Numbers 11 – 13, cont’d

Numbers 11 – 13, cont’d

Chapter 13 and 14 might be better studied together, but I guess we can explore Numbers 13 by itself.

In chapter 13, we are introduced to one of my favorite Biblical characters: Caleb of the tribe of Judah. He is one of the twelve selected by Moses to scout out the land of Canaan. Just as early explorers of our great land sent scouts ahead of wagon trains and cavalry troops, so Moses appointed the twelve to explore the land of Canaan. Notice that one of the men sent was Hoshea (Joshua), Moses’ right-hand man.

The twelve were given specific instructions:

• Go north through the Negev into the hill country
• See what the land is like
• Find out whether the people living there are strong or weak, few or many
• Find out if the land they live in is good or bad
• Check if their towns have walls, or are unprotected like open camps
• Determine if the soil is fertile or poor
• Find out how many trees there are
• Bring back samples of the crops they see

The men did as they were told and even brought back a cluster of grapes from the valley of Eschol so large it took two men to carry it on a pole. They brought back samples of pomegranates and figs.

This was no quick trip; it took forty days. When they came back they showed the produce to the people and described the land as “a beautiful country—a land flowing with milk and honey.” But – and isn’t there always a “but?” – they said that the people who lived there were powerful, with towns that are large and fortified. There were even giants in the land.

When you consider what the Israelites had seen God do to the Egyptians with their own eyes, it puzzles me how they could not think God could make it possible for them to conquer these people.

Caleb and Joshua (as you’ll see in the next chapter), try to get the explorers and the people to go at once to conquer the land.

This is instructive to us. So many times in life, there are obstacles that seem insurmountable, but for God. He is able “to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think...” As someone once said, “Don’t tell God how big your problems are, but tell your problems how big your God is.

Tomorrow, it’s Numbers 14 – 15 and Psalm 90.

Until next time…

Numbers 11 – 13 and Finally, Empty

Numbers 11 – 13

In Numbers 11, we see that whining and complaining was the order of the day. First, the Israelites complained so much, the Lord sent a fire to “rage among them.” After screaming to Moses for help, he prayed to the Lord and the fire stopped.

Secondly, the foreigners traveling with them must have started talking about the good old days in Egypt and how much they missed the meat and free fish and cucumbers, and melons, and leeks and onions and garlic. They didn’t like a steady diet of manna, which was there for free – they only had to pick it up.

Lastly, Moses complains to the Lord about all of the families standing in the doorways of their tents whining. Moses wanted to know why the Lord was treating him so harshly. He complains that he can’t carry them all by himself and then continues on to say “just go ahead and kill me. Do me a favor and spare me this misery.” Kind of dramatic, don’t you think?

Ephesians 5:20 urges us to “give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” If you think about it, grumbling or whining or complaining shows a definite lack of faith in God. In Hebrews 11:6 we are told without faith, it is impossible to please God. We find it easy to be thankful when everything is going along pleasantly, but let us face a problem or let something happen that we cannot understand and we are tempted to grumble or whine or complain.

Apparently, Moses had somewhat of a valid point since God has him appoint seventy elders/leaders upon whom God will put the Spirit and they would bear the burden of the people along with Moses so he would not have to carry it alone. The Lord also told the people to purify themselves and get ready to eat meat. In fact, he tells them “You will eat it for a whole month until you gag and are sick of it. For you have rejected the Lord who is here among you, and you have whined to him, saying, ‘Why did we ever leave Egypt?’”

Moses shows some more lack of faith in God’s ability to provide this meat and God assures him he will see what God can do.

So, what happened with the meat? God sends a wind that brought quail into the camp. “For miles in every direction there were quail flying about three feet above the ground.” No one collected less than fifty bushels. God must have been really unhappy because he also sent a “severe” plague on those who had craved meat from Eqypt.

Families are a lot of fun: they love to tell you how to live your life, who you should hang around with, who you should marry, and any number of things that are probably not their business regardless of whether they do this because they care about you. Sometimes there is also sibling rivalry and jealousy. Moses’ sister Miriam and brother Aaron were obviously jealous—Their words show it: Numbers 12:2 – ““...Has the Lord spoken only through Moses? Hasn’t he spoken through us, too?” But the Lord heard them.” And He was not happy with what He heard.

Why do you suppose Miriam was struck with leprosy, but not Aaron? Perhaps it was because he was the high priest, or perhaps he was quick enought to cry out to Moses when he saw what happened to Miriam. What do you bet Miriam was much more careful in her thoughts and words after seven days of being outside the camp.

Since we still have tomorrow to discuss these chapters, we’ll leave chapter 13 until then.

So, tomorrow, it’s Numbers 11 – 13 again.

Finally, Empty

Today, I went to Stonr’N’More and emptied my storage area…finally.Of coiurse, the back of my pickup and the back seat are full, not empty. Now, I have to empty those spaces, but at least, I won’t charge myself $52 per month to leave it there.

ALso, I think I finally got my camper leveled. It was really off and made it dangerous to walk around inside.

Until next time…

Numbers 8 – 10 and Computers

Numbers 8 – 10

After some instructions about the seven lampstands, the Levites are dedicated, set apart from the rest of the people of Israel. First they had to be made ceremonially clean, ehich involved sprinkling with the water of purification, shaving their entire boies and washing their clothing.

Imagine what it was like to shave ones’ entire body before the neat razors and stuff we have today. A grain offering, a young bull for a burnt offering and a young bull for a sin offering were involved in the ceremony.

Did you notice the years of service required by the Levites? They served at the Tabernacle from age twenty-five to age fifty. That is quite different from the age at which we normally retire.

In the course of celebrating the second Passover (it’s been a year since the Israelites left Egypt), the Lord gives Moses instructions about those who are ceremonially unclean at the time of the Passover. Basically, they were to celebrate it on the fourteenth day of the second month. Those who were ceremonially clean and did not celebrate the Passover were to be cut off from the community.

The Israelites were reminded daily that the Lord was with them: the cloud over the Tabernacle during the day and the pillar of fire at night. It was the cloud/pillar of fire that directed them when and where they should travel and when they should camp. What a comfort that must have been, to know that the Lord God Almighty was manifesting His presence.

Just as our army has a bugler, the Israelite had trumpeters, two who played the hammered silver trumpets as signals for a variety of actions: call to the community to assembly, call to signal the breaking of camp, call to sound the alarm to go to war, and during the presentation of burnt offerings and peace offerings. With the hundreds of thousands of Israelites, some means of communication was necessary since they didn’t have Smartphones yet.

After the Israelites had been in Sinai for a little over a year, on the twentieth year of the second month, the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle. Now would begin the trip to the Promised Land. Their first stop was in the wilderness of Paran.

According to the text in chapter 10, this happened as follows:

• Judah’s troops started marching followed by Issachar and Zebulun
• The Tabernacle was taken down
• The Gershonites and Merarites were next in line
• Reuben’s troops, joined by those of Simeon and Gad, were next
• The Kohathites carrying the sacred objects from the Tabernacle were next (in this way, by the time the Kohathites reached the next spot for camping, the Tabernacle would be all set up and ready for them)
• The tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh and Benjamin followed
• Finally, Dan’s troops marched with those of Asher and Naphtali, serving as rear guard

Did you wonder why Moses was so intent to have his brother-in-law Hobab go with them? Moses told Hobab it was because Hobab knew the places in the wilderness where they should camp. Moses wanted him to be their guide. Why did they need Hobab if the Lord God was directing them via a cloud and a pillar of fire?

Tomorrow and the next day (since it’s a Leap Year), it’s Numbers 11 – 13.

Computers

For all of us who feel only the deepest love and affection for the way computers have enhanced our lives, read on. At a recent computer expo (COMDEX), Bill Gates reportedly compared the computer industry with the auto industry and stated, 'If Ford had kept up with technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving $25 cars that got 1,000 miles to the gallon.' In response to Bill's comments, Ford issued a press release stating:  If Ford had developed technology like Microsoft, we would all be driving cars with the following characteristics (and I just love this part):  1. For no reason whatsoever, your car would crash..........Twice a day.  2.. Every time they repainted the lines in the road, you would have to buy a new car. 3... Occasionally your car would die on the freeway for no reason. You would have to pull to the side of the road, close all of the windows, shut off the car, restart it, and reopen the windows before you could continue. For some reason you would simply accept this.  4. Occasionally, executing a maneuver such as a left turn would cause your car to shut down and refuse to restart, in which case you would have to reinstall the engine. 5. Macintosh would make a car that was powered by the sun, was reliable, five times as fast and twice as easy to drive - but would run on only five percent of the roads.  6. The oil, water temperature, and alternator warning lights would all be replaced by a single 'This Car Has Performed An Illegal Operation' warning light. I love the next one!!! 7. The airbag system would ask 'Are you sure?' before deploying.  8. Occasionally, for no reason whatsoever, your car would lock you out and refuse to let you in until you simultaneously lifted the door handle, turned the key and grabbed hold of the radio antenna. 9. Every time a new car was introduced car buyers would have to learn how to drive all over again because none of the controls would operate in the same manner as the old car.  10. You'd have to press the 'Start' button to turn the engine off. PS - I 'd like to add that when all else fails, you could call 'customer service' in some foreign country and be instructed in some foreign language how to fix your car yourself!!!! Please share this with your friends who love - but sometimes hate - their computer!

