So Moses goes up to the top of the mountain and comes back with what we like to call “TheTen Commandments.” So now the people have a list of rules given by God that if obeyed will help to order their lives in a Godly manner. These first rules as stated in Exodus 20 are sometimes called the “Thou Shalt Nots …” There is certainly a few of those in these first rules. However, I still like what Kinky Friedman (singer-songwriter and lead singer for the Texas Jewboys) called them:  The Top Ten Commandments. After all if we go through scripture and count all of the commands given by God to God’s people you will find that there are 613 commandments. There are of course these “Top Ten” that Moses brought down from the mountain. These ten give us the framework for all the rules that would follow.

Throughout history “The Top Ten” have carried a little extra weight in religious and non-religious circles. These are the rules that speak to a proper ordering of society. These are not onerous laws made to give God more power. They are not even to limit our power. I believe that these rules are God’s way of helping us all deal with our new found freedom from slavery in an appropriate way.

When we look closely at what is offered as “The Top Ten” rules none seem particularly burdensome. It would take the worst kind of reprobate to take issue with: no murder, no  lying, no adultery, take a day off to worship, no idol worship, no using the name of God for ungodly purposes, mind your own business, leave your neighbors business alone, honor your parents, and serve only one God.

If God’s people really did all of these things. I mean took them to heart and lived them as if we believed they were given to make a difference in our life lived together instead of just fighting to put them on display in courthouses around America (graven images; God’s name in vain). We would certainly be doing more to fulfill the spirit of the law.

A few years ago I had a parishioner came to me with a framed copy of “The Ten Commandments.” She asked if the church would receive them as a gift and if we would hang them in a place where folks could see them. I had no strong opinion either way on the matter but I was curious. So I asked her what reason she had for making the offer. She explained that she was watching the news dealing with one the “public displays of ten commandments controversies” and the question was asked, “You want this display on the courthouse grounds. Does your church have them on display there? Wouldn’t that be a more appropriate place?” It seems to me to be a fair question. I assume that that church still has them on display. I also assume that they like all of God’s followers still struggle to adequately incorporate them into their everyday lives.

I offer in closing the lyrics of “The Top Ten Commandments” – Kinky Friedman

Walking on the ragged streets of time
a man is asking if there is a dime
someone can spare.
No one pays him any mind,
but surely someone sees him there a-crying
when no one’s there.
And the washed out whore demands
the bottle in his hands.
Ah, mister, don’t you weep,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   God knows we’ve tried to keep                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                the Golden Rule and the Top Ten Commandments.

You can’t believe the thing you’ve seen
on the midnight TV screen
and nightmare sent by satellite.
Rain fire falling from the skies
a mother holds her baby and cries
and day for us for them is night.
And love is just a word we preach
for who can learn what none will teach.
Ah, people, don’t you weep,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    God knows we’ve tried to keep                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               the Golden Rule and the Top Ten commandments.

And moving across on the city street
a neighbor tried to find his feet
and fell on down and slipped to ruin.
The bystanders are all standing by
watching from corners of their eyes
wondering what on earth can he be doing.

With a faith nobody shared
and a love nobody dared
Oh, Mary, don’t you weep,
someday we’ll learn to keep
the Golden Rule and the Top Ten Commandments.

We can see this happening with Moses. So I guess this puts us in pretty good company. God’s chosen people often feel that since they were the one’s called then they have to do all of the work. Two instances in Chapters 17 and 18 should give us all pause to consider what it means to lead in the midst of God’s people.

Exodus 17: 11-13

   As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.  So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.

Moses was entrusted with all the power of God. The very lifting us hands in battle against the Amalekites ensured victory. The lowering of his hand ensured defeat. So he sat down to offer himself some rest. But still his arms grew weary. So someone had to hold his arms up for him. Moses with all of the power of God could not do it alone. He needed at least two others to hold his arms up, another to direct the battle, and “some “men to fight the battle on behalf of the Israelites. Moses would lead the journey but it would not be accomplished with him alone. The people of Israel as they moved toward the “promised land” would only make it if they were willing and able to work together.

