Author: Erin Newton

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Exodus 30 Listen: (5:06) Read: Luke 12 Listen: (7:42)

Scripture Focus: Exodus 30:12, 16

12 When you take a census of the Israelites to count them, each one must pay the Lord a ransom for his life at the time he is counted. Then no plague will come on them when you number them.

16 Receive the atonement money from the Israelites and use it for the service of the tent of meeting. It will be a memorial for the Israelites before the Lord, making atonement for your lives.

Reflection: All People Count

By Erin Newton

A megachurch has over two thousand members (according to research by Katelyn Beaty in Celebrities for Jesus). According to that fact, I was once a member of a megachurch.

I remember an elder strolling the aisles each week with a clicker in hand. Click! Click! Click! You could hear how full our services were. Counting people was a tried-and-true church practice.

Is there anything wrong with counting people? Actually, according to the Bible, there is no law forbidding it. But we do have stories that reveal the risks involved.

Exodus 30 is a bit scattered in topics; the verses about taking a census land in the middle of instructions on building an incense altar and preparing anointing oil.

God commands Moses to count the people and instruct them (rich and poor alike) to give a small portion of silver as a “ransom” to be used for the “service of the tent of meeting.”

What are they ransoming? The Hebrew word is broad, and “ransom” is still probably the best translation. Christopher J. H. Wright clearly states that it is not atonement from sins; “It is unthinkable … that Israelites were to imagine they could buy God’s forgiveness for half a shekel of silver once in a while.” The act was more like an act of identifying with this sacred place, an investment of sorts.

But counting (and taking in money) risks the invasion of pride. As the rolls grew with the census, the coffers would fill with money. So the instructions come with a warning wrapped in a promise, “Then no plague will come on them when you number them” (v. 12). (Because that did happen once in 2 Samuel 24.)

A census in the ancient world was a quick way to find out how many soldiers were available for an impending battle. Pride grew with large troops. But this counting is not for war. This is a census for worship.

Each person invested equally in the sacred assembly. They were also counted equally among the community.

When all people count, pride can be countered.

We are tempted to look for ways to boost our numbers, to grow our churches, to take pride in our overflowing, popular services. But to what end? Have we forgotten the risks of being obsessed with numbers?

Let us consider the warning and test the motives of our hearts. Are our numbers growing worship or pride?

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer

Let us make a vow to the Lord our God and keep it; let all around him bring gifts to him who is worthy to be feared. — Psalm 76.11

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: The Context of The Widow’s Mite

The Widow’s Mite has more to say about unscrupulous religious leaders than about generous poor people…judgment is coming on leaders who take advantage of the poor.

The Context of The Widow’s Mite

Read more: Are We Proud of the Prideful?

Too often, we aren’t ashamed of the prideful, we are proud of them. “Look at the fruit!” However, the “fruit” we are typically pointing to is worldly results

Are We Proud of the Prideful?

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Exodus 23 Listen: (4:44) Read: Luke 5 Listen: (5:04)

Scripture Focus: Exodus 23.2

2 “Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd…

Reflection: Being a Crowd Unfollower

By Erin Newton

Following the crowd promises security and power, in the form of conformity. The temptation to follow is rooted in one’s insecurities.

In the story, Wicked, the main character Elphaba is born with green skin—a condition she is relentlessly ridiculed for. When her chance comes to ask the wizard to change her appearance, she is encouraged, “You can have all you’ve ever wanted.” To which she softly replies, “I know.” But what she has come to learn is that she doesn’t (can’t) want it anymore. To get what she had always wanted would mean following the crowd—and abandoning her convictions.

The truth learned in this Broadway show (now movie) is a timeless, biblical truth—following the crowd is not always in step with righteousness.

What’s the difference between finding community and just following the crowd? Aren’t both just finding a place to belong in a group of people? And even better, like-minded people?

Studies show that we are a lonely generation, brought on by global events and various other factors that are part of our everyday lives. Many of us work remotely, attend school at a distance, work long hours, and are hindered by a lack of finances, impending health crises, and even social anxieties. But we want to belong. We want to be known by others.

Crowds are the easiest places to fit in. You find a crowd, you join, and voila! Loneliness is, seemingly, solved.

But in cases where the crowds are doing the wrong thing—fitting in just makes you an accomplice.

The latter half of Exodus is a series of laws and instructions for God’s people. I found this one interesting and refreshing. The instruction is simple and evergreen. (Not like those festival laws or dress codes or dietary restrictions.) This law will last for eternity.

Crowds are not inherently bad. Following actually has biblical support. “Follow me,” Jesus said, and the Gospels recount many crowds in his presence.

Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. You can be in a crowd. You can even follow along. But what is that crowd doing? What are your affiliations known for?

