The Kandel Sisters (2025)

30/06/2025

Exodus
“For six years you are to sow your fields and harvest the crops, but during the seventh year let the land lie unplowed and unused. Then the poor among your people may get food from it, and the wild animals may eat what is left. Do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove.
Six days do your work, but on the seventh day do not work, so that your ox and your donkey may rest, and so that the slave born in your household and the foreigner living among you may be refreshed. Be careful to do everything I have said to you. Do not invoke the names of other gods; do not let them be heard on your lips.” Exodus 23:10-13
God gives very good gifts. The Sabbath is one of those great good gifts.
Work is a blessing. We were created to not just lie around all day, with our feet up, eating bonbons, and watching TV. God gave us work. Even before Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit there was work.
But even before that there was rest. God established the Sabbath right after He created the world and all that is in it. God established a Sabbatical year. Let the ground lie fallow for the seventh year. Trust that God would provide all the necessities for that restful year.
And every single week get a day to sleep in, rest, and look back and remember that God is good, and He gave the Sabbath as a great good gift to His people.
Look back and remember but also look ahead and see. Jesus is our Sabbath rest. He did all the work of salvation for us. There is no work that we need to do to enter our salvation.

27/06/2025

Exodus
Simply put, God’s laws just make sense.
“Do not spread false reports. Do not help a guilty person by being a malicious witness. Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd, and do not show favoritism to a poor person in a lawsuit. If you come across your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering off, be sure to return it. If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen down under its load, do not leave it there; be sure you help them with it. Do not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits. Have nothing to do with a false charge and do not put an innocent or honest person to death, for I will not acquit the guilty. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the innocent. Do not oppress a foreigner; you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners, because you were foreigners in Egypt.” Exodus 23:1-9
Don’t lie.
Don’t help to further injustice.
Don’t accept bribes.
Don’t oppress the foreigners who come to your land.
In other words, God expects us to live uprightly, honestly, and fairly. We are His representatives, displaying His fairness, justice, and mercy. It’s a high calling.

26/06/2025

Exodus
The Lord’s name is above all names. He is holy, beautiful, majestic, our Savior. He deserves our praise and our offerings for all He has done and is doing for us.
“Do not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people. Do not hold back offerings from your granaries or your vats. You must give me the firstborn of your sons. Do the same with your cattle and your sheep. Let them stay with their mothers for seven days, but give them to me on the eighth day. You are to be my holy people. So do not eat the meat of an animal torn by wild beasts; throw it to the dogs.” Exodus‬ ‭22‬:‭28‬-‭31‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬
I know we can understand the first part of this to bring Him honor and bring offerings. But what does it mean that all the firstborn belong to Him?
We have said many times as we have been writing on Facebook that if we have eyes to see, Jesus is on every page of Scripture. I think we can see Him here.
The firstborn must be dedicated to the Lord, redeemed, and bought back. I think the message here is that each of us has a first birth, but that first birth must be dedicated to the Lord, redeemed and then bought back. Our first birth was bought and paid for by Jesus’ death on the cross. When we come to Him and surrender our first birth to Him, we are born again and become His firstborn.
Do you see it? We have a shadow that our first birth must be redeemed.

25/06/2025

Exodus
God is compassionate. We are called to be compassionate also.
“Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt. Do not take advantage of the widow or the fatherless. If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry. My anger will be aroused, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives will become widows and your children fatherless. If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not treat it like a business deal; charge no interest. If you take your neighbor’s cloak as a pledge, return it by sunset, because that cloak is the only covering your neighbor has. What else can they sleep in? When they cry out to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.” Exodus‬ ‭22‬:‭21‬-‭27 ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬
This is a command not to hurt or take advantage. God sees. But there is more to this and that is the flipside. What can we do to help?
So, let’s ask ourselves what we can actually do.
How can we come alongside? Can we donate clothes, food, time?
Is there a way to encourage a widow or her children?
Can we work in the kids’ area at church? Can we give a gift card to a new mom or fix a meal? (By the way, that means everything in throwaway containers with a note that says, “No thank you note, please.”)
Look around. Who is in need? I think if we have eyes to see, there is a lot we can do.
The message of this passage:
Do no harm.
Do much to help.

24/06/2025

Exodus
“Do not allow a sorceress to live. Anyone who has sexual relations with an animal is to be put to death. Whoever sacrifices to any god other than the Lord must be destroyed.” Exodus‬ ‭22‬:‭18‬-‭20‬ ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬
Witchcraft. Do not!
Sexual relations with an animal. Do not!
Worshiping another god. Do not!
These commands are very clear. Do not!
Walking down any of these paths will lead you into a desert of desperation. The end is death. Two words: Do not!

