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#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 95

Apr4
    Day 95 —  We have been reading the Bible daily for a quarter of the year and have begun a new month. Praise God! What have you learned about God? About yourself?

   Day 95 – Judges 16 – 18 (Samson, Delilah, His sacrifice, Levite, & Dan)

These chapters show the spiraling down of Israel’s morality caused by their lack of knowledge of God and His ways.

In Chapter 16, Samson lusts after two Philistine prostitutes, used for the most part to try to capture Samson, who has been plaguing their nation. It’s not until Delilah beguiles him four times that he gives up the source of his strength.  (Did this mean he did not actually “look” strong?) When Samson finally tells the truth that his strength is in his never-cut hair as part of the Nazirite status, God gives him over to the Philistines, who gouge out his eyes, mock him with women’s work, torment and imprison him.

But in prison, Samson’s hair began to grow. On a festive occasion, the Philistines were honoring and sacrificing to their god, Dagon, claiming that “it” gave Samson into their hands. They brought Samson out as entertainment. Perhaps they mocked him, tormented him, or just looked at his pitiable form and felt very brave.  Samson, who had been humbled, was about to be “lifted up” by God. It would mean his life.

He asked a young boy to lead him to the center columns of the temple, where Philistines were involved in pagan worship below and in the gallery above.  Then Samson “looked” up to God instead of himself and asked just once more to have strength.  For vengeance, yes, but also to do what God had called him to – defeat the Philistines. God answered. Samson pushed on the massive columns, and the entire temple fell, killing thousands of Philistine worshipers… and Samson.

In his lustful, self-centered ways, Samson squandered God’s calling and gifts. In a night, he lost his hair, his strength, his eyes, and the presence of the Spirit of God.

I wonder how I am using God’s giftedness to me. Is it for my own pleasure, to glorify myself, cause others to look at and praise me, instead of God? Am I taking my calling (intelligence, ability to teach and write) for granted?  How can I jump to the “end” of Samson’s example and be willing to give my life in God’s service if HE, and not me, will be magnified?

Chapters 17 and 18 tell a sad story of Israel’s further decline into sin. 17:6b  says, “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”  First, there is Micah, from the tribe of Ephraim, who stole silver from his mother. When he confessed, she forgave him and took some of the returned silver to make a carved metal image to worship (as the LORD). Micah added an ephod and other household gods and “ordained” his son to be a priest. When a discontented, traveling Levite from Judah passed by, Micah bribed, then “ordained” him as a “real” priest in his house.

Then, five able men from the tribe of Dan came by Micah’s house. (They were not content in the land God had assigned to their tribe and were “spying out” a better place. This faux priest told them their mission would be successful, and off they went.) Sure enough, way up north near Sidon (Lebanon), they found a very nice city and its surroundings.  After reporting it to their tribe, an army was sent, and they conquered it, naming the new place, Dan. (This was not an area originally designated by God for them to conquer.)

Grateful to Micah’s “priest,” for the favorable words, they returned, bribed him, threatened Micah, and took the “priest” as their own to Dan. Later, they ordained a line of priests from their own tribe, who served until the day of captivity.

Hint: things get worse!

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 81

Mar21

    Day 81—  Now that we’ve passed Day 66, we have established a “habit.” So CELEBRATE our habit of daily Bible reading! We are in the THIRD month so far! Praise God!

   Day 81 – Deuteronomy 32 – 34, Psalm 91  Song of Moses, Moses’s final blessing on each tribe, Moses death, Israel’s refuge)

God commanded Moses to write a song that would be taught to all Israel, so whenever they sang it, they would REMEMBER. It would be a witness for God.

In 43 verses and 10 stanzas of Chapter 32, Moses wrote the song of Israel’s glorious past, their hopeful present on the cusp of entering the Promised Land, and the disastrous future when they turn from God to worship other gods, who are not gods at all. And a glimpse of His everlasting love for them and restoration when the turn again.

“Rejoice with Him, O heavens;
bow down to Him, all gods,
for He avenges the blood of His children
and takes vengeance on His adversaries.
He repays those who hate him, 
and cleanses His people’s land.”

Deuteronomy 32:43

In Chapter 33, in the mode of Jacob when he blessed his sons, Moses now gives a “blessing” to the tribes of Israel, beginning with Reuben, and covering, Judah, Levi, Benjamin, Joseph (Ephraim & Manasseh), Zebulun, Issachar, Gad, Dan, Naphtali, and Asher.

