Since today is a "bonus" day, with no reading listed, we thought you might like to view this short 8 minute summary (by a nine year old) of the Bible. Thanks to Vicki for sending this to us quite a while ago. There are a couple of things the little boy missed. He said that Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of Life. They ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. He mentions the 400 years of silence. The only "silence" is that things were not printed on our modern Bible. There are many books written, and canonized, but do not appear in our Bible. They are the apocryphal books. Other than those things, he is right on! We especially like his insight at the end concerning the importance of reading the entire Bible!!! Have you heard that from us before???

Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xu0NVSXM9cY

Provisions are made in Scripture for the avenger of blood. The avenger of blood was the next of kin of the person who had been killed. The avenger of blood was the one to punish the offender.

Reminds me of the revenge attitude of so many people today. "I don't get back, I get even." Not a very godly attitude.

Cities of refuge were to be established where a person who has accidentally killed someone could flee to and be safe. Think about all the times in Scripture that God is described as being our refuge, our safety, our shield and protector.

Jesus was very clear how He felt about that kind of attitude.
Matt 5:38-39
You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'39 But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.

If we have an attitude of revenge in our hearts, we are following the crowd in doing wrong like we have been warned about before. It's so much easier to follow the crowd than to stand out in a crowd. But as Believers in Jesus, we are called to be different and to stand out!

There were many restrictions concerning kings in today's reading.

Deu 17:14-17 You will enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you. You will take possession of it and live there. You will say, "Let's have our own king like all the other nations around us." Be sure to appoint the king the LORD your God will choose. He must be one of your own people. Never let a foreigner be king, because he's not one of your own people. The king must never own a large number of horses or make the people return to Egypt to get more horses. The LORD has told you, "You will never go back there again." The king must never have a large number of wives, or he will turn away from God. And he must never own a lot of gold and silver.

Yet two of the greatest kings, David and Solomon had great numbers of horses, multiple wives, and great wealth.

What kind of country would we have now if our leaders obeyed the following guidelines of a king?

Deut 17:18-20
When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the priests, who are Levites. It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the LORD his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees and not consider himself better than his brothers and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel.

The two witness rule is listed in today's reading. Any sin must be testified to by at least two witnesses.
Deu 19:15
One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sins. At the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be made sure.
Interestingly, a Jesus' "trials" there were no two witnesses who agreed on the charges brought against Jesus.

What a packed verse this is, “Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong.” Exo 23:2a

What are the ways that we as Christians might follow the crowd in doing wrong? Sometimes following the crowd may be just to speak a careless word, just as the rest of the crowd does.

Matt 12:36
But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.
Ouch!

DISCUSSION SESSION

Don't forget - Monday night, February 27 at 7:00 pm - our house. We have lots to discuss!

Numbers 6 lists the requirements for the Nazarite vow. From Scripture we know that there were at least three important Biblical figures that have taken the Nazarite vow. They were Samuel, Samson, and John the Baptist. Others, such as Paul may have taken a temporary Nazarite vow.

Acts 18:18
Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchrea because of a vow he had taken.

Lev 27:10a
Don't exchange or substitute animals, a good one for a bad one or a bad one for a good one.

Jesus was quick to demonstrate how dishonest it was to substitute sacrificial animals in the temple area for profit.
John 2:14-15
And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money-changers sitting. And when He had made a scourge of small cords, He drove them all out of the temple, also the sheep and the oxen. And He poured out the money-changers' money and overthrew the tables.


Leviticus and Deuteronomy list rules pertaining to vows of dedication.
Deut 23:21-23
If you make a vow to the LORD your God, do not be slow to pay it, for the LORD your God will certainly demand it of you and you will be guilty of sin. But if you refrain from making a vow, you will not be guilty. Whatever your lips utter you must be sure to do, because you made your vow freely to the LORD your God with your own mouth.

Some have stiff punishment for not fulfilling a vow that has been made. Just ask Jephthah.
Judg 11:30-35
And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD: "If you give the Ammonites into my hands, whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the LORD's, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering." Then Jephthah went over to fight the Ammonites, and the LORD gave them into his hands. He devastated twenty towns from Aroer to the vicinity of Minnith, as far as Abel Keramim. Thus Israel subdued Ammon. When Jephthah returned to his home in Mizpah, who should come out to meet him but his daughter, dancing to the sound of tambourines! She was an only child. Except for her he had neither son nor daughter. When he saw her, he tore his clothes and cried, "Oh! My daughter! You have made me miserable and wretched, because I have made a vow to the LORD that I cannot break."

Lessons to be learned here???

The following verses show us another connection between the Old and New Testaments.

Lev 12:7-8
"'These are the regulations for the woman who gives birth to a boy or a girl. If she cannot afford a lamb, she is to bring two doves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean.'"

Luke 2:22-24
When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord"),and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: "a pair of doves or two young pigeons."

The atonement offering was given by Mary for her purification after the birth of Jesus. Since they gave either two doves or two pigeons, it meant that Mary and Joseph most likely couldn’t afford a lamb.

When we read the regulations concerning uncleanness when touching a dead body during Passover, we couldn't help but think about Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. Because they would have been considered unclean after touching Jesus' body, they would not be allowed to celebrate Passover.

After reading about all the rules and regulations for leprosy cleansing in Lev 14, it adds a whole new dimension to the story in Luke about the ten lepers who were healed by Jesus. All Jesus said to them was “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” It sure involved a whole lot more than just making an appearance.