Exodus 18: 13-18

      The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?”   Moses answered him, “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will. Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.”   Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.

After the battle Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, steps in with the sage advice of a priest. I have to admit that it is hard for me to think about a man named Jethro giving good solid advice. Outside of scripture that name for me is always associated “Jethro Bodene”, a hillbilly with a third grade education who dreams of being a double naught spy. Or “Jethro Tull” a rock band fronted by a flutist. Neither of which have anything to do with the text at hand.

Jethro tells Moses that he is going to be worn out. This advice from Jethro should remind us all that the fire of the burning bush burns evermore brightly when it is shared. When we keep it for ourselves we will either get burned or flame out.

When it comes to choosing those who will stand with you we also find good direction in these verses:

Exodus 18:21

²¹ But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.

       Certainly not just anyone will do. Even among the gathered people of the exodus there were those of high character and those whose character was otherwise. There is no suggestion of a sign-up sheet asking for volunteers. These are to be men who have been chosen for this purpose; chosen because of their character alone.

Moses could not do it alone. You cannot do it alone. I cannot do it alone. If scripture tells us nothing else it reminds us that we are a people, not a person.

O Lord, we have been long separated from you. We hardly know ourselves or our surroundings. We certainly have lost touch with you. You, Lord, —— You seem so far off. In our burden we have called out, and we have cried, “Deliver us from our taskmasters.”  The bread of toil has left not only our stomachs empty but our spirits depleted.

We have given our lives over to stress, to scheduling, to busyness, and to expectations both unreal and unrealistic. It is not as it appears our lives only look like as if they are our own. We have ceded control of our lives to a cunning nemesis. This foe constantly tells us, “There is not enough time. You can’t get it done.”  This has not caused to lose faith, this has not caused  to lose hope – but, Lord, we have lost peace. We are not at peace. We, your people, crave peace.

Bring us out Lord, to that place of peace; to that place of promise; to that place of plenty that awaits our arrival. Help us Lord to understand that he journey out of “Egypt” may not be swift – that our journey toward your promise is one that will be fraught with difficulties. We may even cry out, “Let us go back to the way things used to be” Let us not be lured by that temptress who sings of days gone by. Remind us Lord that the “good ole’ days” aren’t nearly as good as they may have seemed.  And that these days. Lord, are the days of freedom. We can choose. Today, we choose to move forward – not back. We choose to move toward your promise not to the slavery of our past.

In Christ’s name we pray,

Amen

The following is from Wesley’s Notes – Exodus 12:1-13:

1. The Lord spake – Had spoken, before the three days darkness. But the mention of it was put off to this place, that the history of the plagues might not be interrupted.

2. This shall be to you the beginning of months – They had hitherto begun their year from the middle of September, but hence-forward they were to begin it from the middle of March, at least in all their ecclesiastical computations. We may suppose that while Moses was bringing the ten plagues upon the Egyptians, he was directing the Israelites to prepare for their departure at an hour’s warning. Probably he had, by degrees, brought them near together from their dispersions, for they are here called the congregation of Israel; and to them, as a congregation, orders are here sent.

