"Ye Shall Be a Peculiar Treasure unto Me" Lesson 14

Lesson 14: "Ye Shall Be a Peculiar Treasure unto Me"

[Note: I've decided to publish an initial blog post early in the week, and then update it as I study day by day.)
This week's lesson covers Exodus 15-20 and Exodus 32-34.

What does "peculiar" mean? Here's Elder Nelson explaining the origins of the word and why being called "peculiar" is a "compliment of the highest order."

Water and Manna

The children of Israel leave Egypt, but it doesn't take long for so many people, who had to leave in haste, to run out of food and water.
Let's just say they're NOT happy campers.
They murmur and even wish they were back in Egypt. They may have been slaves who were forced to labor with rigor, but at least they had their bread and "flesh pots."
The Lord responds with miracles to provide water. First, Moses is commanded to cast a "tree" into the bitter waters of Marah and they are made sweet. Sweet! (Exodus 15)

What's the symbolism of this? There are many! Bitter sins turning to sweet forgiveness with repentance; bitter trials turning sweet with the gaining of wisdom and closeness to God; the power of Jehovah to cleanse...

Next the Lord provides Manna to the hungry Israelites. They learn to collect just enough each day to eat, but double on the day before the Sabbath. That way they can rest on the Sabbath, when no Manna is provided. (Exodus 16)
Here's a video of Elder D. Todd Christofferson explaining the link between daily physical sustenance (Manna) and spiritual nourishment. (I believe we've already watched this one in class, but it's a good one!)

They continue to journey in the desert, but of course must find sources of water. When they become thirsty again, Moses cries unto the Lord, "What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me."

Here's a question: why does the Lord bring them to the brink before he provides a miracle? Why are we sometimes brought to the brink before we get relief?

The Lord instructs Moses to "Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and they rod...taken in thine hand, and go." Moses smites the rock of Horeb with his rod and water flows out of it. All this is done in the sight of the "elders of Israel." (Exodus 17)

What spiritual significance does getting water from a rock have? 

Christ or Jehovah is often considered our rock, our sure foundation.

• Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: (Matthew 7:24)
• And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.(1 Corinthians 10:4)
• And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

Christ is also the living water. If we drink of that, we will never spiritually thirst.

• Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water...Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
  
  But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4: 10, 13-14)

What would have happened  to the Israelites if they had tried to journey through the wilderness without the Lord's help?

What will happen to us if we try to journey through mortality without the Lord's help?

Moses, the Passover and Easter

Old Testament Lesson 13
This lesson covers a lot of ground! From the birth of Moses, to his expulsion from Pharaoh's court and marriage to a Midiannite, to his calling from the burning bush, his return to Egypt, his petitions to Pharaoh, the plagues, the Passover, and finally the Exodus and escape via the miracle of the Red Sea opening.
Whew! I'm exhausted already!
Since Moses lived to be 120 years old, that's quite a bit of history. But I would like to focus on two main themes: Moses as a symbol of Christ and the Passover as a symbol of Christ and His Last Supper or Sacrament.

Moses as a Symbol of Christ

Moses was a great prophet and his life symbolizes Christ's mission in many ways.

• Moses was raised by the Pharaoh's family, not his own. The Savior was the Son of God the Father, but was raised by an "adopted" father.
• Both were born at a time when the leader had ordered the execution of all the firstborn in Israel. Both escaped and were preserved.
• Both spent time as children in Egypt. 
• Both were the means of saving their people from bondage and death. Moses lead the Israelites out of Egypt; Christ saves us from spiritual bondage and death.
• Moses became a shepherd. Christ is the one true Shepherd.
• Moses performed great miracles as did Christ.
• Through Jehovah, Moses miraculously provided bread and water to the Israelites, symbols of the living bread and living water provided by Christ.
• Both provided new laws to their people.
• Moses didn't die a natural death; he was translated. Jesus Christ gave up his own life and was resurrected. Both left the earth in a miraculous manner.

The Passover Foretells Christ's Sacrifice

The Passover is highly symbolic and the feast of the Passover is as well. The Lord instituted the feast as both a remembrance of their escape from the plague of death prior to their escape from Egypt but also as a foretelling of Christ's sacrifice, his death for us.

Passover and Easter are linked. (Here's an explanation of why they usually fall in the same week.)
Why?
Christ returned to Jerusalem at Passover and was greeted as a King by the people, waving palms and cheering His triumphal entry. That same day, the sacrificial lambs were being chosen for the Passover sacrifice.

Christ's Last Supper was a symbolic fulfillment and turning point. The symbolic significance of the Passover was fulfilled. No more would blood sacrifices be required; only a broken heart and a contrite spirit. The bread he broke and passed around to his apostles. "This do in remembrance of my body." The wine was also passed. "This do in remembrance of my blood which was shed for you."
When we partake of the bread and water (wine), we are symbolically accepting Christ's sacrifice for us. We are symbolically taking it in and making it a part of us and who we are.