Luke 17:12-14
As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!" When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed.

An even greater message for us is found in the last part of verse 14... "And as they went, they were cleansed." The lepers were cleansed, as they went. It truly was an ACT of faith on their part. When Jesus cleanses us from our sins, it is up to us to ACT and remove ourselves from our life of sin. Remember the Hebrew word picture for repent is "to burn the house".

There have been some great questions in the last couple of days. While it is difficult to read through all the offerings, sacrifices, rules, and regulations, you are reading them! And for that we praise God. Here are a few of the questions and some responses.

QUESTION: When it says a person was turned out of the community for not doing the offering correctly , where did they go and for how long did they have to stay away?

RESPONSE: There are probably some specific Scriptures that address how long they were to say away and where they went, but we can’t call them to mind. If someone else knows the answer, let us know.

QUESTIONS: Were all these offerings we have been reading this week for each individual person, man or woman if they needed to do a sin offering or other offering ? Or , was it for each tribe or household? With all the thousands of people and only one tent of meeting, how could this be done for each individual? The priests would be busy 24/7 and with one altar, it would take all night to burn the body of one bull or goat, etc. How did they do this?

QUESTIONS: The last few days my eyes keep crossing. It seems like I'm reading the same thing over and over and over again. For any sin at all--kill somebody--steal--work on the sabbath--sneeze wrong, they had to make some kind of animal sacrifice to atone for it. OK fine, but it doesn't end there. A sacrifice each day, each month and then several for the handful of feasts. Then wave offerings, peace offerings, free-will offering... All done with animal sacrifices. Then just for fun let throw in some grain offerings and drink offerings.

Our eyes were crossing too (well maybe not Phil's eyes). It does get rather repetitive doesn't it? And remember the Chronological Bible combines the books of Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy when things overlap. So imagine reading each of those books separately. You are right about even the smallest sin had to be atoned for. There was a penalty to pay.

1.) How on earth did their flocks and herds not dwindle down to nothing with so many animals sacrificed? Especially those specifically one year old?

Quite possibly, God took care of that. Those animals probably reproduced in profusion. Remember God can supernaturally provide. Deuteronomy 29:

During the forty years that I led you through the desert, your clothes did not wear out, nor did the sandals on your feet.

2.) How on earth did Aaron and his sons keep up with all this? I can just see in my brain the group of them having to quite literally set up an assembly line of animal sacrifices going thru the Tent of Meetings. How much of a mess it would have been to continually drop blood on the alter from all of those sacrifices. Not to mentions some of those animals are pretty darn big. Getting rid of the carcasses, the continual removal of the ashes. Continually replenishing the firewood for the fire. Seems as if they would be way busier than most of our mothers on Thanksgiving.

Again, God took care of dividing up the chores. Earlier Jethro, Moses' father-in-law suggested that Moses let others help him. He had many, many Levites to help him with the animal sacrifices.

Exo 18:24-26
And Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said. And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. And they judged the people at all times. The hard causes they brought to Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.
It is almost unfathomable to picture the mess, the burning of the animals, keeping the firewood, etc. Only God could have miraculously provided for all this.

3.) I keep seeing the phrase "...an aroma pleasing to the Lord". Surely He doesn't mean burnt animal fat, right? Surely there's some other meaning here.

While the burning of animal fat may not be pleasing to us, it was to God. Another thing to consider here is that no matter what the smell, it was the obedience of the people in making the sacrifices that was pleasing to Him. Just as your statement "All I can say is THANK GOD FOR JESUS!!" was without a doubt pleasing to the Lord.

4.) Along the same lines, the phrase "...offering made to the Lord by fire". This phrase also seems ... unusual.

For whatever the reason, God wanted some of the offerings completely burned.

All I can say is THANK GOD FOR JESUS!! If I were held to the same standards as the Isrealites, I wouldn't have made it to 21 let alone 43.

Heads of households did the sacrifices for the entire family, so each individual person didn't necessarily offer an animal for each sin committed. Some of the sacrifices were to be done weekly and some monthly, while others were during the special feast days. One major thing to consider concerning all the animal sacrifices...just because God commanded that these sacrifices be done, doesn't mean that all the people obeyed and kept the letter of the law. Think about our world today. How many truly committed Christians are there, following Jesus completely, doing everything He commanded us to do? Things were pretty much the same then as they are now. So, percentage wise, maybe there weren't such long lines all day and all night to offer up these sacrifices.
Thanks for listening,

Thanks for asking!

God gave specifications that the blemished are not to serve or go near the curtain in the tabernacle. At Jesus’ crucifixion the curtain in the temple was torn from top to bottom. Jesus made a new way for us through Him. Now we have confidence to enter even the Most Holy Place, no matter how "blemished" we may seem.

Mark 15:37-38
With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
Heb 10:19-20
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body,

The high priest was to keep himself "clean" in order to serve in the holy place of the tabernacle. Since we as Believers are "tabernacles" for the Holy Spirit, shouldn't that make us want to remove ourselves from anything "unclean" or sinful in order to serve HIM?

The commentary under Year of Jubilee - Lev. 25, we find these words, "One of the most remarkable features of the Jubilee is the concept of redemption...." The commentator mentions it is a "foretaste of even greater spiritual redemption in the era of the Messiah." Wonder if the year of Jesus' crucifixion was a year of Jubilee and/or will His return be in a Jubilee year?

