Read: Numbers 11-13
The people complained because they wanted a variety of things to eat instead of the free manna they got that tasted like fresh oil. I have to think that fresh oil would have been something delicious and not something they had the privilege of eating in Egypt. It sounds like food for a king and it was. Spiritually, fresh oil would be a fresh outpouring of God’s Spirit. I have seen revivals that continued to last for long seasons of time ebb and die because man started nitpicking and complaining. They became accustom to the move of God and wanted to control it. That is what happened to the children of Israel. Every morning they received a miracle from heaven and were fed and they got ungrateful. This grieved the heart of God and the heart of Moses.
Moses went to the Lord with their complaint and God gave them what they wanted but it didn’t satisfy them. It made them sick. Those quail represented indulgence. They personified sluggishness since they fly so slow because of their weight. Sin is a weight that causes you to slow down and be drugged in your walk. The quail ended up being a plague because they overate and got sick.
Moses had to experience the joys of being leader. His right hand man and woman gossiped against him because he had a Cushite wife. Instead of defending himself, Moses let the Lord defend him. The sin that Miriam had tried to expose in Moses came upon her in the form of leprosy.
Chapter 13 of Numbers is one of the saddest chapters to me. Moses sent out the 12 spies into the land God had promised to give them and route their enemies out of and they only saw the giants. Only Joshua and Caleb wanted to go in and possess it. The land was everything God had said it would be; full of fruit, milk and honey but they let their fear keep them from enjoying it.
Lord, help us to not shy from fear when you show us the land we are to possess.
Saturday, February 28, 2015
Sat.’s Devo - Failures of Man
I have always loved to study the Bible and look for hidden meanings to know God better. I think God hides things and shares them with those who will spend the time seeking them out. He loves to reveal his mysteries with us. I pray that I will rightly divide the truth so that others might love his word like I do. I pray that God will be magnified in your life as you read my blog.
Friday, February 27, 2015
Fri.’s Devo - Under the Cloud
Read: Numbers 8-10
Reading about the tabernacle and all the intricate details God told them to do makes me realize how involved the Lord wants to be in the smallest details of our lives. They couldn’t move until the cloud moved. I wonder how many times I have moved outside of God’s cloud in my life.
The Levites were the tribe that God set apart to minister to Him. Much was required of them and much was given them. “To whom much is given; much is required.” Luke 12:48 They were to stand in for the first born so they were always acting out being redeemed: offering sacrifices for sins, cleanings, praying, etc.
The passover was a picture of the cross and when they asked whether a person defiled by touching a dead body would exempt them from observing the passover God’s answer was “No”. Nothing we have done can exempt us from the saving power of the cross. It was for every sinner. The only person who will not be saved by the passover was the person who refused to participate. It is still true today.
God told Moses to make two silver trumpets which would be used to call the people to war. Trumpets have to do with prophets. Prophets are the ones who call us to war. Personally, it is the prophet inside you that calls you to war when you need to fight. The trumpets were also blown over their sacrifices, at the beginning of their months, and at their feasts. These are all times that God dealt with his people and spoke to them. The trumpet and the prophet call the people together to hear from God.
Lord, help us to dwell under the cloud of Your Holy Spirit.
Reading about the tabernacle and all the intricate details God told them to do makes me realize how involved the Lord wants to be in the smallest details of our lives. They couldn’t move until the cloud moved. I wonder how many times I have moved outside of God’s cloud in my life.
The Levites were the tribe that God set apart to minister to Him. Much was required of them and much was given them. “To whom much is given; much is required.” Luke 12:48 They were to stand in for the first born so they were always acting out being redeemed: offering sacrifices for sins, cleanings, praying, etc.
The passover was a picture of the cross and when they asked whether a person defiled by touching a dead body would exempt them from observing the passover God’s answer was “No”. Nothing we have done can exempt us from the saving power of the cross. It was for every sinner. The only person who will not be saved by the passover was the person who refused to participate. It is still true today.
God told Moses to make two silver trumpets which would be used to call the people to war. Trumpets have to do with prophets. Prophets are the ones who call us to war. Personally, it is the prophet inside you that calls you to war when you need to fight. The trumpets were also blown over their sacrifices, at the beginning of their months, and at their feasts. These are all times that God dealt with his people and spoke to them. The trumpet and the prophet call the people together to hear from God.
Lord, help us to dwell under the cloud of Your Holy Spirit.
I have always loved to study the Bible and look for hidden meanings to know God better. I think God hides things and shares them with those who will spend the time seeking them out. He loves to reveal his mysteries with us. I pray that I will rightly divide the truth so that others might love his word like I do. I pray that God will be magnified in your life as you read my blog.
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Thur.’s Devo -The Dedication of the Altar
Read: Numbers 7
Numbers can get pretty repetitious but after reading the same thing twelve times you have to realize how important it was to God. Each tribe was to bring the exact gift which was enough to supply the priests with enough animals for sacrifice and incense for a year. The silver chargers were what the priests would use to put the shewbread on. I imagine they brought these gifts with pomp and it looked like a parade as they marched these animals to the tabernacle.
Each tribe brought exactly the same thing which shows that no matter who we are in life, we are all equal at the cross. God is no respecter of people. He loves us all.
By every tribe bringing their gift they were proclaiming that they were committing their selves and their posterity to God. They were unifying under the name of Yaweh. These gifts were given at the dedication of the altar. The altar stood for the cross. So when they had dedicated the altar, Moses went into the tabernacle, and God spoke. When Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, he entered heaven and spoke with Go.
Sometimes we just want to hear God’s voice without going through the steps of obedience. Our obedience shows our faith. If we aren’t hearing His voice maybe we need to remember the last thing He told us to do and do it. Then God might tell us the next thing. If God gives us something to do that we think is impossible or hard, it is because He has prepared the way before us and we need to trust Him. He never leaves us or let’s us down so let’s get over our fear and just do it!
Lord, help us to walk in obedience and trust.