Only Simeon is missing. Why? Because later, Simeon is assimilated into the tribe of Judah. (See Joshua 19:9 – “The inheritance of the people of Simeon formed part of the territory of the people of Judah. Because the portion of the people of Judah was too large for them, the people of Simeon obtained an inheritance in the midst of their inheritance.”)

(It might be interesting to compare Moses’ blessing on the tribes with Jacob’s blessings on his sons in Genesis 49.)

Chapter 34, tells of the death of Moses, written perhaps by Joshua.  Moses ascends Mt. Nebo and the LORD shows him the Promised Land. And there “the servant of the LORD died, and He (God) buried him in the valley in the land of Moab, but no one knows to place of his burial to this day.

Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eye was undimmed and his vigor unabated. And Israel mourned for him for thirty days.” 

And then… Joshua, the son of Nun (full of the spirit of wisdom) took over. And the people of Israel obeyed him and did as the LORD had commanded Moses.

“And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, none like him for all the signs and wonders that the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt…. and for all the mighty power and all the great deeds of terror that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.”

 

(Alas, Moses DID get to enter the promised land, in the day when Jesus (“the prophet like himself”) was “transfigured.” Both he and Elijah stood with Jesus and encouraged the Savior about His upcoming death.  Luke 9 28-31.)

Psalm 91 is a glorious hymn, beginning with the familiar “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.”

It goes on to encourage its readers (Israel) that HE is their protection against all the ever-present dangers and terrors that surround them.

“A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come year you.”

 

(A wonderful Psalm for any believer to read, why not go there now, and hold to the promises of God to those who love Him.)

 

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 80

Mar20

    Day 80 —  Now that we’ve passed Day 66, we have established a “habit.” So CELEBRATE our habit of daily Bible reading! We are in the THIRD month so far! Praise God!

   Day 80 – Deuteronomy 30 – 31 (Repentance & hope, Choose life, Joshua commissioned, Command to read, a song written)

Moses’s life is winding down. He’s “mopping up” his leadership and readying himself and Joshua to pass the baton. Moses has been with these millions of people for over 40 years. He’s all the leader that some of them have ever know. What will it be like without him?

At 120 years old, Moses is ready to brush his hands of this people and “go home.”

In chapter 30, he tells the people he knows they will fail in all the commands and love toward God. He knows they will experience the really hard discipline of God, but  if/when they repent, return to the LORD, and obey his voice with all their heart and soul…. the gracious, long-suffering, and merciful LORD their God will have compassion on them and restore them.  And at that time, He will “circumcise their HEARTS so they will love him with heart and soul and LIVE.

Moses challenges them, saying, “But the word is very near to you. It is in your mouth and in your heart so you CAN do it!”  Moses sets before them life and death, blessing and curse. “Choose life, that you and your offspring may LIVE, loving the LORD your God, obeying His voice, and holding fast to him…..for He IS your life.”

In Chapter 31, Moses calls aside Joshua and encourages him, “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of THEM, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave or forsake you.” He then sets Joshua before the people and says the same thing.  This is your leader now. God will go before you and be with you and not forsake you.  Before all the people Moses officially commissions Joshua with the job, and the LORD, in a pillar of cloud, affirms it.

Moses finishes writing the words of the law in a book “to the very end.”  He commands that the Levites put it by the side of the ark of the covenant, and read the whole thing to the people every SEVEN YEARS, in the “year of release” when they all gather in the fall for the Festival of Booths/Harvest.

Then Moses (at God’s word) writes a song to teach to Israel, as a witness for God.  He wrote it in one day and taught it to the people of Israel.

(The song will be in tomorrow’s reading.)

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 73

Mar13

    Day 73 —  Now that we’ve passed Day 66, we have established a “habit.” So CELEBRATE our habit of daily Bible reading! We are in the THIRD month so far! Praise God!

   Day 73– Deuteronomy 8 – 10 (Remember, don’t forget, not your righteousness, 2nd chance)

In these chapters Moses continues with his admonitions, reminders and challenges to Israel while on the brink of entering the Promised Land.

In Chapter 8 Moses tells them to remember how the LORD led them and took care of them for 40 years. How he humbled and tested them, how he fed them and kept their clothes from wearing out and their feet from swelling.

He also tells them not to forget the LORD once they are in that good and fruitful land, and their homes are built, crops & herds flourishing, and bellies full.  But remember how he kept them in that terrifying wilderness and watered and fed them there.  They are to remember it is the LORD who gives them the power to get wealth, and to NOT forget their God and go after idols.

