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Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 56

Feb25
Day 56.  Reading Numbers 5 – 6. 

Read the scripture for today. What do you learn about God? Share what you learn with others.

Numbers 5.

Uncleanness in the camp.

God cannot say enough about His holiness and the people’s (our) uncleanness. Anyone unclean through leprosy, a discharge, or has touched the dead must be put outside the camp so that they do not “defile the camp in which the LORD dwells.”

Any sin a man or woman commits must be dealt with once they realize their guilt. First, confession, then full restitution, and an atonement offering.

(The following one seems one-sided, but consider the culture of the time, in which a man sometimes has multiple wives to build his family.)  The wife (or each one) must remain faithful to him.

If the husband “thinks” she has cheated on him, he institutes a ceremony to prove if 1) she is indeed guilty or 2) she is innocent. It’s a bit weird and involves her bringing a grain offering and the priest taking holy water (with dust from the Tabernacle floor), and after hearing her vow her innocence (or guilt), making her drink it. The results are proof.  Nothing = innocence. Some gross physical results of poison in her system, OR a pregnancy that is aborted = guilt. She will be a curse among her people.

Numbers 6.

This chapter goes over the procedures involving a Nazirite Vow. When a man or woman makes such a vow (a woman with her husband’s or father’s permission), he/she separates themself to the LORD. They will not drink wine or strong drink, vinegar or juice made from grapes, and not eat grapes, fresh or dried (raisins), or even the skins or seeds.  They will also not cut their hair or go near a dead body (not even of a close relative). They will be considered holy to the LORD all the time of the vow.

A Nazirite Vow can be for a lifetime or as little as a month.  If the vow is accidentally broken, the person should shave their head and begin again.  At the end of the temporary time, specific offerings and gifts to the LORD were to be brought to the priests. They would shave their heads, and the hair put on the fire of the peace offering.

This chapter closes with the familiar blessing of Aaron on the people of Israel.

  • The LORD bless you and keep you: the LORD make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. 

Amen.

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 53

Feb22
Day 53.  Reading Leviticus 26 – 27. 

Read the scripture for today. What do you learn about God? Share what you learn with others.

Leviticus 26.

IF-THEN declarations from the LORD to Israel, for blessing and cursing.

IF you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments and do them, THEN …

  • I will give you rain in their season
  • the land shall yield its increase
  • the trees, grain, and grapes shall yield their fruit
  • you shall eat bread to the full
  • you shall dwell in the land securely
  • I will give peace in the land
  • I will remove harmful beasts
  • the sword shall not go through your land
  • your enemies will flee from you
  • I will make YOU fruitful and multiply you
  • I will make my dwelling place among you
  • I will walk among you and be your God. I am the LORD your God.

BUT IF you will not listen to me and not do my commandments, and if your soul abhors my rules and you break my covenant, THEN….

  • I will visit you with panic, with wasting disease and fever that consumes the eyes and makes the heart ache
  • you shall sow seed in vain for your enemies will eat it
  • those who hate you will rule over you and pursue you
  • I will discipline you sevenfold for your sin
  • I will break the pride of your power
  • I will make the heavens like iron and the earth like bronze
  • your land will not yield its increase nor the trees their fruit
  • I will let lose wild beasts against you that will bereave you of your children and livestock
  • I will bring the sword on you and execute vengeance and send pestilence
  • I will break your supply of bread and you will eat the flesh of your children
  • I will destroy your high places and altars and cast YOUR dead bodies on the dead bodies of your idols
  • I will abhor you.
  • I will lay your cities waste and devastate the land
  • I will scatter you among the nations

“Then the land shall enjoy its Sabbaths as long as it lies desolate, while you are in your enemies’ hand; then the land shall rest, and enjoy its Sabbaths. It will have the rest that it did not have on your Sabbaths when you were dwelling in it.”

BUT IF they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers in the treachery that they committed against me, and also in walking contrary to me…. AND IF their uncircumcised heart is humbled and they make amends for their iniquity, THEN… 

  • I will remember my covenant with Jacob, Isaac, and Abraham
  • I will remember the land
  • When they are in the land of the enemies … I will not spurn them 
  • I will not abhor them so as to destroy them utterly and break my covenant with them
  • I will for their sake remember the covenant with their forefathers.

Leviticus 27 (the last chapter)

Here are lists of how to value “special vow” offerings and also tithes pledged or given to the LORD (people of different ages for service, and animals and land for support of the Levites.)

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Tomorrow we begin Numbers. (You mathematicians will love this book!)

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 51

Feb20
Day 51.  Reading Leviticus 22 – 23. 

Read the scripture for today. What do you learn about God? Share what you learn with others.

Leviticus 22.

This chapter covers more of the instructions to priests and how they are to be kept or made holy in God’s sight and service. They are the ones standing between Him and the people.  No service or even eating of the holy sacrifices can happen, if the priests are unclean in any way, without first washing and/or waiting as prescribed by God’s law. 