Numbers can get pretty repetitious but after reading the same thing twelve times you have to realize how important it was to God. Each tribe was to bring the exact gift which was enough to supply the priests with enough animals for sacrifice and incense for a year. The silver chargers were what the priests would use to put the shewbread on. I imagine they brought these gifts with pomp and it looked like a parade as they marched these animals to the tabernacle.
Each tribe brought exactly the same thing which shows that no matter who we are in life, we are all equal at the cross. God is no respecter of people. He loves us all.
By every tribe bringing their gift they were proclaiming that they were committing their selves and their posterity to God. They were unifying under the name of Yaweh. These gifts were given at the dedication of the altar. The altar stood for the cross. So when they had dedicated the altar, Moses went into the tabernacle, and God spoke. When Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, he entered heaven and spoke with Go.
Sometimes we just want to hear God’s voice without going through the steps of obedience. Our obedience shows our faith. If we aren’t hearing His voice maybe we need to remember the last thing He told us to do and do it. Then God might tell us the next thing. If God gives us something to do that we think is impossible or hard, it is because He has prepared the way before us and we need to trust Him. He never leaves us or let’s us down so let’s get over our fear and just do it!
Lord, help us to walk in obedience and trust.
I have always loved to study the Bible and look for hidden meanings to know God better. I think God hides things and shares them with those who will spend the time seeking them out. He loves to reveal his mysteries with us. I pray that I will rightly divide the truth so that others might love his word like I do. I pray that God will be magnified in your life as you read my blog.
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Wed.’s Devo - The Adulterous Wife Test and the Nazarite
Read: Numbers 5-6
They were commanded to put out of the camp lepers, people with running issues, and people defiled by the dead. To “put out of the camp”means to put away or put out of your lifestyle. We talked about how leprosy is a sin of the flesh so we are to put away sins of the flesh. Having a running issue has to do with having a contagious addiction. We are to have the fruit of self-control. Being defiled by the dead caused the people to be unclean. Dead things have to do with demonic activity that leads to death. We are to choose life and things that pertain to life.
The test to see if a woman was faithful or not should teach us that there is no such thing as hidden sin. It will be found out. We might not do the same test but God has His way of exposing the truth. Notice that the punishment for adultery was that her stomach swell like she’s pregnant only there is no baby. I wonder if this has to do with miscarriages. I’m certainly not saying that miscarriages are the result of adultery because I know that is not the case today, but I wonder if that was the way the punishment manifested in the Old Testament.
In chapter 6 we learn of the law of the Nazarite. Nazarite means “set apart”. All Christians are set apart unto God. We choose how closely we walk with God and it depends on our level of belief and trust, not on outward signs of holiness. If we have given our lives to the Lord then we should continue to walk in our love for Him.
Lord, may You lift up our countenance upon You and give us peace.
They were commanded to put out of the camp lepers, people with running issues, and people defiled by the dead. To “put out of the camp”means to put away or put out of your lifestyle. We talked about how leprosy is a sin of the flesh so we are to put away sins of the flesh. Having a running issue has to do with having a contagious addiction. We are to have the fruit of self-control. Being defiled by the dead caused the people to be unclean. Dead things have to do with demonic activity that leads to death. We are to choose life and things that pertain to life.
The test to see if a woman was faithful or not should teach us that there is no such thing as hidden sin. It will be found out. We might not do the same test but God has His way of exposing the truth. Notice that the punishment for adultery was that her stomach swell like she’s pregnant only there is no baby. I wonder if this has to do with miscarriages. I’m certainly not saying that miscarriages are the result of adultery because I know that is not the case today, but I wonder if that was the way the punishment manifested in the Old Testament.
In chapter 6 we learn of the law of the Nazarite. Nazarite means “set apart”. All Christians are set apart unto God. We choose how closely we walk with God and it depends on our level of belief and trust, not on outward signs of holiness. If we have given our lives to the Lord then we should continue to walk in our love for Him.
Lord, may You lift up our countenance upon You and give us peace.
I have always loved to study the Bible and look for hidden meanings to know God better. I think God hides things and shares them with those who will spend the time seeking them out. He loves to reveal his mysteries with us. I pray that I will rightly divide the truth so that others might love his word like I do. I pray that God will be magnified in your life as you read my blog.
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Tues.’s Devo - What do the Numbers Mean?
Read: Numbers 3-4
In Exodus 13:2, God says: “Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.” Now God told Moses that the Levites were to take the place of the first born only there were not enough Levites so they had to buy the rest for five shekels a piece. So what does that mean to us?
We are born the first time of the flesh - in sin. Our old life stands for the first born. The priest became that first life just like Jesus took our sin upon him as our High Priest. Since there were not enough priest to cover all the first born they bought back the rest with five shekels because we were bought by the grace of God. It goes on to explain that the shekel is twenty gerahs. Twenty in Biblical numerology means “separated through testing or holy”. That is a great definition of a Christian. We are holy because a holy Saviour bought us by his blood.
If you want to understand Biblical numerology you can go back to Genesis 1 and see what God did on the different days and you will find that one means beginning; two means divided; three means conform; four means to rule; five means serve; six means man; seven means complete. Using other scripture you will find that eight is to put off; nine means harvest; ten means to measure by trial or test. The teens are the opposite so eleven means end since one means beginning. Twelve means joined; thirteen means rebel; fourteen means double or reproduce; fifteen means free; sixteen means spirit; seventeen means incomplete; eighteen means to put on or judgment; nineteen means barren and twenty means holy. Hundred means fullness and thousand means maturity. Knowing what numbers mean will help you see what each tribe is described as. God uses numbers all through scripture and they are just as important as names.
Lord, teach us to number our days that they may be able to apply our hearts unto wisdom.
I have always loved to study the Bible and look for hidden meanings to know God better. I think God hides things and shares them with those who will spend the time seeking them out. He loves to reveal his mysteries with us. I pray that I will rightly divide the truth so that others might love his word like I do. I pray that God will be magnified in your life as you read my blog.
Monday, February 23, 2015
Mon.’s Devo- There is Meaning in a Name
xRead: Numbers 1-2
Numbers is a book of numbers and names but if you realize these men were “expressed by their names” then you know that the meaning of their names expressed who they were. So let’s look at the meaning of their names in order:
1. My God is a rock. 2. At peace with God 3. A diviner. 4. Given of God. 5. My God is Father. 6. My God is a hearer. 7. My recompensed is God. 8. Father of the judge. 9. Brother of Magesty. 10. Event of God. 11. God is adder. 12. Brother of evil.
Looking at these names I bet they correlate with the twelve disciples, the last one standing for Judas Iscarot.
The tribes marched and set camp in the sign of the cross with the Levites and the Tabernacle in the middle. Judah went first because his name means to praise and Dan went last because God’s last resort is Judgement and his name means “to Judge.” God doesn’t do anything randomly and it all has meaning and is teachable. It is up to us to dig in and find the meaning.
Lord, teach us the mysteries of Your Word.
Numbers is a book of numbers and names but if you realize these men were “expressed by their names” then you know that the meaning of their names expressed who they were. So let’s look at the meaning of their names in order:
1. My God is a rock. 2. At peace with God 3. A diviner. 4. Given of God. 5. My God is Father. 6. My God is a hearer. 7. My recompensed is God. 8. Father of the judge. 9. Brother of Magesty. 10. Event of God. 11. God is adder. 12. Brother of evil.
Looking at these names I bet they correlate with the twelve disciples, the last one standing for Judas Iscarot.
The tribes marched and set camp in the sign of the cross with the Levites and the Tabernacle in the middle. Judah went first because his name means to praise and Dan went last because God’s last resort is Judgement and his name means “to Judge.” God doesn’t do anything randomly and it all has meaning and is teachable. It is up to us to dig in and find the meaning.
Lord, teach us the mysteries of Your Word.
I have always loved to study the Bible and look for hidden meanings to know God better. I think God hides things and shares them with those who will spend the time seeking them out. He loves to reveal his mysteries with us. I pray that I will rightly divide the truth so that others might love his word like I do. I pray that God will be magnified in your life as you read my blog.
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Sun.’s Devo - The Blessings of Obedience
Read: Lev. 26-27
The blessing of obedience to God’s laws would be rain when they needed it and their wheat season would last till their grape harvest came in. In today’s terms it would be that their paycheck would stretch till the next one came. They would always have enough. They would have peace and be able to sleep at night. They would be in charge of their emotions, finances, and their enemies. Our enemies are fear, anger, cancer, divorce, etc. Our sword is the Word of God. We can chase our enemies by the sword.
God promised to multiply them and give them a long prosperous life. The greatest promise was that He would live among them and be their God and they would be his people. If they refused to obey God’s laws then they would end up walking in the curses and looking like a third world country.
The land was to rest every seventh year and if they didn’t let that happen they would be taken out of the land so that the land could rest the amount of Sabbaths it had missed. We see this happen. Israel never let the land rest so Israel was taken out of her land for 70 years to make up for the Sabbaths she had ignored (2 Chron. 36:21).
The last chapter gave the tax rate everyone had to pay. It was based on the age of the person and the proximity of the year of jubilee.
Lord, may we abide in Your blessings and not Your curses.
The blessing of obedience to God’s laws would be rain when they needed it and their wheat season would last till their grape harvest came in. In today’s terms it would be that their paycheck would stretch till the next one came. They would always have enough. They would have peace and be able to sleep at night. They would be in charge of their emotions, finances, and their enemies. Our enemies are fear, anger, cancer, divorce, etc. Our sword is the Word of God. We can chase our enemies by the sword.
God promised to multiply them and give them a long prosperous life. The greatest promise was that He would live among them and be their God and they would be his people. If they refused to obey God’s laws then they would end up walking in the curses and looking like a third world country.
The land was to rest every seventh year and if they didn’t let that happen they would be taken out of the land so that the land could rest the amount of Sabbaths it had missed. We see this happen. Israel never let the land rest so Israel was taken out of her land for 70 years to make up for the Sabbaths she had ignored (2 Chron. 36:21).
The last chapter gave the tax rate everyone had to pay. It was based on the age of the person and the proximity of the year of jubilee.
Lord, may we abide in Your blessings and not Your curses.
I have always loved to study the Bible and look for hidden meanings to know God better. I think God hides things and shares them with those who will spend the time seeking them out. He loves to reveal his mysteries with us. I pray that I will rightly divide the truth so that others might love his word like I do. I pray that God will be magnified in your life as you read my blog.
Saturday, February 21, 2015
Sat.’s Devo - The Sabbath and the Jubilee
Read: Lev. 24-25
In Chapter 24 we have the story about a boy who’s mother was an Israelite and his father an Egyptian. The boy blasphemed God and got stoned. This is a story to teach a principle. A person who goes to church (has an Israelite mother) but has never made Jesus their Lord and God their father (the son of the Egyptian) will not be saved. Back then they stoned people but not today. Spiritually, a stone is Word, so to stone a person would be to judge their life against the Word and hopefully kill their old man and resurrect a new one in Christ.
Chapter 25 is about the sabbath and jubilee. God is very passionate about the land. It was to get a rest every seven years. The year after the seventh Sabbath year was to be a jubilee. “Sabbath” means “intermission”. We all need intermissions and so does the land. The jubilee sabbath was to be a joyous occasion with blowing of trumpets and rejoicing. “Jubilee” means “acclamation of joy or a battle cry; an alarm of trumpets”.
On this fiftieth year every debt was wiped clean and every slave set free. This is a picture of the end of time as we know it when Jesus comes back at the sound of the trumpet. It will be a battle in Armageddon against the devil and his team but Jesus’ team will win. Every debt will be forgiven and every slave will be set free.
God said in Gen. 6:3 that men’s days would be 120 years. One hundred and twenty jubilees equals 6,000 years. A year is as a day to the Lord so that makes it 6 days. God rested on the seventh and so will we.
