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#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, days 63 & 64

Mar4

    Day 63 & 64—  We have begun the THIRD month of Bible reading! We’ve been reading for over a 1/6 of a year now! Praise God! I hope that it’s become a GOOD habit that will continue till the end of the year. (Note: SUNDAY’s reading is combined with MONDAY’s)

   Day 63 – Numbers 21 – 22 (War begins, snakes, singing, a prophet & donkey)

Numbers 21. After mourning for Aaron a month, the people begin the Canaanite campaign. The king of Arad attacks and takes some captives. Israel prays and they completely destroy them at Hormah. (Where 40 years earlier they’d try to do it against God’s will and been soundly defeated. (14:45))

Next they began the trek AROUND Edom and get impatient. They again complain against Moses, and the desert, and no food, and no water, and they are sick of Manna. Enough! God sends fiery serpents among the people to bite and kill them. Eeek! They repent and beg Moses to pray for them.

He does. God tells him to make a representative snake out of bronze and put it on a pole. He tells Moses that if the people LOOK on (not worship) the bronze snake in faith they will be healed. Moses did, they did, and they lived. (Jesus referenced this pole in John 3:14-15, saying that HE would be lifted up on a pole like that bronze snake, and people who looked on Him in faith would have eternal life.)

(Note: later Israel did begin to worship that bronze snake and it had to be destroyed. 2 Kings 18:4)

Perhaps with the excitement of finally approaching the Promised Land and defeating enemies and surviving poisonous snakes, Israel is seen/heard singing, first about a well that God provided for them, and then a song of anticipation of defeating Heshbon and Moab, and King Og of Bashan and Sihon, king of the Amorites.

Chapter 22 begins the confusing, and sometimes humorous story of King Balak and the seer/diviner Balaam. The king offers to pay Balaam to curse the hoard of Israel that he sees coming toward his land. Balaam inquires of the LORD, who says, NO, in no uncertain terms.  They offer him more money, and he asks the LORD again, who says, Okay, you can go, but say only what I tell you.

(Why does God change his mind?  Always for His glory we know! But after a firm denial, why say, okay. Well, isn’t Balaam like us? We don’t like a “no” answer, especially if we are losing a profit, and we keep praying (pestering) God who maybe says, Okay, go ahead, but it won’t be good. Perhaps that is happening here.)

So… Balaam goes along with the kings men, but says he will only say what God tells him (Boy, won’t THAT be true??)  As Balaam is merrily riding along on his donkey, perhaps thinking of that huge monetary reward from King Balak, God’s anger is revealed. He sends what seemed like one of his mighty angels, but could be a very manifestation of God Himself to stop Balaam.

Balaam is blind to God in front of him, just as he was deaf to God’s instructions. But the DONKEY could see very well and shied away three times, making Balaam absolutely livid. (He must have looked so foolish to the kings men, not able to even control his own donkey! Tee-hee.)

He beats the donkey in anger, until God allows that animal to SPEAK!  And then, BALAAM ARGUES BACK WITH THE DONKEY!!!  (I wonder if the other men could see/hear what was going on, or if they only perceived Balaam as being totally crazy… or perhaps speaking to unseen spirits.)  Anyway, Balaam finally is able to see the fiery being with a drawn sword. He confesses he has sinned and offers to go back home. But God, perhaps observing Balaam as more compliant now, sends him on, emphasizing again that he will only (be able to) speak what God says.

Once he arrives, and after King Balak makes a bunch of sacrifices, he takes Balaam up a high hill where he could view a fraction of the hoard of Israelites  (To be continued tomorrow.)

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    Day 64 – Numbers 23 – 25 ( Balaam’s 3 curses/blessings, Baal worship, Phinehas’ zeal)

In chapter 25, we left Balaam and King Balak on a hill overlooking a portion of Israel’s camp, but before he proclaims any curses, Balaam insists on seven bull & ram sacrifices and King Balak complies. (One wonders to whom or what they are sacrificing.)  Then Balaam goes higher up the hill “to get the Word from God.” He returns and tells the King and the princes of Moab, “How can I curse what God has blessed?”

The King is understandably angry.  “WHAT??? That’s what I’m paying you for!!

They try a different view, from Mt. Pisgah and offer another seven bulls and rams. Balaam inquires of God and returns with –

“God is not a man that He should lie,

Or the son of man that He should change His mind.

