Tag Archive | Jesus

#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.

#

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 48

Feb17

    Day 48 —  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 48 – Leviticus 14 – 15  (cleansing lepers, homes, men/women)

Yesterday’s reading was about recognizing some “unclean” things that Israel was to avoid. Today’s is about the cleansing process of those things (but not food).

Chapter 14 describes elaborate rituals, washings, and offerings over two weeks to determine if a person is actually recovered/healed from leprosy. It involved an examination of the person (outside the camp) and a collection of two clean birds, cedarwood, scarlet yarn and hyssop for the person (either by his family, or by other priests). (This is what Jesus told the 10 healed lepers to do to begin the process.  “Go show yourselves to the priest”) Luke 17:14

One bird was killed and it’s blood mixed with water in a basis. The cedar & hyssop was tied together by the scarlet yarn and, along with the living bird, dipped into the mix of water and blood. This symbolized  purification. The then released living bird symbolized the person’s release from quarantine. This process reminds me of Titus 3:4-5

After that, the former leper had to wash his clothes, shave all over, and bathe. After another week outside the camp he’d be examined again. If still “clean” he would bring 3 lambs and some flour and oil as an offering. A dab of blood from one lamb killed for the guilt offering would be placed on his right ear, thumb & big toe. Again with the oil. (Provision was made if the person was poor.)

Houses (once in the Promised Land) might need cleansing from mold, fungus, and mildew. There was a ritual for that too involving examinations, waiting periods, scraping & replacing. If it persisted the house would be torn down. If it didn’t, an offering was made and then it would be livable.

This all was a protection for the people against contagious disease and prevalent, dangerous mold/fungus.. Cleansing seemed to always involve water and blood, and makes us look to Jesus.

Chapter 15 tells about what makes men and women temporarily unclean. Bodily fluid discharges, whether during a woman’s monthly period and childbirth, or a man’s seminal release. Also about diseased discharges.  It’s kind of gross to read, but important to keep Israel clean physically and spiritually. And again to show on a greater scale, the absolute HOLINESS and separateness of God, who must be set apart from His sinful chosen people.

Again, this all seems to point to the ultimate cleansing FROM SIN that will come through faith in the sacrificial death & resurrection of Jesus Christ.

#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

#

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 40

Feb9

    Day 40 —  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 40 – Exodus 30 – 32  (Alters, Workers, the golden calf)

Moses is still on Mt. Sinai – how glorious to be in the presence of Almighty God for weeks at a time – no food or water, just GOD!

Now that the special clothing of the priests has be laid out, God shows Moses how the priest will approach God in chapter 30. The Incense Alter set next to the veil in the Holy Place is where he will offer sweet smelling incense to God. In Revelation, incense is pictured as “the prayers of God’s people.”  Morning & evening Aaron is to offer it on this alter.

God even tells Moses how anointing oil should be made – the finest spices, liquid myrrh, cinnamon, aromatic cane, cassia, and olive oil, and also the incense – sweet spices, pure frankincense, and salt to burn before the Holy of Holies. A head tax would be levied on every person in Israel, 20 years old. There were to pay a half-shekel. Rich and poor would give the same to the Lord’s offering. This would help pay for the needed items to serve in the Tabernacle.

Also a Bronze Basin (Laver) would be made and placed between the great alter of sacrifice in the courtyard and the entrance into the tent of meeting. Here the priest would wash hands and feet before entering the Holy Place.

In Chapter 31, God picks the two men who will oversee all this construction of the Tabernacle etc. Bezalel ben Hur of Judah, and Oholiab ben Ahisamach of the tribe Dan. These men God had “filled with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver and bronze, in cutting stones for setting and in carving wood, to work in EVERY craft.” 

And to ALL ABLE MEN, God gave ability to make everything He’d commanded, the tent of meeting, the ark of the testimony with the mercy seat, all the furnishings of the tent, the table & utensils, the lampstand, the alter of incense, the alter of burnt offerings, and the basin and stand. Also, they would be skilled to make the finely-worked garments for Aaron and his sons, and the oil and the incense.