Emphasis is given again on the insistence of purity in the animals sacrificed to the LORD. They MUST be without blemish, defect, mutilation, or sore. In a word, perfect. This points long term to the perfect, sinless sacrifice of the Son of God for sin – once for ALL.

God repeats “I am the LORD” and “I am the LORD who sanctifies you” many times in these chapters. HE is the reason that His representatives, the priests, must always be clean before Him and the people.  Israel serves a holy God, and He wants them to be holy as well. He tells them how and who will sanctify them. Himself, if they will obey Him

Leviticus 23,

God, through Moses, reminds the people of the feasts or festivals He has appointed for them throughout the year. They are to keep them faithfully, for they will remind them of how their Holy God acted on their part.

The Sabbath or seventh day of every week is to be kept holy to the LORD. No work is allowed on that day.

Passover, or the Feast of Unleavened Bread, begins the year. No leaven is allowed anywhere in their homes for that week. It is to remind the people of how God brought them out of slavery.

The Feast of First Fruits was to remind them of how God brought them into the Promised Land, as He said.

The Feast of Weeks, or later called the Feast of Pentecost (50, because it happened 50days/seven weeks after Passover) celebrated the first harvest of grain in the new land.

The Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah) was to begin the seventh (Sabbath) month.

On the tenth day of the seventh month was the Day of Atonement, in which Israel was to fast and mourn and confess their sin. It was a day of solemn rest to remember their sin.

The Feast of Booths/Tabernacles followed the solemn day of fasting and confession. It was a joyful festival to remember the days/years they lived in “booths” or “tents” in the wilderness. For that week, the people would live in a temporary shelter made of “splendid trees” and palm leaves they would construct outdoors.

These all were special feasts (memorials, holy convocations) appointed by God for presenting food offerings, burnt offerings, grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings to the LORD.

(These were besides the LORD’s Sabbaths, and besides their gifts and vow offerings and freewill offerings they would bring to Him.)

These all were holy days (holidays) to remember what their God had done for them.  

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NOTE: We have Palm Sunday, Easter, Pentecost, Thanksgiving and Christmas in which WE can remember and celebrate all that God has done for us. I hope to take special time and thought for my LORD as these “modern” holy-days come around this year.  Will you join me?

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 49

Feb18
Day 49.  Reading Leviticus 16 – 18. 

Read the scripture for today. What do you learn about God? Share what you learn with others.

Leviticus 16.

The Day of Atonement – Yom Kippur.

From the way this chapter begins, it’s possible that the horrendous sin that caused the death of Aaron’s two oldest sons by the LORD, was their attempting to come into the Most Holy Place.  Perhaps they had tried to bring “unauthorized fire” (which would be ANY fire/incense other than what the High Priests, brough once per year).

God set up VERY strict laws about anyone coming into the Most Holy Place, where the Ark of the Covenant was, which represented God’s throne on earth.

  • Once per year on the tenth day of the seventh month.
  • The High Priest clothed in special all-linen “holy” garments.
  • Bringing a burning censer with holy incense which made a cloud obscuring the Ark of the Covenant with its Mercy Seat. 
  • Also bringing the blood of the sacrificial bull (for the High Priest’s atonement) and then the sacrificial goat (atonement for the people). 
  • Sprinkling the bull’s blood, then the goat’s blood on and in front of the Mercy Seat seven times.

Outside the Tent, the High Priest would sprinkle the bull’s and goat’s blood on the Bronze Alter.  Then he would take the second, live, goat and lay his hands on its head. After confessing ALL the people’s iniquities, transgressions, and sins, he would send the goat away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who was waiting to do it.  This was the “scapegoat.”  It pictured the total removing of sin from the camp.

All this would be done once per year, a statute forever for Israel. 

Besides the Passover Lamb and all that belonged to that ceremony, the Day of Atonement with the one-time entrance through the veil into the Holy of Holies, AND the Scapegoat, represented the atoning death of our Lord Jesus Christ for our sins.  God looked on Him on the cross – bearing all the sin of any who would believe in Him – and “passed over” that person for the death they deserved.  He accepted Jesus’ blood and death INSTEAD of the sinners’.

Meanwhile, for the people, the Day of Atonement would be a “Sabbath Day” of solemn rest. They would do no work, and would fast the entire day, mourning and confessing their sin. 

Leviticus 17.

Strictly forbidden is sacrificing any animal outside the camp and not bringing its blood to the entrance of the Tabernacle as a gift for the LORD.  Otherwise it would be “pagan worship” and bring bloodguilt on the person.  Blood and fat are always to be burned on the Bronze Altar.

They shall no more make sacrifices to goat demons (Azazel), after whom they “whored.”