Tonight, my brother Jeff, my cousin Richard and I had dinner at Carrabba’s in Temple Terrace. It was delicous.

Until next time…

Numbers 7 and A Visit from My Brother Jeff

Numbers 7

Finally, the Moses sets up the Tabernacle, anointed it and set it apart as holy. All its furnishings and the altar with its utensils is also set apart.

The Tabernacle was designed and built to be portable and various Levite clans were assigned to transport specific sections of it. The offerings brought by the leaders who had registered the troops were, therefore, very important.

• Two wagons and four oxen went to the responsible to care for the Tabernacle, including the sacred tent with its layers of coverings, the curtain at its entrance, the curtains of the of the courtyard, and the curtain at the courtyard entrance, the ropes and all the equipment related to their use
• Four wagons and eight oxen went to the Merarite division for their work because they were Responsible for the care of the frames supporting the Tabernacle, the crossbars, the pillars, the bases, and all the equipment related to their use, as well as the posts of the courtyard and all their bases, pegs, and ropes
• The Kohathites were not given any wagons or oxen because what they transported had to be carried by hand because they were responsible for the care of the Ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the various articles used in the sanctuary, the inner curtain, and all the equipment related to their use

It took twelve days for the dedication gifts for the altar to be brought to the Tabernacle. Each day the leader of a tribe, beginning with Nahshon son of Amminadab of the tribe of Judah, would bring their offerings:

• A silver platter weighing 3 ¼ pounds filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil
• A silver basin weighing 1 ¾ pounds filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil
• A gold container weighing four ounces, filled with incense
• A young bull, a ram and a one-year-oold male lamb for a burnt offering
• A male goat for a sin offering
• Two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs

We are then told the totals of these offerings.

The last verse was to me the most interesting. Moses went into the Tabernacle and actually spoke with the Lord and he would here the voice of God speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the Ark’s cover, i.e., from the place of atonement.

Tomorrow, it’s Numbers 8 – 10.

A Visit from My Brother Jeff

My brother Jeff is stopping for a visit on his way down to a friend’s house. I’m expecting him any time now, so I’ll post this right away.

Until next time…

Special Update on the Move

By 11:30 am, my camper was moved down 2 spots to #146 and set up completely, including my DirecTV antenna set up properly. It didn’t take as long as I thought it would, mostly because one of the guys that lives here, who drove tractor-trailer for 40 years, backed up the camper into the new spot. It only took him 5 minutes. It would have probably taken me 5 hours. :)

I have even unloaded all but just a few  boxes.

At first I thought the move would not make a difference in my Internet connection since I couldn’t get my computer or my Kindle Fire to connect to his wireless network – the main reason for my move. However, a call to Bright House made everything work okay, i.e., even though I dropped a paper clip down in the modem while I tried to reset it.

My wonderful cousin Richard brought me some delicious baked potato soup from Bob Evans so I wouldn’t have to cook dinner tonight. Of course, it was enough soup that will supply dinner for the next two nights too.

Well, I think it’s going to be an early night tonight.

Until next time…

Numbers 5 – 6

Numbers 5 – 6

The first part of chapter 5 deals with quarantining people (making them live outside the camp) who appear to have diseases. In this way, God protected the Israelites. In previous readings, we’ve seen that God also provided a way back, a way to become ceremonially clean and be allowed back in the camp again.

At first, I was a bit troubled by the ritual established to determine if a wife goes astray. What about if a husband goes astray? There was no provision for that. Then, it occurred to me that this ritual was a blessing in two ways:

• It protects the wife who is faithful
• If a woman strays, she might become pregnant and her husband could unknowingly have to bring up a child that is not his; the straying husband cannot become pregnant

Chapter 6 discusses the requirements and provisions for becoming a Nazirite, described as one who sets himself or herself to the Lord in a special way.

They were required to:

• Give up wine and other alcoholic drinks
• Not use vinegar made from wine or from other alcoholic drinks
• Could not drink even fresh grape juice
• Could not eat grapes of raisins
• Could not eat or drink anything that comes from a grapevine
• Could not cut their hair throughout the time of their vow
• Could not go near a dead body during the entire time of their vow, even if the dead body was a close relative
• If someone dropped dead besides them, they had to be cleansed from defilement and the length of their vow started over

At the end of chapter 6, the Lord passes on the priestly blessing to be given by Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel:

Numbers 6:24-26 – “May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.” This is from the New Living Bible.

The New King James says it in this way: “The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.”

In this way, the priests would put God’s name on the children of Israel and He would bless them.

Wow!

Tomorrow, it’s Numbers 7.

It’s 6:11 on Saturday morning.l I wanted to make sure I posted my blog today so I decided to do so early instead of waiting until I am too exhausted to do so.  Hoping the move will go well.

Until next time…

Numbers 3 – 4 and Moving Tomorrow

Numbers 3 – 4

In the first two chapters of Numbers, we saw learned about the number of the twelve tribes, how they were stationed about the Tabernacle when the Israelites camped, and the order in which they marched. In chapters 3 and 4, we learn about the Levites, how many there were, where they were assigned to camp in relationship to the Tabernacle, and what their duties were.

Aaron had four sons, but Nadab and Abihu died when they burned the wrong kind of fire before the Lord. That left Aaron’s sons Eleazar and Ithamar to serves as priests with their father.

Aaron and Moses were descendants of Jacob’s son Levi. The rest of the Levites were to serve as assistants to Aaron and his sons.

The Levites were to serve as substitutes for all the firstborn sons of Israel. God says (Num. 3:13, “…I set apart for myself all the firstborn in Israel, both of people and of animals. They are mine; I am the Lord.”

Did you notice that when God numbered the non-Levitical Israelites, he counted all men twenty and older who were able to go to war? When he counts the Levites, he counts all males one month old or older based on which of Levi’s sons they were descended from: Gershon, Kohath, or Merari.

A further division by clans was also made, based on the descendants of Gershon, Kohath, or Merari:

• Gershon (7500 males one month old or older)
  • Assigned the area to the west of the Tabernacle for their camp
  • Clans:
    • Libni
    • Shimei
  • Responsible to care for the Tabernacle, including the sacred tent with its layers of coverings, the curtain at its entrance, the curtains of the of the courtyard, and the curtain at the courtyard entrance, the ropes and all the equipment related to their use
• Kohath (8600 males one month ord or older)
  • Assigned the area to the south of the Tabernacle for their camp
  • Clans:
    • Amram
    • Izhar
    • Hebron
    • Uzziel
  • Responsible for the care of the Ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the various articles used in the sanctuary, the inner curtain, and all the equipment related to their use
• Merari (6200 males one month old or older)
  • Assigned the area to the north of the Tabernacle
  • Clans:
    • Mahli
    • Mushi
  • Responsible for the care of the frames supporting the Tabernacle, the crossbars, the pillars, the bases, and all the equipment related to their use, as well as the posts of the courtyard and all their bases, pegs, and ropes

This left the area in front of the Tabernacle (to the east) for the tents of Moses and Aaron and Aaron’s sons, who had the final responsibility for the sanctuary on behalf of the people of Israel. Aaron’s son Eleazar, the chief administrator over all the Levites, had special responsibility for sanctuary oversight.

The Levites were to serve as substitutes for all the firstborn sons of Israel. God says (Num. 3:13, “…I set apart for myself all the firstborn in Israel, both of people and of animals. They are mine; I am the Lord.” The number of firstborn sons of the Israelites one month or older was 22,273. The number of Levites one month old or older was 22,000. In other words, there were 273 more first-born sons of the Israelites than there were Levites. In order to redeem these extras, Aaron was to collect five pieces of silver for each of the extras – 1365 pieces of silver.