WOW!  And yet today God has also given to His church, men of special ability to lead well, and He’s given to the congregation other abilities (gifts) to minister and serve.  God is so good!

God now again stresses the importance of the SABBATH-keeping to His people. It was a sign, a covenant, between God and the people that they could KNOW him and be SANCTIFIED by Him.  It was a sign for them…forever.

Then God gave Moses the tablets of stone on which were engraved “by the finger of God” the Ten Words.

Chapter 32 takes us down the mountain, and WAY DOWN into degradation.  Impatient or fearful about Moses being away almost six weeks (was he dead?), the people asked Aaron to make “a god” to lead them.  They had God Almighty, Lord and creator of Heaven and Earth, and they wanted an idol made with human hands.  Sheesh!!

So Aaron called for them to donate gold earrings (which should have been given for the articles of the Tabernacle).  He fashioned it with a “graving tool” and made a golden calf (a famous god of Egypt).  Seriously???  Wasn’t Aaron present with the LORD did all those miracles through Moses before Pharaoh? Didn’t he KNOW the true God?

He also proclaimed a “Feast to the LORD.”   With a graven image of a COW???  Didn’t he remember the FIRST TWO commandments of the Ten, that they all had agreed to? The LORD first, and NO graven images??

The people “sat down to eat the feast, then rose up to play.”  This wasn’t charades or Scrabble.  “Play” here meant a wild, uncontrolled sex-orgy. This is how PAGANS worshiped idols, not the people of God the Most Holy LORD.

God was so angry he told Moses He would kill them all and make a “new nation” from his descendants. But Moses fell on his face and pleaded FOR GOD’S SAKE, not to destroy Israel, His children. Moses did not want God’s name or power to be denigrated in the eyes of the surrounding nations.  God, of course, was testing Moses, and Moses passed.

Then Moses & Joshua descended Sinai to see that revelry.  He was so angry & distraught he hurled the stone tablets at them. And the stone was broken, just as the laws on it had been.

“Aaron, what did this people do to you that you have brought such a great sin on them?” asked Moses.

“You know these people, they are set on evil. They gave me gold. I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.”

WHATTTT????  Is he saying “the people made me do it?” Or is he trying to show that the miracles they performed before Pharaoh, were still working in him?   Either way, Moses destroyed the image, ground it to dust and mixed it in water, and made the people drink it.

Then Moses drew a line in the sand. WHO IS ON THE LORD’S SIDE?  The Levites (Moses’ own tribe) stepped over it and stood with him. Then he sent them on a violent, bloody mission of mercy for Israel. They killed the 3000 false worshippers with their swords.  And Moses ordained THEM, the Levites, for the service of the LORD.

And Moses returned to the mountain of God to intercede for the nation … and for his brother.  Moses even offered HIS OWN LIFE in place of the sinning nation (shadows of the work of Christ).

God forgave.  But there are also always consequences to sin. The LORD sent a plague on the people because of the calf THAT AARON MADE.

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 39

Feb8

    Day 39 —  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 39 – Exodus 28 – 29  (Levitical priests, clothes & consecration)

Moses is still up on the smoking mountain. He’s received instructions on building the Tabernacle and some of the furniture in it. In Chapter 28, God will tell him WHO will be ministering in the Tabernacle, and how he is to dress and act.

Moses is to set apart his brother Aaron and Aaron’s four sons (and later descendants) to be Israel’s priests continually. (Remember, Moses also is a Levite.)

The wondrous garments that are to be made for them to wear when ministering to the LORD are breath-taking, both in “glory and beauty.” Pure white linen, with red, blue, purple, & gold threads embroidered in portions. Precious stones to represent the 12 tribes of Israel… when the priest went before God.

I don’t know what some of those stones look like, but the topaz, emerald, sapphire, diamond, & amethyst are ones I’ve seen and they are gorgeous. So colorful! (An interesting study would be to see which tribe name would be placed on which stone on the High Priest’s breastplate!)

