our Lord is what sustains us. The Holy Communion is the pinnacle of Christian Worship. Through Holy Communion, we are able to stand at the feet of the Cross. We participate in an Eternal event. We encounter the crucified Lord, and take the position of John, at his feet.
Now, Jesus said that He came from heaven, and compares Himself to the manna which fell in the wilderness, and tells us to eat His flesh. The body and the blood of our Lord is what sustains us. The Holy Communion is the pinnacle of Christian Worship. Through Holy Communion, we are able to stand at the feet of the Cross. We participate in an Eternal event. We encounter the crucified Lord, and take the position of John, at his feet.
The Murmuring Continues...
Essentially the same complaint occurs, except this time, the people demand water. Again they accuse the Lord of being incompetent. Apparently, Israel believes that God can deliver from Egypt, and from hunger, but not from thirst. It almost seems impossible to believe. Except if you put yourself in their shoes. In fact, if you were just entirely honest with yourself, you would acknowledge that you do this too. Imagine, walking, for days in the desert. No water. The sun beats down on your face, and you stagger around, and you look all around you, and in every direction all you see is sand. For all you know, you, and all your family, are wandering aimlessly.
But God delivers Israel again from their complaints. And He gives them water, and they are refreshed. But this leaves a bitter taste in the mouth of Moses. He names the river Massah and Meribah, which means Test and Quarel, and he writes, "The Israelites quarrelled and tested the LORD saying "Is the LORD among us or not?"
But God delivers Israel again from their complaints. And He gives them water, and they are refreshed. But this leaves a bitter taste in the mouth of Moses. He names the river Massah and Meribah, which means Test and Quarel, and he writes, "The Israelites quarrelled and tested the LORD saying "Is the LORD among us or not?"
Exodus 17 and the Epistle of Barnabas
Recorded in Exodus 17 is the first war that Israel has to fight. Israel fights against Amalek. Moses, Aaron, and Hur go up to the mountain. When Moses' arms were raised, the people were victorious, when they dropped, the people would lose the battle. So Aaron and Hur stood beside Moses and lifted his arms up, so Israel would win the battle.
Now, Barnabas wrote an Epistle, and in this Epistle, Barnabas writes that this is a type of Jesus. That when Christians look to the cross, they are saved from their enemies, and that if Jesus' arms were never stretched out, there would be no victory over sin, death, and Satan.
Now, Barnabas wrote an Epistle, and in this Epistle, Barnabas writes that this is a type of Jesus. That when Christians look to the cross, they are saved from their enemies, and that if Jesus' arms were never stretched out, there would be no victory over sin, death, and Satan.
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