Today's Reading:

Exodus 22
Exodus 23
Exodus 24

 
In Exodus 23:24, it states not to bow down before other gods, worship them, or follow pagan practices. This verse is part of God’s instructions to Israel as they prepare to enter the Promised Land, which is inhabited by the Canaanites and others who are worshiping pagan deities like Baal and Asherah. God never denies that there are other gods, He is demanding that they reject them and only bow to Him. This exclusive allegiance to Him is the second Commandment, Have no other god before Me. He wants you to tear down anything that keeps your heart from worshiping Him alone. He chose Israel first, and His grace extends to bring blessings.
 

Exodus 22 continued with the horizontal laws from yesterday’s readings that protect property, theft, and the consequences, in order to deter people from neglect and damage. This includes rules on sorcery, bestiality and idolatry. The sorceresses were to be put to death as people were not going to God with their problems, but the spirits instead. Then there were social responsibility rules about fairness and responsibility in daily life. The bride's price addressed a consensual sexual relationship (not rape, that would deem death, see Deuteronomy 22:25-29). The man must pay the bride-price, which was the cost of a few years' wages to the bride’s family, symbolizing a commitment to the woman. If the bride's father refused the marriage, the man was still responsible for paying the full price as she was no longer a virgin, and it would be difficult to marry her off later. The bride's price was mentioned in Genesis 34:12 with Shechem and Dinah.

In Exodus 22:18 and 23:9 God reminded the Israelites that they were sojourners, foreigners. now in someone else’s land, and they were once foreigners in Egypt. Reading this twice was a big reminder that the Israelites needed to remember their roots and where they came from. He always looked after the poor, needy, widows, and defenseless. Which is why He said if you take someone’s cloak as collateral, then give it back at sunset, as they may need it as a blanket to keep warm.

The firstborn were to be brought to God on the 8th day, both firstborn sons and animals. The firstborn belong to God as a reminder of Exodus when He spared the Israelites' firstborn children yet killed the Egyptian firstborn (Exodus 13). On the 8th day, the animals were sacrificed to God, and the human children were dedicated which aligned with circumcision (Genesis 17). This was to teach about gratitude, holiness of life, and that God made everything, therefore the first fruits, which are the first and the best, belong to Him in thanksgiving.

Moving to chapter 23, God discussed helping others and not to forget to rest on the Sabbath (Saturday, we now celebrate Sabbath on Sunday as that is when Jesus rose). He also reminded them that they need to remember to keep the first 3 festivals given. These festivals were in anticipation of getting to The Promise Land. Along with the festivals, He gave a few more rules and one that may seem odd was 23:19 “Don’t cook a young goat in it’s mothers milk”. There are a few reasons this could be. One was not to mix dairy with meat at the same time, and another was that what gives life should not also be its means of death. God said He would send an angel ahead to show them the way, as there were so many traveling through the desert (600,000 men plus women and children, not to mention the enormous amount of animals). “My name is in Him” 23:21, God Himself will wipe out those living in the Promised Land

Today's Discussion question: 

If God went to such lengths to draw near to a flawed and wandering people back then, what might it say about how personally and intimately He wants to relate to us today—through a better covenant sealed with the blood of Jesus?

 
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