Written in Stone

O. T. #218  "Written in Stone"
Jan. 30, 2014
Exodus 24-Part 3
And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.  Exodus 24:12

LET IT GLOW

Have you heard the old saying "It is written in stone?" That means there is no changing something. It is a done deal. It may refer to the date of an event or a rule for children, which will not be changed.
When my husband made a decision for the kids to follow, as they grew up, there was no changing his mind. It was made up and that was that, on a particular issue. They knew that had to follow it.
Back in chapter 20, God told Moses the Ten Commandments. Now God is giving Him them written in stone, on stone tablets. (By the way, this is the first time it is mentioned that the form of the law was written on stone.)

Verse 12 is the first of two 40-day trips to Sinai (chapter 34). This was the time when God gave Moses the Ten Commandments written in stone. There was no changing them. Israel had rules to live by and that was that. Joshua set out with Moses to climb Mt. Sinai, following God's instructions.
Moses told the other 73 men to wait there for the two to return. He left Aaron and Hur in charge of solving disputes.

There were some other incidences where things occurred for 40 days and 40 nights:

• how long it rained while Noah and all were in the Ark;
• the number of days Jesus was fasting in the wilderness and tempted by the devil;
• after His resurrection, Jesus appeared to men for 40 days;

(Abraham told  his servant to stay and they would return; he and Isaac went to worship on a mountain, while God required the sacrifice of Abraham's son.)

Then, after six days, Moses went on up into a cloud to converse with God for forty days. God's glory appeared in the form of fire to the Israelites back at the bottom of the mountain. (In chapter 32, we will discuss what they did during that lapse of time.)

LET IT GROW

Actually, I consider it good to have some things written in stone, never changing. The Ten Commandments are a stability and guide for us. Love God and love others. That is that.

Hebrews 13:8 NIV says, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.  He never changes. His love, mercy, and faithfulness is always the same towards us. He could not love me more today and less tomorrow. Take God at His Word. He keeps His promises. We must have faith to believe them.

How about us, when we give our word, do we keep it, as though it is written in stone?

LET IT GO

Love God and love others.

Read God's Word daily and apply it to my life.

Walk by faith.