Lord, we bless You because You are so glorious and so worthy to be praised!
In Chapter 24 we have the story about a boy who’s mother was an Israelite and his father an Egyptian. The boy blasphemed God and got stoned. This is a story to teach a principle. A person who goes to church (has an Israelite mother) but has never made Jesus their Lord and God their father (the son of the Egyptian) will not be saved. Back then they stoned people but not today. Spiritually, a stone is Word, so to stone a person would be to judge their life against the Word and hopefully kill their old man and resurrect a new one in Christ.
Chapter 25 is about the sabbath and jubilee. God is very passionate about the land. It was to get a rest every seven years. The year after the seventh Sabbath year was to be a jubilee. “Sabbath” means “intermission”. We all need intermissions and so does the land. The jubilee sabbath was to be a joyous occasion with blowing of trumpets and rejoicing. “Jubilee” means “acclamation of joy or a battle cry; an alarm of trumpets”.
On this fiftieth year every debt was wiped clean and every slave set free. This is a picture of the end of time as we know it when Jesus comes back at the sound of the trumpet. It will be a battle in Armageddon against the devil and his team but Jesus’ team will win. Every debt will be forgiven and every slave will be set free.
God said in Gen. 6:3 that men’s days would be 120 years. One hundred and twenty jubilees equals 6,000 years. A year is as a day to the Lord so that makes it 6 days. God rested on the seventh and so will we.
Lord, we bless You because You are so glorious and so worthy to be praised!
I have always loved to study the Bible and look for hidden meanings to know God better. I think God hides things and shares them with those who will spend the time seeking them out. He loves to reveal his mysteries with us. I pray that I will rightly divide the truth so that others might love his word like I do. I pray that God will be magnified in your life as you read my blog.
Friday, February 20, 2015
Fri.’s Devo - The Bones of God’s Plan
Read: Lev. 22-23
The laws God gave them were not only to keep them holy but to keep them well. They didn’t know what we know now about germs and diseases so these laws kept them immune.
The feasts were very important to the Lord because they are the bones of his plan for the world. They were holy convocations which translates “rehearsals”. They were to rehearse these feasts year after year so that when the real event happened they would recognize it. Most of them didn’t. Passover was to rehearse Jesus death, Unleavened Bread - His burial, and First Fruits - His resurrection. But most of them didn’t even put the two together. Fifty days later they were to celebrate the wave offering of their first fruits. This was later called Pentecost. This would be the day the Holy Spirit would come in like a wind and resemble the waving they were doing.
In the seventh month would be the feast of trumpets or Roshashana. Jesus will come back with the sound on the trumpet on this day in the future. The day of Atonement is today’s Yom Kippor where the world will go through the Great Tribulation and have a chance to repent before the gates of heaven are shut on Tabernacles. This will mark the millennium of rest and rejoicing. They were to dwell in booths to symbolize a new dwelling they will get when they get to heaven.
Lord, thank you that You had this whole thing planned out from the foundation of the earth. We can rest in Your goodness.
The laws God gave them were not only to keep them holy but to keep them well. They didn’t know what we know now about germs and diseases so these laws kept them immune.
The feasts were very important to the Lord because they are the bones of his plan for the world. They were holy convocations which translates “rehearsals”. They were to rehearse these feasts year after year so that when the real event happened they would recognize it. Most of them didn’t. Passover was to rehearse Jesus death, Unleavened Bread - His burial, and First Fruits - His resurrection. But most of them didn’t even put the two together. Fifty days later they were to celebrate the wave offering of their first fruits. This was later called Pentecost. This would be the day the Holy Spirit would come in like a wind and resemble the waving they were doing.
In the seventh month would be the feast of trumpets or Roshashana. Jesus will come back with the sound on the trumpet on this day in the future. The day of Atonement is today’s Yom Kippor where the world will go through the Great Tribulation and have a chance to repent before the gates of heaven are shut on Tabernacles. This will mark the millennium of rest and rejoicing. They were to dwell in booths to symbolize a new dwelling they will get when they get to heaven.
Lord, thank you that You had this whole thing planned out from the foundation of the earth. We can rest in Your goodness.
I have always loved to study the Bible and look for hidden meanings to know God better. I think God hides things and shares them with those who will spend the time seeking them out. He loves to reveal his mysteries with us. I pray that I will rightly divide the truth so that others might love his word like I do. I pray that God will be magnified in your life as you read my blog.
Thursday, February 19, 2015
Thurs.’s Devo - Choose Life!
Read: Lev. 19-21
First we have the moral and ceremonial laws. God wanted them to exemplify Him and He is holy. To do this they were to honor their parents, remember the Sabbath, offer sacrifices willingly, remember the poor, don’t lie, cheat, or steal from one another. They were also to honor the handicapped and poor and others’ reputations. In a nutshell they were to love their neighbor as themselves. They were to be sexual pure and stay away from the occult, respect their elders, and be honest in their business.
Next, God gave them the penalties for breaking the law. The only way they would remain holy was to punish offenders. Much is said about sexual sin and sexual confusion and the punishment was death. God gave them the responsibility of punishing those who disobeyed. Today there are laws to protect such behavour. Isaiah 5:20 says, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” It says later in that chapter that God’s anger is kindled against his people for doing this.
Lastly, we have the regulations for the conduct of the priests. They were not to defile themselves with the dead unless they are close kin. They were to marry virgins. If they were the high priest then they were not to uncover their head or tear their clothes or go near any dead bodies, nor defile himself for his father or mother. He was not to leave the sanctuary nor defile the sanctuary. We can all be priests to the Lord if we want to walk near to God. We do this by choosing to stay away from things that cause us to be unclean. We can choose what programs to watch on TV or what conversations to join in, or where we choose to go. We can choose to do the things which bring our spirits life. That is our choice.
Lord, we want to choose life and minister praise and worship to You.