Has He said, and will He not do it?

Or has He spoken, and will He not fulfill it?

Behold, I received a COMMAND to bless

He has blessed and I cannot revoke it.” 23:19-20 

King Balak is furious. “Don’t bless. Don’t curse. Don’t speak at all!”  But….. he takes Balaam to another hill, ditto on the sacrifices, but this time Balaam just begins his “blessings” on Israel, ending with part of the Abrahamic covenant, “Blessed are those who bless you, and cursed are those who curse you.” 24:9b 

Anger fills King Balak, but Balaam reminds him piously that he cannot but speak GOD’S WORDS.  Then almost as a final jab, he prophesizes about how Israel will overcome their enemies…. including Moab.  The two men part ways and return to their homes.

But Balaam, ACTS in favor of King Balak even though he cannot SPEAK curses. According to Numbers 31:16, he instructs the Moabites and Midianites how to provoke God’s anger against His own people, and they send in beautiful, seductive (idol-carrying) women to entice Israeli men. 

And in Chapter 25, they fall for it.  Sure enough, God’s anger is provoked and He instructs Moses to take all the chiefs (elders?) of the people and “hang them in the sun.” So as they were told, the judges of Israel kill those men who had yoked themselves to the idol Baal, via the women. But God also sends a plague among them.

Phinehas, grandson of Aaron, zealous for the LORD, takes a spear and goes after Zimri, the Simeonite, an arrogant man, who openly brought a Midianite woman into this tent in front of all the people in defiance to God.  Phinehas thrusts the spear through the two of them while they were in the act.

God was pleased with Phinehas’ zeal and jealousy for His holiness, and stops the plague. God also blesses Phinehas’ line with a perpetual priesthood.  

 

 












			


	



			
				


	

		
#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 62


					
Mar2
			


	

		
    Day 62—  Today we begin the THIRD month of Bible reading! We’ve been reading for over a 1/6 of a year! Praise God! I hope that it’s become a GOOD habit that we will continue.


   Day 62 – Numbers 18 – 20 (Reviewing Levitical duties & purification, Miriam, Aaron, Moses)


After the last few days of Levite rebellion and God’s swift punishment & affirmation of Aaron & Moses, it’s suitable in Chapter 18 for God to review the duties of Priests and Levites, and their compensation for service. The LORD reminds them that in the Promised Land, they will get no real inheritance of property, but will have Himself as their inheritance and provider.


Chapter 19 reviews the laws of purification after touching a dead body. (Remember in chapter 16, how God’s plague killed 14,700 rebels. Lots of handling and burying!)


Chapter 20, (as the end of the 40 wilderness years approaches) lists several SAD, but necessary, things. First, Miriam, Moses’ oldest sibling, dies and is buried in the Wilderness of Zin.


Next, at the “Waters of Meribah (“questioning”), the people – yes, this newer generation – again grumble about not having water for themselves and their animals, and yearn for the figs, grapes, and pomegranates of Egypt. (YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING, how can they even remember that?)  And Moses loses it.


God tells him to take the staff (Aaron’s rod that budded?), assemble the people before a rock, and SPEAK to the rock, which will yield abundant water for them all.  Moses is so fed up with these people (he’s 120 years old and has been with the grumblers for 40 years), that he, 1) gets the staff, 2) takes the people to the forementioned rock, and 3) speaks…. but NO! Moses STRIKES the rock, not once, but TWICE!!


God is faithful. Water flows to the ingrate people, but Moses’ fate is sealed. He WILL NOT lead the people into the Promised Land, but die at its boarder. Wow.  Seems harsh, right?  I mean, which of us wouldn’t be as frustrated at those millions of “babies” and lose our cool?  Why would God condemn him for this ONE little human mistake?


Well, it is abject disobedience, of course, before the Priest and all the people. Punishable for a leader.


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But I’d like to consider a few other possible things. I’m thinking that in striking the rock this time, Moses “ruined” the “picture” or “type” of Christ’s work on the cross. Jesus our Lord is often called our ROCK of our salvation.  He’s referred to as the corner stone.  Jesus died for sin and experienced the wrath of God ONCE, on the cross. God approved and raised Him to life again.  After that, Jesus told His disciples they could pray to God for anything in his name. They could (and should) confess their sin and ASK for forgiveness, and God would hear and answer (for Christ’s sake).  