Numbers 4 goes into a little more detail on the responsibilities of the Kohathites, the Gershonites and the Merarites.

When the camp moved, Aaron and his sons had to enter the Tabernacle first to get things ready to carry, then the Kohathites were to carry these things. They were not allowed to touch the sacred objects or they would die.

The Gershonites, who reported to Aaron’s son Ithamar, were responsible for general service and carrying loads.

The Merarites, who also reported to Aaron’s son Ithamar, were only responsible for carrying loads.

In terms of service, only men between thirty and fifty years old were eligible for service in the Tabernacle. There were 2750 Kohathites, 2630 Gershonites, and 3200 Merarites who met the criteria for a total of 8580.

Tomorrow, it’s Numbers 5 – 6.

Moving Tomorrow

Tomorrow, I’m moving my camper down two spaces to Lot #146. I’ve packed up most of the loose stuff today and put down a new mat for in front of my camper. I am definitely not looking forward to backing this camper up. Hopefully, we won’t have a repeat of Yellowstone Park like the last time I backed a camper up into that spot. Remember?

Numbers 1 – 2 and AZ Gov. Jan Brewer

Numbers 1 – 2

In chapter 1, it is easy to see why this book is called Numbers. A year after the Israelites left Egypt, the Lord told Moses to appoint leaders, count, and record the names of all the warriors by their clans and families. Except for the Levites, they were to list all men twenty years old and older who were able to go to war.

Note the names and numbers of the tribes listed (603,550 men in all):

• Reuben -- 46,500
• Simeon -- 59,300
• Judah – 74,600
• Issachar – 54,400
• Zebulun – 57,400
• Ephraim, son of Joseph – 40,500
• Manasseh, son of Joseph – 32,200
• Benjamin – 35,400
• Dan – 62,700
• Asher – 41,500
• Gad – 45,650
• Naphtali – 53,400

There are twelve tribes listed (2 for Jacob’s son Joseph) even though the tribe of Levi is not counted, since they are the priests and had other responsibilities.

Numbers 2 outlines the instructions for setting up camp and traveling. Each tribe had its own banner and was assigned its own area based on the Tabernacle:

• East of the Tabernacle (a total of 186,400) and they led the way whenever the Israelites traveled to a new campsite
  • Judah – 74,600
  • Issachar – 54,400
  • Zebulun – 57,400
• South of the Tabernacle (a total of 151,450) and they traveled second in line
  • Reuben – 46,500
  • Simeon – 59,300
  • Gad – 45,650
• The Levites and the Tabernacle traveled third
• West of the Tabernacle (a total of 108,100) and they traveled fourth in line
  • Ephraim – 40,500
  • Manasseh – 32,200
  • Benjamin – 35,400
• North of the Tabernacle (a total of 157,600) and they traveled last in line
  • Dan – 62,700
  • Asher – 41,500
  • Naphtali – 53,400

Everything seems pretty well-organized. No one had to wonder where they would camp. The Tabernacle, surrounded by the Levites, was surrounded and protected by three tribes on each side.

Tomorrow, it’s Numbers 3 – 4.

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer vs the Phoenix Suns owner

The owner of the Phoenix Suns basketball team,

Robert Sarver, came out strongly opposing AZ's new immigration laws.
Arizona 's Governor, Jan Brewer,

released the following statement in response to Sarver's criticism of the new law:

"What if the owners of the Suns discovered that hordes of people were sneaking into games without paying? What if they had a good idea who the gate-crashers are but the ushers and security personnel were not allowed to ask these folks to produce their ticket stubs, thus non-paying attendees couldn't be ejected.
Furthermore, what if Suns' ownership was expected to provide those who sneaked in with complimentary eats and drink? And what if, on those days when a gate-crasher became ill or injured, the Suns had to provide free medical care and shelter?"

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer

Until next time…

Leviticus 26 – 27 and Lunch with Viv, Bill, and Richard

Leviticus 26 – 27

In Leviticus 26, God describes for the Israelites what will happen “If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands” and “if you do not listen to me or obey all these commands, and if you break my covenant by rejecting my decrees, treating my regulations with contempt, and refusing to obey my commands.”

If they followed His decrees and obeyed, God said:

• He would send the seasonal rains
• The land would yield its crops
• The trees of the fiels will produce their fruit
• The threshing season would overlap with the grape harvest
• The grape harvest would overlap with the season of planting grain
• They would eat their fill and live securely in their own land
• God would give peace in the land
• They would be able to sleep with no cause for fear
• God would rid the land of wild animals
• God would keep their enemies out of their land
• The Israelites would chase down their enemies and slaughter them with their swords (five would chase a hundred and a hundred would chase a thousand)
• All their enemies would fall beneath their sword
• God would make them fertile and multiply their people
• God would fulfill His covenant with them
• They woud have a surplus of crops that they would need to clear out to make room for the new grain
• God would live among them and not despise them
• God would walk among them and be their God and they would be His people

Now, that’s some serious incentive for obedience. However, if the did not listen to God or obey all these commands, God said:

• He would punish them
• He would bring sudden terrors upon them
• He would bring wasting diseases and burning fevers that would cause their eyes to fail and their life to ebb away
• They would plant their crops in vain because their enemies would eat them
• God would turn against them and they would be defeated by their enemies
• Those who hated them would rule over them
• They would run even when no one was chasing them
• If in spite of these things, they disobeyed, God would punish them seven times for their sins
• He would break their proud spirit by making the skies as unyielding as iron and the earth as hard as bronze
• All their work would be for nothing for their land would yield no crops and their trees would bear no fruit
• If they remained hostile toward God and refused to obey Him after that, He would inflict disaster on them seven times over tor their sins
• He would send wild animals that would rob them of their children and destroy their livestock
• Their numbers would dwindle
• Their roads would be deserted
• If they failed to learn the lesson and continued their hostility toward Him, God would be hostile toward them
• He would personally strike them with calamity seven times over for their sins
• He would send armies against them to carry out the curse of the covenant they have broken
• When they run to their towns for safety, God would send a plague to destroy them there
• They would be handed over to their enemies
• God would destroy their food supply so that ten women would only need one oven to bake bread for their families
• They would ration food by weight and though they had food to eat, they would never be satisfied
• If in spite of all that they still refused to listen and still remained hostile toward the Lord, He would give full vent to His hostility
• He would punish them seven times over for their sins
• They would eat the flesh of their own children
• God would destroy their pagan shrines and knock down their places of worship
• God would leave their lifeless corpses pile on top of their lifeless idols
• God would despise them
• God would make their cities desolate and destroy their places of pagan worship
• God would take no pleasure in their offerings that should be a pleasing aroma to Him
• God Himself would devastate their land and their enemies who come to occupy it would be appalled at what they see
• He would scatter them among the nations and bring out His sword against them
• Their land would become desolate and their cities would lie in ruins
• At last, the land would enjoy its neglected Sabbath years while they are in exile in the land of their enemies
• Those who survived would be demoralized in the land of their enemies
• They would die among the foreign nations and be devoured in the land of their enemies
• Those who survive would waste away in their enemies’ lands because of their sins and the sins of their ancestors

Please note that God, in His Mercy, set levels of punishment beyond which He would not go unless the Israelites continued in their sin (see where I italicized and bolded the text). In His Mercy, God uses these punishments to try to bring the Israelites back to Himself. At the end of the list of what would happen if they disobeyed, God reaffirms His covenant with them, promising not to wipe them out, but to remember the ancient covenant with their ancestors.

The last chapter deals with the redemption of gifts offered to the Lord. I admit I don’t understand how or why the values were set as they were, but they were applied consistently.

This chapter also covers the tithe as one-tenth of the crops, one-tenth of the livestock.

Tomorrow, we begin the book of Numbers, reading chapters 1 – 2.

Lunch with Viv, Bill and Richard

Since Richard had to go to his eye doctor today and had to have someone drive him, we set up lunch with Viv and Bill McMillan. Viv is Richard’s cousin and the daughter of my mother’s friend from childhood, Irene Miller.

We had lunch at The Fireplace in Largo. I had a gyro and a small Greek salad. It was delicious.

Viv is having a difficult time right now with her health and I know she and Bill would appreciate your prayers. These are some fine folks. It’s hard to see them struggling

Until next time…

Leviticus 24 – 25 and My Brother-in-Law Don

Leviticus 24 – 25

Since oil is traditionally a type of the Holy Spirit, it is no surprise that the priests were to make sure the lamp that stood in the Tabernacle burned continually. It was never to be allowed to go out.

