When Moses returned from the mountain with the two tablets of the Testimony, the people were impatient and built a golden calf to worship. When Moses questioned his brother about this, Aaron replied with the lamest excuse on record. “…they gave me this gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!” HA!
“…please forgive their sin - but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.”
What book? (See Phil 4:3, Ps 69:28, Rev 3:5)
Exod 34:33-35
When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. But whenever he entered the LORD's presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the LORD.
2 Cor 3:18
And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
Are our faces radiant after we have spoken with the Lord?
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
There are many times the words “without yeast” appear in reference to presenting offerings to God. In the New Testament, Jesus warned us about the "yeast" of the Pharisees.
Matt 16:11b-12
But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees."Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Notice how many times the words “a pleasing aroma” appear in Scripture, followed every time in this day’s reading by the words, “an offering made to the Lord by fire.” What is the significance of that for us spiritually?
Rom 12:1
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.
2 Cor 2:14
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.
Is this the "pleasing aroma" He expects from us? To spread the knowledge of Him?
The two tablets of the Testimony were inscribed by the finger of God! WOW!
Matt 16:11b-12
But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees."Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Notice how many times the words “a pleasing aroma” appear in Scripture, followed every time in this day’s reading by the words, “an offering made to the Lord by fire.” What is the significance of that for us spiritually?
Rom 12:1
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.
2 Cor 2:14
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.
Is this the "pleasing aroma" He expects from us? To spread the knowledge of Him?
The two tablets of the Testimony were inscribed by the finger of God! WOW!
Friday, January 29, 2010
Did God give Moses the plans for the building of the tabernacle while he was on the mountain? Did Moses write all those many, many details down on something or did he just supernaturally remember? Or did God refresh his memory from time to time?
The breastpiece for the priest was to be used for making decisions. How does that relate to us as Christians with the breastplate of righteousness?
Eph 6:14
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
Isn’t it remarkable that these men who were skilled in brick making now have been given skills as seamstresses for making the garments for the priests? Just an example of how God gives us spiritual gifts and uses us for tasks that we could have never dreamed of doing.
Are all of us using our God-given spiritual gifts?
The breastpiece for the priest was to be used for making decisions. How does that relate to us as Christians with the breastplate of righteousness?
Eph 6:14
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
Isn’t it remarkable that these men who were skilled in brick making now have been given skills as seamstresses for making the garments for the priests? Just an example of how God gives us spiritual gifts and uses us for tasks that we could have never dreamed of doing.
Are all of us using our God-given spiritual gifts?
Thursday, January 28, 2010
God spoke the words of the Ten Commandments the first time. The people did not want to listen to the voice of God. They instead heard thunder and saw lightning and smoke. A similar thing happened with Jesus.
John 12:28-29
Father, glorify your name!" Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again."The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
Who is this "angel" God sent to go with them who has the power to forgive sin?
1 Cor 10:1-4
For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea.They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual foodand drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.
John 5:22
Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son
Pretty clear...the "angel", God's Presence, was God, the Son.
Another example of how God, the Son interacted with people in the Old Testament is found in this passage.
Exod 24:9-11
Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of sapphire, clear as the sky itself. But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank.
And then we have this verse.
John 6:46
No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father.
If no one can see the Father then how can Moses, Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, along with the seventy elders see God? Again, it's perfectly clear... the leaders saw God, the Son.
John 12:28-29
Father, glorify your name!" Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again."The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
Who is this "angel" God sent to go with them who has the power to forgive sin?
1 Cor 10:1-4
For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea.They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual foodand drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.
John 5:22
Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son
Pretty clear...the "angel", God's Presence, was God, the Son.
Another example of how God, the Son interacted with people in the Old Testament is found in this passage.
Exod 24:9-11
Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of sapphire, clear as the sky itself. But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank.
And then we have this verse.
John 6:46
No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father.
If no one can see the Father then how can Moses, Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, along with the seventy elders see God? Again, it's perfectly clear... the leaders saw God, the Son.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
As we begin reading of the journey of the Israelites there is an interesting pattern that will emerge, one that is often overlooked. God tells the people that He will protect them from diseases if they will just listen to Him and follow His commands. At this time the only new commands they had were the ones given to them as they traveled, commands such as gathering manna daily six days a week. How hard was that??? It is only later when the people have consistently disobeyed and grumbled and complained that God sent Moses from the mountain with a set of laws carved in stone.