Jesus did NOT have to be crucified (sacrificed) again and again, like the bulls and rams in Moses’ time.  He – once and for all time – took the wrath of God for sin, and whoever believes in Him can have eternal life (rivers of living water).


Picture Jesus as that rock at Mt. Horeb, struck once, and yielding abundant water for Israel. Then, Moses was just to SPEAK to the rock (ask, if you will) and water would flow.  But he STRUCK the rock. It could be seen as having to crucify Jesus again to receive that eternal life. 


This is how I see Moses’ sin. It does not say specifically in God’s Word that this is so, so take it as a possible suggestion.  And also remember direct disobedience of a leader of God is very serious in it’s own right.


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After this incident, Moses continues to lead Israel toward the Promised Land.  They are taking the route to the East of the Jordan River Valley/Dead Sea, which will take them right through the land of Edom. These people are descendants of Isaac. Esau/Edom was Jacob’s brother, so these would be their closest relatives. Moses asks permission to move through the land – NOT march forward as against enemies – and Edom refuses twice, and then brings out their army.


God had told Moses (Deut. 2:5) NOT to wage war on their “brothers” or even take any food or water from them, so Moses leads Israel the long way, around Edom and Mt. Seir, the land God had given to the descendants of Esau.


But before they start, at Mt. Hor, on the boarder of Edom, God tells Moses to take Aaron and his son Eleazar to the top of the mountain, remove the priestly vestige from Aaron and put it on his son, for Aaron will die there. It seems he was involved in some way in striking that rock, so he also could NOT enter the Land. Moses obeys, and when the people see him coming back with only Eleazar in priestly garb they know Aaron is dead, and they weep for him 30 days.

			


	



			
				


	

		
#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 61


					
Mar1
			


	

		
    Day 61—  Today we begin the THIRD month of Bible reading! We’ve been reading for over a 1/6 of a year! Praise God! I hope that it’s become a GOOD habit that we will continue.


   Day 61 – Numbers 16 – 17 (Rebellion among the elite & Aaron’s budding staff)


Yesterday, we left the camp of Israel defeated, despondent and angry. They’d been promised the Promise Land, but failed to enter. Now they face 40 LONG years of desert wandering. (The one year at Sinai was bad enough!) They’d even tried to elect a new leader and go back to Egypt.


Grumble, grumble.  In Chapter 15, the rebellion goes to a higher level, to the Levite priests, to the elitist of priests, the ones responsible for the holy objects in the Tabernacle, including the Ark of the Covenant. The Kohathites, led by Korah.


They assemble themselves against Moses and Aaron. “You’ve gone too far!” They claim.  All the congregation is holy, not just you!


In response does Moses argue? No!  He falls on his face (in horror?) He says that God will decide in the morning whom He chooses.  “You’ve gone too far, sons of Levi.”  It’s against God you grumble, not Aaron.


“Who made you a prince over us?” they yell back.


Next morning Korah and all his gang meet at the entrance to the Tabernacle.  God’s glory appeared  to them all, and God told Moses and Aaron to separate themselves and all the “innocent” congregation from the dwellings of Korah, Dathan & Abiram (leaders in the high-rebellion).


Moses then puts a test before them.  If nothing happens to these, then you will KNOW that I am not sent of God. But if the LORD opens the ground and swallows up them and all of theirs, then you will KNOW that they have despised the Lord.


Immediately the earth under them opened and swallowed the three men up, with their households and all the people and goods that belonged to them.  Then the earth closed over them completely.  And fire from God came down and consumed the 250 Kohathites with them who were falsely offering incense. Yikes!


AND STILL!!! the people grumbled against Moses & Aaron. God send a plague that quickly spread through the came.  Moses told Aaron to take fire and incense from the alter and go among the people.  He did, and as High Priest stood between the living and the already dead. And the plague from God that had killed 14,700 Israelites stopped.


Plagues!!  These were supposed to be on the Egyptians, not the Children of God. Oh, how far they had strayed.