The Lord offered a lot of incentive not to commit blasphemy. Anyone who did this was to be taken outside the camp where those who heard the curse were to lay hands on his head. Then the entire community was to stone him to death. A few crimes resulted in death, but the punishment for crimes where people were injured was not so severe. It could really be summed up with the words: “anyone who injures another person must be dealt with according to the injury inflicted – a fracture for a fracture, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.”

I am saddened when I think of how God’s name and Jesus’ name are used rather flippantly, even by those who profess to love the Lord. Imagine how God must feel.

In chapter 25, God introduces the idea of a Sabbath rest for the land. During the seventh year, they were not to plant crops or prune vineyards or harvest crops. On top of that, there was the year of the Jubilee. This was to begin on the Day of Atonement in the fiftieth year. Except for the fact that they could eat whatever the land produced on its own, the land was to be treated as in the Sabbath year.

Property that had been purchased between was to be returned to the seller and the price could depend on how many years to Jubilee, i.e., land was not to be sold on a permanent basis. This did not apply to someone who sold a house inside a walled town; the seller only had a year in which to buy it back.

Land sold by the Levites within the towns allotted to them could always be bought back at any time. If not bought back before the Jubilee, it was to be returned at that time.

Israelites who sold themselves into slavery were to be treated fairly, as a hired worker or temporary resident. If still a slave during the Year of Jubilee, they were to be set free at that time. This did not apply to foreigners.

The reason for this, as stated in Lev 25:55: “For the people of Israel belong to me. They are my servants whom I brought out of the land of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”

Tomorrow, it’s Leviticus 26 – 27 and the next day, we begin Numbers.

My Brother-in-Law, Don

Mark’s brother, Don, was knocked out by a tree he was felling. Fortunately, my sister-in-law Rose was home for President’s Day. He was taken to the ER where they discovered he had a few small broken bones. They did have him stay the night in the hospital. Thanks to all of you for praying for him.

My sister-in-lay, Joyce (Mark’s sister) is having surgery this week. They will be removing large polyp they found when they were checking her after breast cancer surgery. Please keep her in your prayers.

Until next time…

Leviticus 22 – 23

Leviticus 22 – 23

In chapter 11, the Lord explains to Moses that Aaron and his sons must be very careful with the sacred gifts the Israelites set apart for Him. He then lists a number of ways they could bring shame on His holy name:

• Approaching the sacred offerings while ceremonially unclean
• Having a skin disease or some discharge that makes him ceremonially unclean
• Touching a corpse or having an emission of semen or touching a small animal that is unclean
• Touching someone who is ceremonially unclean for any reason

He also gave instructions about who could NOT eat the sacred offerings:

• People outside the priest’s family
• Guest or hired workers in a priest’s home
• A daughter who marries someone outside the priestly family (unless she becomes a widow or is divorced and has no children to support her and returns to her father’s home

He also made it clear that only the best was to be offered to the Lord; it had to be a perfect animal. It seems many would have been tempted to offer an animal they knew had some kind of defect to help them strengthen their flock or herd. The animal had to be at least eight days old and could not be offered on the same day as the mother animal.

Chapter 23 discusses the Lord’s appointed festivals as well as the Sabbath Day. Did you notice that during the celebration of the first harvest (or firstfruits), no bread or roasted grain or fresh kernels was to be eaten until they brought their offering to their God.

We also learn of a new festival, the Festival of Shelters, which was to take place five days after the Day of Atonement and last for seven days. The purpose was to remind the Israelites that their ancestors had to live in shelters when God rescued them from the land of Egypt.

On the day after tomorrow, we will finish the book of Leviticus and start the book of Numbers. Wow! We have almost completed four books of the 66 that comprise the Bible.

Tomorrow, it’s Leviticus 24 – 25.

Until next time…

Leviticus 19 – 21 and Right vs Left

Leviticus 19 – 21

Chapter 19 starts with the Lord telling Moses: “Give the following instructions to the entire community of Israel. You must be holy because I, the Lord your God am holy.” God then goes on to tell Moses what holiness looks like. Did you notice how much this was like the Ten Commandments? He talks about respect for parents and observing the Sabbath, as well as not trusting in idols or metal images of gods. He discusses how the peace offerings to the Lord must be handled.

We discussed previously how important the treatment of orphans and widows was. God makes provision for the poor and the foreigners living among them. They were not to harvest the grain along the edges of the field, or completely strip “every last bunch of grapes” from the vines. They were not to pick up what dropped on the ground during harvest. If you are familiar with the story of Ruth and Boaz, you’ll know that Ruth took advantage of this when she and Naomi came back from Moab with very little to sustain them.

Of course, they were not to steal, to deceive or cheat each other. They were not to swear falsely or defraud or rob their neighbors.

Did you notice that hired workers were to be paid on the day they worked? Both insulting the deaf and causing the blind to stumble were also forbidden.

I found it particularly interesting that justice was not to be twisted in legal matters by favoring either the poor or the rich. People were to be judged fairly.

There were a number of other specific no-no’s mentioned, including sexual prohibitions. This chapter leaves no doubt about how God looks at a number of different sexual sins. And what about fortune-telling or witchcraft? Do you ever consult your horoscope?

Did you see that tattooing your body was forbidden?

And God leaves no doubt about what He expected. Verse 37 says “You must be careful to keep all of my decrees and regulations by putting them into practice. I am the Lord.”

Chapter 20 gives instructions about how people were to be punished if they were disobedient. Some of it was pretty severe, like putting to death both the man and the woman who commit adultery. Some sins resulted in death by burning and some in death by stoning. Some were cut off from the community.

What it boiled down to was they were not to live like the people God was driving out to make a place for them. God set them apart from all other people to be His own.

Chapter 21 discusses specific instructions for the priests and high priest. The people were set apart; the priests and high priests even more so.

Tomorrow, it’s Leviticus 22 – 23.

Right vs Left

Why is it that Conservatives are called the "right"
and Liberals are called the "left"?

By chance I stumbled upon this verse in the Bible:
"The heart of the wise inclines to the right, But the heart of the fool to the left."    Ecclesiastes 10:2

Can't get any simpler than that.

Spelling Lesson:
The last four letters in American..........I Can
The last four letters in Republican.......I Can
The last four letters in Democrats.........Rats
End of lesson. 

Test to follow in November, 2012.

Remember, November is to be set aside as rodent extermination month.

Leviticus 16 – 18

Leviticus 16 – 18

Chapter 16 introduces the Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur as you may have heard it called. This happened once each year on the tenth day of the seventh month. This Day of Atonement was like a Sabbath day in that no one, even the foreigners in their midst, was to do any work.

Please note that before Aaron or the high priest could offer a sin offering and a burnt offering for the people, he first had to offer a sin offering and a burnt offering for himself. There were very specific rules set forth about how the high priest was to cleanse himself, what clothes he was to wear and how the offerings were to be handled. He, and only he, could enter the Tabernacle on that day and only he could enter the Most Holy Place where the Ark of the Covenant with the Mercy Seat was kept.

Note that two goats were to be presented for the sins of the people. One was to be slaughtered and one was the “scapegoat.” The high priest would lay both hands on the scapegoat and confess “all the wickedness, rebellion, and sins of the people of Israel.” The sins of the people were thus transferred to the head of the goat.

A specially chosen man would then drive the goat into the wilderness and the goat would carry the people’s sins upon itself into a desolate land.

Chapter 17 makes it clear that the Israelites were always to bring their sacrifices to the Tabernacle. They were not to sacrifice animals in the open fields. A repetition of the law forbidding the eating or drinking of blood was repeated. Punishment for this was being cut off from the community. God makes it clear that this if forbidden because “the life of the body is in its blood. I have given you the blood on the altar to purify you, making you right with the Lord. It is the blood, given in exchange for a life, that makes purification possible.”

Chapter 18 deals with sexual relations and those with whom they could have sexual relations. God made it very clear that he was driving out the people who already lived in the land because they had violated these rules. These rules are very clear and unambiguous, no matter what people may say today.

Tomorrow, it’s Leviticus 19 – 21.

Until next time…

Leviticus 14 – 15 and State Preambles

Leviticus 14 – 15

Yesterday’s reading had to do with the priest monitoring various skin diseases and mildew. Chapter 14 deals with ceremonial purification of those who have been healed of skin diseases or whose homes are contaminated by mildew.

Once it was determined that a skin disease has been healed, the priest was to perform a purification ceremony. The tools for this ceremony included two live, ceremonially clean birds, a stick of cedar, scarlet yarn and a hyssop branch. One bird was slaughtered and one was allowed to fly away.