Jesus was crucified on the same day the sacrificial lambs were being slaughtered in Jerusalem; the Firstborn of the Father giving his blood to atone for our sins.

For more information on some amazing significance of the astronomy behind the dates of the Passover and the return of Elijah, read this article, originally published in the Ensign. WOW!

When the ancient Hebrews were instructed to kill a firstborn lamb, without blemish and no broken bones and sprinkle its blood on their doorposts. they were promised that the angel of death would see the blood and "pass over" their families, leaving them safe.
The Egyptians, however, didn't have a the atoning blood of a lamb to save them and each firstborn son of their families were struck with death on that night. Even Pharaoh's oldest son died. (Interesting note:  if you know something of the practice of Egyptian pharaohs, killing your son out of jealousy and to protect your power was a common evil practice.)

Without a Savior, the Egyptians died physical deaths.
Without a Savior, all of us will die spiritual deaths.

Another point of symbolism. Why put blood on the doorway?
Here's how I see it. To enter our Eternal Home, we must pass through the doorway of Christ's atonement. Nothing unclean can enter back into Heavenly Father's kingdom and so in order to go there, we must be cleansed (and continually cleansed through repentance and partaking of the Sacrament).
Furthermore, His blood protects us from danger and evil. A door keeps things out and keeps the people inside safe. We are spiritually protected when we are living the gospel, and renewing our covenants by partaking of the Sacrament each week.

Sacrifice and Sacrament: This video is very powerful in portraying the symbolism of the ancient rite of animal sacrifice and linking it with the reverence we should give to partaking of the Sacrament. (It's also a bit humorous!)

Because of Him: This Easter video was posted on the Church's YouTube channel and has received over 2 MILLION views! You'll enjoy it!

My Kingdom is Not of This World: One of the new Bible videos portraying the end of Christ's life and his resurrection. Very poignant, narrated by John the Beloved. (OK, narrated by an actor playing John the Beloved.)

"Do we see [the sacrament] as our passover, remembrance of our safety and deliverance and redemption?" Elder Holland

Top 10 Reasons Why Joseph of Egypt Was Amazing

As I've studied the life of Joseph of Egypt, I've come to a much deeper appreciation for this great man and prophet of God. (Genesis 40-45)
Here are 10 reasons why I think Joseph of Egypt was truly an amazing prophet and example of Christ-like qualities:

• He never let the unfairness of his circumstances embitter him towards God
• He found ways to prosper in every situation he was placed in.
• He developed patience.
• He was a hard worker.
• He was courageous.
• He was trustworthy and trusted in God.
• He forgave his brothers for their jealousy and treachery.
• He was humble, always giving God the credit for his powers.
• He loved his parents and respected his father's wishes for his burial.
• He prophesied* about his posterity, down to the latter-days.

*In the Book of Mormon, Joseph (of Egypt) is mentioned in 22 verses. His prophecies were written on the plates of brass and Nephi remarked:  

“For behold, he truly prophesied concerning all his seed. And the prophecies which he wrote, there are not many greater.” 2 Nephi 4:2

So much of Joseph's life serves as a metaphor or type for Jesus Christ.

From Prison to Prestige

But something new occurred to me today: For years, Joseph suffered in prison and then next thing he knew, he was promoted to Viceroy to all of Egypt! It makes me think of Jesus, taken custody and then crucified, but ultimately triumphing over sin and death.

"Jesus once of humble birth,
Now in glory comes to earth.
Once he suffered grief and pain,
Now he comes on earth he comes to reign!" (Jesus Once of Humble Birth, #196)

And through our Savior's Atonement, we too can be lifted from our very humble state to live in glory with Him and our Heavenly Parents. We may not see it now. We may be like Joseph, feeling like we are imprisoned in a difficult circumstance which we alone are powerless to escape. But someday we will, with God's help, we will. And until that happens, we can use our period of affliction to learn something.

VIDEO: Elder Christofferson shares how he ultimately came to rely on God one day at a time through a very stressful and vexing time in this video entitled Daily Bread: Experience.

Forgiveness

Joseph developed many Christ-like character traits that allowed God to work through him, not the least of which was forgiveness.
He could have been so embittered towards his brothers that it would have caused him to fail at his job or give up in prison. But it's obvious that Joseph was able to rise above his deep feelings of hurt and pain.

VIDEO: President Uchtdorf counsels us to refrain from judging and instead, extend mercy in this video:





VIDEO: Two brothers come to love and forgive each other for past misunderstandings.

So, how can you spiritually prosper in your current (and possibly adverse) circumstances?
Who do you need to forgive?
How can we use Joseph's example to inspire us to be more Christ-like?