God reminded the people again that they were NOT TO EAT BLOOD. The blood of a creature contains its LIFE, and it is ONLY for atonement to the LORD on the altar.  If one is out hunting in the field and kills an animal to eat it, the blood shall be drained out and covered with earth. 

Leviticus 18.

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them,

  • “I am the LORD your God. You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt where you lived,
  • and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you.
  • You shall not walk in their statutes.
  • You shall follow My rules and keep My statutes and walk in them.
  • I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD.
  • You shall therefore keep My statutes and My rules;
  • if a person does them, he shall live by them: I am the LORD.”

The LORD then gives Moses a long list of how the people will keep morally and sexually pure, taking for their spouses only ONE woman or ONE man, as God created them in the beginning. 

Incest, bigamy, bestiality, and homosexuality were strictly forbidden.  

“For everyone who does any of these abominations, the persons who do them shall be cut off from among their people.  So keep My charge NEVER to practice any of these abominable customs that were practiced before you, and never to make yourselves unclean by them. I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD.”

 

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 46

Feb15
Day 46.  Reading Leviticus 8 – 10. 

Read the scripture for today. What do you learn about God? Share what you learn with others.

Leviticus 8.

God told Moses (and us) about the offerings, the glorious garments of the priests, and the ordination ceremony. Now, Moses called the whole congregation to the Tabernacle to witness (or at least be present at) the ordination of Aaron and his four sons.

Moses then did it all, according to what God had said, washing them at the Bronze Basin, dressing them in the garments, anointing each on their right ears, thumbs, and toes, and on Aaron’s head.  Moses brought the prescribed bull for a sin offering, and after all five had laid their hands on its head, he killed it. Moses took the blood and all the parts of the bull and did as the Lord had commanded.

Aaron and his four sons remained inside the court of the Tabernacle for seven days, performing what the LORD charged them as part of the ordination. 

Leviticus 9.

After the seven days, Moses called Aaron, his sons, and the elders of the people. Aaron then performed the sin offering in minute detail for himself and his sons. He then took the offered specific animals and offered them for the people for sin, burnt, and peace offerings. 

After the offerings/sacrifices, Aaron lifted his hands toward the people and blessed them.

Then Moses and Aaron went into the Tent of the Tabernacle, and when they came out, again blessed the people.

“And the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people.  And fire came out from before the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the pieces of fat on the altar.

And when the people saw it, they SHOUTED and FELL ON THEIR FACES.”

Leviticus 10.

A hard lesson is learned.

After all the pomp and glory of the ordination ceremony and the majesty of the LORD’s glory appearing, a dark thing happened that (I’m sure) shocked Moses, Aaron, and the whole congregation to their very core.

Aaron’s two older sons, Nadab and Abihu (perhaps drunk from celebrating and the fantastic realization of their high position in the community of Israel) took their censers, put incense in them, and offered “unauthorized” fire before the LORD.  (Remembered God had given Moses, Aaron, and sons the EXACT, God-authorized way to perform holy worship towards Him. In pride or drunkenness, these two men sinned grossly.

And God responded.

Holy fire came out from before the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.

“Among those who are near me, I will be sanctified, and before all the people, I will be glorified,” said the LORD God Almighty.  (God had clearly shown them the details of worshiping Him and they had ignored them.)

Moses told Aaron’s uncle Uzziel’s two sons to come in and carry the bodies outside the camp. These Levites obeyed, carrying the bodies in their coats.

Grief and terror must have mingled in Aaron’s heart. His two oldest sons, newly ordained to serve God and the people in the Tabernacle, had been annihilated before their eyes…by the God he served. 

And God told Aaron and his remaining two sons, “Do not grieve for them, lest you die and wrath come on all the congregation.”

Aaron obeyed.  (God did allow the rest of the family and congregation to grieve.)

God then spoke directly to Aaron and his remaining sons. “Drink NO WINE OR STRONG DRINK, you or your sons, when you go into the Tabernacle, lest you die. You are to distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean, and you are to teach Israel all the statutes the LORD has spoken to them by Moses.”

Then Moses told Aaron and his sons to get on with the offerings. Eleazar and Ithamar made a mistake in offering the sin offering. They had brought the sacrificial blood to the wrong place and had not eaten what they should have. Moses was angry. 

Aaron confessed his and his son’s faults before Moses and alluded to the stress and conviction of losing the two other sons. When Moses heard that, he realized their grief-prompted mistake and relented. 

 

 

 

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 45

Feb14
Day 45.  Reading Leviticus 5 – 7. 

Read the scripture for today. What do you learn about God? Share what you learn with others.

Leviticus 5.

More offerings for forgiveness of unintentional sin.

Whether it’s a sin of omission (not doing what he should) or of commission (doing what he should not), appropriate offerings shall be made when the person discovers or realizes his sin.