In addition to the weekly Sabbath for rest and worship, God also commanded that there was to be a rest for the land on each seventh year. But...not to worry. He made sure that they would have enough in the sixth year to more than make up for the fallow seventh year.

Lev 25:21
I will send you such a blessing in the sixth year that the land will yield enough for three years.

Isn't that just like God? When we obey Him completely, he blesses us abundantly!

Again in today's reading, sins of omission or unintentional sins are mentioned. A sin is a sin whether intentional or unintentional.

Two passages of Scripture, one in the Old Testament and one in the New Testament, seem to have a connection. The one in Leviticus lists one of the many regulations concerning another person's property.

Lev 6:2-4
"If anyone sins and is unfaithful to the LORD by deceiving his neighbor about something entrusted to him or left in his care or stolen, or if he cheats him, or if he finds lost property and lies about it, or if he swears falsely, or if he commits any such sin that people may do--when he thus sins and becomes guilty, he must return what he has stolen or taken by extortion, or what was entrusted to him, or the lost property he found,

The passage in Matthew is a parable that Jesus told. At initial reading it appears to be a good thing that the man found a treasure hidden in a field and was so overjoyed that he sold all he had and bought the field. But if we read this passage in light of the previous one in the Old Testament, it appears as if the man who found the treasure is actually doing a bad thing. First of all the treasure wasn't his to begin with and secondly, he hid it again to keep someone else from finding it. Most of the parables go much deeper if we really dig.

Matt 13:44
"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

God makes provisions for bringing the imperfect as offerings when it is a freewill offering. Freewill offerings are just that over and above the required offerings.

God gives Moses this beautiful blessing for the Israelites. What a great way to start the day!

Num 6:24-26
"The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace."

When instructions are given for the sin offerings, there are provisions for unintentional sins. Many times when we think of sin, we automatically think of the intentional sins, the sins of commission. However, there are consequences for sins of omission and unintentional sins. James addresses this very issue.
James 4:17
Whoever knows what is right but doesn't do it is sinning.

Many times the instructions for sacrifices were to burn such things as kidneys and parts of the liver. These two organs are there for filtering out impurities. Figuratively speaking, the sinful things in our lives at repentance are "burned away". This would be like the "aroma pleasing to the Lord". When we repent, we die to sin.

Interestingly the first animal sacrifice was done by God as a covering for Adam and Eve. Lots of connections with the animal sacrifices "covering" the sin temporarily. Praise God, Jesus covers our sins completely! But He is very clear what He expects from us. Once we repent, we turn our back on what we were before.

1 Cor 6:11
And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

To repent means to turn around completely and go the other way....God's way!

The word, repent, in Hebrew word pictures means, "to burn the house". In other words, burn away the sin and things connected with the sin. We are reminded of the voodoo doctor in Haiti who burned his house and all his voodoo equipment, his livelihood, once he became a believer in Jesus. He truly understood the word repent in the simplest form.

How is it for all of us as Believers in Jesus? When we repent, do we "burn the house."

DISCUSSION SESSION - 2
Come prepared to share with others what God's Word has revealed to you this past month. We want to hear what you have to say. This is the time for comments, questions, clarifications, etc. We will meet at our home on Monday night, February 27 at 7:00 pm. Please let us know if you plan to attend. Email us for directions. Hope you will be able to join us.

In today's reading there are instructions for the priests. One of the requirements is that the fire on the altar be kept burning continually. Any applications for us as Christians today? Should our "fire for the Lord" be kept burning continually?

Notice the words, “an aroma pleasing to the Lord” follow every offering made by fire. Why?

Many times in the Bible, especially in the Old Testament we read of sacrifices and burnt offerings given to the Lord, placed on the altar in the temple or tabernacle. God himself gave the laws regarding these sacrifices to Moses. The Israelite people offered their sacrifices as atonement for sin. It tells us that an offering, without blemish or defect, is an aroma pleasing to the Lord. But the sacrifices could only cover the sin, not remove the sin. Jesus’ death on the cross gave humanity the opportunity to have their sins removed forever. The ultimate sacrifice, the perfect sacrifice, the most pleasing of all to the Lord…was Jesus. He willingly became our sacrifice to atone for our sins, an aroma that must have been like sweet perfume to God, the Father.

"Therefore I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship."
Romans 12:1

The Bible tells us that we are to present ourselves as a living sacrifice. Is our sacrifice an aroma pleasing to the Lord? Do we present to him our very best?

"Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ."
II Cor. 2:14-15

What a joy to be the fragrance of Christ to God! Do we diffuse the fragrance of His knowledge everywhere we go? Are we an aroma pleasing to the Lord?

In giving the specifications for the offerings for the feast days, God says, “Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you”
Wow! If we really contemplated the ways that the Lord has blessed us, what would our offerings back to Him look like?

There are several types of offerings listed. Gifts are variable and can be whatever the giver feels in his heart to give. The tithe is not. It is the Old Testament way, a tax so to speak, of ten percent for the support and upkeep of the Levites.

In the Feast of Unleavened Bread, leaven is prohibited. Even today, many Jews remove all leaven from their homes. My Jewish friend, Miriam, has often spoken about what procedures she must go through each year during Passover.

Interesting reading in the New Testament book of Hebrews concerning the Day of Atonement and the parallels with Jesus.