Gold chains, rings and clasps, woven pomegranates and golden bells all decorate the clothing for glory and for beauty. Inside (a pocket?) of the breastplate is the Urim and Thummin. What they are we don’t know, but they were used to sometimes determine the will of God. And since HE said to put them there, He must have approved.  A golden medalion with “Holy to the LORD” carved on it would be at the front of the priest’s turbon as he enters God’s presence.

God describes to Moses the making of coats, sashes, caps, and even undershorts for the Priest and his sons.

In chapter 29, Moses is told how to consecrate Aaron (his sons and any priests to follow) before the Most Holy God. Sacrifices, blood sprinkling on the alter, blood touching the outermost places of the exposed sin of the men after being robed in the holy garments (ear lobes, thumb tips, big toe tips). Unblemished bulls, rams, lambs, as well as oil and grain, bread and cakes are offerings and sacrifices — all pointing to the absolute HOLINESS of God and the absolute SINFULNESS of mankind.  (A lesson I need to deeply learn myself.)

All this (and more) in order that God would… “dwell among the people of Israel and be their God. And they shall know that I AM the LORD their God who brought them out of the land of Egypt THAT I might dwell among them. I AM the LORD their God.” (29:45-46)

.

Hebrews 9:18-22 also speaks of the sprinkling of blood, in particular Jesus’ blood.  “…without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” This act of redemption by Jesus Christ was set up and foreshadowed in the Old Testament, from the first clothing of skins God made to cover the sin of Adam and Eve, to the High Priest’s daily and annual sacrifices and sprinkling of blood begun at Mt. Sinai.

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, days 35 & 36

Feb5

   Day 35 & 36 —  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 combned with MONDAY’s)

   Day 35 – Exodus 16-18  (Manna, Rest, Water/Rock, War!)

In chapter 16, Israel leaves the oasis of Elim and treks on through the Wilderness (heading to Sinai). The ex-slaves get tired and hungry…and they grumble against Moses (which is actually grumbling against God.)

“O, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full… You’ve brought us out here to kill us all with hunger!”

God tells Moses He has heard their grumbling. “At twilight you shall eat meat and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. THEN you shall KNOW that I AM the LORD your God.” And God did just as He said. Quail covered the camp in the evening and when the dew lifted in the morning, a “fine, flake-like thing, fine as frost” covered the ground.

“Ma-nah?” they asked. “What is it?”

“It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat,” Moses explained. Then he told them how to collect it and “cook” it.  Every morning they were to collect an omer (about a cup full) for each person in their tent. That was enough “flour” to make bread for an adult for the day. They could bake or boil it. It was “like coriander seed, white, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey”.) They were to collect their “daily bread” each morning for six days. On the 6th day, they would collect double. No “manna” would appear on the seventh (or Sabboth) day. This was a day of rest for Israel.

Of course there were those who collected more, and it rotted overnight, and some that failed to collect double on the sixth and went hungry while they rested. (Sigh!)  But soon the regimen was established. It would continue more than 40 years, right up until the day they waited to cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land. What faithfulness of God!

They moved on in the wilderness to Rephidim, where their oasis water ran out. (Chapter 17). Again with the grumbling. “Give us water to drink!” them demanded. “Why did you bring us out of Egypt to kill us with thirst?”  Moses cried to the LORD, “What am I do to with this people?”

“Moses, take your staff and some elders. Go to a rock I’ll show you and STRIKE THE ROCK in their presence.  He obeyed, and a GUSH OF WATER flowed out from the rock. And all the people drank. (Remember this scene!)

Then out of the blue, an Amalek army came to fight against the ex-slaves. (Amalekites were descendants of Jacob’s brother Esau.)  Moses sent Joshua to gather a rag-tag bunch of men to fight them (with what?). He did, and Moses stood on a hill over looking the battle, his arms (with the staff) raised. The Israelites started to win, but when he got tired and his arms sagged, they started to lose. Aaron and Hur (Caleb’s son) sat him down and held up his arms. And so Joshua and Israel WON THE WAR!!

And God Almighty cursed the Amalekites forever. (They were almost wiped out in Saul & David’s time, but it was Esther who made the final “coup de gras” when she instigated the death of the wicked Haman, the last descendant.)

