Author: Patricia

Leviticus 11-13

~ Patricia ~ 6 Comments

leviticus cartoon

NOW you know why I said this was the Leviticus graveyard!  But you will finish this book!

Leviticus divides the animal world into three kinds: unclean animals that cannot be eaten; clean animals that can be eaten; clean animals that can be eaten and also serve as animals for sacrifices.

I have researched commentaries and I have found various reasons:

  • The reason the Israelites were to regard some animals as unclean, was that the pagans used them in their worship and associated them with their gods.
      • We are to be set apart from the world. 44 I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves along the ground. 45 I am the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.
  • Some scholars hold the view that the unclean animals were unfit to eat because they carried diseases or were unhealthful.  It amazes me that of course, God would know what would make them sick and what would keep them healthy.  Not sure why that amazes me…He created them.
  • There is a symbolic view. This view sees the behavior and habits of the clean animals as illustrating how the Israelites were to behave. The unclean animals represented sinful people.

One article I read stated:

“Although God did not reveal the specific reasons some animals may be eaten and others must be avoided, we can make generalized conclusions based on the animals included in the two categories.  In listing the animals that should not be eaten, God forbids the consumption of scavengers and carrion eaters, which devour other animals for their food.

Animals such as pigs, bears, vultures, and raptors can eat (and thrive) on decaying flesh. Predatory animals such as wolves, lions, leopards, and cheetahs most often prey on the weakest (and at times the diseased) in animal herds.

When it comes to sea creatures, bottom dwellers such as lobsters and crabs scavenge for dead animals on the seafloor. Shellfish such as oysters, clams, and mussels similarly consume decaying organic matter that sinks to the seafloor, including sewage.

A common denominator of many of the animals God designates as unclean is that they routinely eat flesh that would sicken or kill human beings. When we eat such animals we partake of a food chain that includes things harmful to people.” 

Because God is holy, He required that His people make distinctions that separated them from unclean things.  This would account for the laws that required separation—morally, ethically, and even symbolically—from anything associated with pagan life and worship.

So what about today??  The NT teaches that the OT food laws are no longer binding on the Christian.  (Acts 11, but you need Acts 10 to get the full picture)

Ch 12: Childbirth (only 8 verse chapter): So let’s clarify: there is moral uncleanness and ritual uncleanness.  Childbirth obviously falls into the second.  Childbirth was not fully understood, but there were so many “theories” that went with a woman’s ability to make a child.  Even though it was regarded as a miracle from God, the blood after childbirth was “magical” in pagan rituals (I can see this as an episode in Game of Thrones! Jaxon don’t watch that!), but also, the Israelites blood was symbolic of death and a menstrual cycle is no different.  There is also an aspect of hygiene for the woman as well as the camp.

Chapter 13: Just when you thought the reading was tough we move to 59 verses regarding skin diseases!  If God dedicated 59 verses to it, it must be important.  Wait……nooooooo…….I peeked at tomorrow’s read.  Oh my stars. We will tackle more skin tomorrow.  Just get through this!  Because we are about to turn a corner into the “Standard” for Living a Holy Life and you are going to hang on every word and I am going to try to filter my humor the best I can. 😂

I will say: How awesome is God than in such ancient times He gives them the knowledge of medical testing, diagnosis, and cures.  Truly amazing for these times.

  • First set of tests for skin disease vv. 2-8
  • Second set of tests for skin disease vv. 9-17
  • Third set of tests for skin disease in scars vv. 18-23
  • Fourth set of tests for skin disease in burns vv. 24-28
  • Fifth set of tests for skin disease in scalp or beard vv. 29-37
  • A skin disease that is clean vv. 38-39
  • Baldness and skin disease vv. 40-44
  • Treatment of those diagnosed as unclean vv. 45-46
  • Diagnosis and treatment of skin disease in clothing vv. 47-58
  • Summary v. 59

This blog was dedicated to my loving husband. Lev 13:40-

“A man who has lost his hair and is bald is clean.  If he has lost his hair from the front of his scalp and has a bald forehead, he is clean”

Leviticus 8-10

~ Patricia ~ 6 Comments

Image result for leviticus 8

 

Read Leviticus from God’s perspective NOT ours!