It’s intriguing about the scapegoat, being used for the atonement for sin. Is that what we do when we blame someone else for mistakes, problems, sin in our lives? Do we transfer blame to a “scapegoat”?

The Lord gives this promise to the Israelites if they will keep His commandments. “God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete.”
Complete joy…have we claimed this promise today?

Ever wonder if God approves the use of mediums or attempting to consult the dead? Wonder no more! He says those are detestable to Him.

Deuteronomy 18:15-19 tells of a true prophet. Many think this passage refers to Jesus. We're not so sure. Could it be that God is simply telling them that there will always be a "go-between" - a prophet who speaks for Him? And that the people should listen?

In the laws requiring offerings and sacrifices God gives the Israelites specific instructions. He says time, after time, after time that He wants the firstborn, the first offspring, the best, the firstfruits, etc. God doesn't want the leftovers! What exactly does that mean for us?

The tithe to the Levites was really a tax from the other tribes. Gifts and offerings were above that.When God commanded a Sabbath day of rest, He compared our rest to His rest on the seventh day after creation. Did God really need to rest? Was He tired? Hardly!

Isa 40:28
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

What He really did on the seventh day was to look back on all He had accomplished and decided it was good! Is that how He wants us to spend our Sabbath day, looking back on everything that we have done, said, seen, heard, etc. during the previous week?

What can we say about our week? Can we look back and say that it was good?

As we begin reading about the laws given to Moses, we may be tempted to skip over them, thinking that they have no relevance to us today. If so, think again and read the following verse.

Romans 7:7a
What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law.

"Only after struggling through the tedious process of reading and trying to understand these laws does one fully comprehend the bondage of the law of Moses and appreciate the blessings of grace."

Deut 14:2
For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. Out of all the peoples on the face of the earth, the LORD has chosen you to be his treasured possession.
Take some time to let this verse sink in. When we choose Jesus as personal Lord and Savior we become His treasured possession. How would our lives look if we lived our lives daily as if we are His treasured possession?

God continually warns the people about the dangers of worshiping other gods. It wasn't just worshiping other gods, it was the life style associated with it.

Deu 12:31
Do not worship the LORD your God in the way they worship their gods, for in the worship of their gods they do all the disgusting things that the LORD hates.

God says, "Don't worship me in their way."

He also reminds them that He will reward them for obedience.

Deut 12:9
since you have not yet reached the resting place and the inheritance the LORD your God is giving you.
What is our resting place? What is our inheritance? Many times in Scripture, rest is synonymous with salvation and eternal life. Our resting place is in heaven. Our inheritance is our eternal life.

A suggestion for today - live Deut. 14:2! Put the verse on your mirror, on your refrigerator, on the wall of your cubby at work, on your desk, on the dashboard of your car, etc. We think your day will go a lot better if you do!!!

oses stayed on the mountain with God for 40 days and 40 nights. He ate no food and drank no water. Not once, but this visit to the mountain for 40 days and nights without food and drink was done twice! What confirmation of how God can miraculously take care of the physical needs. Should we even think about doubting that He can take care of us?

Listed in the reading today is a Summary of God's Will:
1. Fear the Lord
2. Walk in His ways
3. Love Him
4. Serve Him
5. Observe His commands

Again God gives this admonition. It is such an easy thing to do, just teach the children... and look at the promise at the end if we do!
Deut 11:18-21
Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the LORD swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.

God told the Hebrew people He would give them every place they set their foot.
Deut 11:24-25
Every place where you set your foot will be yours: Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the Euphrates River to the western sea. No man will be able to stand against you. The LORD your God, as he promised you, will put the terror and fear of you on the whole land, wherever you go.
This area is much larger than the area of Israel today. God promised them that He would give them all the land where they would set their foot. Way back to Abraham, God told him to walk the land and He would give him every place he set his foot. God makes the same offer again...If only...

Interestingly, the boundaries of the present day Israel are the boundaries of the battle of Armageddon.

Again the people are given a warning for them to not fall into the trap of worshiping other gods in the land. How does that apply to us today? Do we worship other gods? What form do these gods take? Anything that replaces God in our lives is an idol. That can take many forms.

God sets before us blessing and curse, life and death...that we may choose life!

Oh, today’s readings are so rich! (Deuteronomy 3-8) Where to begin?

Moses reminds the people that when God SPOKE the Ten Commandments to them, He added nothing more. If only they had listened to God then, and gone in to the land that He promised them, there would have been no need to add all the other regulations, commandments, stipulations, decrees, laws, etc. They would not have even had to build the tabernacle. They could have just gone into the land, straight to Jerusalem and built the temple. God even says to them that if they will keep his commandments, believe Him, trust Him, obey Him, follow Him, make no treaty with the inhabitants, destroy their idols, then they would be blessed that they would prosper, prolong their days, that things would go well with them and their children FOREVER! .....HELLO???

Their first big mistake was when God told them way back in Exodus 19 to listen to Him (God) speak to Moses so that they would put their trust in Moses. But did they listen? Of course not, they were afraid they would die if God Himself spoke to them. If they had heard God speak to Moses, maybe there wouldn't have been all those complaints against Moses.

Commandments concerning children were very specific. We are to talk about them when we sit, when we walk, when we lie down, and when we get up. In other words, we should take advantage of every opportunity to talk to our children about Him. If only we could live out His commands concerning the children. How different would our culture and our world look?