23/06/2025

Exodus
Integrity. It means strong principles. It means high moral standards. It means doing the right thing when running away would be the easy thing to do. Integrity doesn’t look for the easy way; integrity looks for the correct way. These verses today begin with a slide away from integrity into a complicated mess. And sexual messes are like swimming through mud.
I know our world has hung a “judgment free zone” sign on just about anything between a man and a woman but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t affect the heart. Because sin does affect the heart. A sexual relationship outside of marriage hurts and leaves wounds.
“If a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged to be married and sleeps with her, he must pay the bride-price, and she shall be his wife. If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he must still pay the bride-price for virgins.” Exodus‬ ‭22‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬
The question for today is where does the healing begin? Where do we go from here? How can this relationship come back to where God wants it to be?
Big questions?
Yes.
Don’t be afraid to ask. The answers could lead to a lifetime of marriage and family.

20/06/2025

Exodus
Alright, I understand that there are consequences to my actions if I’m stealing, but what if it’s an accident? Let’s see what the Word says:
“If anyone grazes their livestock in a field or vineyard and lets them stray and they graze in someone else’s field, the offender must make restitution from the best of their own field or vineyard. If a fire breaks out and spreads into thornbushes so that it burns shocks of grain or standing grain or the whole field, the one who started the fire must make restitution. If anyone gives a neighbor silver or goods for safekeeping and they are stolen from the neighbor’s house, the thief, if caught, must pay back double. But if the thief is not found, the owner of the house must appear before the judges, and they must determine whether the owner of the house has laid hands on the other person’s property. In all cases of illegal possession of an ox, a donkey, a sheep, a garment, or any other lost property about which somebody says, ‘This is mine,’ both parties are to bring their cases before the judges. The one whom the judges declare guilty must pay back double to the other. If anyone gives a donkey, an ox, a sheep or any other animal to their neighbor for safekeeping and it dies or is injured or is taken away while no one is looking, the issue between them will be settled by the taking of an oath before the Lord that the neighbor did not lay hands on the other person’s property. The owner is to accept this, and no restitution is required. But if the animal was stolen from the neighbor, restitution must be made to the owner. If it was torn to pieces by a wild animal, the neighbor shall bring in the remains as evidence and shall not be required to pay for the torn animal. If anyone borrows an animal from their neighbor and it is injured or dies while the owner is not present, they must make restitution. But if the owner is with the animal, the borrower will not have to pay. If the animal was hired, the money paid for the hire covers the loss.” Exodus‬ ‭22‬:‭5-‭15‬ ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬
Let’s walk this away from animals grazing in the fields. Let’s think about day-to-day events in our lives that might cause problems or loss. As we read through all of this, what strikes me is that we are to take responsibility. Relationships with neighbors, friends, family are more important than trying to get away with animals eating a few mouthfuls of grain.
I think we need to ask ourselves how we can bless in the middle of challenging circumstances. How can I take the high road and give back, even if it causes me loss in my pocketbook? This is a call to responsibility. In a lot of places that word is under “duck and cover” hiding behind a world of excuses. It actually needs to be walked right back to where it belongs.
If you cause it, you take responsibility for it.

19/06/2025

Exodus
God’s Word is incredibly practical. All these laws make sense and are in the Scripture on purpose with a purpose. They outline safe ways for us to live and get along with one another. As we study through these laws, we can see that we have very similar laws in our country. Why? Because a lot of our rules are based on the Word of God.
What is the plan if someone steals?
“Whoever steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it must pay back five head of cattle for the ox and four sheep for the sheep. If a thief is caught breaking in at night and is struck a fatal blow, the defender is not guilty of bloodshed; but if it happens after sunrise, the defender is guilty of bloodshed. Anyone who steals must certainly make restitution, but if they have nothing, they must be sold to pay for their theft. If the stolen animal is found alive in their possession—whether ox or donkey or sheep—they must pay back double.” Exodus‬ ‭22‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭ ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬
Certainly, we can see that taking someone else’s property is not allowed. Going into someone’s home to steal in the night is not allowed and you may well face some very dire consequences.
Stealing means that you think you have the right to take someone else’s property. And today the word seems to be that it is okay as long as it is under a certain amount.
Is it okay?
Absolutely not!
God will provide each of us with what we need. He is our source. Taking from someone else leads to consequences, paybacks, even death. Think about it. Nothing is worth that.