Allowances are made for the poor in God’s compassion.  People who cannot afford a lamb or goat may bring two doves or pigeons. If even that is too costly, they may offer a quart of fine flour (no oil or frankincense is required).

Leviticus 6.

In another circumstance, if a person withholds knowledge, willfully robs another, or swears falsely, he must fully restore what he has stolen or cheated from another person AND add 20% more as compensation. He shall also bring a spotless ram (or equivalent) as a guilt offering, and the priest will make atonement for him. “And he shall be forgiven.”

Then, the LORD gives Moses more details about the offerings He’s already listed.  Also, the fire on the Bronze Altar must always be kept burning (except when transporting the Altar to another location when Israel’s camp moves, I assume).  It should be kept ready for the morning and evening sacrifices and for everything an Israelite may bring to it. Every morning, the priest shall put on regular clothes and carry the accumulated ashes outside the camp to a clean place.

The LORD also details of how Aaron and all the priests should eat the meat and grain offerings. 

Leviticus 7.

More details clarify what the priests can and not do with portions of the offerings the people bring.  Of course, some part is burned to the LORD, but often the rest is for food for the priests (and leather in the case of a bull offered as a burnt offering).  Some offerings (such as THE VOW OR FREEWILL OFFERINGS) are eaten by the person offering it before or with a priest.

Next the topic of uncleanness is approached. Don’t eat any unclean thing. (Dietary restrictions will be covered later.)  Again, the people are NOT TO EAT FAT OF ANY ANIMAL. And, of course, they are to NEVER EAT BLOOD of any beast or fowl. 

And so, that is the law of the Burnt, Grain, Sin, Guilt, Ordination, and Peace-type offerings.  Got it?

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 44

Feb13
Day 44.  Reading Leviticus 1 – 4. 

Read the scripture for today. What do you learn about God? Share what you learn with others.

Leviticus 1.

Heads up.

Leviticus begins with blood and gore, the priests, and that massive bronze altar. These chapters detail the first of the sacrifices for Israel as a nation. The place of worship is built, God’s presence abides there, and the priests have been consecrated. God now teaches them how a sinful people may live near and approach a very holy God.  

God defines WHAT can be offered (which animals, which non-animal items, but definitely NO CHILDREN!), HOW each is to be presented, and whether they are for penitence or gratitude.

THE BURNT OFFERING is the first of five offerings explained here. An unblemished male animal from a flock or herd or a pair of pigeons/doves are acceptable choices. The animal was to be burned completely, except for a bull’s hide (given to the priests for leather) and the crops of the birds (thrown into the ash pile). 

The person offering the animal would lay his hands on its head, confessing sin and repentance, before killing it. Priests would sprinkle the blood on the altar as proof of “a death for a life” or atonement. The carcass would then be burned entirely with “a pleasing aroma to the LORD.” (Not the aroma of meat cooking, but of a humble person’s heart seeking cleansing.)

Leviticus 2.

THE GRAIN OFFERING shows the gratitude of the person bringing it. But still, there are guidelines. It can be fine flour or unleavened (and unsweetened) bread, either baked, grilled, or fried, with oil in and on it. A portion of frankincense is also offered with it. The priest will take the incense and a portion of the flour or bread and burn it on the altar, “a pleasing aroma to the LORD.”  The rest of the offering is for food for the priests. 

If it is a “FIRSTFRUITS” grain offering at the beginning of harvest time, it can include honey, oil, fresh ears, and crushed new grain. But it must also be offered with frankincense. This also is food for the priests, except for a memorial portion with the incense to be burned.

Leviticus 3.

THE PEACE OFFERING  is a voluntary, free-will offering given to the LORD. It symbolized the peace and fellowship between a true worshipper and God. It was an offering of reconciliation. It could be either a male or female (unblemished) from the herd or flock. The person would also lay his hands on the head of the beast before killing it. Again, the priest would sprinkle its blood on the altar.

All the animal’s fat would be burned on the altar, including what was on the entrails, kidneys, and the liver. The priests would receive the “breast meat” as their portion, and the rest would be part of a fellowship meal between two or more parties, with a priest officiating, to be eaten on one day.

Verses 16b-17. “ALL FAT IS THE LORD’S.  It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, in all your dwelling places, that you eat neither fat nor blood.”  (An excellent rule for today!!)

Leviticus 4.

THE SIN OFFERING has several applications;

  • one is for Priests,
  • another for the Whole Congregation,
  • another for a Leader of the Congregation,
  • and another is for any of the Common People of the Congregation.  

In these instances, it is for SIN THAT IS NOT INTENTIONAL, but for something done and then later realized or brought to attention.

1.  A bull is the required offering for a priest or the whole congregation.

The priest (or elders for the congregation) places his hand on its head (symbolizing transferring sin to the animal) and then kills it. Some of the blood is to be brought inside the Tabernacle and sprinkled in front of the veil concealing the Most Holy Place and on the four corners of the Altar of Incense. The rest of the blood will be poured out at the base of the Bronze Alter. 