First we have the moral and ceremonial laws. God wanted them to exemplify Him and He is holy. To do this they were to honor their parents, remember the Sabbath, offer sacrifices willingly, remember the poor, don’t lie, cheat, or steal from one another. They were also to honor the handicapped and poor and others’ reputations. In a nutshell they were to love their neighbor as themselves. They were to be sexual pure and stay away from the occult, respect their elders, and be honest in their business.
Next, God gave them the penalties for breaking the law. The only way they would remain holy was to punish offenders. Much is said about sexual sin and sexual confusion and the punishment was death. God gave them the responsibility of punishing those who disobeyed. Today there are laws to protect such behavour. Isaiah 5:20 says, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” It says later in that chapter that God’s anger is kindled against his people for doing this.
Lastly, we have the regulations for the conduct of the priests. They were not to defile themselves with the dead unless they are close kin. They were to marry virgins. If they were the high priest then they were not to uncover their head or tear their clothes or go near any dead bodies, nor defile himself for his father or mother. He was not to leave the sanctuary nor defile the sanctuary. We can all be priests to the Lord if we want to walk near to God. We do this by choosing to stay away from things that cause us to be unclean. We can choose what programs to watch on TV or what conversations to join in, or where we choose to go. We can choose to do the things which bring our spirits life. That is our choice.
Lord, we want to choose life and minister praise and worship to You.
I have always loved to study the Bible and look for hidden meanings to know God better. I think God hides things and shares them with those who will spend the time seeking them out. He loves to reveal his mysteries with us. I pray that I will rightly divide the truth so that others might love his word like I do. I pray that God will be magnified in your life as you read my blog.
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Wed.’s Devo - The Day of Atonement
Read: Lev. 16-18
Chapter 16 describes the Day of Atonement which happened every year. It was the only time the High Priest would enter into the Holy of Holies. On that day he would offer a sin offering and a burnt offering. Then he would take the two offerings from the people and offer the bullock for the sin offering for himself and his family then he would take two goats and cast lots for them. One would be for the Lord and the other would be the scapegoat. The one that the lot fell on would be sacrificed and the other taken to the wilderness and set free. Then the priest would go into the Holy of Holies and present the blood to the Lord. This was a picture of what Jesus did for us on the cross. He atoned for our sin on the cross (the goat that the lot fell on) and took our sin away (the goat that was set free into the wilderness). Jesus took our sin as far as the east is from the west. Another way of looking at it is this: Jesus took our place and we became the scapegoat. Then Jesus presented his sacrifice to the Lord to atone for our sins once and for all.
Bringing death to anything that had in it blood had to be atoned for by bringing it to the door of the tabernacle. Jesus is the door and everything is atoned through Him.
They were not to uncover the nakedness of any family member. Spiritually, this means that we don’t talk about the weaknesses and sins of another person. We don’t tell their secrets.
God hates mixture and confusion. To have sex with animals, family members, with the same sex, or for idolatry is confusion. God said if they committed any of these abominations they would be cut off from their people.
Lord, thank you for dying for our sins. Help us to honor one another and stay clean before You.
I have always loved to study the Bible and look for hidden meanings to know God better. I think God hides things and shares them with those who will spend the time seeking them out. He loves to reveal his mysteries with us. I pray that I will rightly divide the truth so that others might love his word like I do. I pray that God will be magnified in your life as you read my blog.
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Tues.’s Devo - Cleansing from Leprosy
Read: Lev. 14-15
We are all lepers before we become Christians spiritually because we all carry the contagious disease of sin in our flesh. If we want to be cleansed of it we go to the cross and repent. The picture of the two birds both represent Jesus. One is the crucified Jesus and the other is the resurrected Jesus. To be saved we have to apply the blood of Jesus to our sin. Then we wash our clothes - our lives - with the water of the Spirit, shave off the sin (hair) and then we will be saved. The blood was applied to the right ear, the right thumb and the big right toe. The blood of Jesus will change what we hear, what we do, and where we go. The oil is the Holy Spirit who gives us guidance and revelation in what we hear, do, and our walk.
The same thing is applied to family curses. If there is sin in the house then the father of the house can pray and stand for his family. He applies the blood and the oil to his house. Notice that the stones must be taken away because they hold the plague. The stones are words spoken. The conversation and confession of the people in the family needs to change and cast out. New words and new confessions need to take their place. If that doesn’t work then he will know that it is a “fretting leprosy”. The word “fretting” in the Hebrew means “bitter”. When an offense has become bitterness then it is harder to get rid of. It will affect everyone who comes near it. The blood of Jesus has to be applied.
In Chapter 15, the running issue has to do with continual sin. It will contaminate everything and everyone it comes into contact with. It must be cleansed with the water of the Word and the Holy Spirit.
Lord, help us to stay clean of unforgiveness, bitterness, and habitual sins. Open our eyes to discern the holy from the profane.
We are all lepers before we become Christians spiritually because we all carry the contagious disease of sin in our flesh. If we want to be cleansed of it we go to the cross and repent. The picture of the two birds both represent Jesus. One is the crucified Jesus and the other is the resurrected Jesus. To be saved we have to apply the blood of Jesus to our sin. Then we wash our clothes - our lives - with the water of the Spirit, shave off the sin (hair) and then we will be saved. The blood was applied to the right ear, the right thumb and the big right toe. The blood of Jesus will change what we hear, what we do, and where we go. The oil is the Holy Spirit who gives us guidance and revelation in what we hear, do, and our walk.
The same thing is applied to family curses. If there is sin in the house then the father of the house can pray and stand for his family. He applies the blood and the oil to his house. Notice that the stones must be taken away because they hold the plague. The stones are words spoken. The conversation and confession of the people in the family needs to change and cast out. New words and new confessions need to take their place. If that doesn’t work then he will know that it is a “fretting leprosy”. The word “fretting” in the Hebrew means “bitter”. When an offense has become bitterness then it is harder to get rid of. It will affect everyone who comes near it. The blood of Jesus has to be applied.
