| The break from life under Pharaoh and life within the community of Sinai was quite a dramatic change. Walter Brueggemann continues to write about the central place of sabbath in the life of God's people. The meeting of Sinai culminates in Exodus 24:3,7 which are oaths of allegiance and obedience. "All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient." (Exodus 24:7) Israel signs on gladly and quickly and without reservation to the demands of YHWH. The rabbis have long noticed that the sequence of verbs is "do and hear" (shema = obey). We might expect the reverse, "hear and do," but Israel acts first and then knows what has been commanded. Israel knew from the outset that the commands of YHWH are better than the commands of Pharaoh. There was something already different about being out there in the wilderness under the domain of YHWH. Yeah, they were complaining on the way but they were being supplied with enough as was need. Israel was already into the life of promise - following. Now was the time to be shaped - to obey the commands that would continue to make for a corporate life that would be like a light to all nations. This "loving God and loving neighbor" is a radical adventure and yet before they can see it completely, they are jumping on board - it is that good - that full. It is not easy to remember that God has acted already and we are in the middle of promise before we do a thing. It is then that God's words pull us into the vision of what is to come. Connection: There is something about the sacredness of what God has done even when we were not yet able to put the story together and make sense of the way we were being led. Lead us onward, O Lord of Life. As we walk into your future, keep us alert to the promise you have handed to us so that our walk will be bold and full of courage and hope. Amen. |
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