The fat on the entrails, the kidneys, and the liver of the bull are to be burned on the Bronze Alter.  Everything else of the bull is to be carried outside the camp to clean place, to an ash heap, and burned on a wood fire. 

2.  A male goat is required for a congregation leader offered after the symbolic transfer of sins.

The priest takes some blood and puts a bit on the four corners of the Bronze Alter; the rest is poured out at the base. As with the bull, the fat portions are burned, and the carcass is taken outside the camp.

3.  A female goat or lamb is required for any common people in the congregation. The process is the same as for a leader. 

In all these, “the priest shall make atonement for him for the sin he has committed (unintentionally), and he (they) shall be forgiven.”

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THANK YOU, Lord, for sending your Son, Jesus, the spotless “Lamb of God,” who paid the price for me by dying on the cross … as the “substitute” for my sin.  By HIS sacrificial death, I am forgiven.

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Days 40 & 41

Feb10

Days 40 & 41.  Reading Exodus 30 – 32 and Exodus 33 – 35. 

Read the scripture for today. What do you learn about God? Share what you learn with others.

Exodus 30.

Today, we learn about the two other pieces of Tabernacle furniture, one inside the tent and the other outside. We will also learn about the very special single-usage anointing oil and incense.

Inside the Holy Place of the Tabernacle, along with the Table for Bread and the Golden Lampstand, the small Altar of Incense would be placed just in front of the veil separating the two rooms.  This is where Aaron (the high priest) will burn holy, sweet-smelling incense before the LORD every morning and evening when he dresses the lamps.

The Holy Incense (not to be used elsewhere) was made of equal parts sweet spices, stacte, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense, with a sprinkle of pure, holy salt. These are to be ground and combined carefully, as by a perfumer. They were not to make any of this recipe for personal use or be cut off from Israel.

Just outside the door of the Tabernacle the Bronze Basin (or Laver) would be placed. This is where the priests would wash their hands and feet before entering the Tabernacle and before they burned food offerings to the LORD.

All the furniture inside and outside the Tabernacle would have rings attached at the lower corners and poles going through the rings. The Levites would carry the holy items, by the poles, never touching the furniture itself. 

The sacred Anointing Oil was to be made of the finest spices: liquid myrrh,  sweet-smelling cinnamon, aromatic cane, cassia, and olive oil. These were be mixed by a perfumer in the correct portions. This anointing oil would consecrate the Tabernacle, all its furniture and utensils, and Aaron and his sons (and any future priests).  It was never to be poured on the body of any other person. No one was to make a similar composition. or else be cut off from Israel.

Taxes. (Of course!)

Besides the contributions for making all the items involved with the Tabernacle, the people were to give a half shekel each for its upkeep annually. This was a “census tax,” meaning everyone twenty years old and above would give this offering, rich or poor, the same.  (Called the Temple Tax later)

Exodus 31.

The LORD called two men (Bezalel of Judah and Oholiab of Dan) to oversee the building of the Tabernacle and all its parts. God filled them with the Spirit of God, with the ability, intelligence, knowledge, and craftsmanship.

  • to devise artistic designs
  • to work in gold, silver, and bronze
  • in cutting stones for setting
  • in carving wood,
  • to work in every craft. 

God also gave “all able men” the ability to make everything (the Tent, furniture, garments, oil, and incense.

And lest they get carried away with all this construction and craft, Moses was to remind the people that “Above all, you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the LORD sanctify you. Keep the Sabbath because it is holy for you. Anyone who profanes it shall be put to death. Six days your work will be done, and the seventh is a day of solemn rest, holy to the LORD.”

Then God gave Moses the two stone tablets with the Ten Commandments engraved by “the finger of God.”

Exodus 32.

But, while glorious things were happening in the presence of the LORD on Mt. Sinai, below, the people sank into darkest sin.

For forty days, Moses was gone.  Had he died on that fire-engulfed mountaintop? Was he ever coming back?  No, he was NEVER coming back!  What are we to do? We HAVE TO go back to Egypt!  We need gods to lead us back through this desert! Aaron!  Make us gods to lead us!!!!

So Aaron (Israel’s future holy High Priest) collected gold earrings from the people and crafted a golden calf (a prime god of Egypt) for them to worship. 

They did just that, with singing, dancing, sacrifices, and an orgy.

The LORD to Moses:  “Go down, for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. They have quickly turned aside from the Way I commanded them. They have made a golden calf to worship and sacrifice to, saying, “THESE are our gods.”  My wrath burns hot against them. I may consume them to make a great nation of YOU, Moses.”

Moses to the LORD:  “O LORD, why does your wrath burn hot against Your people, whom You have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand?  The Egyptians will say You brought them out to kill them. Turn from your burning anger and relent from this disaster against Your people. REMEMBER Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants to whom You swore by Your own self to multiply their offspring, and give them the promised land to inherit it forever!”