God was very clear about destroying the pagan altars, sacred stones, Asherah poles and idols of the nations. He set His people apart from the pagans and called them to be holy.

“Holy to the Lord” What a great phrase! The Lord chose us (believers in Jesus) to be His treasured possession.

We are warned to beware of pride. Pride – what a debilitating attribute! Often we forget to thank Him when things are going well but are quick to turn to Him in times of trouble.

Did we say today’s readings are rich???

Moses addresses the people in preparation for the transfer of leadership. He knows that his life is near the end. He is keenly aware that his sins have kept him from entering the land of Caanan, the Promised Land. Any yet in many of his statements, he seems to be transferring the blame away from himself and on the people. He seems to have forgotten the "striking of the rock" incident. In fact many of Moses' words seem to be in contrast to what is recorded earlier. Check out Deuteronomy 1:19-25 and compare with Numbers 13.

In his first address, Moses mentions that when they camped at Horeb they were only 11 days out from the Promised Land, and yet it took them 40 years, because of their disobedience and lack of trust. The words of the old hymn Trust and Obey come to mind once again. Right Jana?

Moses gives the people a history of their nation, their relationship with God and their purpose in the conquest of the land. God's plan was for the people to take the land regardless of what they found there.

Moses reminded the people to obey God's laws, to teach them to their children, to stay away from idols. He tells them not to add to his commands or subtract from them. Good advice for us today too!

God reminds the people that idolatry is the same thing as adultery. Remember our relationship is like that of a marriage. When we worship anything over and above God we are committing adultery.

“Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God himself will fight for you.”
When God says He has given us victory, CLAIM IT. TRUST HIM!

Moses asks the Lord for a successor. Even though he must have greatly desired Joshua to be that man, yet he doesn’t ask for him. He leaves it in the Lord’s hand. And look what happened, God gave him Joshua!

The Israelites were told to drive out the inhabitants of the land, destroy their idols, and demolish their high places. If not, these inhabitants would become barbs in their eyes and thorns in their sides. What an understatement! If only the Israelites had obeyed God completely. These idols and high places would be a source of great disobedience on the part of God's people.

The people are reminded of what the Amalekites did to them along the way. They attacked those who were weary and worn out or who were lagging behind. Great lesson for us. When we are at our weakest, we are easy prey for the enemy. But equally important, when we are at our strongest, we are also easy prey. Whenever we are doing something big for the kingdom, we get Satan's attention and he tries to "cut us off".

In the plans for the cities for the Levites, it seems as if God is placing a “pocket” of Levites to essentially surround each of the towns. Maybe to be a buffer for them spiritually?

Has God placed any of us as a spiritual buffer for others?

After the plague when 25,000 Israelites died, God ordered another census of the people. Notice that the second numbering God adds an inheritance for the tribes. Earlier when the tribes were to bring offerings to the Lord, the offerings were the same no matter how small or large the tribe was. This time the land is allotted to them based on the number of names.

In the land inheritance, Joseph is left out, his sons Ephraim and Manasseh are in, Levites are left out in the land allotment as well. They would be supported by the tithes of the people.

Interesting that in the numbering of the Levites it makes it clear that both Moses’ parents were from the tribe of Levi.

Num 26:63-65
These are the ones counted by Moses and Eleazar the priest when they counted the Israelites on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho. Not one of them was among those counted by Moses and Aaron the priest when they counted the Israelites in the Desert of Sinai. For the LORD had told those Israelites they would surely die in the desert, and not one of them was left except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.

Because of their disobedience, not one of the original adults who left Egypt went into the land, except Caleb and Joshua. They were the only two who trusted God to lead them into Canaan.

Can we as Christians trust the Lord, even in the face of great adversity? Even when no one else trusts Him?

Israel sins in Moab. It all started with sexual immorality and led to the worship of other gods. The Israelites allowed the ways of other nations to corrupt them and pull them away from God. Do we allow things and the ways of the world to corrupt us and pull us away from God?

While Phinehas' actions seem harsh to us, he was zealous for God's honor and illustrates the power of ONE. He was rewarded for that. This family will remain as high priests.

God’s consequences for this behavior were most severe. Does that tell us something about how much God wants His people to obey Him completely?

I Jn 5:3
This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,

To show our love for God is to obey His commands. He's told us, it's not that hard!

Oops, left out a little tidbit from yesterday. In Moses' detailed journal of the exodus from Egypt, there are 41 places where they camped. Some of those times they stayed a considerable amount of time, other times they were there only a short time.

The soothsayer Balaam was given specific directions from God and yet Balaam didn't obey God. Ever done that?

What’s with this talking donkey?

In today's reading it is illustrated very well that there is a spiritual dimension that we can't see. Obviously, this donkey was allowed to see the angel of the Lord in this spiritual dimension. Not only was the donkey allowed to see the angel of the Lord, but was allowed to speak to Balaam.

Why couldn’t Balaam see the angel of the Lord? Were his spiritual eyes closed? Notice that it is God who opens Balaam's eyes.

Bakaam utters three oracles An oracle is a divine utterance usually in answer to a request for guidance.

Interesting that Peter compared Balaam with false teachers who love the wages of wickedness.
2 Pet 2:15-16
They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness.16 But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey-- a beast without speech-- who spoke with a man's voice and restrained the prophet's madness.

Any connections we can make today with false teachers and leaders?