Many groups today will vie for our allegiance. It’s best to know your crowd before joining, but sometimes the crowd veers off the narrow path. Are we prepared to not follow?

Jesus calls us to abandon some of the groups we are in and follow him.

Divine Hours Prayer: A Reading

Another said, “I will follow you, sir, but first let me go and say good-bye to my people at home.” Jesus said to him, “Once the hand is laid on the plow, no one who looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” — Luke 9.61-62

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: A Bad Day Fishing

Every time we see him fishing in the scriptures, he is failing at it…we see Peter fishing on the worst days of his career.

A Bad Day Fishing

Read The Bible With Us

It’s never too late to join our Bible reading plan. Immerse in the Bible with us at a sustainable, two-year pace.

https://mailchi.mp/theparkforum/m-f-daily-email-devotional

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Exodus 16 Listen: (5:02) Read: Matthew 27 Listen: (8:45)

Scripture Focus: Exodus 16:17-18

17 The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. 18 And when they measured it by the omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed.

Reflection: Maggot Moments

By Erin Newton

Our Western culture operates on consumption. We not only have a drive toward getting what we need but a fervor toward having beyond necessity. We learn from ads, social media, peer pressure, and availability that excess is best.

Excess is unbiblical. Exodus 16 describes the well-known story of the “what’s this?” blessing—manna, the bread from heaven. The Hebrews have been wandering the arid desert learning how to operate a nomadic lifestyle in a strange land. When we see that they are grumbling about food, can we really blame them?

Moses points out that they need to realize their grumbling is not just against him but against God. That’s about all that is said of their lack of appreciation for God’s guidance. But God hears and he answers anyway.

God does not ask them to be better before he listens. Out of his love for them, he responds with exactly the thing they are grumbling about.

The instructions called for the people to gather what was necessary for them that day. Some gathered a lot and some gathered little—likely because of the varying family sizes. It is not how much they gathered that is judged via maggots; it is the excess.

The instructions said to gather one omer for each person. Working and gathering a specific amount sounds simple on paper, but it likely resulted in overages and shortages. I’m guessing they had to take time to figure out the right amount, and I’m sure they had more than one maggot-moment.

I wonder if they shared each morning. Did one family begin to realize they had gathered too much and try to find those who had gathered too little? Did they gather for the sick friend or neighbor? Did those in need find a safe place to ask for help when their ends wouldn’t meet or as the day grew hot and their omer was half-full?

There is no biblical command here to say they should refuse to help others. Being stingy is not a virtue.

We might be tempted to read this story with our Western eyes, seeing it as a call for each person to pull their own weight. But nothing about the Old Testament suggests an individualistic lifestyle. God has always called us to help our neighbors when we have beyond what our needs require.

Store up … what is needed for today, before the maggots and moths and rust destroy.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Morning Psalm

My eyes are upon the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me, and only those who lead a blameless life shall be my servants.
Those who act deceitfully shall not dwell in my house, and those who tell lies shall not continue in my sight.
I will soon destroy all the wicked in the land, that I may root out all evildoers from the city of the Lord. — Psalm 101.6-8

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Beauty from Ashes :: Guided Prayer

Are you watering and fertilizing weeds instead of the good seed of the gospel? Lent is a time to gather up the tares among your wheat—gather them to be burned to ash.

Beauty from Ashes :: Guided Prayer

Read more: Preparing for Joy

In the face of a culture that encourages us to neglect, degrade, and abuse each other, Lent invites us to see ourselves and our world clearly, humbly, and truly.

Preparing for Joy

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Exodus 9 Listen: (5:31) Read: Matthew 20 Listen: (4:22)

Scripture Focus: Exodus 9:16–18

16 But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. 17 You still set yourself against my people and will not let them go. 18 Therefore, at this time tomorrow I will send the worst hailstorm that has ever fallen on Egypt, from the day it was founded till now.

Reflection: When All Hail Breaks Loose

By Erin Newton

Years ago I was crouching in the closet of my friend’s house while the deafening sound of a storm pounded the roof with softball-sized hail (11cm) that damaged our roofs, destroyed our cars, and demolished plant life—a typical spring day in Texas.

Hailstorms in Egypt, however, are rare. Exodus 9 says it was “the worst … ever.” A common hailstorm is a nuisance; a record-breaking hailstorm is a devastating catastrophe.

The signs and wonders from God escalate in intensity and destruction. Gnats and boils were things that caused a disruption, but nothing too extreme. The bloody river and the dead livestock—these signs were all bad, but not as bad as what was coming.

There is no real escape from hail if you’re caught outside. Everyone was at risk from servants in the fields to children in the street. Small hail stings and bruises. Large hail kills.

