The Stuff They Had Was Sufficient For All The Work...but?

Exo 36:5 And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the LORD commanded to make.
Exo 36:6 And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing.
Exo 36:7 For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much.

The difference between the situation in Exodus 36:7 and today is that enough of the people had their hearts stirred up and they gave of their sufficiency of stuff. The question is not the sufficiency of resources to accomplish a task but the response of those who hold those resources to use them for that task.

We have enough stuff. There are enough Christians with enough spiritual gifts who possess enough technology, enough wealth and enough knowhow to reach this world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. We have the Spirit to lead, the Bible to guide, history and wonderful examples to learn from and unsurpassed freedom with which to get the gospel to these areas. We have a world filled with enough war, famine, tsunamis, earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes, volcanos, crime, disease and other difficulties and uncertainties that whereever we go there are reasons for people to consider their ways and beliefs. Rapid and diverse communication, transportation advancements and cross cultural influences around the globe are loosening the once unshakable traditions that have for so long hardened people from considering anything but what they have always known. Walls are being broken down but we are the ones that God has chosen to bring the light of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ to these people.

Our task today is not to build a tabernacle in the wilderness as the children of Israel had been commanded. Rather, as the tabernacle (the church, the body of Christ) we are to be portable (ready to move at the command of God), built up to the exact specifications of God (not our methods and reasoning, but His), filled with the glory and Spirit of God and following our cloud by day and pillar of fire by night (the Bible and Holy Spirit direction). Half of this world have still never even heard the gospel of Jesus Christ and countless others in "reached" areas have not heard it clearly, seen the demonstration of sincere Spirit-filled Christians and been invested in the way that they should. There are areas, like here in Greece, NY where there is a gospel preaching church seemingly around every corner and a thousand outreach programs trying to reach this proud, affluent and humanistic society. Praise the Lord for it, but not all societies are this fortunate.

Compare Greece to Manila, Philippines or Cebu City where there are 22-24 million people combined between the two cities and maybe (MAYBE) 50 or so solid gospel preaching churches.

Any day of the week in either of these two cities there are schools with tens of thousands of children that will allow a missionary to walk in and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ while teaching things like character building, drug avoidance and crime prevention.

There are hundreds and hundreds of communities that you can enter into and gather kids around you in swarms to teach the Bible to in extension classes. Best of all, as you are ministering to kids, the parents will either gather to you or you can go to their hut and have a warm reception because you have shown love to their kids.

There are jails and prisons all over the country that are wide open for preachers of the gospel.

There are children and families all over the streets who are homeless and hopeless unless someone brings them the message of hope through Christ.

There are men that need to be be trained to go preach and teach their own people and to go to other countries as missionaries themselves, their are hospitals to visit and government agencies everywhere that desire for someone to teach them character building and messages against corruption - and we know just the Book to teach from! Not only that but there are unreached tribal peoples and muslim people groups that need the Bible in their language and people to bring the gospel to tham in the Philippines as well. The possibilities are endless, God is willing and desirous for it to happen but like the children of Israel in Exodus 36, God is looking for people to give and to go as their hearts stir them up - for surely the STUFF we have is sufficient for the task. After all, God will always have the provision to ensure that the mission is accomplished.

No where in these chapters of Exodus do I read that everyone was on board. I dont read that it was 100% participation in the cause; but even without it - the stuff they had was sufficient...and too much! It is time for us to take the provisions that God has put in our hands through no merit of our own but in His soveriegnty and like the children of Israel with their borrowed goods from Egypt, dedicate our goods, our gifts, our lives and our every energy to spreading the gospel. If no one else will respond with a willing heart, won't you?

