The Book of Exodus: TBP (The Big Picture)

Thanks to Charlton Heston as Moses, Exodus is still familiar territory to most people. People who make this vow; “This year I’m reading the entire Bible!” – are still going strong.  But, they start to waver when they get to Chapter 20 (the 10 commandments), which is the start of many chapters of rules and regulations. Chapter 40, the last chapter, talks about arranging furniture in the Tabernacle. By then, most people have already given up on their New Year’s resolution.

Let me see if I understand this. God creates all that exists. He wants to communicate things to us about Him. So, he inspires some chosen folk to record His Word in a holy book. Isiah tells us that grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of God will stand forever.

So, why would God choose to include such enormous minutiae?  How is our knowledge of God improved by knowing that a goat shouldn’t be boiled in its mother’s milk? That’s what He wants us to know about Him? One would think there is much more useful information to preserve forever. On the other hand, count the many instances God is willing to kill people in this chapter for breaking various rules He instituted; such as, stoning to death children if they curse their parents (in which case I would have been dead by age 7). Perhaps the less we know about this angry God, the better?

I don’t have good answers. Maybe after you read Exodus, you can tell me.

Disclaimer For Easily Offended Snowflakes:

THIS IS A SUMMARY OF EXODUS (reducing the Exodus word count from 25,957 to just 7,867). MY SUMMARY IS NOT GOD’S WORD!  I HAVE RECEIVED NO VISIONS OR AUTHORITY FROM THE ALMIGHTY. THIS WORK IS SOLELY THE PRODUCT OF MY FEEBLE MIND. THIS IS NOT A COMMENTARY ON EXODUS. HOWEVER, THERE IS MINIMAL COMMENTARY, AND IT WILL BE IN BRACKETS. USE FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY. THIS SUMMARY IS NEITHER A REPLACEMENT NOR A SUBSTITUTE FOR SCRIPTURE. TO STUDY EXODUS, PICK UP A BIBLE!

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