Exodus 31

 

In chapter 20 God begins his discussion with Moses about how Israel is to live by saying that they are to worship him alone and never make another god to worship alongside God. Now we get to the end of God's commands in this section and God ends with the command to Keep the Sabbath. God is so intent on this command that he repeats it 3 times in a very short section (5 verses). There are several reasons God gives Israel to keep the sabbath but the one here is so they will be holy. Why? Because they will be doing what God did.

So what do I see in this beginning and end? The first is not to add any other gods to their lives. They are to trust God alone. On keeping the sabbath they are first trying to look like God but also it is so they won't trust themselves as the source of their provision or make themselves gods. Taking a sabbath takes faith, faith that the work will get done, and that you don't have to keep busy. God begins and ends by telling Israel to look to and live like God.  

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The Hedgehog Church

 I know, "The What?" It sounds strange, but I think that there are business principles that can apply to the church. The principle that I'm looking at is the Hedgehog principle from Jim Collin's book Good to Great. The principle is that the great companies in his book focused on one thing (product or process) and strived to do it better than everyone else. What was observed is when you try to do too many things you don't do any of them great. Now before you dismiss me, I'm not saying that we should only have one program at church like great music, great youth services, or dazzling preaching (I do my best but I don't put the 20-30 hours a week into the messages and staff to help critique it), but I do think that sometimes we focus on what we can't do and then falter in what we do well or maybe even great.   

First, we need to take a look and see what we do well and encourage it. We have all heard or maybe even been the child who gets all A's and one C. What is talked about? The one C, even when that is the subject that we just don't "get." People often do not talk about the things excelled at. There are some things children, adults, business, and, yes, even church will never do well at. A tone-deaf person won't ever be able to sing professionally, except maybe in a comedy group. A small church in southern rural Texas will probably never be able to have an ice fishing ministry let alone a church orchestra. A church full of introverts won't have a great street ministry, just as a church full of extroverts won't have a thriving prayer closet ministry. Paul talked about this in 1 Corinthians we are a body of different parts, let's accept that and focus on the parts we have. 

Second, we need to quit trying to do what we have failed or will fail at. Unless God does something wild, and let's admit sometimes he does, a small community of retired people isn't going to have a thriving youth ministry. Neither is a church surrounded by poverty going to have a million-dollar mission budget. Yet, I have seen pastors and church leaders try to get churches in those situations to do both. I have seen guilt trips laid on and people quit trying to do anything for God. They are asking the nose to be an eye and can't see the problem if we use the Apostle Paul's term. 

I hope this gets you thinking but I had to ask what does this have to do with me and the churches I'm at? I have had only the opportunity to talk with someone in leadership at Selma Christ (Sorry or Congrats, New Burlington you're being thought of but not commented on). What is it that we do better? I confess that I try to make the preaching the best I can but I'm not Charles Swindoll. We don't have the personnel to be the best musical church though I'm pleased with what we have. What does Selma Christ do that I/we need to recognize and continue to strengthen? I have to say it's hospitality (not the word I originally thought of but it's correct). The church is welcoming, and helping, any time there's an offering to meet a need they are generous, they give encouragement to the downtrodden, and they support their pastor (I'm not talking money here though they are generous there too but in so many ways I can't write about). Selma Christ is a church filled with people who have the gift of hospitality, and they use it.  

So, Selma Christ, I think you are the best church in the area when it comes to hospitality. Do you do other things? Yes, but even those come from a heart that is filled with compassion. Keep it up, and keep being what God made you because you may not be the eye of the body but I think if you're not the heart you're pretty close to it.  

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Isaiah 39

 One might ask why Hezekiah showed the envoys from Babylon everything he had. A wise king wouldn't show someone they thought might be tempted to attack everything, so why did Hezekiah do it? I am assuming that Hezekiah wasn't a fool so I have to say he probably did the same thing I just did, ASSUME. He assumed that these people from far away could never be a threat. He assumed that by showing them everything they would be impressed by him. I might be wrong in my assumption however Hezekiah was absolutely wrong in his. We should be very careful when we make assumptions and cover our decisions in prayer so we can give God permission to correct our assumptions. 

There is another reason I think Hezekiah did what he did and it was probably the beginning of his downfall and that was pride. Hezekiah showed them everything but we have no record that he gave God the praise for his health or wealth. When we allow pride to drive our decisions then it always leads us into trouble. 

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Being the White Knight

Being the White Right Knight

Every day I put on a necklace that contains a ring my youngest daughter gave me. When I put it on and when I take it off I pray for all of my kids and grandkids. Most of the time it is just a prayer that God would take care of them and bring them into the kingdom of God. other times they are more specific; I ask for healing, wisdom, protection, and wisdom for me to help them. The last one is very selfish when I think about it. God, I want to come in like the white knight and save the day, I want to be my children's hero. 

Some of that could be noble but I know not all of it is. I have to ask myself if I am willing to let God use someone else to help my kids, solve their problems, and be their hero. Yet, I want that, but what if I shouldn't be that person. What if trying to be the hero I would actually be like Hezekiah asking for something that would have horrible consequences. What if my desire would cause me to act on my wisdom rather than wait on God? I don't want to become the villain even if it was mostly innocent. What should I do?

Thinking about it has caused me to add a new prayer, which I hope to pray more often. "God, show me how to love my children like you would and help me be okay with just that." I want my kids to know God loves them and I do too. I want to be available if God wants to use me but I want them in the kingdom more than I want to be the hero. I think, I hope at least, I am even willing to be forgotten by them now so that we could meet together in that kingdom where we will never die.  

Thinking about it, maybe that should be my prayer for the world? Now that I think about it I think I have read a prayer like that before. John Wesley wrote it and now I am looking at it again in a new light.

I am no longer my own by yours. Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed for you or laid aside for you, exalted for you or brought low for you. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing. I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things to your pleasure and disposal.

And now, glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, you are mine and I am yours. So be it. And the covenant now made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.

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Job 34

 

As Elihu sees it Job doesn't believe that following God has brought any profit. If profit means that life is always easy and there is never any suffering then no one in the Bible has ever seen any profit, except maybe Adam and Eve before the fall. Since the fall, following God has required surrender, work, and sacrifice. We see it in the Old Testament, but in the New Testament Jesus repeatedly says following will be hard bringing persecution and sacrifice. Where is the profit in this? The answer is first now in that our sins are forgiven and our lives can be made free. The final profit is found in eternity. However, if profit means doing your own thing and being a slave to sin then following God won't bring you what you want. If you want something of greater worth then following Jesus brings the greatest profit the world can know. 

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Acts 14

 

How to choose one?

"Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust" (verse 14). Paul and Barabas felt it was important to have leaders in each church. There are disagreements over how this might have been carried out but the one thing I want to notice is that it wasn't done without much prayer and fasting. These elders may have been chosen by the apostles or voted on but whichever way it was done it was done while consulting God and asking his direction. At the end of the day, it ultimately doesn't matter how they were appointed but that God did the choosing. 

Also in this chapter Paul and Barabas confess that persecution and suffering are part of the Christian life. We might wish otherwise and some of us were taught otherwise, but that isn't what Jesus or the Apostles taught or lived. I will admit I don't want persecution and I don't like suffering, but if that is what I must face I ask God to give me the strength. I want to choose God no matter what.  

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Psalm 31

 

It is great to have a place of refuge. The psalmist here and throughout the Psalms speaks of God being a refuge, a strong tower or fortress, and a place of strength. All these are true but there is a problem. A sanctuary is only useful if you are in it. We may say God is our refuge and strength, but if we aren't putting ourselves under his protection, then it doesn't matter how strong He is. I have read a number of fictional accounts and a few historical ones where there is a place of safety but the people don't go there because they are trusting their own or someone else's strength to win the day. Of course, they lose and what made it a sad story is there was a place of safety if only they would have used it. 

The great thing about God is that though he is a refuge and a place of safety, this doesn't mean that we are to hide away. God is a personal force field, to use a Science Fiction reference. We can go out and still be safe. As I have said before in God, we win even if we "lose." The key is to stay in God. Thankfully God gives us the strength to stay in Him. 

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Exodus 30

 "The rich are not to give more than a half shekel and the poor are not to give less when you make the offering to the Lord to atone for your lives" (verse 15). In this verse, it is seen that God doesn't want any difference between the life of any person, rich or poor. This is another example of God not seeing anyone as less or more than another. Unlike people, God doesn't categorize people as worth more or less; if we are his followers, neither should we. 

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Exodus 29

 

The first step in preparing the priests for service was for them to be washed. This symbolizes the cleansing from sin and is seen in many religions. Washing becomes an important part of the Law and is often the first step for someone to become ceremonial clean so they can enter the presence of God. This is a picture that for us to come before God our sins need to be washed away. In the New Testament, the act of baptism is adopted to follow in this practice as an act of obedience and as a sign of the work that Jesus does in the lives of those who surrender to Him. 

The act of cleansing takes place before the priest puts on the robes of service. This is a reminder even today that one should never be ordained into ministry unless they have been cleansed from their sins by Christ the water of life. 

Another thing to note is that the same sacrifice that is offered for them is what is given to them for nourishment. An interesting symbol is that Jesus' sacrifice doesn't only give us forgiveness but also gives us the strength to live the life He has called us to live. 

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Goals

Almost every one of us should have goals in our lives. There are times like when you are fighting some disease or a huge family crisis that they need to be put on hold and that is a good thing. There are also times when you shouldn't put them on hold but just make adjustments for where you are. If you just had a child writing that novel shouldn't be your first priority it should be learning and practicing being a great parent. I am currently in this adjustment period as my family needs attention which requires me to be very flexible. 

Also, I have to remind myself and the few who read my blog that goals are more successful if you write them down and review them. I just finished reviewing my goals again today as my calendar had this annoying reminder, "Review Goals." I gave myself grace for the unusual circumstances I have faced in the last month (over 3 weeks my family was in quarantine due to health stuff) and the other issues that are going on. Once all that was done I felt good, not great about how I'm proceeding. 

I could have just let it go at that but couldn't as I remembered that accountability is another thing that helps one succeed. This one is one I have had trouble doing. So I have decided to write this for one and then to ask the person who has been a Challenge Partner in writing before to hold my feet to the fire again. Here is the truth, Yes, I have done okay, but I can do better now so I need to give myself a push. 

So ask me this next week, How's the writing going? and if you're willing to live dangerously you could ask how my Braydon story is coming. 

Isaiah 38

Please, I'll be good, promise.

 I have noted before that it would have been better if Hezekiah had just accepted the death that was coming rather than received the miracle that would come. These fifteen years were not a blessing to him nor to Judah. I note that in the writing of Hezekiah after his healing he says that he "will walk humbly all my years" and "parents tell their children about your (God's) faithfulness." The problem was he didn't follow through. In the next chapter we see no humility, let alone later in his life. We see his son, Manasseh, becoming the worst king Judah ever had so it doesn't seem he taught him God's faithfulness. Hezekiah was sincere but the problem was he didn't know his own heart and I hate to say this but neither do we. Sometimes we think that if things were better we would be too but sometimes as Mark Twain said, "it just ain't so."

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Job 33

Elihu explains that God is just and that He speaks in ways that we may not always see. Elihu says that God speaks to people differently and will sometimes speak by sending trouble, not to condemn but to save someone. This is clearly a different picture of God than we have seen in Job's other "comforters." Elihu is trying to say God wants to save people.

Furthermore, in all the years I have read Job I have never before noticed. This one little comment that really separates Elihu from the rest of Job's friends is, "If you have anything to say, answer me; speak up, for I want to vindicate you." Unlike Job's other friends who just want to condemn him, Elihu wants to defend Job. He wants to help. Elihu is on Job's side. Yes, he may not be saying Job is just as good as he says he is, but he honestly wants to defend him. What a difference. 

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Acts 13

As Paul preached in Iconium there was a great response to the message. We read that the Jews of the area, those not convinced that Jesus was Christ, were jealous, reputed his message, and stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas. What I note here is that the reason they fought against Paul wasn't because they thought he was preaching false doctrine but that they were jealous. This reminds me that many times people's actions are motivated not by what they claim, in this case claiming Paul was teaching false doctrine, but they were jealous Paul was getting a following and they weren't. 

We need to be aware that people's motivations for actions aren't always evident. We also need to make sure that if we are doing something, especially working against someone, there aren't other less honorable or even repugnant motivations driving us. God will judge our hearts and our motives. We may say, what I'm doing is good and it might be but when you stand before God it may be a negative because your motivation corrupted the action. By the way, evil motives always corrupt good works. ALWAYS.

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Psalm 30

Verse 5 speaks of God's anger lasting for a moment and his favor lasting a lifetime. This speaks that God's anger is not his most outstanding attribute but just a passing thing. God's lasting desire is to show favor and goodness. Coupled (matched with this) is the truth that though weeping does come but it is soon replaced by rejoicing. This is so much more true when one has God on their side. David speaks about how when he thought he was secure God for a time removed his protection (hid His face) and in that time David was humbled and was reminded that it was God he needed to call out to. God responded with this time of weeping with a more greater time of rejoicing. For us also we have the promise of Romans 8:28 that God will turn all things to good for those who trust Him. Remembering Romans and this passage we can also say, that weeping may come for a time but God will make us rejoice by His great hand. 