In Chapter 17, God further affirms Moses and Aaron as His chosen leaders before the people.  A staff (a dry wooden pole) was gathered, one each from all the heads of tribes. These twelve, along with Aaron’s were placed in the Most Holy Place in the Tabernacle – next to the Ark of the Covenant, where the presence of Almighty God dwelled.  The next day, the one marked with Aaron’s name had brought forth buds, blossomed, and bore ripe almonds. Overnight. Fruit from a dead stick. Proof positive.


(His staff was then stored in the Ark along with the tablets of stone and the jar of manna…. as a remembrance.)


And the people wail that they are “undone” by what they had … done. “Are we all to perish?” they cry.

			


	



			
				


	

		
#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 60


					
Feb29
			


	

		
    Day 60 —  We are still in the second month, but we’ve begun a new book! We’ve been reading for over a 1/12 of a year! Praise God! I hope that it’s become a GOOD habit that will continue.


   Day 60 – Numbers 14 – 15, Psalm 90 – (Turning Back, Defeat, Promise, and a psalm of Moses)


Yesterday we saw the rebellious Israel turning from the Promised Land out of fear of the “giants in the land.”


Numbers 14 take up where we left off.  Not only does Israel fear to go into the Land, the want to kill Moses, choose a new leader and GO BACK to Egypt.  (Are you guys crazy??)


Joshua and Caleb plead with the people to enter the land, testifying that their God will surely give them victory. But the people decide to stone them.  Only the appearance of the Shekinah Glory of the LORD stops them. God offers Moses a SECOND chance to become the progenitor of His people, and he refuses, stressing God’s honor and glory that is involved. He begs that God will PARDON their sin according to the greatness of His mercy.


God hears Moses’s intercession for these rebellious ingrates, and pardons them. But there is a consequence they must endure – 40 years of desert wanderings until THAT generation (age 20 and up) all die. Only their teen and young children will have the chance to receive that Promised Land. (Joshua & Caleb and their families will also be exempt.)


So, TURN AROUND and head into that dry and barren land……


But still the people rebel!!  “No, we were wicked,” they confess. “We will go in as directed!”  But it is too late. As they swarm forward – against God’s word, without Him, the Ark of the Covenant, and Moses – they suffer absolute defeat from the Amalekites and Canaanites, giving those pagan enemies a chance to gloat, deride, and shame the LORD God Almighty.


Can’t you just see God dusting his hands of them all and turning his back on Israel? But no. God, our God, is ever faithful to his promises and his people. Instead in Numbers 15, He speaks of WHEN the people of Israel come into the Land to inhabit it, which HE is giving them.


Whoa! Such grace and mercy. Sure, they will endure consequences of their sin. Sure, it will be their children who go in and conquer the land.  But God does not utterly desert them.  He even describes the offerings they will make to Him with the produce of that Land.   He also distinguishes unintentional sins from outright defiance, giving grace to the one and harsh punishment to the other.


He reaffirms the importance of keeping the Sabbath sacred to Him, as He’s directed. And He tells ALL the people of Israel (not just priests) to make tassels on the corners of their garments, with a blue cord binding them, to remind them of all the commandments of the LORD which they are to obey and so be a holy nation go God.


Psalm 90 is the only psalm written my Moses. He writes of the eternality of God, and fact that man is made from dust. (Remember Moses wrote the book of Genesis too.)  He writes of God’s majesty and man’s sins (even the secret ones). Man’s life – in contrast to God’s everlasting existence – is but 70-80 years, and is full of toil and trouble, and ends with a sigh.  He asks God to teach his people how to “number” their days and apply their hearts to wisdom.  Then he ends with pleas for God’s presence and love and power and favor to be with and on his children.

			


	



			
				


	

		
#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 59


					
Feb28
			


	

		
    Day 59 —  We are still in the second month, but we’ve begun a new book! We’ve been reading for over a 1/12 of a year! Praise God! I hope that it’s become a GOOD habit that will continue.


   Day 59 – Numbers 11 – 13 (Complaints, Gossip, Rejection)


In Chapter 10, we saw the newly organized and militarized nation of Israel leaving Mt. Sinai on their way to the Promised Land. Ideally, it was a journey of about 11 days, but they are burned, choked, delayed, and stalled in today’s reading, beginning in Chapter 11.


Verse one doesn’t say what they originally complained about, but God responded by sending fire around the perimeter of the camp. The people screamed for help, Moses prayed, and God relented.


