THE LORD SPOKE (February 01)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Exodus 24-26

Seventy-five men saw God and were not struck dead. A lot of strange things had been happening of late but this was beyond imagination. The plagues were fearsome, the deliverance from the Egyptian army at the Red Sea crossing was terrifying, standing on the edge of the desert was unnerving.

But now! Now they were called up on the mountain. The very mountain they’d just been told not to touch. God had said, “Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not go up the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.” (Ex. 19:12).

Now God had told Moses to bring Aaron, Nadab, Abihu and the seventy elders of Israel up on the mountain. Moses alone was supposed to approach further and there he heard “all the Lord’s words and laws” (Ex. 24:7). It was then that God allowed the other seventy-four leaders of the Israelites to see Him.

The term is unique. Our translations say something like “leaders” or “nobles”. Literally, the term is “corners” or “corner supports” - it’s only used one other time in the whole Old Testament (Isa. 41:9). These men were allowed to see a sapphire-blue manifestation of God and live. It says “they ate and drank” on the occasion (Ex. 24:11) - not something you’d need to do if you were dead or turned to stone.

There was even more in store for Moses. He continued to proceed into the presence of the Lord by invitation. While the others apparently descended (Joshua and Hur are also with them now - Ex. 24:13-14), Moses entered the cloud of glory. To those below it looked like a consuming fire (Ex. 24:17) but they’d seen so much of late that they must have understood it to be the presence of God Himself. Sadly, they soon forgot.

Not Moses! By invitation (again), for the next forty days and nights he is in the presence of the Lord on the mountain. He doesn’t come down again until chapter 32 and it’s not a pretty sight when he does.

Have you spent any time on the mountain top? Have you had a glimpse of the Lord? Not, to be sure, quite like what is described here but very real nonetheless. We have a standing invitation to join Him you know?!


New Testament: Mark 4

How could He sleep through it? The disciples were afraid of drowning and He was sleeping. Sleeping on a cushion (4:38), no less. Other translations use the word “pillow”.

Two kinds of boats plied the waters of Galilee in the first century. One was a small, flat-bottomed and rather shallow boat that the fishermen used as a sort of working platform to cast their nets. These little boats were usually manned by one or two fishermen as they worked in and out of the little bays along the north shore where the warm springs coming into the lake attracted fish.

The other type of boat, probably the kind mentioned here in Mark 4, was larger. Full, it could carry 12-13 passengers (sound significant?) though it was often used by 3-4 fishermen and piled high with nets. It was equipped with both sail and oars, in case the winds were still or contrary. It had a deck on both the front and the back from which the fishermen could work.

How do we know so much about it? One of these boats was found by two kibbutzniks in 1986 buried in the mud off Magdala on the NW shore of the Sea of Galilee. It was excavated and restored and is today on display at the “Man in Galilee” museum at Kibbutz Nof Ginnosar.

Not only did the decks give the fishermen a work stage, they also provided some limited shelter from a storm and a covering over the “pillow” of the boat. That consisted of a large burlap or leather sack full of sand or small stones which provided ballast for the boat.

So, that explains where Jesus was probably sleeping in the boat. But why? He was tired. In fact, he was probably exhausted after long days of dealing with the crowds. He’d been healing and preaching non-stop. Even when He could pull away for a little while, He was constantly explaining everything to His disciples (4:34). There was hardly time to catch His breath. He was tired.

Aroused from slumber, He quickly sized up the situation. A few quick words took care of the storm on the outside but it would take more to calm the fears and the storms on the inside (4:40). The great storm became a great calm and the disciples were left wondering about this great Man.

“Even the wind and the waves obey him!”