Exodus 36-38/Mark 4:1-20
Tomorrow’s Reading: Exodus 39-40/Mark4:21-41
Exodus
Now, the Israelites come together and put God's word/request into action - they construct the Tabernacle to the detail God outlined. Tough reading sometimes, to re-read the details - so, if you just joined in, have patience.
Mark
The parable of the seed (4 conditions of the ground - think about how each of those conditions are specific to your life... unfortunately for the first 3, I can identify with each). Parable of the lamp - don't hide it under the bed, let it shine. Parable of growing seed (only mentioned in Mark) - 'the mysterious power of the seed' - ie, the gospel has powers of its own. Parable of the mustard seed; in the beginning, the importance of the kingdom had little significance, later to be the tallest of the plants (20', I think). Jesus calms the storms.
I often enjoy reading the OT more so than the new - today, NT text really 'setting heavy' and will be good stuff to be thinking about thru-out today.
Encouragement: remember, the point isn't to just read and to make this a 'task' - I do hope all are enjoying the reading and taking time to apply to your own lives. Hang in there - at the end of the reading, you'll be so glad you stuck with it... I know I was!
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Exodus
Setting: Still at Mt Sinai – Moses down from mountain a 2nd time (actually been many more, but relative to tablets). Has just asked God to be with/lead them. Not sure of how much time has lapsed in this area.
So the ‘camp of Israel’ began to build the ‘sanctuary’ - ‘The Tabernacle’. Did you notice that all the materials were provided for, all the acacia wood, gold, bronze, many yards of linen, etc.. also, we’ve not given much time to Bezalel and Oholiab – the two that were ‘spirit filled’ with craftsmanship talents; it was Bezalel who actually constructed the ark. Big whoop? Yeah… think about how cool that is – in today’s time, the ‘Ark of the Covenant’ and the ‘Holy Grail’ are the two most sought-after treasures, probably in the world (… yeah, right up there with Dorothy’s Red Slippers – ahah). Grand total of 301,775 Shekels for building
(copy/paste this link in your web-browser to get more details on weights/measurements/coins)
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/weightsandmeasures.html
Mark
Setting: Still in Capernaum at Peter and Andrew’s home
In v11, the secret of the kingdom has been given – God has revealed the coming of Jesus and only those with faith will understand.
We talk about this parable a lot; ‘sowing of the seed’. Seeds on the Path: Matthew said in 13:19, hearing of the message and not understanding it, evil one takes it away. Mark’s account says ‘as soon as they hear it’. My take between the two; I think we sometimes use this as an out; “well.. you sowed the seed”. I think Matthew’s account gives us as witnesses a little more accountability by adding ‘and do not understand’.
With the ‘seed sown on rocky places’ it dies because it has ‘no root’. Right now, we’re ‘softening that soil’ and establishing root, right? I think this isn’t just speaking to the ‘hearers’ but the ‘speakers’ as well. And of course thorns/good soil – we’re all choked out by ‘life’ and it is often very difficult to make time for prayer, study, fellowship, worship, witnessing. Final NIV notes say; ‘in spite of many obstacles, God’s word will accomplish his purpose’.
Jesus calms the storms - crowds became so large, Jesus gets in a boat to speak. Later that evening, while heading West on Sea of Galilee to get to the other side, Jesus was asleep (can only imagine how exhausted He must have been), storm comes up, and the 12 said 'don’t you care if we drown'. He replies - 'do you still have no faith', the calms the storm.
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