Rules and More Rules - Day 49 Month 2-18 Week 7 Day 7

Today's Reading (Bible in 1 year)


Exodus 21:1-22:15 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2021%3A1%20-%2022%3A15&version=NASB1995

Psalm 41 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2041&version=NASB1995

Isaiah 38 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2038&version=NASB1995

Mark 1:14-45 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%201%3A14-45&version=NASB1995


Rules and More Rules


1. In Exodus 21, we are seeing the continuation of the laws that Moses, from God, is writing into the Torah (Jewish Laws).  By the time Jesus is on the earth, the religious leaders will add thousands more specific rules surrounding the laws of the Torah, known as fences.  I am somewhat overwhelmed just listening to the law Moses is outlining without adding thousands more.  

I visited relatives many years ago in New Brunswick, Canada. We went to the church they attended on a Sunday, and I went to the adult Sunday School with the parents, while the kids went to Sunday school for children. While I was in this group, the teaching took a strange turn and the topic of alcoholic beverages came up.

Now I am a person who enjoys the odd beer, cider, or glass of wine. If we are to define a law from the Bible about alcohol, we can find direct teaching on being drunk. Ephesians 5:18 says, “Do not be drunk with wine.” The leader of the adult Sunday school group says that if we are not to be drunk, we should not drink alcoholic beverages at all because “it is a slippery slope” (I really dislike that phrase) to being drunk. That is an example of adding a fence. Obviously, if you do not take a drink, you will never be drunk.

Meanwhile, the apostle Paul, the same person who said, “Do not be drunk with wine”, also told Timothy in 1 Timothy 5:23 to take a little wine for his stomach.  Jesus also turned water into wine at a wedding feast. If Jesus did not agree with drinking alcoholic beverages, why would He have turned water into wine? It seemed counterproductive.

To be clear, I believe there are times when alcoholic beverages are not appropriate. For example; when someone is a recovering alcoholic and you are drinking in their presence, it may create a temptation they can’t resist.  If that’s the case, I don’t believe drinking is appropriate.  If being an abstainer from alcohol is a personal conviction of yours it’s appropriate for you to not drink and no one is right to criticize you.  Sylvia has almost stopped drinking alcohol simply because it affects her sleep.  She is totally right to do that and I have reduced my consumption because when I drink, she may often want to join me and then she doesn’t sleep well.  There are lots of good reasons not to drink…..but it’s not law!!!


2. In our reading of Isaiah today we are presented with the true story of King Hezekiah being told by Isaiah he is going to die soon so he should get his house in order.  King Hezekiah weeps bitterly and asks God not to take his life.  God relents and adds 15 years to his life.


This seemed like a very valid request of God.  He was a good king, probably enjoyed life, he saw the Assyrians defeated by God and I assume figured he’d continue life in a time of peace.  God’s plan was physical death and God adjusted His plan for Hezekiah.  Was the adjusted plan a good plan?  I suppose we will find out.  (A hint: it works out well for him but….)


I mess up God’s best plan for my life often. I don’t believe God has a specific plan for every minute of every day because He gives us freedom of choice. However, in my freedom of choice, I tend to make poor decisions on my own outside of God’s involvement. It’s never life or death, but it always has consequences. God still blesses my life, but I suspect my life could be easier if I make all important decisions by discussing them with God. He does talk to me; sometimes directly, often through His Word, and sometimes through others. I just need to listen.


Have a blessed day!  

Steve


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