Next the “rabble” (mixed group of Egyptians who had come out with the Jews) began to ache and moan for the juices and spices and meats of Egypt.  They were complaining about God’s gracious and nutritious supply of Manna. No work, just pick it up. But they yearned for… Egypt, weeping and wailing like a bunch of babies. (But, oh, am I like them too at times!)


Even Moses seems to have had ENOUGH of these two million cry babies….and did a little crying himself. “I’m not able to carry all this people alone, the burden is too heavy for me.”  “Kill me at once!”  You wonder why God didn’t brush his hands and walk away from the sorry bunch.  Why?  Because of His promises to Abraham, and God doesn’t lie.  Instead He has Moses gather 70 elders of Israel (the beginning of the Sanhedrin?) and puts some of His Spirit on them. They will help carry the burden of the people (because they can’t walk, it seems).


But the people are not done (and either is God!). They whine and moan for meat, tired of “this manna.” And God sends them guail, lots of them, three feet deep, and spread out a day’s journey beyond the edges of the camp.  They ate meat till they were sick of it. And God brought a very great plague on them, and they buried many corpses there. They named the place Kibroth-hattaavah (graves of craving.)


Chapter 12 tells of Miriam & Aaron (Moses’ older siblings) complaining about Him, and God struck Miriam with leprosy. (Why not Aaron too?  Remember he was the high priest of Israel. He needed to say “clean” to offer sacrifices.)  Moses prayed for Miriam and God healed her, but she had to stay outside the camp for the days of ritual cleansing. While she was there, the entire nation remained in one place.


In Chapter 13 Israel reaches the boarder of Canaan, their Promised (by God) Land. God told Moses to send a representative of each tribe in to check out the people and produce of the land.  He does, including Caleb from Judah and Joshua from Ephraim. They are gone 40 days, “testing” the Land and bringing back huge produce to show off.


However, their report is divided.  Joshua & Caleb say “Let’s go!  We can do it!  Let’s take the Promised Land!!”  But the other ten collectively shrink back in fear and tell of the “giants” who made them feel as small as grasshoppers. (A slight exaggeration, guys, don’t you think??)  So…….  what did they do?


(Tune in tomorrow.)

			


	



			
				


	

		
#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 53


					
Feb22
			


	

		
    Day 52 —  We are in the second month! We’ve been reading for over a 1/12 of a year! Praise God! I hope that it’s become a GOOD habit that will continue. TODAY IS THE LAST READING IN LEVITICUS.


   Day 53 – Leviticus 26 – 27 (Blessings & curses, Vows & valuations)


Leviticus 26 is much like the closing chapters of Deuteronomy. In it, God, through Moses, tells the people how He wants to bless them and WILL bless them in the Promised Land with goodness and plenty if they will obey Him.. 


“If you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments and do them, then I will give you rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase…. and (you will) dwell in your land securely. I will give peace in the land….”  (Leviticus 26:3, 4a, 5b, 6a)


“I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my People. I am the LORD your God…  And I have broken the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect.”  (Lev. 26:12, 13b)


But…..  God then warns the people of FIVE, increasingly strong waves of discipline He will bring on them if they do NOT obey all His commandments, and instead break His covenant when they get to the Promised Land. (Sadly, if you know Israel’s history, this is exactly what happens.)  


(I too, often disobey and then feel God’s hand of discipline. But it is because God loves me that He disciplines me. Read Hebrews 12:5-9.)


After God lays out these waves of curses, there is another “BUT.”  IF His people will confess their iniquity….  IF their uncircumcised hearts are humbled…. THEN God will remember His Covenant with Jacob, Isaac, and Abraham…  “I will for their sake remember the covenant with their forefathers, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God. I AM the LORD.   


(It reminds me again of 1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleans us from all unrighteousness.”) (Because of Jesus)


The last chapter in Leviticus (27) is about vows and the valuations of things. God tells the people through Moses that they should be involved with and help to support the spiritual aspects of living with Him. Their vows and dedications of themselves (paid in shekels), their animals given as gifts, and their tithes of land will all help to support the priesthood once they are in the Promised Land, and will remind them of being the chosen people of the LORD God who redeemed them.





