Day 50

The exciting thing about studying the Bible is that I get peace and clarity when I become confused as I read and reflect throughout the day. Because those questions stay in my mind and I am wondering and saying, why God? I am confused. Sometimes, the answers come through — either through recalling specific past experiences or through random conversations or through seating still and pondering or through subsequent days readings. My mind is usually open to receiving understanding as I go through my day.

There are more laws today; some are repeated from previous readings in Exodus. A couple of things today:

• I am the Lord (your God) was mentioned over 20 times in today’s reading. God was constantly reminding them of who he is.
• God wants us to be fair to everyone, whether rich or poor. In 19:15, he says we should not show partiality to the poor or favouritism to the great. Isn’t this so real today? We actually show partiality to the poor just because they are poor and also favour rich people.
• He reminds in 19:33 them not to mistreat foreigners, given they were foreigners themselves at some point (in Egypt). I mentioned this on Day 37 and shared the story of my daughter experience.
• Like yesterday, 20:2 tells the effect of sacrificing children to Molek. I ask, ‘who is Molek?’ Did a quick research. Some say it’s a god; some say it’s a form of sacrifice. Whatever it is, how did people come to sacrifice (kill) their children?
• The penalty for many sins in the world today was death in those days. It’s the grace we have in Jesus. But should we keep taking it for granted?
• But then, what baffles me is the manner of approach to their death. Stoning? Having fellow humans kills them? Why?
• More rules for priests in Chapter 21. It was a lot to be a priest.
• 21:9 — If a priest’s daughter defiles herself by becoming a prostitute, she disgraces her father; she must be burned’. 😳 So, in effect, a person who isn’t a priest’s daughter and is a prostitute is fine living; otherwise, dead! The responsibility of a priest extends to his family. As a pastor’s daughter. I thought it was really unfair that I was subjected to many things. After all, I am not the pastor, right? I didn’t choose it. I struggled with the responsibilities of being a pastor’s daughter a lot. The expectations were out of this world, sometimes forgetting we are human. One day asked me, ‘if you were born into a royal family, would your thinking be any different? Well, perhaps, but at that time, my answer was sure! And the question was, why would I have preferred it because that comes with its responsibilities as well. Yet we have heard stories of children of royal families hating that life. Life is just fascinating. The learning is that certain responsibilities fall on you by virtue of the family into which you are born.
• In 21:12–13, God mentions the type of woman a priest must (not) marry. I know later in the Bible that one of the prophets did otherwise. But we’ll wait. I don’t know the full story of why he married a prostitute, but I guess when I get to that part of the Bible, I’ll know.
• Finally, in 21:16–23, God said no one with a physical defect should come to his altar or sanctuary to defile it. They could, however, eat the priests’ food. I am confused, God. So why? Given their deformity, it is understandable if this was a case of the ritual’s inconvenience for these people — speculation on my part, but I’d like to understand why.