The Crow's Nest

Friday, July 21, 2023

“The Seven Nations”

“When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou;” (Deuteronomy 7:1)

Moses makes no bones about it, Israel is to attack the nations of Canaan and utterly destroy them. There are to be no peace treaties; the enemy is to submit completely to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

“For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.” (Deuteronomy 7:4)

No marriages between the nations of Canaan and Israel. This is how Satan enters the relationships between the people and God.

“But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire.” (Deuteronomy 7:5)

Crush their altars, smash their images, cut down their groves, burn their graven images with fire; utterly destroy their gods as proof that there is only one God.

“The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:” (Deuteronomy 7:7)

God did not bring Israel as the largest force; instead he brought them as the smallest force. It is by God, and by God alone they will destroy the enemies of humanity. As long as Israel keeps God’s commandments they will prevail.

Stay tuned…

“Narrow is the Way”

Jesus said, “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7:14)

“And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them.” (Deuteronomy 5:1)

Moses repeats the 10 commandments given to the people from God.

“4Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:

5And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5)

Moses reminds Israel to teach the commandments, statutes and Jugements to their children to put them on the posts of their homes.

Moses continues to teach them that God had destroyed all of those that stand against you. It is a model of how God wants us to love him, praise him, and worship him.

Stay tuned…

Thursday, July 20, 2023

“These Are The Words”

“And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spake unto the children of Israel, according unto all that the LORD had given him in commandment unto them;” (Deuteronomy 1:3)

Moses provides a summary of the journey of the children of Israel from bondage in Egypt to the border of Canaan. For forty years and 9 months they have traveled the wilderness.

“The LORD our God spake unto us in Horeb, saying, Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount:” (Deut 1:6)

Moses tells the children of Israel that he had selected the wise and known leaders among them to rule them.

“16And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him.

17Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God’s: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.” (Deut 1:16-17)

Moses further tells them to go up and posses the land, the spies have brought you good news. The land is truly Milk and Honey. Through God’s power you defeated Moab and Midian.

Yet, the children of Israel rebelled against going into the land of Canaan. God protected you with a cloud and pillar of fire so you could leave Egypt. He did this right in front of your eyes.

“34And the LORD heard the voice of your words, and was wroth, and sware, saying,

35Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation see that good land, which I sware to give unto your fathers,”(Deut 1:34-35)

Moses continues with this retrospect history of the journey until Deuteronomy 4:11.

Stay tuned…

“Deuteronomy”

“These be the words which Moses spake unto all Israel on this side Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain over against the Red sea, between Paran, and Tophel, and Laban, and Hazeroth, and Dizahab.” (Deuteronomy 1:1)

Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Bible. The purpose of Deuteronomy is to repeat the covenant between God and his people. The Hebrew word for this book is elleh haddebarim, which means “These are the Words”. Unlike Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers; Moses is speaking in a more conversational tone to relate God’s promise and future fulfillment.

The setting for Deuteronomy is on the Jordan river across from Jericho, in the land of Moab. Before we start on the book of Deuteronomy, there is something for you to think about.

Find a place that you can use to quietly think back to the earliest time in your life that you can. Now slowly think about the good, bad, and ugly of life from then until now. What significant things can you remember? Which ones are regrets? Which of these events had the greatest impact on your life now? What did God do for you, that you could not do alone?

Now look at your future. Based on your past did God do anything for you? What does God promise you for your future?

“14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:14-18)

That is the purpose of Deuteronomy. Remembering Israels past, its present, and the promise of its future.

Stay Tuned…

“The Apostasy of Israel”

“And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.” (Numbers 25:1)

The Old Testament begins with the creation of the universe. The first five books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) are a history of the relationship between God and Man.

Genesis details the beginning journey that God leads Man. Each step in the journey is more detailed than the one before. God demonstrates how he loves us, even when we don’t love him.

The story of The Flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham and Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph is about failing to follow God. Everyone in these stories sinned, to include the heroes and heroines. The whole point is to demonstrate to us what sin is, and what the consequences are for sinning.

“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength”

(Deuteronomy 6:5)

The journey through Genesis brings us to the consequence of sin in Exodus.

In Exodus we see the consequence of sin with slavery in Egypt. The book begins with the story of the birth and rescue of Moses. Moses learns who God is, and what God expects. It is not just a lesson to Moses and Israel, but a lesson for everyone.

The books of Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy are more detailed descriptions of the incidents in Exodus after Israels rescue from Egypt. It goes beyond the 10 Commandments.