Chapter 8:

The consecration ceremonies involved many of the sacrifices just described. The priesthood constituted the fulfillment of God’s commands recorded in Exodus 28—29 and 40. Almost every verse in chapter 8 is a quotation given in Exodus 29. Chapter 9 restates less detailed summaries of the laws in Leviticus 1—7.   If you have time go back and look for the pattern:  Underline the phrase:

 “as the Lord commanded him” occurs 16 times in this read!

Until now, Israel followed the custom common in the ancient Near East that the father of a family functioned as the priest for his family (we saw this at the beginning of Job, and through the Patriarchs). The Levites as a tribe now assumed this role for the families of Israel, under the leadership of Aaron and his sons. The nation as a whole lost the privilege of being a “kingdom of priests” at Mt. Sinai when they worshiped the golden calf. The main function of the priests in Israel was to guard and protect the holiness of God.

God specified certain garments for Aaron that distinguished him from everyone else.

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The “anointing” of the tabernacle and the priests signified their sanctification, whereby God set them apart for holy purposes.

The number seven is referenced in the ritual.  Seven is the Covenant number meaning “complete” beginning with the seven days of creation.  The consecration/ordination lasted “seven days.” During this time, the priests were not to leave the tabernacle courtyard for 7 days and nights. Their role during their seven-day ordination was that of worshipers rather than priests.

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When a sacrifice was made to the Lord, it was a “Heave” offering.   It means to be “lifted up”.  It is to God.  A “Wave” offering was motioned horizontally.  It was a “fellowship” offering usually followed by the eating of the sacrifice.  As Emily said yesterday, the communal aspect of the offerings.   This made me reflect on the 10 Commandments a little more.  The commandments just like the sacrifices reinforce not just how important our relationship to God is but to each other as well.

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Nadab and Abihu!

The Bible did not explain Nadab and Abihu’s exact offense.  However, the “unauthorized fire” violated God’s will. It may have involved assuming the role of the high priest or an offering contrary to God’s commands ( most likely to included an “incense” offering because it involved the censers)   The incident took place on the eighth day.  The fire that consumed Nadab and Abihu was directly from the Lord.  Notice they were already dead and then fire came out of the presence of the Lord and consumed them! NOW when you look at these genealogies they make sense. Image result for aaron bible family tree

Aaron and his surviving sons were not to demonstrate any dissatisfaction with God’s judgment, but God permitted the people to mourn.  Eleazar and Ithamar replaced their older brothers.  Click here if you want to print the below.

Family Tree

Here are my reflections:

  1. As I read this year,  I am going to take a closer look each time someone makes a sacrifice.  What kind is it, why are they doing it, is it a waive or a heave.  I think it will give me another layer of the text this year.
  2. Will ANY priest nail it?  We can see already the answer is NO.  No human (priest) is going to hit the mark perfectly.  This will make the book of Hebrews highlighted in my eyes this year.  The ONLY priest that will rock this job will be Jesus.

Graveyard?  Nope.  Chapter 16 will be the climax of the book.  You can make it…just gonna be a long week 😁.

Feb 13: Lev 1-4
Feb 14: Lev 5-7
Feb 15: Lev 8-10
Feb 16: Lev 11-13
Feb 17: Lev 14-15
Feb 18: Lev 16-18
Feb 19: Lev 19-21
Feb 20: Lev 22-23
Feb 21: Lev 24-25
Feb 22: Lev 26-27

Why did they name the popular denim pants Levi Jeans?  (this is where my brain goes?.

Leviticus 5-7

~ Patricia ~ 5 Comments

ljhortonhouse: You said last night you loved yesterday’s read.  Well, I think you will love this one even more.  Happy Valentines Day. ❤️

Guilt Offering: This is also called the trespass offering.  I actually “listened” to today’s read rather than read it.  Why?  Because it was boring (feeling a little guilty about saying that, ha…get it).  So when I listened to it I heard one word repeated: “Restitution”.  This act removed the guilt of certain sins that involved trespassing or “sinning”  against God. The Hebrew word ‘asham, translated as “guilt,” also means “reparation or restitution.” Guilt in the biblical sense is not just a feeling but a condition. There may be known transgressions that bring feelings of guilt, but there is also the condition of guilt before God, caused by sins known or unknown. Sometimes a hardened sinner has few feelings of guilt when he is the most guilty. (I call it rationalizing our sin!)  Ouch.

The trespass or guilt offering demonstrates the seriousness of violations against God (even accidental ones) and against others. An atoning sacrifice has to be made before God, and restitution has to be made to man.