The hail was so damaging “it beat down everything growing in the fields and stripped every tree” (v. 25). It was not just a nuisance. Crops were ruined. Trees were laid bare.

All those years ago, I remember walking out of the house to see everything shattered. The lawn was glistening white, covered in unfathomably large chunks of ice. Limbs and leaves were scattered everywhere. We were spared a tornado that day, but the hail had done equal damage.

Pharaoh thought of himself as a god. He was the sun. He was the cosmic power—at least in his own eyes. There was nothing he could not do, or so he thought. But the hailstorm in Exodus 9 was a display of real divine power.

The Almighty God did not challenge Pharoah to a duel as if he were an equal. He rightly affirmed, “I could have … wiped you off the earth,” (v. 15) if he had wanted. But he is also mighty in mercy—hoping that Pharaoh would repent.

The scene echoes the words later penned in Job: “Brace yourself like a man; I will question you. … Have you … seen the storehouses of the hail, which I reserve for times of trouble, for days of war and battle?” (Job 38.3, 22-23).

The battle between God and a self-important ruler was on. Pharaoh soon learned, it was not a battle he ever had hopes of winning.

Signs and wonders show us not only how powerful God is, but how powerless humans truly are.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Morning Psalm

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful, for I have taken refuge in you; in the shadow of your wings will I take refuge until this time of trouble has gone by.
I will call upon the Most High God, the God who maintains my course.
He will send from heaven and save me; he will confound those who trample upon me; God will send forth his love and his faithfulness. — Psalm 57.1-3

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Idol-Destroying Plagues

The plagues systematically and categorically destroyed everything that Egypt trusted in and worshiped. 

Idol-Destroying Plagues

Read more: Lasting Revivals and Normal Idols

It’s easy to be judgmental of ancient people’s idols…But these gods were normal…practical SOP that promised financial ROI.

Lasting Revivals and Normal Idols

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Exodus 2 Listen: (3:18), Read: Matthew 13 Listen: (7:23)

Scripture Focus: Exodus 2:6, 10

6 She opened it and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This is one of the Hebrew babies,” she said. …

10 When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, “I drew him out of the water.”

Reflection: Subverting a King’s Order

By Erin Newton

The final words of Exodus 1 are a genocidal edict from Pharaoh. An entire generation of foreign workers were targeted simply because there were a lot of them. The king thinks the Hebrew community will “join my enemies,” thus prejudging them as a sort of problem.

But we see the subversive plan of God at work in chapter 1 when many babies were saved, because Shiphrah and Puah saw each person as valuable and defied the pharaoh’s orders. And just a few verses later, a baby survives by the hands of an Egyptian woman!

Here she is—a member of the powerful, royal family and the majority ethnic group—looking at a Hebrew baby with compassion. In the narrative she stands as a parallel to the same bravery displayed by Shiphrah and Puah.

Pharaoh’s daughter defies her father’s order, not out of some hormonal weakness, but because she sees value in humanity. Despite her family—her community of influence—she made a choice based on principles.

Shiphrah and Puah are among the targeted community. Their actions are strategic, successful, and brave. Pharaoh’s daughter is among the abuser’s community. Her actions are thoughtful, merciful, defiant, and morally right. Shiphrah, Puah, and Pharaoh’s daughter looked at the law of the land, saw it for the evil it was, and did the opposite.

As in ancient history, leaders today are promoting decisions that cast people out, labeling them as the enemy, and pursuing any avenue to eliminate them. When leaders (even leaders we like) choose power over people, over peace, or over principles, we don’t have to follow them or obey them.

For many of us, we are not in the demographic targeted by these decisions. Pharoah’s daughter couldn’t overturn the mandate, or save everyone, but she did what she could for who she could.

When laws or policies are cruel or unjust, what can you do where you are for those affected? Can we be like the brave women of this story? Are we speaking Pharaoh’s words, “throw them into the Nile” or his daughter’s, “I drew him out of the water.”

We are standing by the Nile. The cries of the children and their parents call out. We can stand against evil edicts and save lives or stand by and watch the once-cleansing waters soon turn to blood.

Choose principles over power. Be ready to recognize when your own people are wrong.

Divine Hours Prayer: A Reading

Jesus said: “In all truth I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave. Now a slave has no permanent standing in the household, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will indeed be free.” — John 8.34-36

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Exceptional Emperors

Nero was an exceptionally bad emperor but Peter made no exception for the character his readers must demonstrate.

Exceptional Emperors

Read more: Resisting in Faith

In the midst of one of the most powerful and evil governments in history, Daniel understood…Their calling was to speak to power, not to strike at it.

Resisting in Faith