3. Take every man a lamb – In each of their families, or two or three families, if they were small, join for a lamb. The lamb was to be got ready four days before. and that afternoon they went, they were to kill it, (ver. 6,) as a sacrifice, not strictly, for it was not offered upon the altar, but as a religious ceremony, acknowledging God’s goodness to them, not only in preserving them from, but in delivering them by the plagues inflicted on the Egyptians. The lamb so slain they were to eat roasted (we may suppose in its several quarters) with unleavened bread and bitter herbs; they were to eat it in haste, ver. 11, and to leave none of it until the morning; for God would have them to depend upon him for their daily bread. Before they eat the flesh of the lamb, they were to sprinkle the blood upon the door-posts; by which their houses were to be distinguished from the houses of the Egyptians, and so their first-born secured from the sword of the destroying angel. Dreadful work was to be made this night in Egypt; all the first-born both of man and beast were to be slain; and judgment executed upon the gods of Egypt, Num. xxxiii, 4  . It is probable the idols which the Egyptians worshipped were defaced, those of metal melted, those of wood consumed, and those of stone broke to pieces. This was to be annually observed as a feast of the Lord in their generations, to which the feast of unleavened bread was annexed, during which, for seven days, they were to eat no bread but what was unleavened, in remembrance of their being confined to such bread for many days after they came out of Egypt, ver. 14- 20. There was much of the gospel in this ordinance: (1.) The paschal lamb was typical. Christ is our passover, 1 Cor. v, 7  , and is the Lamb of God, John i, 29  . 2. It was to be a male of the first year; in its prime. Christ offered up himself in the midst of his days. It notes the strength and sufficiency of the Lord Jesus, on whom our help was laid. 3. It was to be without blemish, noting the purity of the Lord Jesus, a lamb without spot, 1 Pet. i, 19 . 4. It was to be set apart four days before, noting the designation of the Lord Jesus to be a saviour, both in the purpose and in the promise. It is observable, that as Christ was crucified at the passover, so he solemnly entered into Jerusalem four days before, the very day that the paschal lamb was set apart. 5. It was to be slain and roasted with fire, noting the exquisite sufferings of the Lord Jesus, even unto death, the death of the cross. 6. It was to be killed by the whole congregation between the two evenings, that is, between three o’clock and six. Christ suffered in the latter end of the world, Heb. ix, 26, by the hand of the Jews, the whole multitude of them, Luke xxiii, 18. 7. Not a bone of it must be broken, ver. 46, which is expressly said to be fulfilled in Christ, John xix, 33, 36. (2.) The sprinkling of the blood was typical. 1st, It was not enough that the blood of the lamb was shed, but it must be sprinkled, noting the application of the merits of Christ’s death to our souls; 2ndly, It was to be sprinkled upon the door-posts, noting the open profession we are to make of faith in Christ, and obedience to him. The mark of the beast may be received in the forehead, or in the right hand, but the seal of the lamb is always in the forehead, Rev. vii, 3. 3rdly, The blood thus sprinkled was a means of the preservation of the Israelites from the destroying angel. If the blood of Christ be sprinkled upon our consciences, it will be our protection from the wrath of God, the curse of the law, and the damnation of hell. (3.) The solemn eating of the lamb was typical of our gospel duty to Christ. 1st, The paschal lamb was killed not to be looked upon only, but to be fed upon; so we must by faith make Christ ours, as we do that which we eat, and we must receive spiritual strength and nourishment from him, as from our food, and have delight in him, as we have in eating and drinking when we are hungry or thirsty. 2ndly, It was to be all eaten: those that, by faith, feed upon Christ, must feed upon a whole Christ. They must take Christ and his yoke, Christ and his cross, as well as Christ and his crown. 3rdly, It was to be eaten with bitter herbs, in remembrance of the bitterness of their bondage in Egypt; we must feed upon Christ with brokenness of heart, in remembrance of sin. 4thly, It was to be eaten in a departing posture ver. 11, when we feed upon Christ by faith, we must sit loose to the world, and every thing in it. (4.) The feast of unleavened bread was typical of the Christian life, 1 Cor. v, 7, 8. Having received Christ Jesus the Lord, 1st. We must keep a feast, in holy joy, continually delighting ourselves in Christ Jesus; If true believers have not a continual feast, it is their own fault. 2ndly, It must be a feast of unleavened bread, kept in charity, without the leaven of malice, and in sincerity, without the leaven of hypocrisy. All the old leaven of sin must be put far from us, with the utmost caution, if we would keep the feast of a holy life to the honour of Christ. 3rdly, It was to be an ordinance forever. As long as we live we must continue feeding upon Christ, and rejoicing in him always, with thankful mention of the great things he has done for us.

9. Raw – Half roasted, but throughly drest.

10. Ye shall burn with fire – To prevent the profane abuse of it.

11. The Lord’s passover – A sign of his passing over you, when he destroyed the Egyptians.

Oscar: What’s it gonna be like up there?