(The LORD heard Moses’ intercession for His glory and relented from His plans to annihilate the people.)

But Moses’s anger burned for the LORD’s sake.

He met Joshua, who had been waiting halfway down the mountain. Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted.  “There is a noise of WAR in the camp!”

“It is not the sound of shouting for victory, or the sound of the cry of defeat, but the sound of singing that I hear.” growled Moses.

As they neared the camp, they SAW the golden calf. 

Moses’ anger burned HOT. He threw down the stone tablets (with God’s laws) and broke them at the foot of the mountain. He took that golden image and burned it with fire. He ground it to powder and scattered it on the water. Then he made the people drink it.

To Aaron, his brother, the future High Priest, Moses growled. “What did this people do to you that you have brought such a great SIN upon them?”

Aaron answered with… a lie. “Don’t be angry. You know the people, that they are set on evil. They told me to make them gods to lead them back to Egypt because they didn’t know what happened to you. So they gave me their earrings, and I threw them into the fire … and out came this calf.”

Meanwhile, the people were “breaking loose” in craven, pagan frenzy. 

Moses stood at the gate of the camp and called, “WHO IS ON THE LORD’S SIDE. COME TO ME.”  And all the Levites gathered around him. Moses sent them on a horrific mission of holy wrath. They were to go throughout the camp and kill all who had been crazy worshiping the calf.   They did.  They killed 3,000 men.

And in showing such loyalty to Moses and to God, Moses proclaimed, “Today you have been ORDAINED FOR THE SERVICE OF THE LORD for what you have done.” 

And so the Levites were in charge of the Tabernacle and everything involving the worship of the LORD God of Israel.

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Day 41, Exodus 33.

Moses, with a love for the Jewish people like Paul’s (Romans 9:1-5), intercedes for Israel because of their idolatry. “Alas, this people has sinned a great sin. They have made for themselves gods of gold. But now, if you will forgive their sin–but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written.”  

And after a plague swept through the camp, God announced that He would not go up to the promised land with Israel “lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people. So now take off your ornaments so know what to do with you.” 

And the people stripped themselves of their ornaments from that day on. 

Moses pleaded with God to accompany them with His Presence and not simply send an angel to guide them. “If your Presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people?  Is it not in Your going in with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on earth?”

And God listened to Moses’ plea.

Then … throwing caution to the wind, Moses asked to SEE GOD’S GLORY.   Whoa!

I can see God smiling at His chosen leader but shaking His head. “I will show you my GOODNESS and proclaim my Name before you. But you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.”  Then God told him how He would do that. But first, Moses was to cut new stone tablets (which he broke) for God to write the Ten Commandments on, and come up into Mt. Sinai.

Exodus 34.

After Moses made them and ascended the mountain, the LORD descended in a cloud.  He put Moses in a rock cleft, covered him with His hand, and passed by so that Moses could only see the “backside” of God’s glory. And Moses heard the “goodness” of the LORD. 

“The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands (of generations), forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by NO MEANS clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children and grandchildren to three or four generations.”

And Moses fell to his face and worshiped God.

Then, God renewed His covenant with Israel. He said He WILL go with them to the Promised Land and drive out the pagans there. But THEY are to tear down the altars, idols, and pillars and break them into pieces. “You shall worship no other god, for the LORD whose name is “Jealous,” is a jealous God. And you shall NOT make for yourself ANY GODS OF CAST METAL.”

God reminded Moses of the feast days to be kept, the importance of the Sabbath, how to offer sacrifices and other offerings. Then God wrote the Ten Commandments again on the new stone tablets.

Exodus 35.

Moses returned to a more subdued people and repeated what the LORD commanded them.

THEN, Moses told them about the glorious Tabernacle they were to construct for the LORD so His presence would dwell “among” them in their camp.  He asked them for the contribution items and the gifted craftsmen to come forward.

All the people departed …

And then they returned. Everyone whose heart had been stirred and whose spirit had been moved came. They brought jewelry, cloth and yarns, animal skins, silver and bronze items, and acacia wood.   Every skillful woman spun with their hands the goat’s hair and wool. Men brought precious stones to be set, spices, oil, and fragrant incense.  Everyone donated items and time as “a free-will offering to the LORD.”

Bezalel, the architect and general construction manager, presented himself, got the plans, and began teaching others the skills of the trades and design. Oholiab also came and taught the skills of engraving and embroidery.  Both men had been called by God for the work, filled with the Spirit of God, and given skill, intelligence, and knowledge in all areas of craftmanship. 

(Perhaps this amazing, exacting project would keep the people’s hearts and minds away from idolatry and grumbling.)  It would take them almost one year.

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 29

Jan29

Day 29. Reading in Genesis 48 – 50. 