Moses' sister Miriam dies and they bury her at Kadesh. Wonder why there was no time of mourning recorded for her.

Moses is told to speak to the rock and instead he strikes the rock. Then he takes credit for the water gushing forth. This sin has grave consequences. Moses is not allowed to lead the people into the land. Are there grave consequences for us when we are disobedient?

Even though it was Moses who struck the rock, Aaron was silent. When Moses said, "Shall WE bring forth water..", Aaron didn't protest. By his silence, he was in effect giving approval. What Moses did was wrong. When we witness things that are wrong, do we as Believers in effect give our approval by our silence?

Were the people supposed to ask for safe passage through the land of Edom? Or were they to trust the pillar and cloud?

When Aaron died, the whole house of Israel mourned for him for thirty days. Why did they not mourn for Miriam?

The Canaanite city of Arad is mentioned in today's reading. As a present day connection, we read about a Messianic Jewish community there who are being harassed because they are Jews who believe in Jesus. Pray for them.

True to their nature, the people again become impatient and complain and so God sends venomous snakes. Many people die. Then, also true to their nature, they confess their sins and ask Moses to intervene for them. Moses asks God to take away the snakes. Also, true to His nature, God stops the snakes and provides a way for them to be saved. The snake that Moses lifted up saved the people from physical death. Jesus saves us from spiritual, eternal death.

John 3:14-15
Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

Apparently Korah didn’t understand the “burning bush incident”! Moses and Aaron were God’s anointed. They didn't need to be replaced. And did they not remember what happened to Miriam when she and Aaron challenged Moses' leadership?

Jude 1:10-11
Yet these men speak abusively against whatever they do not understand; and what things they do understand by instinct, like unreasoning animals-- these are the very things that destroy them. Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam's error; they have been destroyed in Korah's rebellion.

God institutes the command to redeem the firstborn. The people are redeemed by paying a temple price. The holy animals are sacrificed. See any connections with Jesus here???

Notice that the Levites receive a tithe, a tenth from all the other tribes. This is a commanded tax. The Levites are then to give a tenth to Aaron. Part of the tithe that Aaron and his descendants are to receive is juice from a winepress, not wine itself. Remember, Aaron and his sons were not to consume fermented drink while serving at the tabernacle. Wow, God takes care of even the minute details!

When God does things, He certainly does it up right. There's that staff again! Are you paying attention to all these references to the all-important staff. Wouldn’t it have been enough to just have Aaron’s staff sprout? That was all He promised them to prove Aaron was His chosen one. And yet, He caused the staff to bud, to blossom, and to produce almonds! And overnight even!
Now, let’s see…what was that Scripture about God being able to do more than we ask for…oh yes, here it is.

Eph 3:20
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,

Tapped into His power lately???

Great words of affirmation for Moses in today's reading!
Num 12:5-8a
Then the LORD came down in a pillar of cloud; he stood at the entrance to the Tent and summoned Aaron and Miriam. When both of them stepped forward, he said, "Listen to my words: "When a prophet of the LORD is among you, I reveal myself to him in visions, I speak to him in dreams. But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD.

WOW! The Lord speaks to Moses "face to face"!

While there were some great words of affirmation for Moses, there is also some that might be considered disturbing ones.
Num 12:3 (Now the man Moses was very meek (NIV says humble), more than all the men on the face of the earth.)

While at first glance, this sounds like a good thing. However, the Hebrew word for meek is "anav" and it figuratively means "depressed". Shortly before this, Moses was complaining that the burden of the people was just too heavy for him. He even said to the Lord, "If this is how you are going to treat me, put me to death right now..." Sounds like a depressed person. Is this why he needed help from the 70 elders?

There are several Hebrew words that are translated as humble or meek. One of those is "kana" which means "to prostrate oneself in submission, to bow the knee." This is not the one used in today's reading to describe Moses.

There are a couple of other things to consider concerning the spies sent into the land of Canaan. God said in Num 13:2 Send men so that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give to the sons of Israel.
The key word here is "search". God told them to search the land. The word means "to go on a reconnaissance mission." They were to only go in and look around in the land. God wanted them to see the lush riches of the land that He was providing for them. (We can see evidence of this lushness in the size of the grapes they found.) Instead, Moses told them to go in and spy out the land and the people. God didn't tell them to pay any attention to the people. They were to stop at the grapes and report this back to the Israelites, not about the giant people in the land, nor their large fortified cities. And, about the land where there were no inhabitants? The spies, with their Egyptian superstitious pagan mindset, reported back that "the land we explored devours those living in it." The land hadn't devoured those living in it...God had already driven them out! He told them He would send hornets to drive them out. Amazing how God uses nature (like the hornets) to accomplish His purposes!

The people were to go only into the part of the land where the people had already been driven out by the hornets, and then wait until God gave them instructions to advance further. Then He would use the hornets to drive out even more people. Notice that the people living in the land were not to be destroyed. They were just to turn and run from the hornets. But the Israelites having come out of Egypt, a land of godlessness and superstition, perceived that the land had devoured the people and they were afraid of the empty land. If only they had trusted and obeyed, God would have created a regular "Garden of Eden" for them, as illustrated by the grapes.

The leaders who were sent in to explore the land certainly displayed their lack of trust in God to keep His promises…all of them except for Joshua and Caleb. They were doing what God wanted them to do, focus on the land that He had promised to give them. Oh, that we could all live our lives trusting the Lord to keep His promises!