In Chapter 15, the running issue has to do with continual sin. It will contaminate everything and everyone it comes into contact with. It must be cleansed with the water of the Word and the Holy Spirit.
Lord, help us to stay clean of unforgiveness, bitterness, and habitual sins. Open our eyes to discern the holy from the profane.
I have always loved to study the Bible and look for hidden meanings to know God better. I think God hides things and shares them with those who will spend the time seeking them out. He loves to reveal his mysteries with us. I pray that I will rightly divide the truth so that others might love his word like I do. I pray that God will be magnified in your life as you read my blog.
Monday, February 16, 2015
Mon.’s Devo - What to Eat
Read: Lev. 11-13
God gave them a description of the things that were good for them to eat. These were important dietary laws for their physical body and their spirits. They were not to eat whatever parted the hoof or was clovenfooted and chewed the cud. If you look at that spiritually, we are not to take into our spirit things that aren’t built on a firm foundation and haven’t been processed by meditation and prayer (chewing on).
The fish they could eat had to have fins and scales. Spiritually this speaks of things that are covered (fins) and have direction (fins). We are not to be tossed about by every wind of doctrine (Eph. 4:14).
The insects they could eat had to have four feet and legs and able to leap. Spiritually this speaks of standing tall on your own convictions. Insects that creep are those who swarm in groups and follow the crowd. Insects that leap has to do with loosing. In the Hebrew the word “leap” means to “untie, shake off, loose, undo”. That means they are able to loose themselves of the devil’s power. Ps. 18:29 says, “For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.”
Salvation is about the issue of blood. We get a transfusion of Christ’s blood when we are saved. Jesus died at the age of 33 so the cleansing came to Jesus then. He was no longer bound by his flesh. The maid child is the church. She has to go through her own “fellowship of His sufferings” which will take her 33 days. Add that to what Jesus did and it totals 66. This is my theory so it’s just food for thought.
Leprosy is a disease of the flesh. It stands for sin. If it gets under the skin and spreads it is like bitterness. If we can’t forgive it will spread through our spirit like a cancer and cause us to become spiritual lepers. Our bitterness will isolate us and make us unapproachable to others. People won’t want to be around us because our negative spirits affect them. To be clean we need to go to our High Priest, Jesus and repent and forgive the people we have held offense against. Then we can be cleansed.
Lord, help us to walk in balance and purity. Cleanse our hearts of any unforgiveness we might bear.
God gave them a description of the things that were good for them to eat. These were important dietary laws for their physical body and their spirits. They were not to eat whatever parted the hoof or was clovenfooted and chewed the cud. If you look at that spiritually, we are not to take into our spirit things that aren’t built on a firm foundation and haven’t been processed by meditation and prayer (chewing on).
The fish they could eat had to have fins and scales. Spiritually this speaks of things that are covered (fins) and have direction (fins). We are not to be tossed about by every wind of doctrine (Eph. 4:14).
The insects they could eat had to have four feet and legs and able to leap. Spiritually this speaks of standing tall on your own convictions. Insects that creep are those who swarm in groups and follow the crowd. Insects that leap has to do with loosing. In the Hebrew the word “leap” means to “untie, shake off, loose, undo”. That means they are able to loose themselves of the devil’s power. Ps. 18:29 says, “For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.”
Salvation is about the issue of blood. We get a transfusion of Christ’s blood when we are saved. Jesus died at the age of 33 so the cleansing came to Jesus then. He was no longer bound by his flesh. The maid child is the church. She has to go through her own “fellowship of His sufferings” which will take her 33 days. Add that to what Jesus did and it totals 66. This is my theory so it’s just food for thought.
Leprosy is a disease of the flesh. It stands for sin. If it gets under the skin and spreads it is like bitterness. If we can’t forgive it will spread through our spirit like a cancer and cause us to become spiritual lepers. Our bitterness will isolate us and make us unapproachable to others. People won’t want to be around us because our negative spirits affect them. To be clean we need to go to our High Priest, Jesus and repent and forgive the people we have held offense against. Then we can be cleansed.
Lord, help us to walk in balance and purity. Cleanse our hearts of any unforgiveness we might bear.
I have always loved to study the Bible and look for hidden meanings to know God better. I think God hides things and shares them with those who will spend the time seeking them out. He loves to reveal his mysteries with us. I pray that I will rightly divide the truth so that others might love his word like I do. I pray that God will be magnified in your life as you read my blog.
Sunday, February 15, 2015
Sun.’s Devo - Leadership Responsibility
Read: Lev. 8-10
The priests were to be in the tabernacle being sanctified for seven days. Then they were able to offer the sacrifices. The only thing that was of value from the sacrifice was the blood. Everything else was either eaten by the priests or burned on the altar. Jesus’s flesh and body was completely useless when they got through with him, but his blood poured out and saved the world. In our flesh there dwelleth no good thing. (Romans 7:18) It is the blood of Jesus that covers us that makes us useful and precious.
After they had presented the sacrifices on the altar, God sent his fire to consume it. This caused the people to worship the Lord with awe. It also caused two of the sons of Aaron to be jealous of this worship and try to duplicate this fire. God’s fire consumed them and their fire just like Moses’s snake consumed the snakes of the Egyptians. God will not allow us to take his glory.
He also did not allow Aaron or his remaining two sons to mourn their brother’s deaths. God was serious about their office and they needed to be also. With great honor comes greater responsibility.
May we be holy priests before you.
The priests were to be in the tabernacle being sanctified for seven days. Then they were able to offer the sacrifices. The only thing that was of value from the sacrifice was the blood. Everything else was either eaten by the priests or burned on the altar. Jesus’s flesh and body was completely useless when they got through with him, but his blood poured out and saved the world. In our flesh there dwelleth no good thing. (Romans 7:18) It is the blood of Jesus that covers us that makes us useful and precious.