I invite you to read the scripture for the day and meditate on it. Then, share your thoughts in the comments.

Genesis 48.

It’s been a glorious seventeen years for Jacob-Israel, living with his family in Egypt and seeing his beloved Joseph alive.  But he knows the time of his death is near, and he has some important things to accomplish. He’s already made Joseph promise to have him buried in the family tomb.

Next on the agenda is the passing down of the patriarchal blessings. Jacob-Israel does a very unusual (but understandable) thing.  He adopts Joseph’s sons as his own, giving his grandsons equal rights of the tribal Promises with his other sons.  This gives Joseph the birthright “double portion” in the land when they return. 

Joseph brings his sons to his father and puts his father’s right hand on his oldest son, Manasseh, and his left hand on the second-born, Ephraim, because Jacob had become blind like his father Isaac.  But Jacob crossed his arms, giving the top blessing to the younger son. Joseph tries to correct him, but it is as if God has made another choice to bypass the firstborn. 

  • “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day, the angel (of God) who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys, and in THEM let my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”

Ephraim and Manasseh will become two of the twelve “tribes” of Israel.

  • As Jacob chose to adopt and include Manasseh and Ephraim into his immediate family, so have WE been adopted into God’s family by His choice because of his love for His Son, Jesus Christ. Now, we are known by his name. Not a tribe of Israel, but a child of God.  Praise Him!

Genesis 49.

And now, Jacob-Israel calls all his sons together to speak a prophetic blessing. (“…that I may tell you what shall happen to you in days to come.”)  (Jacob doesn’t list his sons in exact birth order, but according to their mothers.)

Reuben, Simeon, and Levi all forfeit their birthright position because of their sin (incest and cruelty/violence). “I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel.” The tribe of Simeon eventually became assimilated into Judah’s territory.  The tribe of Levi, chosen as priests of God after showing loyalty to Him, was “scattered” throughout Israel.

It’s the fourth son, Judah, through whom kings (like David, Hezekiah, and Joash) will come, as well as the eternal King of Kings. 

The personalities of the others are briefly stated, and their locations in the land for some. Dan would be unfaithful, give up their land, migrate far north, and host one of the worshiped golden calves. (2 Kings 10:29)  Dan is not mentioned in the list of tribes in Revelation 7:4-8.

Joseph’s blessing (applicable to his two sons, as tribes) is glowing and prosperous and points to God’s care. (Both Samuel and Gideon come from Joseph’s sons). 

Benjamin was a small but warlike tribe known later for their left-handed fighters. Both King Saul and the Apostle Saul/Paul were from this tribe. 

Then, after reminding them all that he was to be buried in the family tomb in Canaan, Jacob-Israel laid back and died.

  • This list of Jacob’s sons reminds me of the twelve disciples and how Jesus hand-picked each of them, knowing their personalities, strengths, and weaknesses.  The Lord knows ME, too – my tendencies to sin,  pride, and selfishness. But, by His Spirit, He’s graciously given me gifts to bless others and bring glory to Him.  He sees me from before I was born to my very last breath. 

Genesis 50.

After weeping loudly, Joseph made arrangements for his father to be embalmed (as was the Egyptian custom and very practical if his body was to be transported a great distance).  And after long days of mourning, the bier with a vast caravan made its slow way north. Joseph and all his brothers went along (not their children or flocks), all the elders of Joseph’s household and the elders of the land, complete with chariots and armed horsemen. “It was a very great company” that honored Israel’s last journey.

The inhabitants of Canaan were aghast at the massive company. There was “very great and grievous lamentation and mourning” as they laid Jacob’s body to rest in the tomb. (The last body to be buried there and the first instance of grouping the three patriarchs together.)  Then they all returned to Egypt.

(I wonder if Joseph looked around Canaan in recognition, remembering the places of his childhood… or if his eyes were only for his father’s coffin.)

.

Back in Egypt, Joseph’s brothers began to worry.  (Remember, it had been almost 20 years that they had lived with the generosity and care of their important brother.)  Now that Dad was dead, would Joseph “get even” for what they’d done to him?  (Oh, the lingering guilt.) They make up a story about Jacob asking Joseph to forgive them.

Joseph wept out of frustration to hear this.  “What??  Why would you believe I would “pay you back” like that??  I have totally forgiven you.  Yes, you meant what you did for EVIL, but God meant it for GOOD.  You all would have died of starvation if God had not arranged this way to bring you to Egypt.”

“Do not fear. I will provide for you and your little ones.”

Later, when Joseph himself was nearing death, he made his brother’s families PROMISE that when God led them out of Egypt to return to “the promised land,” they would also carry his bones up from Egypt to the land God would give them. 