			


	



			
				


	

		
#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, days 49 & 50


					
Feb19
			


	

		
   Day 49 & 50 —  We are in the second month! We’ve been reading for a 1/12 of a year! Praise God! I hope that it’s become a GOOD habit that will continue. (SUNDAY’s reading is combined with MONDAY’s)


   Day 49 – Leviticus 16 – 18  (Day of Atonement, Place of Sacrifice, Unlawful sexual relations)


In the middle of Leviticus (chapter16), God tells Moses about the most solemn day of the year. The Day of Atonement, when all Israel was to mourn for their sin.


At that time the High Priest would take the blood of a special sacrifice all the way into the Most Holy Place in the Tabernacle. He would then sprinkle some of the blood on top of the Ark of the Covenant, on the Mercy Seat, the place where God’s “throne” on earth was.


The priest had to be thoroughly washed, and both sin and burnt offerings made for him before approaching the Holy of Holies. Two goats were to be brought. Lots were drawn and one goat was killed. With great fear (I’m sure.) Aaron would carry its blood into the Tent and behind the separating veil and sprinkle it on the Mercy Seat. It would be an atonement (a covering) of the people’s sin, so a Most Holy God could dwell among them.


Then Aaron would lay his hands on the other goat, confessing all the iniquities, transgressions, and sins of the people, symbolically transferring them to the animal. Then it would be driven away into the desert never to be seen again.


These were both pictures of what Jesus accomplished for all who are saved. Our sin was transferred onto Him and He bore God’s wrath for it to his death.  And God remembers our sin no more, removing it as far as the east is from the west.” (Psalm 103:12)


Chapter 17 reinforces that the Tabernacle was the ONLY place animals could be brought as an offering or sacrifice. He also reminds them that the LIFE of all living in is the blood, to be used on the alter to make atonement. NO ONE was to eat any blood…. or else!


In Chapter 18, God gives Moses strict laws prohibiting any abhorrent sexual practices, including adultery, incest of any kind, homosexuality, bestiality, and even child sacrifice. These were the practices (abominations), of the pagan peoples Israel would be destroying in the Promised Land. The LORD’s people were not to be like them.


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Day 50 – Leviticus 19 – 21 (Holy people for a Holy God, prohibitions & punishments, priests)


In chapter 19, God reviews and expands on some of the Ten Commandments.  “You shall be holy, for I, the LORD am holy,” is all encompassing. Parents are to be revered, the Sabbath is to be kept.  To “Love your neighbor as yourself,” covers helping the poor, not stealing, dealing falsely, oppressing, slandering, or taking vengeance on others


Added are the prohibitions about seeking mediums and fortune tellers and cutting or tattooing themselves in pagan worship.  Also respecting elders, being kind to strangers and fair in business practices are commanded.


Chapter 20 covers more serious “no-no’s” like child sacrifice, cursing parents, adultery and homosexuality and bestiality, and the severe punishments that are to be meted out for disobeying.


God continually emphasizes that they are to be His Holy People, separate from the world and pagan nations that they will encounter in the Promised Land. “You shall be holy to me, for I the LORD am holy and have separated you from the peoples that you should be mine.” 20:26


Chapter 21 tells of the even higher standard of holiness that Aaron and the priests are to hold to.  Purity in marriage (only a virgin), dress, and appearance are all requirements.


It reminds me of 1 Peter 2:9 for believing Jews and Gentiles alike.  “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”  (Also Romans 9:24)

			


	



			
				


	

		
#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 46


					
Feb15
			


	

		
    Day 46 —  We are in the second month! We’ve been reading for over a 1/12 of a year! Praise God! I hope that it’s become a GOOD habit that will continue.


   Day 46 – Leviticus 8 – 10  (Consecration of Priests, LORD’s acceptance, sin & death)


In chapter 8 God tells Moses to consecrate Aaron and his four sons to serve in the Holy Tabernacle. They are washed and dressed in the specially designed priestly garments with Aaron also receiving the ephod, jeweled breast piece with the Urim and Thummim inside, the hat, and the golden plate or “holy crown” for his head.


The special anointing oil is used, there are sacrifices of a bull and ram with their blood sprinkled on the holy objects as well as the priests. There is fire for sacrifice and for boiling water and cooking meat, and a command to eat. Aaron and his 4 sons are commanded to stay at the entrance of the Tabernacle, day and night for seven days doing everything God told them.