I don[‘t think I would have enjoyed this ceremony very much because the priest was to sprinkle blood from the dead bird seven times over the person being purified. At that point, the priest released the live bird.

People being purified had to wash their clothes, shave off all their hair, and bathe themselves in water. They were then ceremonially clean and could return to camp. But it didn’t end there. They couldn’t go back in their tents for seven days. On the seventh day, they once again had to shave all the hair from their heads, including their beard and eyebrows. They had to wash their clothes and bathe again. The next day, each one being purified had to bring two male lambs and a one-year old female lamb with no defects along with a grain offering of six quarts of choice flour moistened with olive oil, and a cup of olive oil.

The priest would take one of the male lambs and the olive oil and present them as a guilt offering, “lifting them up as a special offering before the Lord.” This offering went to the priest – a most holy offering. Blood from this offering was applied to the right ear lobe, the thumb of the right hand and to the big toe of the right foot of the person being purified.

Some of the olive oil was poured into the priest’s left hand and then the priest used his right finger to dip oil from his palm and sprinkle it seven times before the Lord then apply it to the right ear lobe, the thumb of the right hand, and the big toe of the right foot. The rest of the oil in the priest’s left hand was applied to the head of the person being purified.

The priest then slaughters the burnt offering and offers it on the altar along with the grain offering. No mention is made of the female lamb, but then I’m assuming it’s the second male lamb that is used for the burnt offering..

If a person was too poor to be able to offer the lambs, they could bring one male lamb together with two turtledoves or two young pigeons. Instead of the six quarts of choice flour, they could bring two quarts.

A few instructions are also given for dealing with mildew-contaminated houses.

Chapter 15 deals with male discharges, with the emission of semen and with a woman who has her menstrual discharges. Eight days after a man’s discharge was healed he was required to bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons to the priest as sin offering and a burnt offering to purify him before the Lord for the ceremonial impurity. Eight days after her period stopped, a woman was required to bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons to the priest as sin offering and a burnt offering to purify her before the Lord for the ceremonial impurity.

These instructions were so a person could be ceremonially clean, but I’m sure they also prevented a lot of diseases and stopped some diseases from spreading.

Aren’t you glad we don’t have to go through all of these ceremonies? Through Jesus, God made us clean and we can come “boldly to the throne of grace” where… “we will receive mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” Hebrews 4:16.

Tomorrow, it’s Leviticus 16 – 18.

State Preambles

Alabama 1901, Preamble We the people of the State of Alabama , invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish the following Constitution..
Alaska 1956, Preamble We, the people of Alaska , grateful to God and to those who founded our nation and pioneered this great land.
Arizona 1911, Preamble We, the people of the State of Arizona , grateful to Almighty God for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution...
Arkansas 1874, Preamble We, the people of the State of Arkansas , grateful to Almighty God for the privilege of choosing our own form of government...
California 1879, Preamble We, the People of the State of California , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom...
Colorado 1876, Preamble We, the people of Colorado , with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of Universe...
Connecticut 1818, Preamble. The People of Connecticut, acknowledging with gratitude the good Providence of God in permitting them to enjoy.
Delaware 1897, Preamble Through Divine Goodness all men have, by nature, the rights of worshipping and serving their Creator according to the dictates of their consciences.
Florida 1885, Preamble We, the people of the State of Florida , grateful to Almighty God for our constitutional liberty, establish this Constitution...
Georgia 1777, Preamble We, the people o f Georgia , relying upon protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution...
Hawaii 1959, Preamble We , the people of Hawaii , Grateful for Divine Guidance ... Establish this Constitution.
Idaho 1889, Preamble We, the people of the State of Idaho , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings.
Illinois 1870, Preamble We, the people of the State of Illinois, grateful to Almighty God for the civil , political and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors.
Indiana 1851, Preamble We, the People of the State of Indiana , grateful to Almighty God for the free exercise of the right to choose our form of government.
Iowa 1857, Preamble We, the People of the State of Iowa , grateful to the Supreme Being for the blessings hitherto enjoyed, and feeling our dependence on Him for a continuation of these blessings, establish this Constitution.
Kansas 1859, Preamble We, the people of Kansas , grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious privileges establish this Constitution.
Kentucky 1891, Preamble.. We, the people of the Commonwealth are grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties..
Louisiana 1921, Preamble We, the people of the State of Louisiana , grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties we enjoy.< span class="Apple-converted-space">
Maine 1820, Preamble We the People of Maine acknowledging with grateful hearts the goodness of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe in affording us an opportunity .. And imploring His aid and direction.
Maryland 1776, Preamble We, the people of the state of Maryland , grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberty...
Massachusetts 1780, Preamble We...the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging with grateful hearts, the goodness of the Great Legislator of the Universe In the course of His Providence, an opportunity and devoutly imploring His direction
Michigan 1908, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Michigan , grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of freedom, establish this Constitution. < /span>
Minnesota, 1857, Preamble We, the people of the State of Minnesota, grateful to God for our civil and religious liberty, and desiring to perpetuate its blessings:
Mississippi 1890, Preamble We, the people of Mississippi in convention assembled, grateful to Almighty God, and invoking His blessing on our work.
Missouri 1845, Preamble We, the people of Missouri , with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, and grateful for His goodness . Establish this Constitution...
Montana 1889, Preamble. We, the people of Montana , grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty establish this Constitution ..
Nebraska 1875, Preamble We, the people, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom . Establish this Constitution.
Nevada 1864, Preamble We the people of the State of Nevada , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, establish this Constitution...
New Hampshire 1792, Part I. Art. I. Sec. V Every individual has a natural and unalienable right to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience.
New Jersey 1844, Preamble We, the people of the State of New Jersey, grateful to Almighty God for civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors.
New Mexico 1911, Preamble We, the People of New Mexico, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty..
New York 1846, Preamble We, the people of the State of New York , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure its blessings.
North Carolina 1868, Preamble We the people of the State of North Carolina, grateful to Almighty God, the Sovereign Ruler of Nations, for our civil, political, and religious liberties, and acknowledging our dependence upon Him for the continuance of those...
North Dakota 1889, Preamble We , the people of North Dakota , grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, do ordain...
Ohio 1852, Preamble We the people of the state of Ohio , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings and to promote our common.
Oklahoma 1907, Preamble Invoking the guidance of Almighty God, in order to secure and perpetuate the blessings of liberty, establish this
Oregon 1857, Bill of Rights, Article I Section 2. All men shall be secure in the Natural right, to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their consciences
Pennsylvania 1776, Preamble We, the people of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking His guidance.....
Rhode Island 1842, Preamble. We the People of the State of Rhode Island grateful to Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing....
South Carolina , 1778, Preamble We, the people of he State of South Carolina grateful to God for our liberties, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
South Dakota 1889, Preamble We, the people of South Dakota , grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberties .
Tennessee 1796, Art. XI..III. That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their conscience...
Texas 1845, Preamble We the People of the Republic of Texas , acknowledging, with gratitude, the grace and beneficence of God.
Utah 1896, Preamble Grateful to Almighty God for life and liberty, we establish this Constitution.
Vermont 1777, Preamble Whereas all government ought to enable the individuals who compose it to enjoy their natural rights, and other blessings which the Author of Existence has bestowed on man ..
Virginia 1776, Bill of Rights, XVI Religion, or the Duty which we owe our Creator can be directed only by Reason and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian Forbearance, Love and Charity towards each other
Washington 1889, Preamble We the People of the State of Washington, grateful to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution
West Virginia 1872, Preamble Since through Divine Providence we enjoy the blessings of civil, political and religious liberty, we, the people of West Virginia reaffirm our faith in and constant reliance upon God ...
Wisconsin 1848, Preamble We, the people of Wisconsin, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, domestic tranquility....
Wyoming 1890, Preamble We, the people of the State of Wyoming , grateful to God for our civil, political, and religious liberties, establish this Constitution...

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After reviewing acknowledgments of God from all 50 state Constitutions, one is faced with the prospect that maybe, the ACLU and the out-of-control federal courts are wrong!

If you found this to be 'Food for thought' send to as many as you think will be enlightened as I hope you were.

(Please note that at no time is anyone told that they MUST worship God.)

Let us bring God back into America !
GOD BLESS AMERICA !

Until next time…

Leviticus 11 – 13

Leviticus 11 – 13 and Atheist Holy Day

The Israelites were a people set apart from the rest of the world. The Lord gave them very specific instructions about what was okay to eat and what was not. He tells them: “By these instructions you will know what is unclean and clean, and which animals may be eaten and which may not.” And there weren’t just rules about what was allowed to be eaten, but God also set up rules about what carcasses would make one ceremonially unclean.