In Chapter 9, Moses reminds them them that it was NOT THEIR righteousness that brought them to the Promised Land, but because of the wickedness of the nations they will be driving out.  These nations’ iniquity had grown to full ripeness, and Israel was going in to pluck and destroy it.  THEIR wickedness, not ISRAEL’S righteousness is bringing them into the Land, for they are a stubborn people.

Moses reminds them of the horrible golden calf they built and worshiped, and how he fell flat on his face before God for forty days interceding for them and for Aaron that God would not destroy them all, not for THEIR sake, but for HIS great name’s sake.

In Chapter 10, He tells them again of the tables of stone which contain the Ten Commandments for them to keep. “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD…..for your good.”

And they were to “circumcise their hearts and no long be stubborn, for “the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, the awesome God.”  “He is your praise, He is YOUR God.”

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, days 70 & 71

Mar11

    Day 70 & 71—  Now that we’ve passed Day 66, we have established a “habit.” So CELEBRATE our habit of daily Bible reading! We are in the THIRD month so far! Praise God!  (Note: SUNDAY’s reading is combined with MONDAY’s)

   Day 70 – Deuteronomy 1 – 2 (God’s orders & Moses’ Recap so far)

Deuteronomy means “Second Law” so in this book, Moses repeats a lot of what has happened so far, and explains and clarifies the law God gave them. He will also tell them what will happen if Israel obeys, and what will happen if they don’t.

In Chapter 1, Moses reviews the journey from Mt. Horeb (Sinai) to where they are at present, east of the Jordan River.  Their journey should have taken eleven DAYS, but here they are in the fortieth YEAR.  Why?  He recalls how they had originally approached the Promised Land, sent in spies, and believed the fearful report from 10 of the spies, and decided to choose a new leader and go back to Egypt.

God responded by telling them they would indeed go back, but just into the wilderness until ALL that generation was DEAD. When they heard that, they wept bitterly, but “the LORD did not listen to their voice or give ear to them.” (1:45)

In Chapter 2, Moses tells how God eventually instructed them to turn NORTH.  But He warned them not make trouble with Edom (descendants from Jacob’s brother Esau) or with Moab & Ammon (sons of Abraham’s nephew, Lot), because they were “Family” and God had also given them their land (for Abraham’s sake). God promised to put “fear and dread” in the hearts of all the rest of their enemies for their sake as they moved into enemy territory.

    Day 71 – Deuteronomy 3 – 4 (Reminders of God’s power in war, Moses’ request denied, No other God like Israel’s God)

In Chapter 3, Moses recalls to the people how God helped them war & win against King Og and King Sihon, without a man of Israel lost, and how they were enriched by all the spoil.

(A fun side note is that King Og was the last of the giants (Rephaim) in that area, and that his bed (or coffin) was 13.5 feet long and 6 feet wide.  In reminding Israel how God had defeated him, they were not to be afraid of the other giants in the land.)

Moses then pleads with God. “Please let me go over and see the good land beyond the Jordan.”

The LORD answers sternly, “Enough from you. Do not speak to me of this matter again.”

However God does allow Moses to “see” the Land from the North to South, and East to West from Mt. Pisgah, but it is Joshua who will lead the people to possess the Promised Land.

In Chapter 4, Moses repeatedly WARNS Israel not to make or worship any carved idol-gods, for WHO IS LIKE OUR GOD?  What nation has ever had so powerful and righteous a god as the God of Israel. They are to remember all He has done for them, rescuing them from “the Iron Furnace” of Egypt, caring for them, loving them, providing for them, protecting them.

They are also to remember that the LORD their God is a “consuming fire, a jealous God” (for the people He chose, loved, and rescued).  He warns that if they turn from this truly magnificent omnipotent God, He will send them to exile. But even there, He will not forsake them. And if they seek Him with all their hearts, they will find Him. For their God is also “a merciful God.” He would not leave or destroy them or forget the covenant He swore to their forefathers.

He is like no other!  There is no other besides Him. THEREFORE, they were to keep his statutes and His commandments.  From there Moses gives an introduction to the Law that God wrote on the tablets of stone.

(Next chapter will review the TEN in detail)

#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 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 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, day 47

Feb16

    Day 47 —  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 47 – Leviticus 11 – 13  (Unclean things, skin disease)

In chapter 10, we read about how two newly-consecrated priests sinned so defiantly, that God burned them up on the spot. God is HOLY and want’s he people to be holy as well. In the next 3-4 chapters God will show what the people must do to be “clean” in His sight.  NOT SINLESS for that is impossible on earth.