Chapter 9  tells that on the 8th day Aaron was to offer specific burnt offerings, a peace offering, and a grain offering before the LORD with the elders witnessing it all. Aaron performed all the duties completely, including blessing all the people.  And God was pleased. “…and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people. And fire came out from before the LORD and consumed the burnt offering. When the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.” (9:23b-24)


But after those great and glorious things, there seems to always follow deep sin.  From highs to lows; mountain tops to valleys of shadow. We should be aware of this in our own lives!


Boldly, brazenly, arrogantly, two of Aaron’s four newly consecrated sons took censers, put “fire” on them and laid “incense” on them and offered UNAUTHORIZED fire before the LORD, which He had NOT commanded.


Immediately, fire – HOLY FIRE – came out from the LORD and consumed them. Living to dead in seconds. SHOCK WAVE!


And then the voice of the LORD boomed forth, “AMONG THOSE WHO ARE NEAR ME I WILL BE SANCTIFIED. AND BEFORE ALL THE PEOPLE, I WILL BE GLORIFIED.”


Moses called for another Levite to carry out their remains, IN THEIR PRIESTLY COATS (which had just been consecrated) out of the camp. Moses then told Aaron and the two remaining sons NOT TO MOURN the deaths of Nadab and Abihu. They were to continue with their duties, a burnt offering and a grain offering, part of which they were to eat inside the courtyard.


Chapter 10: BUT, Aaron, Eleazar and Ithamar could not eat it – disobeying God’s direct LAW (Lev. 6:26).  Moses charged them with this disobedience, but possibly fearing another judgement from God, which would have left no one in succession for the priesthood, he let it go.


What a way to begin their holy service to the LORD. It just proves that they – like we – are sinners, and could easily do far worse than we ever thought possible… given the right nudge.


Praise God for his mercy!

			


	



			
				


	

		
#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 41


					
Feb10
			


	

		
    Day 41 —  We are in the second month! We’ve been reading for over a 1/12 of a year! Praise God! I hope that it’s become a GOOD habit that will continue.


   Day 41 – Exodus 33 – 35  (Intimate intercession, Covenant renewed, generous donations.)


Chapter 32 left us with broken laws, idolatry, and retribution.  And Moses beginning to intercede for the people and for his brother, Aaron.


Now in chapter 33 he pleads for God to continue His presence WITH them. And he asks God an impossible favor – to SEE God’s face. But God is Spirit, so no person can see His face, nor can they see His glory without vaporizing! However, God allows his friend Moses to see a bit of His fading glory (His goodness) after he passes by. Moses is safe in a cleft of rock with God’s “hand” covering the entrance.


In chapter 34, God “passes before Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in mercy and faithfulness, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but…. Who will by no means clear the guilty…”  And Moses falls on his face and worships God, and once more pleads that HE will pardon the sin of the people and take them for His inheritance.


God promises (covenants) to be their God, only they are to have NO OTHER GODS BEFORE HIM (for He is a jealous God) nor to MAKE FOR THEMSELVES ANY GODS OF CAST METAL. (These are the first two of the TEN commandments, and the ones that the people had already broken with that golden calf.)


God also reminds Moses that they must keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread and Passover – to remember and celebrate how He freed them from Egypt – and to obey the laws of the Sabbath. He re-wrote the Ten Words on the stone tablets and sent Moses back down the mountain.


And Moses’ face glowed so brightly from the presence of God that the people were terrified. After he spoke to them all that God had told him, Moses veiled his face. (After that. he set up a special tent outside the camp where he would go and meet the LORD. This wasn’t the Tabernacle which was to be set up in the middle of the camp.)


In chapter 35, Moses tells the people about building the Tabernacle, a place where their God would dwell among them and make His presence known to them. He told them all that was required for the tent, the furniture, and all the priests clothing. “Whoever is of a generous heart, let him bring the LORD’s contribution.” 


And the people, both men and women, began to generously give their freewill offerings of jewelry and gold, silver, bronze, and linen and yarns. And both men and women volunteered their skills to help in the construction, led by Bezalel ben Hur and Oholiab ben Ahisamach.


And so it seems a catastrophe was averted by a man’s intercession before a Most Holy God. Oh, that WE would pray like this!.