We often equate “carved in stone” as something that is unmoving, unwavering, unchanging, consistent, completely fixed. Yet some people today want to bend and change the Ten Commandments when they literally were carved in stone. Shouldn’t that tell us something?
There is a great lesson to be learned concerning the manna. The Israelites had to trust God daily to supply their needs. Shouldn’t we do that too? Just wake up each morning trusting God to meet our every need.
We often equate “carved in stone” as something that is unmoving, unwavering, unchanging, consistent, completely fixed. Yet some people today want to bend and change the Ten Commandments when they literally were carved in stone. Shouldn’t that tell us something?
There is a great lesson to be learned concerning the manna. The Israelites had to trust God daily to supply their needs. Shouldn’t we do that too? Just wake up each morning trusting God to meet our every need.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
The Lord went ahead of the Hebrews as they made their exodus from Egypt. He guided them in a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire. They were following the Lord and He guided and protected them. The people were told to “Stand firm.” And “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to stand still.”
It is so hard for us to be obedient in standing still, isn't it? We tend to want to DO something.
Then the Lord tells the Israelites to “move on”. If only we would listen to the Lord and stand still when He tells us to and to move on when He tells us to.
Seems as if God displays a sense of humor when He causes the wheels of the Egyptian chariots to fall off.
The word "salvation" appears often in Scripture. Interestingly the English word salvation is translated from several Hebrew words. Sometimes salvation means “save or rescue”. However in the case of the word salvation used in Exodus 15:2, the Hebrew word is "yeshuw` ah." Sound familiar??? It should. It means “He who saves” – Jesus!
It is so hard for us to be obedient in standing still, isn't it? We tend to want to DO something.
Then the Lord tells the Israelites to “move on”. If only we would listen to the Lord and stand still when He tells us to and to move on when He tells us to.
Seems as if God displays a sense of humor when He causes the wheels of the Egyptian chariots to fall off.
The word "salvation" appears often in Scripture. Interestingly the English word salvation is translated from several Hebrew words. Sometimes salvation means “save or rescue”. However in the case of the word salvation used in Exodus 15:2, the Hebrew word is "yeshuw` ah." Sound familiar??? It should. It means “He who saves” – Jesus!
Monday, January 25, 2010
God’s instructions to the Hebrews concerning the Passover are very specifically detailed. The great significance of the Passover is in the prophetic symbolism. Some 1500 years later Jesus became the fulfillment of the Passover by becoming the Passover lamb. The days, hours, minutes, the directions and orders concerning the regulations of the Passover are exact. They are specific so that we can recognize the connections between the first Passover and the fulfillment in the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. The prophecies were fulfilled exactly. From the penning up of the lamb on the tenth of the month to the slaughter of the lamb at twilight on the 14th of the month, Jesus fulfilled these prophecies precisely. As we go through this study we will discover many prophecies that point to Jesus and the cross. Details are on the website www.philandpatti.com concerning the prophetic messianic symbolism of the Passover. Look under A Biblical View of Holy Week.
The Israelite men (by most records men were those over age 20 and under age 60, those who were of fighting age) who left Egypt in the exodus numbered 600,000, not counting women and children. Whew!
When the Lord instituted the Feast of Unleavened Bread, He said to do this as a remembrance of how He had brought them out of Egypt. “This observance will be for you like a sign on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that the law of the Lord is to be on your lips”
A sign on our hand is what we do. A reminder on our forehead is what we think and remember. The law of the Lord should be in what we communicate to others.
How do we as Christians observe and honor our remembrance of what God has done for us?
The Israelite men (by most records men were those over age 20 and under age 60, those who were of fighting age) who left Egypt in the exodus numbered 600,000, not counting women and children. Whew!
When the Lord instituted the Feast of Unleavened Bread, He said to do this as a remembrance of how He had brought them out of Egypt. “This observance will be for you like a sign on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that the law of the Lord is to be on your lips”
A sign on our hand is what we do. A reminder on our forehead is what we think and remember. The law of the Lord should be in what we communicate to others.
How do we as Christians observe and honor our remembrance of what God has done for us?
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