“The woman of folly is boisterous; she is naïve and knows nothing… calling to those who pass by, who are making their paths straight…” (Proverbs 9:13-15)

Proverbs personifies wisdom and foolishness as two women calling out to the peoples of the world.  The woman of wisdom offers a hard but straight path, and the woman of folly never stops enticing those who choose that straight path to take the easier route instead.

         Choosing wisdom is a way of life, not just a singular decision, and foolishness never stops beckoning for us to choose convenience over character.  The easy path is rarely the rewarding one.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: Exodus 25-32; Psalm 9; Proverbs 9 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.” (Proverbs 9:17)

Sin is thrilling, and sometimes the temptation is simply the exhilarating feeling of doing something rebellious.  The moment you are told not to, you want to.  Pride entices us to rebel against authority and to swim upstream for the sake of being different.

The irony is that everyone wants to be a rebel.

Be unique – do the right thing.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: Exodus 25-32; Psalm 9; Proverbs 9 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“Aaron shall carry the judgment of the sons of Israel over his heart before the LORD continually.” (Exodus 28:30b)

         The job of the high priest was to stand as advocate for the people.  He was to be the mediator between God and them.  Which meant the high priest had to have a heart for the people.  He needed to carry their judgment upon his heart as if it was his judgment, too.

         And that is exactly what Jesus does.  Jesus is the High Priest who carries our judgment upon His heart.  He bears our names upon His shoulders and our sins upon His cross.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: Exodus 25-32; Psalm 9; Proverbs 9 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“You shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty.” (Exodus 28:2)

         When God created the pattern for the tabernacle and the priestly vestments, God designed them to be beautiful.  He didn’t have to.  He chose to.  God loves beauty.

         Look around and you will see a world our Father has made stunningly beautiful simply because that is what He wanted to do.  His is not an omnipotent robot – He is a God with an eye for the aesthetic.  Our love of beauty comes from Him.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: Exodus 25-32; Psalm 9; Proverbs 9 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“Tell the sons of Israel to raise a contribution for Me; from every man whose heart moves him you shall raise My contribution.” (Exodus 25:2)

         Giving is consistently described as an action of the heart, or more specifically, biblical giving is described as an action of the heart.  God wanted the Israelites to contribute to building the tabernacle by raising money from those whose heart’s were moved.  The New Testament tells us to help our brother with his needs and not to “shut our hearts” (see 1 John 3:17) to him… and all giving to God should be done as a “cheerful giver” (see 2 Corinthians 9:7).

         People give for many reasons – out of obligation, for tax deductions, or to be noticed by men.  None of these reasons are worthy of faithful giving.  We must learn to give from the heart if we are to learn what Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive,” (see Acts 20:35).

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: Exodus 25-32; Psalm 9; Proverbs 9 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“I will not drive them out before you in a single year, that the land may not become desolate and the beasts of the field become too numerous for you. I will drive them out before you little by little, until you become fruitful and take possession of the land. ” (Exodus 23:29-30)

         We often want instant results, but instant results can have ugly consequences.  God told the Israelites they could have the Promised Land, but He would give it to them slowly so that the land would be healthy, and they would be strong enough to possess it.

         What we consider trials are often strength-building exercises God gives us to prepare us to not be ruined by the blessings He has in store for us.  “Little by little” isn’t about God being incapable; it is about the timing being right.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: Exodus 15-24; Psalm 8; Proverbs 8 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“You shall not follow the masses in doing evil…” (Exodus 23:2)

         One of the basic tenets of a life well lived is to not let others live it for you.

If you are going to choose the narrow gate to salvation (see Matthew 7:13-14), you better stop following the crowds.  Normal stinks.

Be different; think for yourself.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: Exodus 15-24; Psalm 8; Proverbs 8 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“…for the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone.” (Exodus 18:18)

         You are not a better person than Moses was.  The tasks of leadership, service, and life are too heavy for you.

         Stop trying to go it alone.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: Exodus 15-24; Psalm 8; Proverbs 8 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“When they measured it [the manna] with an omer, he who had gathered much had no excess, and he who had gathered little had no lack; every man gathered as much as he should eat.” (Exodus 16:18)

         When God introduced manna into the daily lives of the Israelites in the wilderness, it was the beginning of the concept that Jesus would eventually make famous in His prayer – give us this day our daily bread.

         Every day there was enough for large and small families alike.  Yet, in typical human fashion, we see individual Jews attempting to game the system… gathering and hoarding in an attempt to have a security blanket for their needs.  God consistently thwarted those plans.  His desire was for them to realize that they would always need Him for their sustenance.  From the wilderness to the Promised Land, the concept would be the same.  God is the provider and the source of all we have.

         As the text says, “Those who gathered much had no excess and those who gathered little had no lack.”

God met their needs all the same.  Look to the source, not the stuff.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: Exodus 15-24; Psalm 8; Proverbs 8 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“Then he [Moses] cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree, and he threw it into the waters, and the waters became sweet.” (Exodus 15:25)

         Have you ever noticed that God often performs miracles through weird processes?  Jesus uses mud to cure a blind man’s eyes, Elisha stretches on top of a dead body three times to raise the dead, and in the above case, Moses throws a tree into a lake to turn the water from bitter to sweet.

         I don’t know all the reasons for these strange methods God uses to enact His signs and wonders, but perhaps at least one of those reasons is the absurdity of it.  Everyone knows trees don’t turn bitter waters into sweet potable water.  Yet, God does exactly that.  Maybe part of the message to Israel (and by extension us) is that God can do whatever He wants.  Have faith – the path may look strange, but God has a way of turning bitter roads into sweet futures.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: Exodus 15-24; Psalm 8; Proverbs 8 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision