Day 51 (Exodus 27-28 | Mark 5:21-6:6a | Psalm 24)

Day 51
Exodus 27:1-28:43
(27 | 28)

The instructions for the tabernacle's furnishings continue; this time for the altar, its huge courtyard and the lampstand (and the oil needed for it). The instructions continue to include the priestly clothing for Aaron and his sons. As the head priest, Aaron's clothing is much more ornate and elaborate than that of his sons.

Day 50 (Exodus 25-26 | Mark 4:30-5:20 | Psalm 23)

Day 50
Exodus 25:1-26:37
(25 | 26)

God tells Moses to get the Israelites to commence a huge undertaking. He tells him to get the Israelites to make him a sanctuary so he could dwell among them. He gives Moses very specific and detailed instructions on how the sanctuary and its furnishings should be made, and which materials should be used to make it.

Day 49 (Exodus 23-24 | Mark 3:31-4:29 | Psalm 22:22-31)

Day 49
Exodus 23:1-24:18
(23 | 24)

More laws are revealed to Moses. The first set of laws are to do with justice; specifically they're to do with corruption and avoiding injustice. The next set of laws are headlined as the Sabbath laws, probably because they both follow the same theme - six on, one off. The first law says that you should sow and work a field for six years, and leave it for the seventh to allow the poor somewhere to sow and harvest. In the same way, you're only to work six days and take the seventh off. This is to allow your animals and workforce time off to refresh themselves and recover.

Day 48 (Exodus 21-22 | Mark 2:18-3:30 | Proverbs 5:1-14)

Day 48
Exodus 21:1-22:31
(21 | 22)

These two chapters here cover social laws for the Israelites. A great deal of them don't sit very well with me. The law about what happens if you strike a slave, for example. (For the record, as long as they're able to walk after a day or two, it's fine.) Of course, a lot of the laws written here are only relevant in context, and wouldn't seem to apply any more.

Day 47 (Exodus 19-20 | Mark 1:29-2:17 | Psalm 22:12-21)

Day 47
Exodus 19:1-20:26
(19 | 20)

Exactly three months after leaving Egypt, the Israelites enter the Desert of Sinai, and set up camp in front of the mountain, Mount Sinai.

Day 46 (Exodus 17-18 | Mark 1:1-28 | Psalm 22:1-11)

Day 46
Exodus 17:1-18:27
(17 | 18)

Despite the fact that the LORD had already demonstrated his faithfulness to the people of Israel through the provision of manna, the Israelites get in an argument with Moses, again about the lack of water available to drink. Again, the Israelites blame Moses for the fact their lives are lacking something.

Day 45 (Exodus 15-16 | Matthew 28 | Psalm 21:8-13)

Day 45
Exodus 15:1-16:36
(15 | 16)

It's amazing how quickly a crowd's opinion can change. At the start of chapter 15, the Israelites are singing praise to God. At first, it seems a bit odd; the Israelites seem to be rejoicing that their Egyptian pursuers had been drowned. But then the song goes on to glorify God for the way he saved the Israelites, and demonstrates the Israelites' confidence in him for the future.

Day 44 (Exodus 13-14 | Matthew 27:45-66 | Proverbs 4:20-27)

Day 44
Exodus 13:1-14:31
(13 | 14)

The passage starts with God laying claim to every firstborn male - whether human or animal. Moses explains that every firstborn male must be redeemed before the LORD because of what God did in Egypt; every firstborn male throughout Egypt was struck down as he passed through Egypt. It was because of this that Pharaoh finally allowed the Israelites to leave. Moses gives the Israelites an outline of how they are to commemorate their coming out of Egypt every year.

Day 43 (Exodus 11-12 | Matthew 27:11-44 | Psalm 21:1-7)

Day 43
Exodus 11:1-12:51
(11 | 12)

The LORD tells Moses of the final plague he will bring against Egypt; the plague on the firstborn. Moses reports to Pharaoh that unless the Israelites are allowed to leave, the LORD will go throughout the land at midnight, and every single firstborn son throughout Egypt - from the firstborn son of the Pharaoh to the firstborn of the cattle -  will die. However, the LORD will distinguish between Egyptians and Israelites. No one will be harmed amongst the Israelites.

Day 42 (Exodus 9-10 | Matthew 26:69-27:10 | Psalm 20)

Day 42
Exodus 9:1-10:29
(9 | 10)

Aaron and Moses put a simple request to Pharaoh: let the Israelites go out into the desert to worship the LORD their God. God hardens Pharaoh's heart, and he refuses, and continues to refuse the request. So God brings a succession of plagues against Egypt. Four of the plagues were in yesterday's passage; the plagues of blood, frogs, gnats and flies.

Day 41 (Exodus 6:13-8:32 | Matthew 26:47-68 | Psalm 19:7-14)

Day 41
Exodus 6:13-8:32
(6:13-30 | 7 | 8)

God commands Moses and his brother Aaron to take the Israelites out of Egypt. The lineage of Moses and Aaron is explained, and it is demonstrated that they are great-grandsons of Levi. Interestingly, when the heads of the families of the Israelites in Egypt are named, only three tribes are named; Reuben, Simeon and Levi. Now, I'm not sure if this is meant to demonstrate that these three tribes were ahead of the rest of the tribes. If not, it seems strange to only mention these three tribes.

Day 40 (Exodus 4:1-6:12 | Matthew 26:31-46 | Proverbs 4:10-19)

Day 40
Exodus 4:1-6:12
(4 | 5 | 6:1-12)

Moses is concerned that the people won't believe him, and that they won't listen to God's message because of this. So God gives Moses various signs to perform in front of the people; in the first, Moses's staff is turned into a snake; in the second Moses's hand is made leprous, and then healed again. A third sign, only to be used in the event that the first two are not believed, involves water from the Nile turning into blood when it is poured on the ground. Moses has another problem; he's not a very good speaker. So God recruits Moses's brother, Aaron, to speak for Moses.

Day 39 (Exodus 1-3 | Matthew 26:1-30 | Psalm 19:1-6)

Day 39
Exodus 1:1-3:22
(1 | 2 | 3)

Towards the end of Genesis when the nation of Israel (Jacob and his family) head to Egypt, it is already a fairly large group; Jacob's eleven sons, their wives and their children number seventy in total. Joseph, the twelfth son, and his family are already established in Egypt, but still add to the number of Israelites in Egypt. By the time the first generation of Israelites in Egypt have died, the number of them has increased massively. So when a new Pharaoh comes to power, he's afraid of them. He's unaware of Joseph and everything he did for Egypt. What he is aware of is the number of foreigners living in his land, and the fact that their number just keeps increasing. He's afraid they do not have any loyalty to their host nation.

Day 38 (Job 40:3-42:17 | Matthew 25:14-46 | Psalm 18:43-50)

Day 38
Job 40:3-42:17
(40:3-24 | 41 | 42)

After God's questions to Job in yesterday's passage, Job is predictably shocked. He replies that he is unworthy of responding, and tries to leave it at that.