First, in chapter 11, God lists the CLEAN and unclean animals on Israel’s menu. Some unclean items are what we as Americans can eat every day – bacon, ham, shrimp, clams, even rabbit. Other things we might distain are okay, like grasshoppers, locusts, crickets. (I ate a grasshopper in Africa, fried in oil. It tasted a bit like crunchy bits of straw.)

Why this detailed list for God’s people? The answer is in 11:44. God is Holy (set apart) and Israel was to be set apart among the nations as well. Chosen by God to represent Him.  Many of the forbidden foods were worshipped & eaten by the pagan nations that they would find and fight in Canaan.

(People have argued the health benefits of this diet as well.)

Chapter 12 talks about another kind of “uncleanness.”  It involves blood. God looks on blood in a different way than most of us do. It’s the LIFE of a creature (the first job of EMTs is to stop the bleeding).  Blood is also used in sacrifice and the atonement for sin (culminating in Jesus’ blood shed for us), and in consecrating people and things to God as holy.

So — not to denigrate women or childbirth in any way in this chapter — God speaks of a woman’s monthly “period” and the flow of blood in childbirth as being “unclean.” He tells Moses the ways she can be “purified” after childbirth and monthly bleeding are with lengths of time and with ritual offerings, depending on their financial statis.

(I’ve always personally believed that it is also a protection from infection and/or bruising etc. (and even abuse) for a woman whose hubby may wish to resume intercourse before she is “back to normal” inside – MY belief, not historically or spiritually stated here.)

Chapter 13, is HARD TO READ, especially for the squeamish.  It’s about the identification and the actions to be taken when leprosy and other skin diseases are found.  It’s pretty graphic and ugly, and the person (or thing) with a contagious skin disease is to be removed from the camp.

But, since leprosy is sometimes a vivid illustration for SIN in human lives, we also need to see to sin’s elimination in ourselves and guard against spread.  I think of 1 John 1:9 and other verses – the believer’s First Aid for the deadly disease of Sin.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

“Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing HOLINESS to completion in the fear of God.”  2 Corinthians 7:1

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Tomorrow’s reading will show the laws for the cleansing of leprosy and the re-introducing of the person back into the camp.”

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses.” Ephesians 1:7

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 45

Feb14

    Day 45 —  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 45 – Leviticus 5 – 7  (LAWS requiring penitence, compensation, and restoration)

In chapter 5, God continues to speak to Moses about “rules and regulations” for His own people.  He covers sins of omission, uncleanness, and a person’s financial means and limitations to provide for atonement. (An offering of a female lamb or goat, or two doves/pigeons, or even (2 liters) of fine flour.)

And any who don’t realize they are sinning but are then made aware of it, he should bring in a guilt offering.  God always wants the sinner to COME TO HIM in repentance, NOT to run away from Him.

Leviticus 6:4-5 – “If anyone has sinned and has realized his guilt and will restore what he;

1) took by robbery,

2) or got by oppression,

3) or the deposit that was committed to him,

4) or the lost thing that he found (finders keepers attitude),

5) or anything about which he has sworn falsely —

He shall restore it in full and shall add a fifth (20%) and give it to whom it belongs ON THE DAY he realizes his guilt.”  And also bring an offering to the priest to make atonement. “And he shall be forgiven for any of the things that one may do and thereby  become guilty.” 6:7b

(Doesn’t this remind you of the repentant Zacchaeus?)

An interesting note in verses 6:12-13, is that the fire on the bronze alter should be kept burning continually, day and night. (Perhaps so there would be no delay when the people brought their sacrifices? Or probably it was God showing that a person could come to Him in repentance any time and have their sins atoned for and forgiven.)

The rest of chapter 6 and chapter 7 cover the various offering in detail — grain offerings, sin offerings, guilt offerings, peace offerings, ordination, thanksgiving, vow, and freewill offerings — and which of the animals (or their parts) were to be given to the priests & families to eat.

And again God reminds them what is unclean to the people and which must be atoned for — touching dead bodies or infectious people, eating old meat, fat, or blood.

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All these details in Leviticus may seem tedious today, but I wonder how many of us (Americans) have recently read the Constitution of the United States, or us (Christians) the Apostle’s Creed or the Westminster’s Catechism in detail. OR THE ENTIRE BIBLE for that matter!! It might be a worthwhile way to pass some time.