Dear Father,

We know that there are times in our lives when it seems you have hidden your face. It appears that you are angry with us and God we admit that often we deserve your anger. However, we rejoice that though you may be angry for a time you want to show mercy. God, you want to bring us your favor. Bring to our minds and hearts that though we may see periods of distress, they will pass. Convict us when we are the cause of our heartbeats and show us the mercy that you provided through Jesus Christ. Today we thank you for your conviction, your mercy, and your promises to us when we call upon you.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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Exodus 28

 

The ephod with the names of the tribes of Israel upon them is a great picture. Could it be that God was saying that The High Priest was to bear Israel as it were not just over his heart but on his shoulders to work for them? It is also much thought that this garment showed that the High Priest represented all of Israel as the man who is the of Israel of God. This last thought is a beautiful picture of Jesus coming into the heavenly temple according to Hebrews and presenting his own blood on the Mercy Seat. Jesus is the Israel of God. He is the one we are to be like and who stands in our place when we fail. Jesus, as the High Priest did for Israel, carries us on his shoulders and over his heart.

Another interesting fact was that the Urim and Thummim were to be over the High Priest's heart as he came before God. This to me was a reminder that we are to love God's judgment, as the Urim and Thummim were used to decide issues that were otherwise unclear. How true we need to trust God's judgment when the way isn't clear. 

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Exodus 27

The bronze altar was hollow. There was nothing in it. Some have said that this box stood around a stone altar and others said that the inside was filled with earth and stone when it was in place so that the sacrifice could be made without damaging it. Others who want to date the story of the exodus as being after the exile to Babylon say that it is a story to mimic how Solomon built his altar. I will say that the final theory makes the entire Jewish faith a myth so I can say I disagree with it. 

The one thing I do appreciate is that many commentators, see this hollowness of the altar as another picture of Jesus who emptied himself so that he could become our sacrifice for sin (Philippians 2:6-8). This is consistent with everything we have seen in the Tabernacle's design, which is a picture of Jesus and who he was and is. 

Isaiah 37

 

Though the enemy is going to be taken away God instructs Hezekiah that Judah will have to wait three years before it will be the right time to sow the fields and get a harvest. Yet God had promised that the nation would be able to survive on what grows wild in the land. It seems that, if the enemy has gone away, the time to plant fields would be as soon as you can, but God has instructed Hezekiah to do otherwise. We aren't told why and there are reasons that people with more expertise in horticulture in the Middle East might be able to tell, but that doesn't matter. To me, it is a reminder that God brings deliverance but it doesn't always go the way we would expect it or at all in our time.

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Job 32

It has been said that a man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still. If a person truly doesn't see your point then it doesn't matter. Even if they say otherwise just to go along they aren't changed. Job hasn't been convinced though. Job is convinced of his own righteousness, that something must be wrong. 

I see two things here. First, a person, right or wrong, that believes fully they are correct can not be reasoned with.  If they are in the right that is a good thing, however, the danger that comes with most is that they aren't always right but refuse to accept they can be wrong. This goes with what Jesus said in ... That it is the sick that need a physician. Not that the Pharisees were well, no they were spiritually sick as well. The problem was they weren't willing to see it. We need to look carefully before saying, "I can't be wrong." 

A note here: A willingness to admit that you might be wrong is often considered by some that you are. Don't be that person. 

Second, thou poetic the summation of Job this far reminds me of some FaceBook post arguments. Neither is willing to admit the other is wrong and often just accusations are made. In the end, both sides are unchanged and whatever friendship might have been there is gone. Another reminder to be careful when trying to bring correction. Sometimes the wisest action is silence. 

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Acts 12

I talked to my daughter about how funny it was that God did this great miracle with Peter and now he stands at the door knocking waiting for his friends to acknowledge that the miracle took place. Yet she pointed out that that is the same with Jesus. God did this great miracle with Jesus giving the sacrifice for sin and raising Jesus from the dead and now he stands at the door of our heart knocking asking us to come in (Rev. 3:20).  