Chapter 18 briefly tells how Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, brings him his wife and two sons, and gives his son-in-law some good advice. “What you are doing is not good.” You are going to wear out, Moshe, my son. Look for able men to bear the workload with you. Make sure they are able men who fear God, are trustworthy and hate bribes, and let them set up higher and lower courts to judge on the issues of this great people. You just take the tough cases.   Hey, it sounded good to Moses, and he did just that.”

Jethro praised and sacrificed to the LORD who had delivered them all out of the hands of the Egyptians. Then he went back home to Midian.

.

     Day 36 – Exodus 19-21  (Mt. Sinai, 10 Commandments, Laws )

Chapter 19. Three months after escaping Egypt, the mass of Hebrew ex-slaves arrive at Mt.Sinai (Horeb), the place where God met Moses in the burning bush and promised to see them there again.  It’s a scary place – the mountain is tall and craggy, and when God descends on it, it’s aflame, with billowing black smoke clouds, a continuous loud trumpet-blast sound, and earthquakes. WHOA!

God warns that the people (even their animals) cannot touch the mountain without dying. After ritually cleansing themselves (body & soul) they can approach NEAR, and God speaks. (What a message!!) He tells this rag-tag crew of Jacob’s descendants that they are His “treasured possession among all the peoples,” and that they will be a kingdom of priests and holy, so they can mediate between Him and all the other nations on the earth. Only, they must “obey My voice and keep My covenant.”

YES! they cry. “All that the LORD has spoken we will do!”

(Isn’t this OUR heart’s desire too with our God? If only we COULD do it. But, we, like they, are born sinners and prone to disobey.)

And while the consecrated people stood at a distance the rumbling, shaking, smoking, firey scene escalated. God warns the people again to stay back, then calls Moses up into the mountain.

Chapter 20 gives the familiar TEN COMMANDMENTS (or Words), the summary of how the people of God should act towards Him and others. These ten are summarized further for Israel, by the Lord Jesus in the TWO GREATEST COMMANDS.  1) Love the Lord you God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength (covers the first four of “the ten”).  2) Love your neighbor as yourself (covers the next six of “the ten”). (Matthew 22:37-39)

Jesus added to this in the Sermon on the Mount by telling them to “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44)  And he further amplified #2 to His disciples, saying that they were to “Love one another as I have loved you.) meaning that self-sacrifice is involved in this kind of love. (John 15:12)

Chapter 21 lists some more detailed rules Moses was to set before the people concerning; slaves, murder/manslaughter, how “an eye for an eye” was to be used as a standard, and the beginning list of laws about restitution.

(Israel was to become the holy People of God.  We will see how that works out.)

.

#2024 GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 16

Jan16

Won’t you read the Bible with me this year?   It only takes a few minutes.  (You can also listen to an audio recording.)

   Day 16  Genesis 12-15

   We’ve finished the book of Job.  And we left the man Job in a good place, restored and in a more intimate relationship with the LORD. 

Now we’re reading about another well-known man in the Bible. First known as Abram, the LORD later changes his name to Abraham (what I’ll call him, or maybe just Abe). 

At the end of chapter 11, we saw that Abraham’s father Terah had moved his whole family away from Ur of the Chaldeans (near modern day Bagdad in Iraq) half way along the “fertile crescent” to Haran (in modern Syria). They settled there until Terah died.

In chapter 12, God calls Abraham away from his family to a land He would show him. In this command were six wonderful, but far off promises.

  • God would make him a great nation
  • God would bless him
  • God would make his name great
  • God would make him a blessing
  • God would bless those who blessed him
  • God would curse those who dishonored him
  • In Abraham all families of the earth would be blessed (speaking of the Messiah)

Abraham obeyed (he was 75). He took his wife, nephew Lot, and all his stuff.  When he got as far as Shechem (half way into the land) God appeared and made another promise – He would give that land to Abraham’s offspring, even though it was then inhabited by Canaanites.