Ps 145:13
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made.

A land flowing with milk and honey is a land of crops and animals. The land is divided up into the milk land where animals are raised (goats, sheep) and the honey land is where the crops are raised (dates, figs, etc.) The Nephilim were giants. Men of unnatural size or ability.

When the people saw that the leaders of the 10 tribes were struck down and died (did they contract a "bug" of some kind), they sure were quick to obey God then…but alas it was too late. God had been willing to take care of their enemies for them, but once they displayed lack of trust, God was not with them. And isn't it amazing that God promised to do that for them way back in Exodus 23, right after He SPOKE the Ten Commandments to them.

Exod 23:27-28
"I will send my terror ahead of you and throw into confusion every nation you encounter. I will make all your enemies turn their backs and run. I will send the hornet ahead of you to drive the Hivites, Canaanites and Hittites out of your way.

Did they forget??? Or did they just not trust God???

Once the people are numbered and duties assigned, the Israelites are ready to move. Many times ram’s horns were used for signaling but God had them make trumpets of hammered silver for calling the community together.

For some reason, Moses felt the need to have his brother-in-law Horeb help guide them through the desert. Why did Moses need Hobab if he had the cloud for guidance? Notice right after that the cloud moved sporadically and the people had to break camp and follow. Could it be that God was teaching Moses a lesson?

The rabble ( a mixed crowd of Egyptians and others) that traveled with them began to crave other food. And then the Israelites begin to grumble and complain...again. This time they want meat. God answers in essence with "You want meat do you? I'll give you meat! I'll give you so much meat that it will come out of your nostrils!"

What was the severe plague that struck them because of the consumption of the quail? Could it have been food poisoning from spoiled food?

Moses continues to display a lack of faith when he questions God about all his trouble when the people wailed and complained. Moses complains that the burden is too heavy for him. God answers by telling Moses that He will give the seventy elders as helpers for him. However, this help comes with a high price. God will take of the Spirit in Moses and give it to the elders. This giving of the Spirit was a temporary empowerment for a specific purpose. Contrast that with the Holy Spirit that lives within us. For us as Believers, the Holy Spirit is not a temporary empowerment but a permanent one.

Moses had the presence of the Lord in the cloud for guidance. We have God's Word for guidance. Why would we as Believers want to go to other sources for our guidance?

Did you ever wonder why God warned the people about touching the holy things in the tabernacle? The warning came with a stiff penalty for not honoring God’s warning. Did God ever have to follow through with that penalty? Check this out.
1 Chr 13:9-10
When they came to the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the ark, because the oxen stumbled. The LORD's anger burned against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark. So he died there before God.

The descendants of Levi are given specific duties. All together there were 8,580 men 30 – 50 years of age who were responsible for the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle). So whenever the pillar of fire or the cloud would move giving the people the signal to move, there were quite a few men taking care of all the moving. Someone was in charge of something as seemingly insignificant as the tent pegs. There is a great lesson to be learned from this division of duties. No matter how insignificant our God-given task may seem to us, it is important to God. And it is important in the grand scheme of things. After all, what would happen without tent pegs?

By the way, the overall size of the tabernacle was 150 feet by 75 feet, about half the size of a football field.

Fascinating tidbit of information…in the Millennial Kingdom, the cloud and pillar will once again return.
Isa 4:5
Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over all the glory will be a canopy.

Uzzah suffered a penalty for not obeying God completely. How is it with us as Believers, do we always obey God completely?

As they prepare to observe the first Passover celebration since their exodus from Egypt, a problem surfaced. Some of the Israelites were ceremonially unclean because of their contact with a dead body and could not celebrate the Passover. Because they were unsure of what to do in light of the regulation restrictions, they went to Moses with their confusion. Moses did the right thing by taking it to the Lord.

When we are unsure or confused about something, is our first thought to take it to the Lord?

The Lord orders a numbering or a census of the sons of Israel from age 20 years or more. During this census, the people are still encamped at Sinai. Don't become discouraged in the reading.

Again in the numbering of the tribes, Ephraim and Manasseh represent the tribe of Joseph. Then the tribes are given their placement to camp and the order for marching whenever they are given the word to move. The tribe of Judah always leads. Dan always comes last.

The families of the tribe of Levi are not counted along with the others. It is clear that this tribe is set apart. Even their tents are set up around the tabernacle so that wrath will not fall on the Israelite community. They guard the tabernacle. No one gets in without going through the Levites. And we continue to see how "set apart" this tribe actually is. Application for us as Believers??? We too are "set apart". Do we act like it???

In Exodus 25 we read about a sea cow used in the tabernacle. The Hebrew word for sea cow is tachash and means
1) a kind of leather, skin, or animal hide
1a) perhaps the animal yielding the skin
1a1) perhaps the badger or dugong dolphin, or sheep

Here's a link sent to us from one of the e-bible study participants. (Thanks Steve)

For those who may be interested in knowing what a dugong is (referenced as a sea cow in Exodus), here is a link to wikipedia that gives an explanation and description of this animal. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dugong

Try not to get too bogged down in the readings for today. Take note of the specifics of the offerings. All these offerings were to be used in the work at the Tent of Meeting. These offerings will be of great significance later on.

