Monday 3 December 2012

Sinai versus Canaan

The goal of the Exodus on one hand must be Sinai - to meet with God
Yet Sinai is only a stopover then they head to Canaan - so what's the deal?

Well if we take 'promised rest' to be defined as an 'enjoyable relationship'
then this may make sense

At Sinai - they are scared of God, and God shows His fury at them - what they need of course is a mediator and prophet - played by Moses

But it is this mediator also plays the role of priest - he must make the people acceptable to God
On one hand He offers gifts & sacrifices for them
but on the other - He must make the people acceptable (holy) to God

thus the wilderness is the process of the prophet/priest making the people holy to God - i.e. bringing them from a 'distanced' meeting with God into an 'enjoyable permanent relationship' with God
the process of stripping away and a different kind of feeding

so the goal is not only are they 'ready' to enter Canaan - but looking forward to a restful relationships with God - the desire of all that 'striving' (cf Heb 4)

the wilderness of course is risky and painful business - and it causes many to long to go back to being 'alone' suffering in Egypt - basically the desire for bachelorhood once again

Saturday 1 December 2012

Hebrews Sermons

2 more sermons from the book of Hebrews

Hebrews 12- What does it mean to have a Father who loves you
http://www.zionbishan.org.sg/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2012-11-18-Fatherly-Discipline-Pastor-Dev-Menon.mp3

Final Sermon - an attempt to summarise the whole book of Hebrews in 15min + some Heb 13 bits:
http://www.zionbishan.org.sg/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2012-11-25-No-Lasting-City-Pastor-Dev-Menon.mp3