Why do you think God had different rules based on whether a woman gave birth to a son or daughter?

Gender of the Child	Days Unclean	Days before Purification
Male	7	33
Female	14	66

The seven days unclean for the male may have something to do with the fact that every male child was to be circumcised on the eighth day. When a woman was ceremonially unclean, she was not allowed in the Tabernacle and was not allowed to touch anything set apart as holy. Women who were ceremonially unclean were not allowed to have sexual relations during their time of uncleanness. I don’t remember reading anywhere as to why the differences, but there may have been some underlying health reasons which no one has discovered yet. One web site I read said it may have something to do with the fact that most female babies are smaller than their male counterpart and this added time would give the mother more time to focus attention on the child.

If you recall, Luke records the details of Mary and Joseph taking Jesus to the temple to present him to the Lord at the time of their purification offering.

Leviticus 13 records the Lord’s instructions to Moses and Aaron about skin diseases and mildewed clothing. These topics creep me out, but we should note how carefully the priest was supposed to monitor these. If not closely watched, the skin diseases and the mildew could have spread and caused epidemic problems.

Tomorrow, it’s Leviticus 14 – 15.

Atheist Holy Day

My cousin Richard sent this and it’s too good not to pass on.

FLORIDA COURT SETS ATHEIST HOLY DAY In Florida , an atheist created a case against Easter and Passover Holy days.

He hired an attorney to bring a discrimination case against Christians and Jews and observances of their holy days. The argument was that it was unfair that atheists had no such recognized days.

The case was brought before a judge. After listening to the passionate presentation by the lawyer, the judge banged his gavel declaring, "Case dismissed!"

The lawyer immediately stood objecting to the ruling saying, "Your honor, How can you possibly dismiss this case? The Christians have Christmas, Easter and others. The Jews have Passover, YomKippur and Hanukkah, yet my client and all other atheists have no such holidays.."

The judge leaned forward in his chair saying, "But you do. Your client, counsel, is woefully ignorant." The lawyer said, "Your Honor, we are unaware of any special observance or holiday for atheists."

The judge said, "The calendar says April 1st is April Fools’ Day. Psalm 14:1 states, 'The fool says in his heart, there is no God.' Thus, it is the opinion of this court, that, if your client says there is no God, then he is a fool. Therefore, April 1st is his day.

Court is adjourned.."; You gotta' love a Judge that knows his scripture!

Moving

I spoke with the park manager today and I will be moving my camper from lot 144 to lot 146 by the end of the month. It’s supposed to rain some time over the next few days and I don’t want to move in the rain. I’ve already cancelled my expensive Verizon 4G modem service. Can’t wait to get closer to Richard’s. The new spot is right behind his house.

I’ve got my dehydrator going: 3 trays with Jalapeno peppers, 1 tray with green pepper, and 1 tray of sliced mushrooms.

Until next time…

Leviticus 8 – 10 and The Vow

Leviticus 8 – 10

The Lord was very specific about how priests were to be ordained, how they were to dress, how the sacrificial offerings were to be carried out. In the last verse of chapter 8, Aaron and his sons “did everything the Lord had commanded through Moses.” We see this continue in chapter 9.

Aaron presents the offerings just as the Lord commanded. After Moses and Aaron go into the Tabernacle and come back out, they blessed the people again and the glory of the Lord appeared to the whole community. Imagine seeing fire blazing out and consuming the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. No wonder the people shouted with joy and fell face down on the ground.

How quickly things changed, though. For some reason, Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, put coals of fire in their incense burners and sprinkled incense over them. In the same way the fire consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar, fire blazed forth from the Lord’s presence and burned them up. They “died there before the Lord.”

Moses has Aaron’s cousins remove the bodies from in front of the sanctuary to a place outside the camp, but he would not let Aaron or his other sons grieve in public on threat of their death and that the Lord’s anger would strike the whole community. Aaron and his sons were not even allowed to leave the entrance of the Tabernacle.

I wonder of Nadab and Abihu lit the strange fire because they had been drinking, because right after that, the Lord told Aaron that he and his descendants must “never drink wine or any other alcoholic drink before going into the Tabernacle.”

Tomorrow, it’s Leviticus 11 – 13.

The Vow

Today, I emptied some more stuff out of my storage space and then went to see The Vow starring Rachael McAdams and Channing Tatum. Jessica Lange played Rachel McAdams ‘ mother. Either they did a fantastic job of make-up or age has not been kind to her.  The movie got panned by the critics, but I enjoyed it.

I’m considering moving my camper down a couple of spaces so I can take advantage of my cousin Richard’s WiFi. I think I can move it into the site where I created the fountain a couple of years ago.

Until next time…

Leviticus 5 – 7 and Thank You from Japan

Leviticus 5 – 7

Leviticus 5 discusses the sin offering and the guilt offering. What the sin offering consisted of depended on who you were or what you had – a high priest had to bring a young bull, a leader had to bring a male goat, a common person had to bring a female goat or lamb, a poor person had to bring two doves or two pigeons, and a very poor person 1/10 of an ephah of fine flour. The sin offering was for specific unintentional sin. The guilt offering, on the other hand, was for sins where restitution was required and a ram was required.

Chapter 6 talks a little more about burnt offerings: the burnt offering had to be left on top of the altar until the next morning and the fire on the altar had to be kept burning all night. Ashes from the burnt offering were to be carried outside the camp to a place that was ceremonially clean.

In view of the fact that fire is often a symbol of the Holy Spirit, it is interesting to note how many times God mentions that the fire on the altar must never be allowed to go out.

The Lord was very specific about what should happen when Aaron and his sons were anointed, as well as any successors to them.

In chapter 7, more clarification is given about the guilt offering, the sin offering and the peace offering. Note that the priest was allowed to keep the hide of the animal sacrificed for the burnt offering.

Although yeast was forbidden in most offerings, bread made with yeast was to accompany any peace offering of thanksgiving.

God reiterates to Moses that the blood and fat were never to be eaten. People who disobeyed this were to be cut off from the community.

God certainly provided for his priests. The right thigh and the breast were to be given to the priest with any peace offering.

Tomorrow, it’s Leviticus 8 – 10.

Thank You from Japan:

Everyone should watch this Thank You from Japan After the Tsunami:

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=SS-sWdAQsYg&vq=medium

My Handy-Dandy Apple Peeler

Today, I used my apple peeler/corer/slicer for the first time. It works great. In about 10 – 15 minutes, I had my apples prepared for the dehydrator. My only problem was I underestimated how many apples I needed. I had 7 pretty good sized ones, but could have used a couple more. They are dehydrating quite quickly.

Until next time…

Leviticus 1 – 4 and Crockpot Stew

Leviticus 1 – 4

Do you like the smell of roasting meat? How about the smell of barbequing meat? I sure do and I think it is clear that the Lord likes that smell also. In Leviticus 1, there are three references (verses 9, 15 and 17) to a burnt offering as “a special gift, a pleasing aroma to the Lord.”

These burnt offerings were very important to the Lord, since they allowed the person bringing the offering to be “accepted by the Lord… the Lord will accept its death in your place to purify you, making you right with him.” The penitent had to lay his hand on the animal’s head while it was slaughtered. The Lord provided a way of reconciliation through the shedding of the blood of these animals.

Chapter 2 deals with another kind of offering: the grain offering. The grain offering was moistened with oil and accompanied by frankincense. A portion of the flour moistened with oil and all of the frankincense was to be burn on the altar. The rest was used by Aaron and his sons. This grain offering was called a most holy part of the special gifts presented to the Lord.”

Note that yeast and honey were not allowed in this special grain offering, but it could be presented with the firstfruits. Salt was to be included in all grain offerings.

If you want a complete table of the five types of offerings and sacrifices, check out:

http://www.3dbibleproject.com/en/tabernacle/details/offerings.htm

Did you notice that the Israelites were never to eat any fat or blood? (Leviticus 3:17) In this instance, fat refers to animal fat. Olive oil or other pressed oils would have been okay.

What a bloody mess these animal sacrifices must have made! Cattle have more than 4 gallons of blood, all of which was spilled when the sacrifices were made. Isn’t it great that we don’t have to offer up these sacrifices? Jesus was offered as a sacrifice for our sins, once for all.