OK, so now this chapter isn’t as boring as I thought.  I have to go make restitution because I am guilty of skimming and I need to reread. 😢

I got to Chapters 6 and 7:  thought “didn’t we read this already?”  We were reading about how WE offer the sacrifice, this next section is about the priests’ requirements of the offering.  We need to stop and remember that this sacrificial system IS as important as the CROSS for us.  It really is worth taking the time to read it.  The one phrase I want you to go back and underline is:

“Say to Aaron and his sons: ‘These are the regulations for the sin…

Tomorrow you will find out why….😔

Levitical Graveyard…Nope!  You can make it through this book!

  • You are going to make it. (Use the “listen to option if you need to)

Feb 13: Lev 1-4
Feb 14: Lev 5-7
Feb 15: Lev 8-10
Feb 16: Lev 11-13
Feb 17: Lev 14-15
Feb 18: Lev 16-18
Feb 19: Lev 19-21
Feb 20: Lev 22-23
Feb 21: Lev 24-25
Feb 22: Lev 26-27

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Leviticus 1-4

~ Patricia ~ 2 Comments

Sacrifices are going to be used throughout the entire Bible.  I am going to put a lot into this post today so that we ‘get it’ now and we will understand it going forward.  I very rarely tell you to read these posts (often they can be skipped).  This one I hope you read so that we have a better understanding of all 66 Books of the Bible. ✅. I also shy away from “application” of scriptures but I will sprinkle some in just to get us thinking.

Leviticus deals with the progressive sanctification of the Israelites, not their justification.

Each of these five  offerings involved three objects:
1. The offerer (the person bringing the offering) YOU
2. The offering (the animal or other object being offered) YOUR SACRIFICE
3. The mediator (the priest) JESUS

We are going to talk about 5 different offerings in 5 chapters.  Is this relevant: Yes.  You are going to have to dig into your heart a little and think about how God wants you to apply this in your personal Worship.   I usually do not talk about the application (I leave that for the Holy Spirit), but I may a little to help us chew on these. Image result for 5 offerings in leviticus

The first 3 offerings are voluntary:  Your choice.

Ch. 1 Burnt Offering: The Hebrew word for “burnt offering” actually means to “ascend,“ literally to “go up in smoke.” The smoke from the sacrifice ascended to God, “a soothing aroma to the LORD”.  Technically, any offering burned over an altar was a burnt offering, but in more specific terms, a burnt offering was the complete destruction of the animal (except for the hide) in an effort to renew the relationship between Holy God and sinful man. With the development of the law, God gave the Israelites specific instructions as to the types of burnt offerings and what they symbolized.

Offering MUST not have a defect (foreshadow of Jesus).  You brought according to what you could afford.

  • bull
  • sheep
  • goat
  • turtledove
  • pigeon

4 You are to lay your hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on your behalf to make atonement for you. 5 You are to slaughter the young bull before the Lord

This was a personal experience. It was a sacrifice of general atonement—an acknowledgment of our sinful nature and a request for a renewed relationship with God.

What are you going to give up and bring before the Lord?  Put that stronghold on the Altar so you have a renewed relationship with the Lord.  Do you have to?  NO.   This is a VOLUNTARY offering.  It is up to you if you want to repent to have a closer relationship.  Cain and Abel gave a burnt offering, Noah gave a burnt offering after the flood, and Abraham was willing to give Isaac as a Burnt offering.  Since the beginning of time, humans knew that Sin must be covered at any cost!

The ultimate fulfillment of the burnt offering is in Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross. His physical life was completely consumed, He ascended to God, and His death covers us.  But most importantly, His sacrifice, once for all time, atoned for our sins and restored our relationship with God.

Ch 2 Grain Offering-The “grain offering” was also an offering of worship that brought God pleasure.  This offering too is completely Voluntary.  It symbolizes the sacrifice, commitment,  and works, to God—as well as the worshiper’s willingness to keep the law.  “Anyone” could present this offering, a man or a woman.

Ephesians: 2:8-10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast.  For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Very few instructions about what you bring freely (free-will offering) to the Lord is on purpose.  What do you bring or offer freely?  Time?  Money? Service? Teaching?  but whatever you do make sure it is without Yeast.  What does that mean?  Bring it with a pure heart, without a sinful intention.  Here is what that means to me (I could be wrong).  When you bring a free-will offering, let’s say an act of service: what is the real motive??  Is it to put a picture on social media “oh look at me”, is it for the praise or the pat on the back, is it so others can see what you bring to the table?  A REAL Grain offering in your life, thanking God for His Provisions, is between You and the Lord.