Joseph died at 110 years. They embalmed him and put him in a coffin in Egypt.  He would remain there for 400 years. But when Moses led that “great nation” of Israel out of Egypt, they remembered the promise and took Joseph’s bones along with them. (See Exodus 13:19.)  Eventually, they buried them in the land Jacob had bought from Hamor near Shechem. (See Joshua 24:32.) 

The book of Exodus begins about 280 years after Joseph’s death.

 

  • Genesis begins with a sinless Adam in the beautiful garden of Eden and ends with Joseph in a coffin in Egypt.  Sin does indeed bring death. But God has initiated the “seed line” of the Savior who will defeat death and give all who receive Him eternal life.

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 25

Jan25

Day 25. Reading in Genesis 38 – 40. 

I invite you to read the scripture for the day and meditate on it. What stood out to you?

 

Genesis 38.

What a chapter. It shows that God can use the vilest of us for His glory when He changes our hearts. 

Judah, Jacob’s fourth son to his wife Leah, is the next in line for inheritance. (We’ll learn that Rueben, Simeon, and Levi were all disqualified through their actions. See Genesis 49:3-8) 

Judah takes a wife and has three sons. When they grow up, he gets a wife for the eldest, but Er is wicked, and God kills him before he can father children.  As customary in those days, Judah gives his second son to Tamar to fulfill his duty and make an inheritance for his dead brother. Onan is wicked as well and does NOT do his duty, so God kills him. Judah’s third son is still a boy. (And besides, Judah doesn’t want HIM to die too.)

Widow Tamar goes back home to wait for Shelah to grow up.  He does, but no word is sent. So she takes things into her own hands, plays a prostitute, and lures Judah into her tent (his own wife has died). He leaves his signet with the cord, and his staff for surety for the goat he promises to send her. But she disappears back home, keeping the three items. 

When it’s discovered, and Judah is told that she’s pregnant, he is outraged and says she should be burned. (Seriously, Judah?? Who’s at fault here?) Anyway, when she produces HIS three identifying items, he gulps, admits she is “more righteous than he,” rescinds the death sentence, and never touches her again.  But, his seed line, through the youngest of their twin sons, later produces King David and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Genesis 39.

This chapter contrasts sharply with the previous one. Against Judah and his family’s immorality, we see Joseph’s righteousness. 

He has become a man of importance in Potiphar’s household. The Captain has given Joseph control of his entire estate. He trusts his Hebrew slave completely, and Joseph honors God by being trustworthy. However, Potiphar’s wife is NOT so inclined. Spoiled and bored, she lusts after the handsome Hebrew slave. While her husband is away, she tries to seduce him, but Joseph wants no part of it.

One day, when no one is around, she grabs him and demands he sleep with her.  Joseph does what we all should do when tempted. He flees the scene as quick as lightning.  The problem is the shunned woman keeps hold of his garment. A woman scorned is a horrible thing, and soon the whole household hears her screams, “Rape! He tried to rape me!”

When Potiphar comes home, looking forward to his pipe and a chair by the fire, he’s confronted by his wife’s accusations. “This is what YOUR Hebrew slave tried to do to me … and here’s the proof.”

Of course, Potiphar had to act. He sent Joseph to the prison where the king’s prisoners were kept.  But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him His steadfast love and mercy.  He gave Joseph favor in the eyes of the keeper.  Soon, Joseph was in charge of all the prisoners. Like Potiphar had been, the keeper now laid back and let Joseph do his managing thing. 

Meanwhile, Potiphar had to go back to running his own estate.  Grrrr.

Genesis 40.

Joseph the young dreamer becomes a more mature interpreter of dreams. God gives him this gift, much like He will give to His man, Daniel one day in Babylon. 

The cupbearer and the baker in the king of Egypt’s palace both came into disfavor and were cast into “Joseph’s prison.”  Of the two, the cupbearer (butler) had the more crucial job. He tasted whatever was served in the king’s cup FIRST, to make sure it held no poison. Every time the king drank something, this cupbearer put his life on the line.

Anyway, there they sat in a jail cell.  Joseph comes by on his rounds, sees these important men and “attends to them.”  After a while he sees they are very troubled. He asks and discovers that they both have had very scary dreams. They are sure they mean something, but don’t know what.

Joseph pulls up a stool and asks that they tell him the dreams.  They do, and God gives Joseph understanding.  One is good news, the other foretells very bad news.  The cupbearer will be soon reinstated to his former position, but the baker will be soon executed.  And it happens as God showed Joseph. As the cupbearer is leaving the prison, Joseph pleads with the man to mention him when he goes back to the king, to get him out of prison.

The baker dies, and the cupbearer forgets Joseph … for two whole years.

  • God is faithful to His Word and to His own servants. There is no shadow of turning with Him. As I live my life day by day, His eye and hand are on me, whether I feel it or not. He sees my sin and hears my confession. He sees both mistreatment and honor and how I deal with each. He has a plan for me – maybe a far, far reaching plan – and nothing changes it. Thank You, Lord.