After they had presented the sacrifices on the altar, God sent his fire to consume it. This caused the people to worship the Lord with awe. It also caused two of the sons of Aaron to be jealous of this worship and try to duplicate this fire. God’s fire consumed them and their fire just like Moses’s snake consumed the snakes of the Egyptians. God will not allow us to take his glory.
He also did not allow Aaron or his remaining two sons to mourn their brother’s deaths. God was serious about their office and they needed to be also. With great honor comes greater responsibility.
May we be holy priests before you.
I have always loved to study the Bible and look for hidden meanings to know God better. I think God hides things and shares them with those who will spend the time seeking them out. He loves to reveal his mysteries with us. I pray that I will rightly divide the truth so that others might love his word like I do. I pray that God will be magnified in your life as you read my blog.
Saturday, February 14, 2015
Sat.’s Devo - The Sin and the Trespass Offering
Read: Lev. 5-7
The sin offering was to cleanse the people of touching or hearing something that was unholy and would make them unclean. We are born sinners into an unclean world that is bombarded with sinful things. Jesus is the offering for our sins.
The trespass offering was for those who sinned without realizing it was sin. Maybe they didn’t realize that was a law. I’m sure that we offend the Lord daily with our lifestyles that we think are fine. Jesus’s blood makes us holy and takes care of our lack of knowledge and understanding into what is holy and what is not. This offering took away the guilt of sin. We are righteous only because of what Jesus did for us. He was the ultimate sacrifice for us. Hebrews 10 explains this to a tee. Jesus came to take away our sins and make us acceptable to God. It is too good to be true…but it is. It’s called grace!
Lord, thank you for grace!
The sin offering was to cleanse the people of touching or hearing something that was unholy and would make them unclean. We are born sinners into an unclean world that is bombarded with sinful things. Jesus is the offering for our sins.
The trespass offering was for those who sinned without realizing it was sin. Maybe they didn’t realize that was a law. I’m sure that we offend the Lord daily with our lifestyles that we think are fine. Jesus’s blood makes us holy and takes care of our lack of knowledge and understanding into what is holy and what is not. This offering took away the guilt of sin. We are righteous only because of what Jesus did for us. He was the ultimate sacrifice for us. Hebrews 10 explains this to a tee. Jesus came to take away our sins and make us acceptable to God. It is too good to be true…but it is. It’s called grace!
Lord, thank you for grace!
I have always loved to study the Bible and look for hidden meanings to know God better. I think God hides things and shares them with those who will spend the time seeking them out. He loves to reveal his mysteries with us. I pray that I will rightly divide the truth so that others might love his word like I do. I pray that God will be magnified in your life as you read my blog.
Friday, February 13, 2015
Fri.’s Devo - The Offerings We Bring
Read: Lev. 1-4
There are many types of offerings we can bring to God. Today we read about the burnt offering, the grain offering, the peace offering and the sin offering. They were all brought for different reasons.
The burnt offering was to be offered twice daily and its purpose was not to remove their sins but make it possible for them to have fellowship with a holy God. Jesus was the burnt offering who makes it possible for us to come to God.
The grain offering was to show them that God is the maker of everything and it all belongs to him. We give Him back a portion of what He has given us to show our appreciation. Only a small handful of the grain offering was burnt. The rest was given to Aaron and his son’s to eat. It is our way of telling God we are thankful for our blessings and gain his favor on our lives. This is our tithes.
The peace offering was optional and it was given with a confession, a vow, or simply an offering of gratitude. It was usually a joyous occasion. This is our praise.
The sin offering was given to remove sin from the sanctuary. This is our intercession.
We don’t offer these offerings in the form of animals and grain but in the form of prayers. The burnt offering is our prayer to be saved. The grain offering is our prayer of making Jesus our Lord. The peace offering is our pray or gratitude for all Jesus did for us. And our sin offering is for our nation, family, church, etc.
Lord, thank you for becoming our burnt offering we are so grateful that all we have is because of You. Please heal our nation and turn our hearts back to You.
There are many types of offerings we can bring to God. Today we read about the burnt offering, the grain offering, the peace offering and the sin offering. They were all brought for different reasons.
The burnt offering was to be offered twice daily and its purpose was not to remove their sins but make it possible for them to have fellowship with a holy God. Jesus was the burnt offering who makes it possible for us to come to God.
The grain offering was to show them that God is the maker of everything and it all belongs to him. We give Him back a portion of what He has given us to show our appreciation. Only a small handful of the grain offering was burnt. The rest was given to Aaron and his son’s to eat. It is our way of telling God we are thankful for our blessings and gain his favor on our lives. This is our tithes.
The peace offering was optional and it was given with a confession, a vow, or simply an offering of gratitude. It was usually a joyous occasion. This is our praise.
The sin offering was given to remove sin from the sanctuary. This is our intercession.
We don’t offer these offerings in the form of animals and grain but in the form of prayers. The burnt offering is our prayer to be saved. The grain offering is our prayer of making Jesus our Lord. The peace offering is our pray or gratitude for all Jesus did for us. And our sin offering is for our nation, family, church, etc.
Lord, thank you for becoming our burnt offering we are so grateful that all we have is because of You. Please heal our nation and turn our hearts back to You.
I have always loved to study the Bible and look for hidden meanings to know God better. I think God hides things and shares them with those who will spend the time seeking them out. He loves to reveal his mysteries with us. I pray that I will rightly divide the truth so that others might love his word like I do. I pray that God will be magnified in your life as you read my blog.
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Thurs.’s Devo -The Holy Spirit
Read: Ex. 39-40
Everything was finished for the tabernacle and set up. The priests were dressed in their coats and Aaron in his high priest garments. They were sanctified and ready. The lamp was lit and the incense flowing and God’s glory came. The cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle continually through the rest of their wanderings through the wilderness.