Hebrews 9: 25 – 28 says, “And he (Christ) did not enter heaven to offer himself again and again, like the high priest here on earth who enters the Most Holy Place year after year with the blood of an animal. If that had been necessary, Christ would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age, to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice. And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, So also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of the many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.”

I know we read four chapters today, but you might find it instructive to read the entire  ninth chapter of Hebrews. It really makes sense of what all this represents.

Tomorrow, it’s Leviticus 5 – 7.

Crockpot Stew

As I sit here writing my blog, my nose is being assailed by the wonderful aroma of beef stew bubbling away in my crock pot. This is the first time I’ve tried it via crock pot and I hope I can wait long enough so it really gets done before taking off the top and testing it.

Until next time…

Exodus 39 – 40 and Global Warming – Yeah, Right!

Exodus 39 – 40

The Tabernacle was completed and the Lord tells Moses to set it up on the first day of the new year. It has been a year since the first Passover (the last of the ten plagues) and since the Israelites left Egypt.

Moses does everything as the Lord commands, including placing the stone tablets inside the Ark of the Covenant. After Moses finishes the set up, the cloud that had led them out of Egypt covers the Tabernacle and the glory of the Lord fills the Tabernacle. Even Moses could no longer enter the Tabernacle because of the cloud.

During the day, the people could see the cloud. At night, fire glowed inside the Tabernacle. The cloud and the fire were a visible, physical sign that the Lord was with them and the people knew when to set out on their journey by when the cloud rose from the Tabernacle.

Tomorrow, it’s Leviticus 1 – 4. We’ve already read three of the sixty-six books of the Bible. Hope you are enjoying it and learning from it as much as I am.

Global Warming – Yeah, Right!

As you know, if you read yesterday’s post, I planted a couple of pepper plants yesterday. I live in Florida where it’s usually warm, but last night they were predicting near freezing temps. At 5:30 this morning, my iPhone said it was 34 degrees in Thonotosassa. Fortunately, I had noticed the weather forecast before going to bed and covered my plants with a couple of blankets. They survived. I’ll probably be covering them again since it’s supposed to be just about as cold tonight.

Until next time…

Exodus 36 – 38 and Forty-Five Years Ago Today

Exodus 36 – 38

I bet most pastors who read the first few verses of Exodus 36 wish they had the same problem that the craftsmen complained to Moses about: “The people have given more than enough materials to complete the job the Lord has commanded us to do.”

Moses told them not to bring any more gifts for the sanctuary and they complied. Most of the rest of these chapters deal with the building of the Tabernacle and its contents and the Ark of the Covenant.

Did you notice how everything was built to be portable? It was also crafted according to the instructions God gave Moses.

Tomorrow, it’s the final two chapters of Exodus: 39 - 40.

Forty-Five Years Ago Today

Forty-five years ago today, also on a Saturday, Mark and I were married at the Ansonia Christian and Missionary Alliance Church in Ansonia, Pa – not too far from Wellsboro, PA. It was a snowy, very cold day, although I don’t think either of us noticed the weather. Days like this are somewhat bittersweet. Wonderful memories of that day vie with Mark’s absence from my life. However, as each day passes, I’m that much closer to the day I will again see him and all of my loved ones who have gone before.

Farmer Kathy Strikes Again

This morning, I planted a Jalapeno pepper plant and a yellow bell pepper plant in the Grow Bags I ordered from Gardener’s Supply. It’s an ingenious way to grow stuff and I' can’t wait for the peppers to start coming. Did I mention how much I like Jalapeno peppers?

Here’s a picture of the plants after I got them all ready to go.

Until next time…

Exodus 33 – 35 and Journey 2 The Mysterious Island

Exodus 33 - 35

A lot of people had died as a result of worshiping the golden calf. Not only did the Levites slay about 3,000 people as ordered by God through Moses, but the Lord sent a great plague upon the people because they worshiped this calf.

We don’t know how long a period of time passes before the Lord tells Moses to go up to the land He swore to give to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, but the last few chapters of Exodus deal with Moses going back on Mt Sinai for forty more days and nights and the preparation of the Tabernacle and what it contained.

The Lord told Moses He would not travel amount the people because of their stubbornness and rebellion. If He did, He “would surely destroy you along the way.”

Upon hearing about this (“these stern words”), the people go into mourning to the point where they stop wearing their jewelry and fine clothes. In fact, God tells them not to wear their fine clothing and jewelry until He decides what to do with them.

The people were really affected by what happened when Moses came down from the mountain: when Moses went out to the Tent of Meeting, they would stand in the entrance of their own tents and watch until Moses went inside. Once the pillar of cloud stood at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the people would stand and bow down in front of their tents. This very visible evidence of the Lord’s presence must have been terrifying for them.

Moses seeks assurance from God that He will go personally with them. Moses recognizes that it is God’s presence among them that sets the people and himself apart from the other people on the earth. Moses longs to see God’s face, but God hides him in the rock and lets him see Him from behind.

The Lord has Moses chisel out two more stone tablets and take them up on Mt Sinai again. No one is to go up on the mountain except Moses, who carries those tablets up. Moses worships God and begs for Him to travel with them, to forgive their iniquity and sins and to claim them as His own special possession.

God admonishes Moses never to make a treaty with the people that live in the land where they are going. He recognized the influence such people could have on the Israelites; they would follow their evil ways and be trapped. Instead, they were to break down pagan altars, smash sacred pillars, and cut down their Asherah poles (poles used to honor a false goddess called Asherah or AAstarte). God was jealous about His relationship with the people. Even today, parents admonish their children to be careful of the friends they keep. Friends can be a powerful influence.

During this forty-day period that Moses was on the mountain, the people did not create or worship a golden calf. It must have been a bit frightening for them when Moses came down after forty days and forty nights with his face radiant from being in the presence of God. Moses had to cover his face with a veil when speaking to them because of what is known as the Shekinah glory – a manifestation that Moses had been with God.

Chapter 35 covers Moses reiterating God’s instructions on the Sabbath, requesting gifts for the Lord, and describing the talents of Bezalel and Oholiab. The people opened their hearts and freely brought their best stuff to be used.

Only two more days in Exodus and we will be studying Leviticus.

Tomorrow, it’s Exodus 36 - 38.

Journey 2 the Mysterious Island

Tpday, I went to see Journey 2 The Mysterious Island starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Michael Caine. It was a extremely funny and exciting movie. Someone certainly has a vivid imagination.

After I got hime, I discovered my Grow Bags had arrived so I went to Walmart to pick up potting soil, a yellow bell pepper plant, and a Jalapeno pepper plant. Tomorrow, I’ll set up the bags and plant my peppers. I’ve missed growing stuff.

Until next time…

Exodus 30 – 32 and See You On the Bus

Exodus 30 - 32

In chapter 30, the Lord lays out for Moses the plans for the Incense Altar, the Washbasin, the Anointing Oil, and the Incense.

He also tells Moses how the Tabernacle is to be supported. Once each year, anyone who has reached their twentieth birthday was required to give a sacred offering of half a shekel (described as a small piece of silver) to the Lord. Even the poorest of the poor had to give this offering: “the rich must not give more than the specified amount, and the poor must not give less… It will bring the Israelites to the Lord’s attention, and it will purify your lives.”

The formulas for the incense and anointing oil were never to be made and used by the people. It was “reserved for the Lord, and you must treat it as holy.”

In chapter 31, we see that God chose two special men to build the tabernacle, etc.: Bezalel of the tribe of Judah and Bezalel’s assistant, Oholiab of the tribe of Dan. Have you known folks like these two guys, someone who could put their hand to almost anything?

Bezalel was described as “filled with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts…a master craftsman, expert in working with gold, silver, and bronze … skilled in engraving and mounting gemstones and in carving wood… a master at every craft.” In fact, God gave special skill to all the gifted craftsmen.

They had to craft:

• The Tabernacle
• The Ark of the Covenant
• The Ark’s cover – the place of atonement
• The table and its utensils
• The pure gold lampstand with all its accessories
• The incense altar
• The altar of burnt offering with all its utensils
• The washbasin with its stand
• The sacred garments for the priests
• The anointing oil
• The fragrant incense fo the Holy Place

We find out here that the Sabbath day was to be kept because it is a sign of the covenant between God and Israel from generation to generation. Anyone who desecrated the Sabbath or worked on the Sabbath was to be put to death.

After the Lord finishes speaking, He gives Moses the two stone tablets on which the terms of the covenant were outlined, written by the finger of God.