Leviticus goes into great detail on the consequence of sin. The first thing you will learn is that you can’t live a sinless life. We all know that we will physically die, it is our spiritual death that has the greatest consequence. Our souls are condemned to eternal misery separated from God’s love.

Numbers is a book of violence, deceit, and false prophets. The people of Canaan, God’s promised land for Israel, were worshiping every idol available. The people of Canaan believe Balaam could manipulate God. Balaam thought he could both appease God and get some money and political power at the same time. He couldn’t.

The people of Canaan entices and deceives Israel into the pleasures and promises of the world. God destroys not just the Canaanites, but Israelis as well.

Deuteronomy is a review of God’s law and total commitment to God.

Stay Tuned…

“Balaam’s Blessing”

“And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams.” (Numbers 23:1)

Balak, the King of Moab, and his conspirator Balaam, the prophet, worked together to curse Israel. It didn’t work out the way they planned.

Balaam was a wicked prophet, he wanted fame and fortune from Balak. God had forbidden Balaam to go with Balak’s messengers, but Balaam continued to press God for permission to go. People make that mistake.

If you ask your parents permission to go to a concert and they say no, you will continue to beg them to let you go. Eventually you might break them down and get permission. Worse yet, you will scheme to find a way to go around your parents. God doesn’t work that way.

When God says no, he means no. If you continue in sin, God will warn you. Just as God warned Balaam by blocking his way with the angel of the LORD. Balaam, like a child, said, “I didn’t know you meant I couldn’t go with the messengers”(paraphrased). Balaam lies to God, he knew full well that God had said no.

“And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.” (Numbers 22:12)

Balak builds many altars for Balaam’s curse on Israel. Every curse Balaam attempts to use on Israel come out of his mouth as blessings for Israel. We might be able to manipulate people to get what we want, but God always gives us what we need.

“Balaam’s Folly”

“And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.” (Numbers 22:21)

The Bible tells the story better than I.

“22And God’s anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.

23And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.

24But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.

25And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall: and he smote her again.

26And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.

27And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.

28And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?

29And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.

30And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay.

31Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.

32And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me:

33And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.

34And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.

35And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.” (Numbers 22:22-35)

“Balaam’s Curse”

“And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.” (Numbers 22:3)

Balak was the king of the Moabites. He realized Israel was strong after watching them destroy the Amorites. Balak needed a higher power to help him destroy the Israel. (Numbers 22:1-4)

The Great and All Powerful Diviner Balaam, was a man who said that he and God were constantly talking with each other. Balak King of Moab conspired with the Elders of Midian to convince Balaam to curse Israel. Balak sent princes to negotiate with Balaam.

Balaam told the messengers from Balak to stay the night while I talk to God about this, and I’ll let you know what God says tomorrow. But that is not what happened. God came to Balaam and asked who are these men? (Numbers 22:9)

Balaam replied to God, “Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.” (Numbers 22:11)

God said to Balaam, “Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.” (Numbers 22:12)

Balaam sent the messengers of Balak back into their land. Had Balaam stood his ground and obeyed God’s command he would have found grace from God, but he didn’t.

Balak sent a better bunch of princes to Balaam. Balaam once again asked the messengers to stay the night. Balaam did not ask the messenger to wait for God to talk to him; Balaam wanted time to decide what he should do.

Balaam, like so many in this world was not wanting God, he was wanting fame and fortune. God has already told Balaam to not go with these men, to no curse Israel, but Balaam wanted God to do Balaam’s bidding.

” And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.” (Numbers 22:20)

When God tells you to do or not do something, obey God. God does not negotiate. Asking God the same question looking for a different answer is arguing with God. God will be done. If you choose to not obey, God is patient, God will show you the way you should go.

God will show Balaam the way he should go.

Stay tuned…

“Once Bitten, Twice Shy”

“And when king Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt in the south, heard tell that Israel came by the way of the spies; then he fought against Israel, and took some of them prisoners.” (Numbers 21:1)

A nation, every nation, has five instruments of power. The acronym D.I.M.E. is used to explain what they are.

Diplomacy. The ability of a country to use diplomatic means when dealing with hostile forces is important. The children of Israel faced that problem with the Kingdom of Edom.

Moses sent diplomats to the Kingdom of Edom to obtain permission to cross the nations borders. They promised to not damage or take anything and go only by the King’s highway.

The King refused them. The children of Israel asks again, but promises to pay of any water that their cattle may take. The King not only refused, but he sent a great army. The children of Israel retreated.

Intelligence. The ability of a country to find out information about other nations is key to planning defensive and offensive operations. The children of Israel face that problem when they sent spies into Canaan.