When a famine came, our guy LEFT the Promised Land to get food in Egypt. He nearly loses his wife (not his life) after telling a half-lie to Pharaoh. But God looks after “His man,” rescues him and sends him back to Canaan, loaded with more stuff.  This causes a probelm in chapter 13, because all his stuff and all Lot’s stuff won’t fit in the same upper pasture lands.  Abe gives Lot the choice of where he wants to live (the Jordan Valley near Sodom & Gommorah), and the elder stays where he is.

God appears to Abraham again and promises two more things: 1) all the land – north, south, east, west – will be given to Abe’s offspring FOREVER, and 2) His offspring will become as numerous as the dust of the earth. (That’s 10 promises so far!)

Meanwhile, down in the valley (chap. 14) trouble is brewing. The 5 “wicked” cities decide to quit paying tribute to the 4 kings in the east who owned them, so said kings came down to attack them, taking lots of spoil and people as slaves…. AND Lot.  A message comes to Abraham and he immediately rounds up 318 soldiers from his own household (!!) and goes after these kings. Whoa, chutzpah to the max!  But God is with him and they catch up, fight and free the slaves, goods, and Lot from the enemy.

As the king of Sodom comes out to thank and “pay” Abe, a strange ancient man named Melchizedek intercepts them, and holds a communion service with Abe, with bread and wine.  He is a king and a priest it seems, and according to Hebrews 7:15-22, a picture of Jesus. Abe tithes 10% of the spoil to him. Mel bless Abe and God Almighty.

Chapter 15 God comes to Abe in an amazing way, promising to 1) be his shield and reward, 2) give Abe his very own son, 3) and the progeny from him would number more than the stars in heaven. (We’re up to 13 promises, at least).  

Then God arranges for an age old contract (Covenant) to be made. Various animals are killed, split and laid out on the ground. The idea is, that the partners walking between them pledge that if they default on the contract, may they be as dead as the animals.  ONLY….. this time.  It is a one-way contract.  God – symbolized by fire – was the only one sealing it. And while Abe snoozed, God told him the future, which could be seen as 6 more promises.

  • Abe’s descendents would live in a land not their own for 400 years
  • They would be enslaved and afflicted there
  • God would bring them out with great judgment on the land
  • They would leave there with mega-possessions
  • Abe himself wuld live to a ripe old age and die in peace
  • Re-establishment (with details) that the land of all those Canannites would be given by God to all Abe’s descendents.

#2024 GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 10

Jan10

Won’t you read the Bible with me this year?  (You can also listen to an audio recording.) It only takes a few minutes and you will be blessed.

   Day 10 – Job 24-28  (Whoa, 5 chapters today. Hang in there!)

Job begins with two “why” questions. I find myself asking those kinds of questions all the time. But if we really knew the “reason” for things that happen to us, would we be content? (see later in this post)  What we really want, I think, is that the “why” questions we ask God will make the trials go away!

In most of chapter 24, Job lists the things that very nasty people do – cruel and lewd people, thieves, drunks, adulterers, greedy, heartless, murderers. “Deep darkness is morning to them. They are friends with the terrors of deep darkness.” 

This reminds me of Jesus’s words to Nicodemas in John 3:19-20, “And this is the judgment: that light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.” 

But their end will come, assures Job.

Bildad speaks briefly for the third and last time. Basically that God is majestic and exalted, man is sinful, especially Job.  Job responds, saying he KNOWS how great God is. (He even declares something WAY before Copernicus (1543) radically claimed it — that “the earth hangs on nothing.”  Yay, Job!)

In chapter 27 Job keeps responding to the claims of his three “friends.”  He stands in his integrity. He holds fast to his righteousness. His heart does not reproach him. (God told the devil this in chapter 1)

Wisdon is Job’s theme in chapter 28. He asks several times where it is found. Not it the wealth and jewels of the earth, not in the majestic beasts of the earth. (A companion read would be Proverbs 1 – 3)  No, wisdom and understanding lie only with God. “Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom.” (28:28)

 

I happened to listen this morning to a sermon by John MacArthur titled “The Purpose of Trials.”  It seemed to fit well in the reading of Job, although he does not reference the book, but others from Deuteronomy to 2 Peter. 