I am going to be straight up…I have done a terrible job teaching my kids the Bible.  My most ‘knowledgeable’ child (teenager) scored a 45 on the Exodus quiz 🤪 BUT the one scripture they do know is Matthew 6:1-4

6 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Ch 3 The Fellowship Offering (Peace offering): The “fellowship or Peace offering” is the third voluntary sacrifice of worship.

  1. First, a peace offering could be given as a freewill offering, meaning that the worshiper was giving the peace offering as a way to say thank you to God.  It was basically just a way to praise God for His goodness.
  2.  The second way a peace offering could be given was alongside a fulfilled vow. “I have no resentment; I am holding nothing back in the payment of my vow.”
  3. The third purpose of a peace offering was to give thanksgiving for God’s deliverance in an hour of dire need.

None of these three reasons to sacrifice had anything to do with propitiation, with appeasing God, or with pacifying Him.  Here is an example I may or may not have done in my college days “God if you make the room stop spinning I will never drink again 🤮”.  (weird to think about since I was an atheist saying this….hey desperate times call for desperate measures).  But we still do it…”If you help me with this then I will….”

It is purely a fellowship offering.❤️

 

The next 2 offerings were NOT Voluntary.

The Sin Offering: The Hebrew phrase for “sin offering” literally means “fault offering.” The sin offering was made for sins committed in ignorance, or unintentional sins. The importance of this offering can be seen in the amount of space in the text that is devoted to explaining it: 35 verses.  Here is the deal, you can try as hard as you can, but you will sin!  You do not lose your Salvation BUT it does impede your fellowship with God.  The center of this book is the Day of Atonement.  It is an annual Sin Offering.  So we can talk more about this since it is already 7:00 and some of you are morning readers.

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Leviticus Overview

~ Patricia ~ 1 Comment
  • In Exodus, we read about Jesus as the Passover Lamb.
  • In Leviticus,  we will read of Jesus as our Sacrifice for Sin.

Look at the first 4 letters in this title and you will get an idea of what we are about to read. Leviticus. Levi was one of the 12 sons of  Jacob (Israel).  Due to major disobedience in the land of Shechem (vengeance), they will not be allotted land when the Israelites are given the Promise Land.  However, the Levites stood with Moses when it came time to purify the camp after the Golden Calf, so this tribe will be carved out for the caring of the tabernacle, the Priesthood.

The Pentateuch (first 5 books of the bible) is like a mini-series, and we are in Part 3 of 5.  After the Israelites exit Egypt they spend a year at Mt. Sinia where God gives them the law, confirms His Covenant, establishes organization, and finally dwells with them.

We learned that the Hebrew word is always taken from the beginning of the text.  In this case, this book is called “Wayyigra”- Then the Lord Called.   When Alexander the Great asked for the scriptures to be translated into Greek, it was named “Leuitikon” characterizing the book concerning the Levites.

We will read about principles that will answer the basic question: how do sinful people come into the presence of a Holy God?

  • Genesis saw man fall,
  • Exodus saw man redeemed,
  • in Leviticus, we will see man properly worship God.

We will be in Leviticus for just over a week.  One word you are going to note is the word Holy.  It is mentioned 152 times in this book.

Be Holy because I, the Lord your God, am Holy”.

Holy means to be “set apart”. However, it means more than that; it means to be pure, living according to a higher moral, consecrated.

As you read this book, see what it took to be set apart then, but let God speak to you about being set apart today with the same principles.

This book is called the Levitical Graveyard.  Why??  MANY people fall off a chronological read through because of their lack of interest in this book.  It is for ONE week.  You WILL NOT stop reading.  Say it: “I will get through Leviticus!”

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Tim 3:16

Click here to print if you want to use it as a checklist.

You don’t have to read this part if you don’t want.  Just on my heart to talk about.

Before we even begin this book I want to talk about something VERY important.  Many people, maybe you (and that is ok) believe that Salvation in the Old Testament is different in the New Testament.  I have often thought “wow, I am so glad I am on this side of the Cross because I LOVE animals and I am not sure I would be saved if I had to look a sweet little lamb in the eye and slit its neck”.  These sacrifices may have “atoned” their sins but that was to keep a fellowship, a relationship with the Lord…NOT SALVATION.  When were Israelites at the Tabernacle redeemed??  Was it AT the Tabernacle making continual sacrifices…No.  Stay with me here.