King Arad had detected the spies in Canaan. The King then went out and fought Israel capturing prisoners. The spies had brought back information about the land of Canaan. Which would be used in their favor.

Military. Armed forces are closely connected to Diplomacy and Intelligence. Military power, whether used or not, increases the ability of any nation to tip the scales in Diplomatic negotiations.

Israel responded to the threat of King Arad by vowing to God that if God would deliver their enemies to them; they would destroy them. God delivered, and King Arad was destroyed.

Economic. Without Diplomacy, Intelligence, and Military power; Economic power, great or small, makes you a target. Israel’s enemies were militarily strong, but Diplomatically and Intelligence weak. They were also lacking in a very important power…that is the power of God.

Without God none of these Instruments of Power have any power.

“Moses’s Sin”

“Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there.” (Numbers 20:1)

Moses was not a perfect person. He had grown into a man with the family of the Pharaoh and learned that he was not an Egyptian. Moses lost his self-control when he saw an Egyptian beating one of he brethren. Then Moses ran off into the land of Midian.

It was in Midian that God spoke to Moses and instructed him on how to deal with the Pharaoh. Moses listened to God and followed his instructions. At Mount Sinai Moses received the laws from God. Not in a dream, but in a personal conversation.

The constant complaining to Moses and to God was like children asking, “are we there yet”, to the point of nausea.

It was the pressure of leading the children of Israel that was Moses’s downfall.

“Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.

And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him.

And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?

And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.” (Numbers 20:8-11)

God told Moses to speak unto the rock, not to beat it. Moses didn’t say to the people, “Watch how God provides you water”. Moses puffed himself up as being God, “Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?”

As punishment to the children of Israel, to include Moses and Aaron, they would die in the wilderness. Their children would continue into the promised land.

People are like that. They ignore God and substitute themselves as God.

“Spies”

“Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them.” (Numbers 13:2)

Twelve men, one from each tribe, is sent to spy out the land of Canaan and return a report.

The report is much like that of a military recon using the acronym, S.A.L.U.T.E.

Size. What is the size of the territory, cities, armies, fauna, flora, etc…

Activity. What are the people doing, farming, flocks, trade, etc…

Location. Where are the cities, trade routes, communication routes, topography, etc…

Uniform. How do you identify the people or cities by their clothes, flags, markings, etc…

Time. What time determines the most activity, the least, special gatherings, patrols, etc…

Equipment. How are the cities defended, weapons, implements, water, food, etc…

When the spies return they have observed that the land was flowing with milk and honey as God had said.

“And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.” (Numbers 13:27)

The spies had also reported that the people in the land were strong and their cities were walled.

The spies identified the different organized people.

“The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan.” (Numbers 13:29)

The children of Israel hearing about the strength and numbers of the forces in Canaan were afraid.

Eleven of the spies were against entering Canaan, because they thought they were not strong enough. How crazy is that? God had already defeated a Pharaoh for them, defeated an army for them, promised to give them the land of Canaan. Yet, they still lacked faith. With the exception of one.

Caleb, the spy from the tribe of Judah said, “Lets roll”.

“And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.” (Numbers 13:30)

Be like Caleb, have faith that God will provide.

“Miriam, Aaron, Moses”

“And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.” (Numbers 12:1)

The complaints of the people did not stop among the followers, it included the leaders. Miriam and Aaron knew Moses, before he knew them. Miriam and Aaron had also grown up together as Hebrews. Miriam and Aaron had 40 years of experience being a Hebrew.

Moses, though born a Hebrew, was raised as an Egyptian. Moses had 40 years of experience being an Egyptian. When he left Egypt he ended up with a priest of Midian, his father in law.

The Midianites were descendants of Abraham’s concubine Keturah. They had intermarried with many people. Midinites, if we recall, had bought Joseph from his brothers. Was Zipporah Ethiopian? Probably, we have to take Miriam and Aaron’s word for it.

Miriam and Aaron were in revolt, along with the people against Moses. Their argument against Moses marrying an Ethiopian is followed with the lies they accuse Moses of.

“And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it.” (Numbers 12:2)

God replies,

“6 And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.

7 My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.

8 With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” (Numbers 12:6-8)

God makes it clear that Miriam and Aaron are not prophets; God didn’t send them messages in their dreams or visions. He goes further to tell them that he speaks to Moses as he would talk directly, with his voice, as he would speak to a friend.

Miriam and Aaron made a poor argument. God leaves without another word. Aaron looks at Miriam and sees she is covered in Leprosy.

