Exodus 24: The familiar words of
Jesus at the last Supper (Matthew 26:28) have their roots here as Moses uses
blood as a symbol of God’s promise to dwell with his people. Their declaration
of obedience speaks as a challenge to us – how do I respond to God’s offer to
covenant with me?
Job 42: Moving scenes close Job’s life. He receives from the
Lord more than he lost. It is his prayer on behalf of his friends (whose words
to him were so unhelpful) that brings the Lord’s mercy. But my favourite part
is Job’s final reply to the Lord. His acknowledgement that he spoke of things
beyond him (which God, in his graciousness, allowed him to do!) is humbling.
And I, for one, long to be able to say with Job ‘My ears had heard of you but
now my eyes have seen you’. How precious each glimpse of the Lord our God!
Judges 3: We begin to see a repeating cycle of periods of
obedience from God’s people followed by times of rebellion; forgetting God and
serving other gods (v7). These times result in slavery with other nations
overcoming Israel Israel
(lay member of staff)