“I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him”.

Believe and Eternal.  The keywords.

The Israelites’ Salvation was at the Passover a year before.  They BELIEVED that through a sacrifice of an unblemished, perfect sacrifice death would pass over them!   Just as they believed in the lifting of the snake in the wilderness would save them. (If you don’t know about the snake then that is your incentive to stay with the read-through Numbers so that you will never look at an ambulance the same ).

Image result for ambulance symbol snake

Now…after the Red Sea were they sinless?  HECK NO!  They grumbled, they idolized a calf, they grumbled again.  Here is another BIG word I didn’t understand when I moved to the Bible Belt (people talk “Christianese” and I was lost like a ball in weeds when they talked).  Sanctification.

  • Salvation is an event
  • Sanctification is a process

Exodus 39-40 The End

~ Patricia ~ 7 Comments

When the tabernacle stood complete, God descended in “the cloud” that “filled the tabernacle”.  Neither Moses nor anyone else could enter it.  Finally, God was dwelling among His people. His redemption of them was now complete. He had liberated them from bondage in Egypt and had adopted them as His special treasure. He had made a covenant with them and now blessed them with His presence. He would guide them from then on “throughout all their journeys”. This is a fitting climax for closing this book.  Moses, however, was not able to enter the tabernacle because of the cloud. This indicates that more provisions were necessary before fellowship with God could continue. Leviticus explains those provisions.

Recap:

 

Baby Moses is discovered on the Nile (artist unknown)

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Image result for burning bush

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Image: "Moses Receiving the Law"

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Moses did everything just as the Lord commanded him.

Exodus 36-38

~ Patricia ~ 3 Comments

Today is another “Tabernacle day”.  The importance of the subject is seen since it is written about in over fifty chapters in the Bible:

  • 13 in Exodus (chs.25-31; 35-40)
  • 18  in Leviticus (chs.1-10; 16-17; 21-25; 27);
  • 13 in Numbers (chs.1-9; 16-19),
  • 3 in Deuteronomy (chs.16-18)
  • and it is a theme to eight in Hebrews (chs.3-10).

 Why?  To remind us that worship and redemption are God-Centered.  

They created the tabernacle “just as he commanded”.  The blueprint, the pattern, the plan, and the design were all made in Heaven.  Every detail is created by God (not man).  The take-home is every detail in Jesus is created in Heaven too.  We are not to “create” our own version of Salvation, Redemption, way of living, or how we worship.  We should be concerned that we follow a Jesus that most have never read about in detail.  I encourage you to think about that as we read through the Bible.  What is more important: reading the Bible written by God or scrolling on your phone.  I say that not as judgment but as encouragement since committing to a read through will be difficult.   The enemy would love nothing more than to distract you with “other” things to do other than daily reading.

I read (listened) today and could only decode about 1%.  That is 1% more than I knew before reading my Bible.  Here are some of my notes:

  • Blue represents divinity
  • Purple represents royalty
  • Scarlet represents the blood sacrifice
  • There are 4 pillars at the gate (the way to God).  ONE gate: 4 Pillars.  We enter through the tribe of Judah (Jesus) the 4 Gospels (Matthew Mark Luke and John).
  • In Numbers 38 we will read entering (trying to enter) the Tabernacle any other way leads to death.  There is only 1 way.  The way.
  • Brass represents Judgement but Silver represents Atonement.  The people would enter and look at the redemption money used to build the tabernacle and we look back on the Cross as the price paid by Jesus for our redemption.

Look at this visual:

Here are some other visuals/videos so that you have a full picture of the Tabernacle as we finish out Exodus.

Image result for tabernacle

  • If you want to take this one step further and see how the Tabernacle compares to the Temple that will be built feel free to watch this.  Click here.
  • If you are storytelling your daily read to your children here is a video for them.  Click here.

(Here are the Videos I posted on Superbowl Sunday in case you skipped that day) 😁

Since I have a Snow day today, I am going to try to push out our fun Trivia Quizzes this afternoon after I catch up on some things.