Truman: Two hundred degrees in the sunlight, minus two hundred in the shade. Canyons of razor-sharp rock. Unpredictable gravitational conditions. Unexpected eruptions, things like that.

Oscar: Ok, so the scariest environment imaginable. Thanks, that’s all you gotta say. Scariest environment imaginable.

     I have to think that for Pharaoh, the people of Egypt, and even the Hebrews that these plagues of blood, frogs, gnats, flies, diseased livestock, boils, thunder and hail, locusts, darkness, and the promise of more to come could be best described as “scariest environment imaginable.”  Like Oscar said, “Thanks, that’s all you gotta say. Scariest environment imaginable” This makes Pharaoh’s reaction at least a little bit puzzling. In such an environment you would think that even the great king of Egypt would give into Moses’ demands. I understand that scripture tells us that God would harden Pharaoh’s heart. I have to think that it must have been pretty hard to begin with.

     Pharaoh does not look at the Egyptians as anything but slaves. He has no connection to their history or their sojourning. Perhaps there was something of a story in him that would remember that Joseph, a Hebrew, once helped to make Egypt great. At this point that would have been ancient history. Amongst all of the Israelites there was no Joseph to be found.  And now Moses comes talking about the God of the Hebrews and this God’s great powers. Pharaoh who would consider himself a God had to be thinking, “This God has allowed all of his people to be in slavery. Why should I fear a God who has not shown up in a generation or two?” Pharaoh’s response has to be, “What have you done for/to me lately?”  Pharaoh had to be hedging his bet that he could weather these plagues. If they were caused by the Hebrew God he would probably get tired and abandon them again. Perhaps the Hebrew God who had been out of touch for so long was just blowing off some steam that this God would get it out of his system and that he would be gone for another generation.

     We know that his is not the case. We know that God’s concern for his people was not growing hot and cold. We know that God respond to his people calling in their pain. We know this was not going to be a casual fling. This relationship would be for the long haul. That out of this “scariest environment possible” Pharaoh would relent after it got just a little bit scary – even more “scary unimaginable.” We know that God would be omnipresent, going before, his people as they begin their journey into the desert.

     As a rule most scholars agree that the King James Version of the Bible is not a very good translation.  I find that what it misses in translation it makes up for in rhythm and meter. If you choose to memorize a passage of scripture the KJV is probably the best place to start. I always prefer to read the Psalms in the King’s English. The strength and majesty of the words do not allow you to shrink away from their importance. Psalm 28:3 is one of those verses that proves my point:

Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who do evil, who speak cordially with their neighbors but harbor malice in their hearts.  (New International Version)

Don’t shove me into the same jail cell with those crooks, with those who are
      full-time employees of evil. They talk a good line of “peace,”
      then moonlight for the Devil. (The Message, paraphrase)

Don’t drag me away, LORD, with those cruel   people, who speak kind words, while planning trouble. (Contemporary English Version)

Take me not off with the wicked, with those who are workers of evil, who speak peace with their neighbors, while mischief is in their hearts. (Revised Standard Version)

Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who are workers of evil, who speak peace with their neighbors, while mischief is in their hearts. (New Revised Standard Version)

     All of these translations have both strengths and weaknesses. For the purpose of The Grand Sweep I am reading the NRSV. My wife and I are reading the International Children’s Bible to our children each night at supper.  I generally prepare my sermons using the RSV as my primary text.  No one text can do it all. Any text is a good place to start. Still when it comes to particular passages I can’t help but go back to the “authorized” version.

Say the words aloud, let them resonate, hear them again for the first time:

Draw me not away with the wicked,

and with the workers of iniquity,

which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts.

      You may think that you know how to avoid being asked to lead. My guess is that people are starting to see through your lame “my dog ate my homework” excuses. This is why I am offering you a well-crafted well thought out empirically undeniable system of excuses; ironclad protectors against drawing you into a situation not of your liking.