When we argue with God’s instructions, he leaves us alone; to face the world alone. Moses asked God to not kill Miriam, and God agreed. Miriam still had to be sent out of the camp for seven days as punishment.

The sin of Miriam and Aaron delayed the children of Israels march toward the promised land.

“The Sorrows”

“And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.” (Numbers 11:1)

God had provided the children of Israel with manna, all that they needed. All they had to do was go pick it up off the ground (Exodus 16). Yet they continued to complain.

They complained that in Egypt they had fish, cucumbers, and melons that they could eat freely. God knows a real problem, from a whine about what you want. In Egypt nothing was free. The children of Israel were under extreme burdens to eat. Nothing in Egypt was free.

With the manna from Heaven they had what they needed, but worried themselves about what they wanted. A discontented spirit will seek any reason to quarrel. They failed to spend their time listening, learning and worshiping God.

God was angry at how the children of Israel were mad at God for saving them. God turned their inward anger to an outward fire that consumed their bodies.

Historically, it is the failure of mankind to give people what they want without any work for it. Without work there is no struggle; without struggle there is no growth.

Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3) Jesus didn’t say, “Blessed are the poor in finances”, how much money you have, or do not have is not an issue. Your spirit is what is of concern.

Yet, God provided them with flesh. Quails were sent by a wind from God.

“But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the LORD which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?” (Numbers 11:20)

The sorrows of the children of Israel begins along with our’s, which continues until this day. Trust in God to provide what you need. Complaining to God about what you want is an insult to God.

“God Leads Israel”

“And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.” (Numbers 10:3)

From the very beginning of time God was intent on training us. He picked Israel as a model for us. Not because they were the most powerful, but because they were the least powerful. When God sends the least capable it is a message that God can make the least of men into the mightiest (See The Battle of 9 Kings.)

In Numbers, God is building an army. Not to destroy the world, but to save it. Because we, as people, are free to make our own decision here on Earth, we require a long time in training.

To lead his chosen people God needed a signal that they could see and understand. God used a pillar of smoke by day and a pillar of fire by night to lead them out of Egypt. At Mt. Sinai he added silver trumpets to call the congregation to the tabernacle, or to arms.

God had created a covenant with the children of Israel that they would be a mighty nation in the land of Canaan. To achieve that goal God’s wrath would extend not just to Egypt and Canaan, but to the disobedient children of Israel.

Stay Tuned…

“In The Desert”

“And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying,” (Numbers 1:1)

The book of Numbers is the fourth book of the Bible. Its Hebrew name, bemidbar, means “in the desert”. It begins 2 years after escaping Egypt and are now in the shadow of Mt. Sinai.

Moses and Aaron has been busy building the tabernacle. They have also been busy building a military force. Understanding the book of Numbers begins with understanding numbers.

Lets begin with those numbers.

It begins with the ages of the troops. Obviously people who would be leaders are in an age range of 40-80+. this is because they are the leaders of their family. Draft age begins at 20 (“From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel:” Numbers 1:3). In today’s manning strength the average age of a U.S. Army enlisted personnel is just under 21. As with any military service disabilities can keep you out of service, or allow you to stay based on the needs of the service.

There is an issue with Numbers, and that is, numbers. If you add up the numbers of military aged men there are in each tribe you can expand on that and suppose there are two million plus people in total. Its called, Guesstimation.

Although it can be argued that a huge army will defeat a small one, that is just not how ground combat works in either modern or ancient times. We’ll talk about all that later.

What is about to happen in Numbers is war and rebellion in the journey to the promised land.

“The Annual Day of Atonement”

“And the LORD spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the LORD, and died;” (Leviticus 16:1)

Once a year the children of Israel offered a sacrifice of atonement. In Mosaic law, every sin you commit requires a sacrifice. Under that law, we would need to sacrifice everyday for every sin. God gave them and us these lessons that point to a future means of atonement.

The “Scape-Goat” has been a lexicon since the time of Moses. What was the “Scape-Goat”?

It all starts with the sacrifice. A goat is taken into the tabernacle, “Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat:” (Leviticus 16:15)

The goat that is killed takes the wages of the sin of the human. The wages of sin is death.

The “Scape-Goat” is then brought before the altar alive.

“And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:

And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.” (Leviticus 16:21-22)

This is the model of Jesus Christ. He accepts the sin of the world onto himself, he dies for that sin. Sending the goat into the wilderness is a symbol of Christ’s remission of our sin.

Jesus forgives us our sins.