On another note, Why save Peter and not James? I have heard people argue about this. Often it settled on the fact that the church was praying for Peter and they didn't have time to pray for James. This, to me, puts too much power outside of God and too much in people either because they acted quickly to kill or had time to pray. Personally, I think it has to do with what God has planned. Could prayer have an impact? Yes, but we have to be careful not to believe that God is waiting on us before he does anything. This makes us god and God is just a delivery boy.  

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Psalm 29

 

The Scripture ends with the promise that God will bless his people with peace/shalom. According to Strong's Exhaustive Commentary, the Hebrew word used here means "completeness, soundness, welfare, peace." In a Psalm proclaiming the strength of God's voice, it ends with a promise of tenderness for His people. The picture I get is of a strong man coming home and sitting on the floor playing with his children. Our God is not just powerful but caring and one who wants us to have peace and wholeness. 

I am reminded of a comic book reference my daughter has told me about, "If can't see your Batman comforting a small child then your Batman is really the Punisher in a funny hat." I will change it for our conversation to this if your god doesn't bring comfort, forgiveness, and wholeness to those who need it, you don't have the God of the Bible you have a pagan deity with a funny hat. Our God brings shalom. 

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Exodus 26

 It may not be obvious in a light reading of this scripture but the inside and the outside of the tabernacle were different sizes. The resilient outside was a little bigger to make sure it could cover the more delicate and valuable material inside. Matthew Henry in his commentary says this is a picture of the church which on the outside looks rough but on the inside is full of the glory of God. This may be true but I lean towards the idea that besides being practical is a picture of Jesus. Isaiah 53:2 says, "He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him." Jesus on the outside looked like nothing very special but yet he was, as it were, on the inside the most precious and valuable of persons, the God come in the flesh. So even in the making of the Tabernacle God is showing the person of Jesus, the ultimate way to God. 

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Exodus 25

 

The Ark of the Covenant was the place where Israel could meet God. There is deep symbolism here and I will touch on but a few. The making of the Ark of both gold and wood is interesting. Gold would be the most expensive thing they had and wood in contrast the most common. Yet the place where God would meet man has both. 

One of the reasons I feel that the Ark contained both was a practical one. A pure gold box would be too heavy as it was the mercy seat and the cherubim were gold and that would be heavy enough. The next practical reason was that it made it more durable. God isn't above being practical, after all, he knows who he's dealing with and we sometimes just need something simple that works. 

The next reason for the box being gold and wood is that this is a picture of the one who was coming, Jesus Christ. Jesus who would be the one who gave us access to God was both gold (divine) and wood (human). Jesus also lived out the law perfectly so in a real way the Law of God was in him. Jesus was also the one that the angels looked down on. 

The cherubim looked down as it were on the mercy seat and to the law that was underneath. This was the law that Israel was supposed to keep. Later God commanded the blood of the sacrifice to be placed on the mercy seat which was a reminder that the blood (ultimately Jesus' blood) stood between God and the law. 

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Special

 

 

Luke 1:13 "But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John."  With these words a miracle took place and the one who would be known as John the Baptist was born. John was special and called to a special purpose however, does that mean that the rest of us aren't special? No we all have a place where God wants to use us in His plans. We are all people of great worth that Jesus died for. We are all equally loved by God. Yes, John had a special place in time but so did a lot of others who we are never introduced to in the Bible or in history. 

There are people whom God had given special miracles to that God has called to do great things and there are people who God performed a miracle on and we see nothing obvious as a result. So what is the correct result to being given a miracle or as some may say being a miracle? First, unless there comes a call from God with it (there rarely is in the Bible or now) then all God wants from you is to live faithfully for him, which I may add is what God wants from all of us. 

There is a mindset in the world that if you have been given a miracle then God has to be calling you to do something hard, difficult, or challenging. Sometimes that is the case, I believe Isaiah's vision in chapter 6 of his book isn't his call to ministry he was already in ministry but it was a gift to help him in the challenges he was going to face and a picture of God to us. However, there were a multitude of miracles given to people as I mentioned earlier who after didn't do anything of note in the Scriptures. Miracles aren't a quid pro quo. God gives you this now you have to do something to deserve it. Miracles are just an example of God's grace and love for those he loves. Perhaps were should let them be that and not expect more of others or ourselves. 