1)      “I am not qualified…” This is the very first line of defense. It is a wonderful screening tool that usually ends any attempt to take the negotiation process any further. This tactic puts the ‘asker” in a defensive position making them question their ability to discern who may be best suited to complete the task. Most importantly they too will begin to question your qualifications. 90% of the time this will be enough for you to go on enjoying the comforts of non-involvement. There are those rare occasions that this tactic will not work. Don’t fret. All is not lost. Move on to step 2.

2)      You have failed to adequately call into question your own credentials and qualifications. It is now time to shine the bright light of truth on the interloper trying to get you to lead. A simple, “Who are you? What qualifies you to ask me?” may be just enough to knock the “asker” off balance. They were certain that you would give in to “You’re the right one for this job.” Now they are back on their heels questioning their own abilities and qualifications. They are now asking themselves if they have the good sense enough to be a part of the process of choosing someone for such an impressive task. You will still find, as awkward as it may seem, that this may not be enough to deter someone trying to find a leader. Again, it is going to be fine. There is still another step.

3)       You have called into question your own credentials. You have even called into question the credentials of the “asker.” Now it is time to question the inherent abilities of those you are being asked to lead. Simply ask “Why do you think they are ready for any leadership?” The “asker” may not have bought into your false modesty after all you are too well-known as a leader. Their own self-esteem may be so rock solid that they would never question their own ability to find the right person or even sell you on being that person. That is why you now need to question the motives of an entire group. Call out “them” and move the conversation to talking about what “they” have done or not done over the years. This allows you to focus on the inadequacies of an entire group that most importantly is not present and therefore unable to defend themselves. Everyone now should be able to quickly come to the conclusion that this whole idea is a complete waste of time and move on.

The effort that it will take for anyone to maintain the energy needed break through this beautifully developed defense will cause even the heartiest of souls to give up and move on. They will no doubt realize that if it takes this much energy to get you sign up there is no way they will want to be responsible for sending you. .

4) However, there are those who simply just don’t get it. They are persistent! They just keep badgering you! These are the ones who simply can’t take a hint. My suggestion is to give it one more try. Make up some wildly imaginative excuse. Invent a short illness; feign a limp for a few days; claim to stutter even if your eloquence is obvious. No one is going to question you on any of this. Even the most simple of individuals would recognize the rudeness of questioning an ailment or disability.

5) Alas there are those who still won’t get it. They are willing to go the distance. They can weather the storm of excuses. They stand before you just as chipper and glee as when you started this encounter. They will not be moved. At this point there is really only one option. You have tried to be nice and civil. Now you must say, “You really need to find someone else. I am not available.”

This is a time-tested foolproof method. If you follow the steps I have outlined you will never find yourself corralled into an unwanted leadership position. You may even find that this method is a pretty good long-term remedy inoculating you against ever being asked again.

A WORD OF CAUTION: This is foolproof. That means it should only be used in the presence of fools.  If in fact you find yourself in an encounter with the Divine this will not work. REPEAT. THIS WILL NOT WORK. There is no known remedy to God’s call outside of our response. Just ask Moses. (Exodus 3:11 – 4:17)

     So we begin a new stage in the story of God’s story. We are introduced to a child born in a time of state sanctioned infanticide. This child is purposefully and strategically set in a basket and sent down the river. This act of cunning and deceit was the child’s best chance for survival and his mother was willing to take that chance. This sets us up for further along in the narrative when Moses is saved once again with the help of water. The mother’s willingness to allow her child to live even if it meant losing him it gave her the opportunity to receive a greater blessing. Not only would her child not die she would receive governmental protection and a stipend. She only had to be willing to raise the child as a surrogate mother. That choice may have been difficult but the alternative was death.

        Many of were introduced to Moses by Cecil B. DeMille.  I grew up thinking that Charlton Heston was Moses. DeMille’s version of events as they are offered to us in the movie “The Ten Commandments” seems to draw as much on the Joseph tradition as it does the Moses tradition. We really don’t know that much about Moses from the scripture alone. We do know that he is a man trapped in two worlds: raised an Egyptian born a Hebrew. We know that he is linked to his Hebrew heritage because his birth mother cared for him as a baby.  And that is about all we know.