18/06/2025

Exodus
In today’s passage we’re going to come across a rather familiar monetary amount. Its familiar because it’s the amount of silver that was paid for Jesus.
“If a bull gores a man or woman to death, the bull is to be stoned to death, and its meat must not be eaten. But the owner of the bull will not be held responsible. If, however, the bull has had the habit of goring and the owner has been warned but has not kept it penned up and it kills a man or woman, the bull is to be stoned and its owner also is to be put to death. However, if payment is demanded, the owner may redeem his life by the payment of whatever is demanded. This law also applies if the bull gores a son or daughter. If the bull gores a male or female slave, the owner must pay thirty shekels of silver to the master of the slave, and the bull is to be stoned to death. If anyone uncovers a pit or digs one and fails to cover it and an ox or a donkey falls into it, the one who opened the pit must pay the owner for the loss and take the dead animal in exchange. If anyone’s bull injures someone else’s bull and it dies, the two parties are to sell the live one and divide both the money and the dead animal equally. However, if it was known that the bull had the habit of goring, yet the owner did not keep it penned up, the owner must pay, animal for animal, and take the dead animal in exchange.” Exodus 21:28-36
Thirty shekels of silver were to be paid as compensation for a dead slave.
After Judas went to the religious leaders, thirty pieces of silver jingled in his money bag. And that is how Jesus had been treated. Judas sold Jesus out for the price of a slave that had been killed.

17/06/2025

Exodus
I can’t pretend that I understand everything about the culture of the day in many places in the Bible. I do not. 4500 years ago, things were very different. What was not different is people’s hearts. We all have a bent toward sin. We all do things that cause pain and suffering to others. We all have had things done to us that have caused pain and suffering.
God continued with His guidelines.
“Anyone who beats their male or female slave with a rod must be punished if the slave dies as a direct result, but they are not to be punished if the slave recovers after a day or two, since the slave is their property. If people are fighting and hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman’s husband demands and the court allows. But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise. An owner who hits a male or female slave in the eye and destroys it must let the slave go free to compensate for the eye. And an owner who knocks out the tooth of a male or female slave must let the slave go free to compensate for the tooth.” Exodus 21:20-27
It is often heard, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth”. This passage is where that saying comes from. God designed a plan to help people stay focused on doing right. He gave some situations and the consequences. He wanted His people to follow what was right.
But the Children of Israel were not always obedient to God. Often, they were dead wrong. Yes, they suffered the consequences, but God offered more. From the beginning He offered a coming Messiah. One would come who would take the consequences of our disobedience, of our hardened hearts, and pay for all of it on a wooden cross.
How grateful we can be that when we come to Christ, He takes our sin, forgives us, and makes us as if we had never sinned.
How’s that for an exchange!

16/06/2025

Exodus
The Lord gave very clear instructions to this group of people. Moses covered lots of scenarios. He made the rules clear and concise to cover the “what ifs”.
“Anyone who strikes a person with a fatal blow is to be put to death. However, if it is not done intentionally, but God lets it happen, they are to flee to a place I will designate. But if anyone schemes and kills someone deliberately, that person is to be taken from my altar and put to death. Anyone who attacks their father or mother is to be put to death. Anyone who kidnaps someone is to be put to death, whether the victim has been sold or is still in the kidnapper’s possession. Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death. If people quarrel and one person hits another with a stone or with their fist and the victim does not die but is confined to bed, the one who struck the blow will not be held liable if the other can get up and walk around outside with a staff; however, the guilty party must pay the injured person for any loss of time and see that the victim is completely healed.” Exodus 21:12-19
God knew, for them to live the very best way, they would need clear instructions. He covered a lot. From fatal blows to blatant disobedience and cursing of parents, to accidental situations which entailed bodily harm or death, to kidnapping, to quarrels and ensuing blows, God made sure the rules were black and white. God wanted this group of former slaves to have a very clear idea of what was expected of them.
He has done the same for us. His rules, laws, guidelines are written down for us to follow. It’s called the Bible, and it is His very Words written for us to see and obey. It is how we can live the very best way.

13/06/2025

Exodus
It’s sometimes a little hard to wrap our minds around the position of women millennia ago. In many societies women had very little voice. They most often did not own property, in fact sometimes they were perceived as property. They had little or no say in how their society was run. They were often viewed as second class citizens. As we look at the culture of the time when the Children of Israel left Egypt, women had few rights.
“If a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as male servants do. If she does not please the master who has selected her for himself, he must let her be redeemed. He has no right to sell her to foreigners, because he has broken faith with her. If he selects her for his son, he must grant her the rights of a daughter. If he marries another woman, he must not deprive the first one of her food, clothing and marital rights. If he does not provide her with these three things, she is to go free, without any payment of money.” Exodus 21:7-11
While this seems strange to us, we see that ultimately God was putting His protection around women.
When we come to the New Testament, it shows us that Jesus did much to elevate women and today we know that neither male nor female is seen by God as better than the other. All people, both men and women, must make an individual choice to follow Jesus.

The Kandel Sisters

30/06/2025

27/06/2025

26/06/2025

25/06/2025

24/06/2025

23/06/2025

20/06/2025

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