Exodus 33-35

~ Patricia ~ 7 Comments

Even though God is going forward with his plan, the Golden Calf incident was damaging.  Go back to Exodus 19

 “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine,  you  will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

God is still going to fulfill the unconditional Covenant he made with Abraham in Genesis 15,  BUT when God put the asterisk on the Covenant with the “IF“, well that’s damaged.  Now only one tribe will be the priesthood and set apart.  Which one?  The ONLY one that stood with Moses yesterday.  Levites (Tribe Levi).  (Ok, if you lived in my head you would run!  So if each tribe had a “class shirt” with a tribe logo….theirs would have the Minecraft Swords on them…between avenging Dinah’s rape in Shechem and the 3,000 at Mt. Sinia…)  Focus Szymanski….

Chapter 33 is one of my favorites by far:

  • 11 The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. 
  • 13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. 
  • “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here”. 
  • And by far my favorite:21 Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”  

Breaking God’s Covenant resulted in the Israelites’ separation from fellowship with Him. It did not terminate their relationship with Him, but it did hinder their fellowship with Him.  Yesterday God was leading them, now he says in verse 2 that He will still fulfill the plan but an Angel will lead them.  (“Go to your room, I love you, but if I see your face I might kill you”, ever have that moment with someone??)  The tent of meeting is set up outside the camp showing the distance that has been caused between God and his people.   The people immediately repent (agree with God that it is wrong and obey) by willingly giving up the “ornaments” that they had used in the rebellion.

You know I don’t talk application BUT think about how serious God takes the 2nd Commandment.  Search your heart.

So Moses is freaking out because until now he just followed God’s lead.  So he meets with God in the tent and pleads with him.  Like one friend to another:

Moses begs for God to pour into him since God won’t be leading.  I LOVE when Moses says “Remember”.  Not sure if you picked up on it, he does it all the time.  As if God needs reminding!  But it is obvious how God loves the intimate relationships and communications.

Then Moses says “Nope! I will not do this!  It is too big!  If you are not going I am not going”….and God says “Ok, I will go” in Verse 17.

Thank Heavens!!

Chapter 34:  It’s a Big one…read?

10 Then the Lord said: “I am making a covenant with you.  (He makes them a checklist) 

✅. Do not make a treaty with them.

✅Break down their places of pagan worship 

✅ Do not worship any other god

✅Do not make a treaty with them (repeats!)

✅Do no marry their daughter!

✅ “Do not make any idols.

✅“Celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread.

✅ Dedicate the firstborn to me

✅ Do not come empty-handed

✅ Honor the Sabbath

✅ Commemorate 3 mandatory festivals and follow the rules of them

✅ Do not mix pagan cultures with ours (goat/milk)

✅“Do not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.

That’s not a horrible list. He is not asking much.  How many of them do you think they violate?  All of them.

Chapter 35-Materials of the Tabernacle.  When you get to reads like this and find yourself skimming, click the “listen button”.  It might help you hear a pattern or hear something you might have missed.  Try it. Click here for Ch 35

Look for all the small details that just a few weeks ago you would not have picked up on.  The fact that all the yarn is scarlet.  The wood is acacia.  The festivals.  If you have not been able to read every day and have some questions, just ask.  We will fill you in ❤.

(Question:  What did you think about Moses’ face radiating? Do you feel like that this year? ❤️  You may not be able to see it, but others will. 😉)

Exodus 30-32

~ Patricia ~ 6 Comments

The word Atonement means to sacrifice for sin.  The sacrifice “covers” our sin.  You might remember that the first atonement (foreshadow of the Cross) was made in Genesis 3.  Adam and Eve tried to cover their sin (nakedness) with fig leaves.  They failed.  They could not cover their own sin, so God sacrificed an animal and covered them with “animal skin”.  HE atoned their sin.  The cover of the Ark was called the Atonement Cover.Image result for ark of the covenant

Only ONCE a year the high priest would go behind the veil and put blood on the cover to Atone the sins of the people.    The day is called “The day of Atonement”.  (On the calendar it is Yom Kippur).

The Altar of Incense.

Are you following the “path” of the Tabernacle?  FIRST, a sacrifice is made.  THEN we cleanse,   The Altar of Incense is before the Ark of the Covenant.  Here is a wonderful visual of how Christ will fulfill the Tabernacle. Image result for inside the tabernacle

Image result for tabernacle incense

If you are having trouble picturing the inside of the tabernacle, visit a cathedral or a catholic church.  They used the same layout for their church design.  Each item in the tabernacle represents Jesus.  Incense represents “prayer”.  The priests would burn incense in the morning and at night for the Israelites.  The people would see the “prayer” going up to God from a hole in the roof of the tabernacle.  Neat, huh. Image result for the tabernacle

Click here of a handout of the fulfillment of the tabernacle.