Noise of War in the Camp

Exodus 32. Moses had been gone for a time, his faithful apprentice Joshua at his side. The people grew restless. They had been delivered from Egypt after seeing the hand of God on Moses and after being firsthand witnesses of 10 of the most incredible events in all of history, the plagues. The red sea was split, the enemies vanquished, the cloud by day and pillar of fire by night led their path. Their shoes were not worn, they came away with much spoil and daily they were fed by manna from heaven. God Himself calls Moses up to the mount in another supernatural display.
Now some time goes by, the people doubt the return of Moses and desire more "seemingly tangible" gods to worship. It is not just the idols that are added, they change their style of worship also. The gods are formed by Aaron, the people sit to drink and eat and rise up to play. This play involves a new type of music - one that was clearly foreign to Joshua and Moses as Joshua mistook it for a noise of war. The music was conducive to nakedness and dancing for this is how Moses found them. It is clear by the response of God in sending Moses down to deal with them (and nearly destroying them Himself were it not for Moses pleading on their behalf) that this behavior was abominable to God. The false gods are blatant idolatry that no one today denies yet somehow all of these people who had been miraculously delivered from Egypt found it reasonable and acceptable when left to their own logical thinking. The nakedness, feasting, dancing and music all seemed to be the right thing to do. Why not? It felt good, it was pleasurable, it pleased their flesh. It was not just the the golden calf that was a reproach as the nakedness was called shameful and the entire scene was one of carnality. It would be interesting to know just how the progression went. What sin is ever sudden and extreme? In Romans 1 there is a progression - slow and subtle, so are the ways of our enemy. So what came first to this man-centered Judaism - the standards of modesty dropping, the music becoming more worldly? Perhaps the meditation and sharing with each other about what God had done gradually was replaced with conversations about what riches they took out of Egypt, what forms of entertainment they were finding new and exciting and what wonderful things they missed from when they were in Egypt...
This strange music was mistaken for the sound of war. Perhaps considering the sound of war may give us a clue as to this reprehensible music. Does a man go to war after quiet, solemn meditations or after heart pounding, adrenaline pumping music that stimulates aggression and energy? Be it a war, a game, a sporting event or any other form of competition, there is typically a major buildup just before the event commences. It may be a fiery pep talk by a coach, a motivational charge by a general or a set of chants and cheers by a group of half naked cheerleaders but as it reaches its peak - the roar of aggression begins - screaming, clapping, slapping lockers and stomping feet. The natural reaction is to want to hear ultra fast, ultra loud pounding of drums and other instruments to ignite a rage inside. That is then unleashed in a savage charge into battle. This was the noise of war heard by Joshua. What tribal culture round this world does not have a battle cry, a war dance or some other ritual to frenzy their flesh in aggression? What might the music then have been? Could it have been what the Jews had heard for four centuries by the powerful Egyptian empire that ruled them? Was this the music that likely energized the people that day at the base of the mountain? This music went along nicely with nakedness, idolatry and dancing. The music of Egypt (the world) certainly lends itself to that behavior and appeases our flesh with undertones that tend to aggression, violence and sexual desire.
Be still and know that I am God...commune with your own heart upon your bed and be still...stand in awe...let the meditation of my heart be acceptable...psalms, hymns and spiritual songs singing with grace in your hearts...a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price...
Are there clear definitions for music that is acceptable in the Bible, arguably - no. This I know, that if the world finds it to be pleasing, entertaining and motivating - that should be a warning sign to caution me rather than an invitation to try it on for myself.
In the culture that we are in and the associations of music to behaviors that we have here in the western world - give me hymns of the faith at a pace that I can reflect on Who God is, what He hath done and worship Him in the beauty of His holiness. This is not commentary on worship within other cultures or that hymns are the only acceptable form of worship in music to God, that would be a foolish assumption. Yet it would also be foolish to think that music is neutral and has no untertones or impact on us. If I gave someone various instrumental pieces - some would soothe, some would make the heart race, and some would lend to different emotions - both positive and negative. I prefer in our culture, the sounds that through the years have clearly been established as the sounds of "church music" rather than the alternative - it ministers to me and I believe it to be a protective measure to draw a line that Satan in his subtlety cannot blur over and over and gradually move me back into Egypt. That is my...preference.

Bore My Ear Through Lord!

Exo 21:5-6
(5) And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free:
(6) Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.

The last thing I would endorse would be for a man to wear an earring. It is clear by this passage that earrings were a sign of being a servant, a symbol of slavery and bondage. The man who had this hole in his ear was forever owned and in subjection to another. Today of course we see the expression of earrings as symbolic of many different ideas and attitudes - the primary origin of these being rooted in rebellion.

Yet in a wonderful way this morning my heart desired for my ear to be bore through with the aul of the Lord. As a servant I want to proclaim to the world and be clearly identified to all that look on my life that I love my Master, my wife and my children and I will not stray from my commitment to them, I will not go out free. I will forever be associated with the God of my salvation, the Lord of hosts, the King of Glory - Jesus Christ. As a servant forever and my family at my side I will joyfully give up any pseudo-freedom that the world may offer.

1Tim 1:17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.