Here are the “reasons” he suggests for the godly to suffer.

     1. to test our faith (so WE know it)

     2. to humble us so we don’t think more of our own strength tham we should

     3. to wean us away from worldly things

     4. to call us toward a Heavenly (not earthly) hope

     5. to reveal what we really love

     6. to teach us to value the blessings of God

     7. to enable us to help others in their suffering

     8. to develope endurng strength for greater usefulness for God’s glory. 

If you’d like to hear the whole 30 minute message, click  on THE PURPOSE OF SUFFERING.

 

 

Let These Go, says Jesus

Mar29

Morning and Evening by Spurgeon

John 18:8  Jesus said unto them, If ye seek me, let these go their way.

Mark, my soul, the care which Jesus manifested even in his hour of trial, towards the sheep of his hand! The ruling passion is strong in death. He resigns himself to the enemy, but he interposes a word of power to set his disciples free. 

As to himself, like a sheep before her shearers he is dumb and opened not his mouth, but for his disciples’ sake he speaks with almighty energy. Herein is love, constant, self-forgetting, faithful love.

 But is there not far more here than is to be found upon the surface? Have we not the very soul and spirit of the atonement in these words? The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep, and pleads that they must therefore go free. The Surety is bound, and justice demands that those for whom he stands a substitute should go their way. 

In the midst of Egypt’s bondage, that voice rings as a word of power, “Let these go their way.” Out of slavery of sin and Satan the redeemed must come.

 In every cell of the dungeons of Despair, the sound is echoed, “Let these go their way,” and forth come Despondency and Much-afraid. 

Satan hears the well-known voice, and lifts his foot from the neck of the fallen; and Death hears it, and the grave opens her gates to let the dead arise. 

Their way is one of progress, holiness, triumph, glory, and none shall dare to stay them in it. No lion shall be on their way, neither shall any ravenous beast go up thereon.

 “The hind of the morning” has drawn the cruel hunters upon himself, and now the most timid roes and hinds of the field may graze at perfect peace among the lilies of his loves. 

The thunder-cloud has burst over the Cross of Calvary, and the pilgrims of Zion shall never be smitten by the bolts of vengeance. 

Come, my heart, rejoice in the immunity which thy Redeemer has secured thee, and bless his name all the day, and every day.

Mark 3 – Concerned Moms & Rejecting Leaders

Sep6

Mark 3:13-35.

Jesus has gone back “home” to Capernaum after being on the mountain with His disciples and appointing the twelve to be apostles.

In the city, He is immediately surrounded by great crowds of people wanting healing, deliverance, and to hear his teaching.

His family (mom and siblings) come to rescue Him, saying “He’s out of His mind.” They couldn’t understand Jesus’ total willingness to be accessible to the crowds; to have them impose on Him constantly.

(Who of us would be wiling for this?)

Officials from Jerusalem also batter Him with accusations (they will later batter him with slaps and fists and spitting before sending Him to Pilate to be tortured and killed), saying “He has an ‘unclean’ spirit! He does these miracles by the power of Satan!”

Yikes!!

Jesus rebukes them with severe judgement. Blasphemy against anyone – even Himself – can be forgiven, but NOT blasphemy against the Spirit of God. Jesus was indwelt by the HOLY spirit, and to call Him “a unclean spirit” (a demon) is truly unforgivable…for eternity. They knew what Jesus was claiming about Himself – to be their Messiah, the Son of God – and they rejected Him, saying He was empowered by Satan.

(It freaks me out to just type that!)

Again Jesus’ family calls to Him from the periphery of the crowd, concerned that He needs food and rest (a typical Jewish mother).

Jesus gently rebukes his natural family, knowing their hearts were unbelieving at this point, but not vicious against him like the Jewish officials. He reminds them (again) that He has to be about His (heavenly) Father’s business, and that those who are sitting around him, eagerly hearing His words and believing in Him (which is the will of God – see John 6:40) are his SPIRITUAL brothers, sisters and mother.

 

(PS: We know that later His mother, Mary, and His brothers James and Jude believe in Jesus, and maybe other siblings too.)