Atonement Money:  The directions regarding the tabernacle opened with instructions concerning contributions for its construction. They close with this directive that every Israelite, “20 years old and over,” was to pay a flat fee.  Everyone was to pay the same amount (“the rich shall not pay more and the poor shall not pay less”), because the cost of everyone’s “atonement” was the same in the Lord’s sight.  When we get to the New Testament the lingo will be called the “Temple Tax” but we don’t have a temple yet.  It will become an issue and Jesus will be “tested” on it.

Basin for Washing: The basin was a large reservoir for holding the “water” that the priests used to wash their hands and feet as they performed their duties. It stood between the altar and the sanctuary. Its presence in that position symbolized the fact that cleansing is necessary after making an atonement, but before the enjoyment of fellowship with God.

Image result for the tabernacle basin of water

Anointing oil and Incense: Both were created with a special mixture God specified for “holy” use only.  One day maybe we will dig into these ingredients if time allows, I bet we would find some cool foreshadows.

OK. We know what to build..now we need the builders.  The Lord fills Bezalel “In the Shadow of God” and his assistant Oholiab “The Father is My Tent” special gifts and wisdom to do it!

If you read this first before the actual Bible read…STOP here and go read Exodus 32. Click here if you need to.  Your head will explode.

This is a story about Apostasy.  Apostasy means “to depart” or “stand away”.  In a biblical sense,  it means to depart from God’s will.  I point this out because apostasy is not about being an unbeliever (which is how I have read this in the past).  The term refers to obedience, not salvation.

It has always been hard for God’s people (insert my name here) to wait for Him.  True or False.

Image result for golden calf

Calves and bulls have always been used in worshiping pagan gods.  The calf was representative probably of the god ‘Apis’  He was symbolic not as the actual god, but the footstool of the god or the vehicle they rode in on. So who is the golden calf really replacing? God or Moses?  It is unlikely Aaron was replacing God with this calf since the Bible says in verse 5

“When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of the calf and announced, “Tomorrow there will be a festival to the Lord.”

Aaron was responding to verse 1 

“When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.”

Look for Apostasy in this verse:

8 They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf.

In other words, they fashioned the calf as a footstool to be used by God just as Moses had been the vehicle used by the Lord.  The English word “idol” derives from the Greek eidolon, meaning “something to be seen.”  Is this a big deal?  Yes!

  • God’s intent was that His people worship Him at the altar revealed to Moses, not at an altar constructed by Aaron.
  • God’s intent was to dwell among His people above the mercy seat above the ark, not above a golden calf.
  • It was His intent that His people celebrate the feasts that He prescribed, not a feast involving pagan revelry.
  • God’s intent was that Moses should lead the people, not Aaron.

Some of God’s intentions had not yet been revealed to the people; Moses was still on the mountain receiving these instructions. Their failure was running ahead of God.  Ouch!

So if you read the story you know that Moses prays that God does not wipe out the Israelites.  God relented “changed His Mind”.  I have struggled with this for years, but now have Peace about HOW prayer works.  I used to think, does prayer matter?? God causes everything to work out the way He wants it to.  He knows what will comes to pass, but Scripture doesn’t say that He dictates how everything will come to pass, or when it will come to pass.  Prayer does matter.

(Sorry this is long.  It is just one of my favorites).  Aaron’s response is probably one of the all-time classics!  “Moses, you know these people they are crazy.  I don’t even know how a calf got made!  I threw the gold in the fire and poooooof…there was a calf!” LOL.  Liar!  So Moses calls for a rally.  The only tribe to side with him was HIS OWN FAMILY!  The Levites!

Their decision and obedience demonstrated their faith in God. They chose to go the way of His appointed leader, Moses, instead of following the rest.  God’s punishment was severe because of the seriousness of their offense. It was also merciful; only 3,000 of the 600,000 men died.  (3,000 were judged, in the NT on the day of Pentecost 3,000 will be given mercy)

Moses intercedes AGAIN by making an atonement for their sin.

Take a moment to sit and think about what this read said to you about your own relationship to the Lord.  Lack of patience?  Idolatry? Prayer?  After that, think about how the people may not always see God on the mountain, but God always sees us ❤️.