			


	



			
				


	

		
May 5, 2021 – #5 of 31 Days of Biblical Women


					
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Eve ~~


Genesis 2:15-25


Eden, fresh from the hand of the Creator. Beautiful beyond imagination. Self watering and weed free. Every tree bearing delicious fruit, just for the picking. Yes, there were two special trees in the very heart of the Garden. The Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.


There was only one prohibition. Do not eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.


They why plant it there? To see if man would choose life.


Then from His loving heart, the Creator put the man into a deep sleep, took one of his ribs and closed the flesh. Out of the rib, He made a perfectly matched and fitting together, helpmate. A woman. And the man was “wowed!”


Naked and unashamed the roamed and worked the Garden, eating fruit as they desired, learning about each other. Heaven on earth.


One day, walking together, the woman laughing and frolicking, her toes treading deep in the soft dewy grass, they came upon a magnificent tree.


“No, Eve. Let’s go on. We aren’t to eat the fruit on that tree.”


“Why not?” she asked her husband.


“The LORD God said so,” Adam told her.


“But why not?” she said again, walking toward the tree, her eyes wide with wonder.”


“He said we would surely die.”


“What does ‘die’ mean, Adam?” she said circling the trunk of the enticing tree, delight on her face.


“Why, hello there,” came a silvery voice from the heavily laden branches. “Did God actually say ‘you shall not eat of any tree in this lovely garden?”


The woman peered closer and saw a beautifully colored serpant weaving before her.  “We may eat of all the trees here except this one. He said we would ‘surely die’ if we did. We may not even touch it,” she added coyly.


“You shall not surely die,” came the sensuous, deep voice. “For God knows that when you do eat of it, you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”


He paused then continued, “Here, try one. It is sweeter than any fruit you have ever eaten.”


The woman saw that the fruit would be good for food, and wasn’t that her tummy growling?


It was a beautiful fruit as well, so shining and deeply hued. She fancied she could even smell the warm fruitiness. Her mouth began to water.


And, if eating the fruit would make her wise, well, why wouldn’t anyone want that. She reached up, touched one of the fruits, and it fell into her hand.  She put it to her mouth and took a bite. It was so sweet and juice ran down her chin. “Ohhhhhh!” she moaned in pleasure.


“Here, husband, you must have one too!”


And Adam also ate.


Instantly the eyes of their soul were opened and the knew they were naked and they were ashamed. They crept into the trees, hands and arms covering the parts of their bodies they had deemed beautiful before. The half-eaten fruit lay in the grass, already beginning to rot. Flies hovered nearby.


 


Later, in the cool of the evening when they always walked and talked with their Creator, they heard His voice. That voice that had inspired such great joy within them, now struck terror.


“Where are you, my children?”


Adam crept out from the bushes, the hastily woven leaves covering his genitals. “I… we…heard your voice and were afraid because we are naked.”


“WHO told you, you were naked?” thundered the voice of God. “Have you eaten of the tree which I commanded you not to eat?”


“The woman you gave me to be with, she gave me the fruit and I ate.” Adam answered his voice quavering.


God turned to the woman, “What have you done?”


“The…the…serpent deceived me… and… I ate,” her voice barely a whisper.


The God of the Universe turned to the serpant and roared, “You are cursed above all things. I will put enmity between you and the offspring of the woman. You shall bruise His heel.  But HE, He shall crush your head!”


“And as for you, woman, you will have pain now in childbearing. Your desire will be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.”


Majesty turned then to Adam. And in a still but intense voice, He said, “Because you listened to your wife, cursed is the ground because of you. In pain you shall eat of it all your days. Prickling, painful thorns will it bring forth for you, to tear your flesh. You will sweat and toil and in the end you will return to the dust from which I made you.”


Then in saddness and anger the Creator drove the humans He’d created out from the Garden He’d made for them. He placed one of His myriads of cherubim with a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the Tree of Life.


Lest the man and woman now eat of it and live eternally in their SIN.




The picture represents Eve in shame before Mary who is carrying the promised offspring, the Son of God, who will indeed die by the serpant’s wiles, but who will rise from the dead triumphant to crush death and Satan forever.


 


 


LORD, help me to seek Your face and Your ways, and to love and obey you with my whole heart. Lead me not into temptation and deliver me from the Evil One.


Jh