A blog by Lawrence Gripper of Alive Church. http://myflock2.com/blog/index.php?blog_id=916&blog_org_id=church1 http://myflock2.com/blog/index.php?blog_id=916&blog_org_id=church1 EXODUS 22:16-24:18   How did God feel as he described the plans for the Temple? Did he think it was ridiculous, or was he honored by the obedience of the Israelites in the construction of the temple? Nothing can contain his presence; it's not like God is limited to officially approved containers. What did people outside the temple think God was doing in there? Did they think he couldn't see them or hear them? Did they think he didn't know exactly what was in their hearts? http://myflock2.com/blog/index.php?blog_id=916&blog_org_id=church1 EXODUS 13:1-15:27   It seems the Israelites weren't quite ready for the aftermath of deliverance. God made strategic travel stops to keep the Israelites from returning to slavery, and they still complained. Were the Israelites really at rock bottom when God led them out of Egypt? Were they stuck in a cycle of self-pity, and this is how God pried them out of it? How much should I compare my attitude with the collective attitude of a nation-group from several thousand years ago? http://myflock2.com/blog/index.php?blog_id=916&blog_org_id=church1  EXODUS 10:1-12:51   God introduces the Passover celebration, at feels like the first time that God is laying out a blanket command to his people. I could be wrong about that, but it seems like an early step in the process toward the legalism. This isn't God's intention at all. Legalism is simply our way of twisting God's desire for relationship into our desire for independent success. http://myflock2.com/blog/index.php?blog_id=916&blog_org_id=church1 JOB 40:6-42:17   God to Job: "I created both you and the hippopotamus." Job, seriously, when God compares you to a hippo, then you know you need to get your head right.   Job listens to God and then praises him because he has seen God with his own eyes. Before, he believed based on what others said about God. After this experience, his belief was transfered to a foundation of his own experience. I think a lot of people (myself included) get hung up believing from the words of others rather than from personal experience. But what should I expect in a personal experience... http://myflock2.com/blog/index.php?blog_id=916&blog_org_id=church1  JOB 35:1-37:24   God lays it out for Job in this section. Did Job realize all the things God explains about creation? Perhaps he needed a reminder of how big the world is and how small he is. It's awesome to think about God above and beyond and among all that he created. And it hurts my brain a little bit. http://myflock2.com/blog/index.php?blog_id=916&blog_org_id=church1  JOB 30:1-31:40   "And with my head held high I would tell him everything I have ever done."   Is this even possible, Job? Has God designed my mind to remember all of things I've ever done? I don't think so, and I don't think it would matter, even if I could. The list isn't all that impressive. In fact, I think it would sound more like an indictment than a defense. Fortunately, I have an in with the judge (who also happens to be my father).   Thank you, Jesus, for standing in for me when the judge declares me guilty and delivers the deadly sentence. http://myflock2.com/blog/index.php?blog_id=916&blog_org_id=church1  JOB 26:1-29:25   "God is the only one who knows the way to wisdom, because he sees everything beneath the heavens."   I'm not convinced that God knows wisdom only because he sees everything. If I could see everything, I would still have to know what do with all that knowledge. Making good decisions based on truth is wisdom.   "God told us, 'Wisdom means that you respect me, the Lord, and turn from sin.'"   This is as close as I can get to perfect wisdom. God is worthy because he sees everything, and he makes the right decision, every...