“When a Priest Becomes a Rock Star”

“And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.” (Leviticus 9:24)

The duties of a priest were many and detailed. In didn’t just include the perfection of the animals for sacrifice, but every step the priests must take. (Leviticus 1-9)

The priests were Aaron and his sons. The process of a sacrifice was to be solemn and intended to bring glory to God. These sacrifices were done with the children of Israel being present at the door to the tabernacle.

“And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.

And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.” (Leviticus 10:1)

What did they do wrong?

Nadab and Abihu had been appointed by God to be priests (Ex 28:1) with a perpetual honor as priests (Ex 29:9). Everything about the sacrifice had been done perfectly. Their error was to add incense and then light the censer (a fire pan for the altar) by using fire of their own addition. In haste they made their own decision. Their sin was to not wait for God. When adding a “strange fire” to the censer was profane. They lost their patience.

The wages of sin is death.

Remember Nadab and Abihu, their sin is easily our sin.

The bajillion* laws in the Bible are there for a reason.

“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” (Romans 15:4)

*bajillion is not a real number.

“Leviticus”

Leviticus is the third book of the bible.

Leviticus was the translation of pre-Christian Greek meaning “relating to the Levites”. The Hebrew title is wayyiqra’, which means “and he called”, an obvious reference to God called.

Leviticus is a manual for how Israelites are to be holy and worship God in a holy way. Israel is expected to be separate from sin and to perform their daily duties in a way that honors God.

The regulations given to the Israelites are extremely tough. Leviticus requires perfection in animals used for sacrifice. Priests are to be without deformity, men and women have personal issues concerning bodily deformations, fluids, and skin diseases.

Leviticus is broken into distinct parts.

Five types of offerings

The installation and ministry of Aaron and his son’s as priests

The distinction between clean and unclean

The annual day of atonement

Holy living

Regulations and offerings vowed to God

Stay Tuned…

“The Old Testament”

The following video is a quick introduction to the Major books of the Old Testament.

I plan on more detailed videos of select books of the Old Testament.

“A Fist Full of Straws”

Life is full of pain and struggle. Jesus provides what you need. Jesus provides Eternal Life.

I had to get blood taken for a test my Doctor insisted on. I was sitting in the lab office full of other people in the same boat. None of us were happy.

As the office became all gloom, suddenly a blood curdling scream came from the direction of the main door. It jolted everyone in the room. A lady was pulling in a large stroller backwards through the narrow door. We could tell she was struggling, but there was no way we could reach around the stroller to make it easy. The screams continued.

As the occupant of the stroller came into view, still screaming, was a girl about 12, or 13. Her face was contorted in a strange way. In her left hand she was clutching a fist full of straws. You could tell her mother was embarrassed by the screaming.

The only thing I could think of was to say, as calmly as possible, “Hey there beautiful”. Immediately the little girl stopped screaming and her face lit up like a warm light and full of love. All of the stress in that room just melted away. She had the smile of an angel and would not take her eyes away from me. So, I just kept talking.

“What a beautiful smile”, I said. She just kept smiling and looking at me.

As I talked with her I felt an unbelievable calm come over me. I looked around at the others there and I could tell they were affected by it as well. A song popped into my head, no I didn’t sing it.

This little light of mine

I’m gonna let it shine

It just kept going through my head. On the way out the little girl was sitting with her mother across the office. She looked at me with that same smile. Clutching a fist full of straws.

The next week I had appointments with three doctors. The month before all three had nothing good to say. The first doctor was my kidney doctor.

My kidney doctor was surprised by the lab results. He said, “Well, things are no worse, but I expect they will get worse in the next 30 days.”

My diabetes doctor was surprised by the lab results. He and I had never spoken of Jesus, but this time he said, “Jesus was with you, your A1C is 5.5” I will order another test just to be sure. He did, it also came back at 5.5. That is a great number.

My heart doctor said, “I understand what your kidney doctor is thinking, but keep in mind those results are just labels. Keep doing whatever it is you are doing.”

That was almost a year ago. My numbers about my kidneys are above the danger levels from before. Just don’t be too happy, they can change in a minute, but I am ready for that.

The diabetes doctor is constantly asking what I did to keep my numbers low, but not too low. I just said, “Jesus did it.”

My heart doctor and I have checkups. Normally 5 minutes talking about fishing. I guess my ticker is ticking.

My health is not the issue for me. At least not physical health. Spiritual health is the most important. I know that I am a sinner and through the grace of God and the salvation of Jesus; I’m just passing through this life. When God is done with me, I’ll be out the door to eternity.