Notice that the offerings of the 12 tribes are the same, no matter how small or how large the tribe. Also notice that there are 12 tribes even though the tribe of Levi is not counted. Joseph is left out and his two sons Ephraim and Manasseh are in.

The Levites become the kinsmen redeemers for the first born male. Moses was also told to purify the Levites and to present them as a wave offering. The Levites themselves were to be a wave offering before the Lord. They were also given as gifts to Aaron and his sons to do the work at the tabernacle. We find out a little later just how much work they had to do!

Aaron was told to set up the seven lamps that had been made according to the pattern God had given Moses on the mountain.
Num 8:2-4
"Speak to Aaron and say to him, 'When you set up the seven lamps, they are to light the area in front of the lampstand.'"Aaron did so; he set up the lamps so that they faced forward on the lampstand, just as the LORD commanded Moses. This is how the lampstand was made: It was made of hammered gold-- from its base to its blossoms. The lampstand was made exactly like the pattern the LORD had shown Moses.

Seven lamps are prominent elsewhere in Scripture as well.
Rev 4:5
From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God.

Everything was done by Moses just as the Lord commanded. So far…so good. Stay tuned!

Chapters 8 through 10 in the book of Leviticus cover the consecration of Aaron and his sons. As you read, pay close attention to the words ordination, eat, clean, and unclean. Chapter 10 has the first reference in the Bible to God's holiness. Note what happened.

Once again, Moses is obedient to the Lord when it comes to the special offerings and sacrifices during the week of the dedication of the tabernacle. Blood represented the innocent life of the animal that was sacrificed in place of the guilty person. God granted forgiveness of the sinner based on the faith of the person doing the sacrifice - a foreshadowing of the sacrificial death of Jesus for our sins.

This "pleasing aroma" of the sacrifice was a way of saying that God accepted the sacrifice because of the people's attitude.

Aaron’s sons died because they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord. Do people today in positions of authority and leadership in effect offer “unauthorized fire” to the Lord? Do they do this in the form of unbiblical observances and teachings? Just a thought…

Jer 2:13
"My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.

Lev 10:10
You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean,

Again, something that church and denomination leaders are charged with, to teach the people the difference between the spiritual and the worldly. And again, much like it will be as the apostate church devolves into the false church during the last days.

How is it with us as believers in Jesus? Do we know the difference between the holy and the common, between the clean and the unclean? God tells us in Leviticus 10 "I will show himself holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored."

Do we honor Him in the way we worship? Do we treat Him as holy? Is our attitude of worship pleasing to Him? Do we honor Him in the way we dress, the way we talk, the way we act?

Moses did everything as the Lord commanded.

This phrase is repeated several times in today's reading. Can others say this about us? Do we as Believers do everything as the Lord commanded?

Moses' faith put the tabernacle in place.

And so Moses finished the work.
Again, can this be said about us as Believers? Do we finish the work that the Lord has given us to do?

And look what happened next. The Lord was so pleased with the work.
“…and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.”

Can there be a more spectacular proclamation? Maybe so. Read the following.

Acts 4:31
After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

As the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle, so we should allow ourselves to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Imagine a group of people so filled with the Holy Spirit that the place where they are meeting is shaken. Kind of gives a person goosebumps doesn’t it?

Here's another "conversation" concerning some confusing things in the readings.

I'm confused about the "Tablets". The tablets of the Testimony were inscribed by the finger of God, which Moses smashed. In Ex. 34:1-7, God said that he would write on a second set as he did the first. However, Ex:27,28, God has Moses doing the writing.

Taken at face value it appears as if there is a conflict. We know that when there is an "apparent contradiction" there is something WE don't understand. We often think that the Ten Commandments were the only things written on the tablets. After looking carefully at all the words again, we know that God did indeed write the commandments on the first set of tablets. As for the second set of tablets, God said He would write them again. In Ex. 34:27, God tells Moses, "Write down these words..." Could it be that the words to which He is referring are the previous words concerning the treaties, the smashing of the other gods and their altars and monuments? If so then that would make sense then when verse 28 says that "he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant - the Ten Commandments." The "he" would be God and not Moses. There is some clarification on page 216 Deuteronomy 10:1-5. These verses indicate that it was God who wrote the Ten Commandments. It appears that Moses wrote some of the details, such as all the other laws, the commands about the treaties, etc.

Were there actually two different sets of tablets (not including the smashed ones).?

Both times there were two separate stone tablets. It was the Ten Commandments plus all the other rules that we'll read about later. There was more information there than just the Ten Commandments.

Were the tablets of the Testimony different than the tablets containing the 10 commandments?

They were the same.

Why did God write some and then have Moses write some?

God wrote commandments 1-10. Moses wrote the rest.

God gives through Moses the first stewardship “sermon”. God commands that everyone who is WILLING is to bring an offering to the Lord. So everyone who was willing and whose heart moved him gave to the Lord. These are offerings and are different from the tithe which comes later.

Then Moses summoned every skilled worker (with God-given abilities) and who was WILLING to come and do the work.

The people were bringing offerings above and beyond what was needed, so much so that the people had to be restrained from bringing more. This happened because their hearts were moved and they gave for all the right reasons.
(Email us for a copy of A Biblical View of Stewardship)

Notice the attention to even the minutest detail, such careful attention to accuracy in the instructions for the construction of the tabernacle. Can you even begin to imagine the beauty?

All this is just a foretaste of the heavenly beauty that awaits us in eternity.