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Isaiah 36

 

There are two things that the commander of the Assyrians is incorrect about. First, he assumes that since Hezekiah removed the false places of worship this was going to make God angry. It isn't. God commanded that those places never be built and throughout the history of Israel and Judah God commanded them destroyed. The Assyrians didn't understand the worship of God. It is like today when someone tries to do what is right according to Scripture but someone accuses them of not "showing God's love," "Not judging," or other modern interpretation of what the world thinks the church ought to do. Hezikaih ignored it and so should we. The second is that God has promised to give Assyria victory. This could be an outright lie or it could be that they had heard the prophecy of Isaiah (chapter 7) and took it to mean more than it did. If it's the second then this is also something we see today, people take scriptures and interpret them according to what serves them best. 

The lesson for us is not to make the same mistakes as Assyria did. It didn't end well for them and it won't for us either.

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Job 31

 The question we may need to ask here is are the words of Job in this chapter words that we can say? Not the question of why God is allowing bad things but are we living as Job did? Are we living a righteous life, especially now that we have committed to follow Christ? 

Do we look at others lustfully?

Do we lie?

Do we covet?

Do I commit sexual sins?

Do I cheat/shortchange my employees?

Do I see others as equals?

Do I ignore the needs of the poor?

Do I display selfishness?

Do I take advantage of the less fortunate?

Do I trust in my wealth?

Do I show froth greed?

Do I take bribes?

Do I rejoice when my enemy falls?

Do I curse others?

Do I help the homeless and the foreigners?

Do I hide my sins?

Do I fear the crowd/world?

Am I willing to accept the consequences of my actions?

Job answered these questions honestly are you willing to?

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Acts 11

 

Christian- The believers were first called this in Antioch. It is debated if this was a name of derision or just a nickname given to the group who were following this Jewish Messiah. It was probably given to the believers by the Gentiles as the Jews would not have said that the believers were following the Messiah. Whatever the original intent the believers took this name they were being called and adopted it. For the believer, we indeed follow Christ. We long to live like be identified with Christ. Yes, it may have been a joke or something benign, but either way, it fits and the believers took it as a badge of honor. It should be still today though some have soiled it. 

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Proverbs 7

 

Before Solomon goes into the dangers of being seduced, something he seems to know a lot about though not with married women, Solomon advises his son to keep his words and store up his commands in verses 1-4. When we apply this to God this is great advice. The thing that gets my attention here is that there are only three words about keeping the commands. The rest of the time he talks about why to hold on to them and have them readily available. If I were to say it in modern terms I might say, memorize what I have taught, keep a copy of them close by, fall in love with them. When it comes to Christianity, do you know your Bible? Do you have a method to get to the information you don't have memorized? Do you love God's word? If you do then you will have protection against all sin not just adultery.

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Exodus 24

Okay guys, Keep everyone in line while I'm gone. 

 "He said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we come back to you. Aaron and Hur are with you, and anyone involved in a dispute can go to them'” (verse 14).

Here we see a name that isn't mentioned a lot in the Scriptures, Hur. We see Hur back in chapter 17 holding up the hands of Moses with Aaron until the victory is complete over the Malikites. Later Hur's grandson will be the head artisan in the designing and building of the Tabernacle. Beyond that, there is little to be known about him. He is absent in the story of the golden calf so either he wasn't directly involved, or that wasn't his responsibility. He may have disagreed, but the Scriptures don't speak to this. Some think that Arron may have been the ecclesiastical authority (religious) and Hur the civil authority but Aaron isn't appointed high priest until later so this is just speculation. Hur was by all indications a man that was trusted and respected. He was a man God could use. Though he was a leader we don't see him striving to get more. We see a man willing to hold up the hands of those God was using and willing to do the job given to him. May it be said the same for us. 

What we do see is that Moses left the Children of Israel with leaders, Arron, Hur, and the seventy elders, to keep them until he returned. All of these had just had dinner with God, after physically hearing the Ten Commandments, so one would think they were as ready as they could be for Moses to be gone. Maybe not.

Exodus 23

 

As we will see in other places God demands the people to be just. He tells them in this chapter not to show partiality to the poor but also not to deny the poor justice. God is saying that right is right if you have money or not. If the rich person is correct vote in their favor but if the poor person is right vote in their favor even if the rich person offers a bribe. When it came to law it was to be blind to social class. It is pointed out here (verse 2) and in other places in scripture to not go along with what is popular or profitable but to judge by what is true and right. If you say "I'm in favor of the rich" or "I'm in favor of the poor" you are wrong. We need to be in favor of what is just, fair, and right.  

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