         We are not surprised when we find that Moses is willing to murder an Egyptian.  Legally we may be talking justifiable homicide but either way Moses knows that he has committed an act that will separate him from all that is known to him. This becomes the defining action for Moses as he is sent out into the world. He will no longer have his Hebrew family nor will he have access to Pharaoh’s court. He is a fugitive from justice who will have to seek his blessing as an exile. This will give him good training for what lies ahead. But first he must settle in and find comfort. While on the run he finds good fortune.  This is where we pause. While we take a deep breath we are almost hoping that Moses will be allowed t to settle down and live the honorable and quiet life of a shepherd.

      We know that won’t be the case for Moses as surely as we know that won’t be the case for us. God is not at work in our lives to bring us to the comfortable place where everything is alright. God is at work in our lives so that we will be empowered to go forth to liberate His people from slavery. I believe that in our time of comfort and rest that God is preparing us to do mighty things in his name. There is something just around the corner waiting for us. That something is not our own choosing but God’s choosing for us. In Moses’ case it will be God.

We have come to the end of the book of Genesis. As the story has unfolded we find God’s people not as well off as when they first started. As a people the children of creation, promise and blessing are no longer in Eden but in Egypt. The descendants of Adam, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (aka Israel) and all of the rest of them are far removed from the idyllic existence of a garden.  As a reader it is a relief to finally finish this part of the story. As a citizen of the twenty-first century I am now ready for the sequel. Bring on Genesis II as it will certainly tie up all of the loose ends and bring us quickly to a nicely wrapped Hollywood ending. As a student of scripture I know that the journey home will not be that neatly presented. There will be no quick sitcom-like resolutions. There will be no trilogy of stories that will help us to better understand the real meaning of the story. Instead we will find that we still have much to wade through on this adventure of Bible reading. Stick with it and recognize that the reward is not in finishing the task but the journey itself.

I have recently been introduced to the “Six Word Memoir.” Smith Magazine claims to have originated the idea of asking readers to write their memoir using only six words. You can go to their website to see some intriguing and insightful albeit short memoirs.  As we read through the Bible I encourage you to pause as we finish each book and attempt you own “six word synopsis” of each book. The only rule is six words.

Here are a few of my attempts for the book of Genesis:

Started in a Garden – Now Egypt

Not worthy BUT chosen and blessed.

Disobedient, Murdering, Lying, Stealing – my story?

Repeat Offenders meets Witness Protection Program

Lather. Rinse. Repeat. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

I look forward to reading your six word synopses. Please post or email them to me.

Our bravado masks our insecurities as we approach You expecting easy answers to profound problems. We find that these answers are more often than not found along the way. We also find that sometimes we must grapple with the difficulties of life if we are to find that answer we so desperately seek. We must meet life head on and often we must wrestle with our past. We must fight our demons, both real and conjured in the deep recesses of our imagination. We come, today, desiring a new path one defined less by fight and more by faith. Bring us home Lord from our exile. We are tired and we have found no comfortable place to lay our head.

Awaken us lord from our sleep and let us know that Your blessing is our blessing, now and always. Awaken us from the rattled experience of our nightmare that has shaken us to our core. Let us hear the kind words of a father to a child, “It’s just a dream, everything will be alright.” Let us rest easy if only for a moment and let us be transformed in this realization of Your continued presence with us.

Let the dreams that come to us while we sleep; those dreams that have made fitful our periods of rested slumber; those dreams that have left us ill at ease; let them all be transformed by you to a dream that reminds us that it is, indeed, well with our soul.

O Lord, You have led us out of the darkness and are ready to bring us to a time when a new dawn breaks in in our lives.

May we walk away from this moment ready to encounter even our sworn enemy knowing that you have brought us to this place not for battle; not for revenge; but for reconciliation with You,  O Lord and wit all creation. Move us Lord from a place of burden to a place where that burden is relieved. May our dreams borne in darkness be transformed to the dreams You have for us when the morning comes and a new day dawns.

We have been touched by every encounter with You, O Lord, and we have been changed. Let us, now, wake from our grogginess ready to claim Your dream for us.

In Christ’s Name, Amen.