In the meanwhile, while Moses spent the forty days and nights on Mt Sinai, the people demanded that Aaron make them some gods who could lead them. No more than forty days before, Israel had promised not to call on the name of any other gods or even speak their names (see Exodus 23:13 and Exodus 24:3 and 24:7) One must wonder how they thought that a “god” made by human hands could be of any benefit to them.

Good old Aaron goes right along with them and melts down the gold rings they give him into something shaped like a calf. The people shout: O Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of the land of Egypt!” The next day they compound their sin by offering burnt offerings and peace offerings to this golden monstrosity and “engaging in pagan revelry.”

When Moses hears the Lord’s intentions to destroy the Israelites and make of Moses a great nation, Moses pleads with God to turn away from His fierce anger and remember Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to whom God was bound by an oath.

Carrying the stone tablets upon which the finger of God wrote, Moses goes down into the camp, gets very angry, and smashes the tablets at the foot of the mountain. He burns the calf, grinds it into powder, throws it into the water and forces the people to drink.

Imagine: stone tablets with the actual writing of God, destroyed in anger by Moses, but who can blame him?

Tomorrow, it’s Exodus 33 - 35.

See you on the Bus

To help save the economy, the Government will announce next month that the Immigration Department will start deporting seniors (instead of illegal’s) in order to lower Social Security and Medicare costs.
Older people are easier to catch and will not remember how to get back home.
I started to cry when I thought of you.
Then it dawned on me ... oh, shoot...
I'll see you on the bus!

Exodus 28 – 29 and One for the Money x 3

Exodus 28 – 29

In chapter 28, God relays to Moses information on clothing for priests, the design of the Ephod (probably looked something like a vest), design of the Chestpiece, and talks about the Urim and Thummin.

It is interesting to note that wearing the robe with the bells that tinkle as the priest goes in and out of the Lord’s presence in the Holy Place makes it so the priest will not die.

The medallion of pure gold engraved “Holy to the Lord” which was worn on the turban allowed Aaron to take on himself any guilt of the people of Israel when they consecrated their sacred offerings. Wearing this made it so the Lord will accept the people.

In chapter 29, God discusses how the priests were to be dedicated including what offerings were to be made during the process.

I love the last couple of verses (44 and 46) in chapter 29 where God talks about living among the people of Israel and being their God, how they will know that He is the Lord their God, the one who brought them out of the land of Egypt so He could live among them. We’ll see that this is not as important to the Israelites as it is to God.

Tomorrow, it’s Exodus 30 - 32.

One for the Money x 3

Yes, today, I went to see the movie One for the Money for the third time. I was a little surprised that, by the time the movie started,  the theater was about half-full. I enjoyed it just as much this time as I did the other two times and will probably go see it again.

Until next time…

Exodus 25 – 27

Exodus 25 – 27

At the end of chapter 24, we learned that Moses stayed on the mountain for forty days and forty nights. During that time, just as He had told Noah how to build his ark, God outlined for Moses how the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant should be made. He even showed Moses the pattern for building these and told Moses to be sure to make it according to the pattern He showed him. Chapters 26 and 27 cover more specifics on the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant.

This earthly Tabernacle was portable, designed to be transported wherever God sent His people.

We know from Hebrews 8:2 and 9:11 that there is a heavenly Tabernacle, a perfect Tabernacle made not by human hands and not a part of the created world.

The Tabernacle God outlined for Moses and everything in it were copies of things in heaven and had to be purified by the blood of animals. Hebrews 9:23 – 24 says …”But the real things in heaven had to be purified with far better sacrifices than the blood of animals. For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with human hands… He entered into heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf.”

Revelation 15:5 speaks of this Tabernacle in the temple in heaven, being thrown wide open.

In a side note, there is an attraction in Orlando called The Holy Land Experience which I have been to a couple of times. One of their best exhibits includes a 30-minute presentation in a scaled Wilderness Tabernacle. If you haven’t been there, this is well worth the ticket price and really brings to life the tabernacle.

Tomorrow, it’s Exodus 28 – 29.

Until next time…

Exodus 22 – 24 and Lunch with Esther

Exodus 22 – 24

In chapters 22 – 24, God continues to be fairly specific about how His people are to live, in terms of protection of property, social responsibility, and justice.

Jesus summed this up very well when He said in Matthew 22:37 – 40 “…”You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” How different the world would be if everyone lived according to these commandments!

Did you notice that widows and orphans were not to be exploited? James 1:27 defines pure and genuine religion as “taking care of orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.”

In chapter 23, God discusses three festivals the Israelites were supposed to celebrate annually:

1. Festival of Unleavened Bread
   1. For seven days they were not to eat anything made with yeast
   2. It was to be celebrated every spring in the month of Abib
   3. It is the anniversary of their departure from Egypt
2. Festival of the Harvest (also called Firstfruits)
   1. They were to bring God the first crops of the harvest
3. Festival of the Final Harvest (also called Ingathering)
   1. Celebrated at the end of the harvest season once all crops have been harvested

God sets out some common rules for these festivals and then promises He will send an angel before them to protect them on their journey and to lead them safely to the place He has prepared for them. He promises He will destroy the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites, and Jebusites so the Israelites can live where those tribes now live. He promises to send His terror ahead of them and create panic among all the people they invade, but He will not drive them out all at once in a single year, because the land would become desolate and will animals will take over.

Note that He admonishes them not to make treaties with them or their gods, because they will cause the Israelites to sin against Him.

When Moses presents this information to the people, “All the people answered with one voice, ‘We will do everything the Lord has commanded.’”

Moses read them from the Book of the Covenant and they repeated their vow.

Moses, Aaron, Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel climb up the mountain and there they saw the God of Israel. They ate a covenant meal in his presence.

After this, God has Moses and his assistant Joshua go up the mountain so He can give him the tablets of stone. To the Israelites, the glory of the Lord appeared at the summit like a consuming fire.

Moses stays on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

Tomorrow, it’s Exodus 25 – 27.

Lunch with Esther

Today, I had lunch with Esther at Mimi’s Cafe in Brandon. It was good as usual, but the best was the Red Velvet Cheesecake. Esther didn’t have dessert; the poor thing is doing Weight Watchers.

Exodus 19 – 21 and Flowering Flowers

Exodus 19 – 21

The Israelites arrive in the wilderness of Sinai (the place where God spoke to Moses from the burning bush) just two months after they leave Egypt. Not surprisingly, Moses climbs the mountain to talk with God. God does not disappoint him. He gives Moses instructions for the family of Jacob, the descendants of Israel.

He first reminds them what He did to the Egyptians and then promises them that if they will obey Him and keep His covenant, they will be God’s own special treasure from among all the people on the earth. The earth belongs to the Lord. They will be His kingdom of priests, His holy nation.

Israel answered, “We will do everything the Lord has commanded.” But, we will find out that words are cheap. When Moses relays these words to God, He tells Moses to prepare the people, to consecrate them. On the third day the Lord Himself will come down on Mount Sinai as all the people watch.

A boundary had to be set which the people were not supposed to cross and, any person or animal that did was to be stoned or shot with arrows. This is pretty serious – if you disobeyed this rule, you were dead.

Imagine how it was. Here you were, miles from what had been your home, out in the wilderness where everything was strange and different. You’d been warned not to cross a boundary or you would die. On that third day, thunder roared, lightning flashed, and a dense cloud comes down on the mountain. At a long, loud blast from a ram’s horn, Moses led them to the foot of the mountain. The whole mountain shook violently. As the horn gets louder and louder, Moses spoke and God thundered his reply.

Let’s face it, any one of those things would be enough to frighten people.

God told Moses to bring Aaron up with him.

In Exodus 20, we read the words that would become the basis for many of our laws. If everyone lived their lives according to the Ten Commandments laid out here by God, life would be very different. But now, in this nation founded on these commandments, we have evil people who don’t even want these commandments in any public arena.

The Lord makes it clear that He has the authority to give these commandments because He is the Lord who rescued them from slavery. He also leaves no doubt that He is a jealous God.

Could anyone tell me what is so bad about these commandments that they would engender such resistance?

After God shares these commandments, the people ask that God not speak directly to them, but that Moses should speak to them and they will listen. Moses replies that God came in that way to test them and so that their “fear of him will keep you from sinning.”

God then starts fleshing out some of the Ten Commandments and His law, including how they are to set up and use altars, how they are to treat their slaves, and what should happen if someone is injured by someone else. God gets very specific about these rules.

Tomorrow, it’s Exodus 22 – 24.

Flowers Flowering

 

For beautiful photography of flowers flowering, check out this site:

http://player.vimeo.com/video/27920977?title=0&%3bbyline=0&%3bportrait=0href=