This is suppose to be a picture of us. We have been given Christ who is in us. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. On the day of Pentecost in Acts, the Holy Spirit fell on the disciples and tongues of fire rested on their head. They went out with power to witness to all those who had come to Jerusalem for the feast. The Holy Spirit gave them the ability to speak the language of those from other cultures. That is what the Holy Spirit does. He transcends cultural barriers and personal differences and allows us to communicate the love of Jesus to anyone he sends us to. We don’t have to worry about whether we have experienced what they have experienced or understand where they are coming from; the Holy Spirit inside us knows all and will give us what we need to share with them that will minister life to them. We have no limits with Him.
Lord, may we be consciously filled with Your Holy Spirit and boldly proclaim Your love.
Everything was finished for the tabernacle and set up. The priests were dressed in their coats and Aaron in his high priest garments. They were sanctified and ready. The lamp was lit and the incense flowing and God’s glory came. The cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle continually through the rest of their wanderings through the wilderness.
This is suppose to be a picture of us. We have been given Christ who is in us. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. On the day of Pentecost in Acts, the Holy Spirit fell on the disciples and tongues of fire rested on their head. They went out with power to witness to all those who had come to Jerusalem for the feast. The Holy Spirit gave them the ability to speak the language of those from other cultures. That is what the Holy Spirit does. He transcends cultural barriers and personal differences and allows us to communicate the love of Jesus to anyone he sends us to. We don’t have to worry about whether we have experienced what they have experienced or understand where they are coming from; the Holy Spirit inside us knows all and will give us what we need to share with them that will minister life to them. We have no limits with Him.
Lord, may we be consciously filled with Your Holy Spirit and boldly proclaim Your love.
I have always loved to study the Bible and look for hidden meanings to know God better. I think God hides things and shares them with those who will spend the time seeking them out. He loves to reveal his mysteries with us. I pray that I will rightly divide the truth so that others might love his word like I do. I pray that God will be magnified in your life as you read my blog.
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Wed.’s Devo - The Way, the Truth, and the Life
Read: Ex. 36-38
Everything about the tabernacle pointed to Jesus. The blue, purple and scarlet linen spoke of the majesty and royalty of Jesus. The linen was a symbol of his purity. The gold spoke of his glory and wisdom, the silver of redemption. The curtains were to section off the tabernacle from the camp. All who entered in were coming to worship God. This was “The Way”. The people in the outer court represent the seekers of God. The priests who entered into the Holy Place represent those who want have made Jesus their Lord and Saviour and want to know God’s ways. Here they learned “The Truth”. The Holy of Holies are for those who want to see God’s glory and be in His presence. This was “The Life.” We can stop anywhere along the way. We can lay our sacrifice on the brazen altar and just be “saved”. Or we can wash in the laver and walk in sanctification. We can step inside and be intimate with Jesus by reading His Word at the Table of Shewbread and allowing the Holy Spirit to anoint it by the light of the Candlestick. And we can go beyond ourselves and pray for others at the Altar of Incense. But to go into the throne room is to go through the veil into the Holy of Holies and worship at the Ark of the Covenant. In the Old Testament only the High Priest could go their once a year but when Jesus died, that veil was rent from the top down signifying all could come in. This veil was six inches deep and impossible to tear, but God did.
Lord, let us not stop short of the glory and majesty of Your throne. We draw near to You with love and humility.
Everything about the tabernacle pointed to Jesus. The blue, purple and scarlet linen spoke of the majesty and royalty of Jesus. The linen was a symbol of his purity. The gold spoke of his glory and wisdom, the silver of redemption. The curtains were to section off the tabernacle from the camp. All who entered in were coming to worship God. This was “The Way”. The people in the outer court represent the seekers of God. The priests who entered into the Holy Place represent those who want have made Jesus their Lord and Saviour and want to know God’s ways. Here they learned “The Truth”. The Holy of Holies are for those who want to see God’s glory and be in His presence. This was “The Life.” We can stop anywhere along the way. We can lay our sacrifice on the brazen altar and just be “saved”. Or we can wash in the laver and walk in sanctification. We can step inside and be intimate with Jesus by reading His Word at the Table of Shewbread and allowing the Holy Spirit to anoint it by the light of the Candlestick. And we can go beyond ourselves and pray for others at the Altar of Incense. But to go into the throne room is to go through the veil into the Holy of Holies and worship at the Ark of the Covenant. In the Old Testament only the High Priest could go their once a year but when Jesus died, that veil was rent from the top down signifying all could come in. This veil was six inches deep and impossible to tear, but God did.
Lord, let us not stop short of the glory and majesty of Your throne. We draw near to You with love and humility.
I have always loved to study the Bible and look for hidden meanings to know God better. I think God hides things and shares them with those who will spend the time seeking them out. He loves to reveal his mysteries with us. I pray that I will rightly divide the truth so that others might love his word like I do. I pray that God will be magnified in your life as you read my blog.
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Tues.’s Devo - The Glory of God
Read: Ex. 33-35
After the people were punished and atoned for Moses removed the presence of God from their midst and put it outside the camp. If they wanted to come into God’s presence it would take some effort on their part. Moses went back and forth from the people to the Tabernacle but Joshua stayed in the tabernacle. It is possible to continually live in the presence of God.
Moses asked to see God’s glory which must have been different from His face because he spoke face-to-face with God already. To show him his glory, Moses was told to stand on a rock (Jesus) and he would hide him in a cleft in that rock so he could just see his back side. I think this was Moses’ glimpse into the future where we can, because of Jesus, behold God’s glory and live. Little did Moses know that when he saw God’s glory, God’s glory remained on him. So much so that he shone. It bothered the people so he had to veil himself when he went out in public. When we have been with the Lord, we should shine also. So much, that it could make people uncomfortable to be around us, yet it will draw the hungry. We should glow.
God rewrote the tablets of the law. Then God proclaimed who he was: The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin…” God made a covenant with them to so miracles for them that they had never seen done before. He would drive out their enemies but they were to promise not to make any covenants with them…including marriage. They were not to worship their gods because God is a jealous God and wants all our worship.
God gave them the laws again for the tabernacle and everyone gave toward it’s building with a willing heart.
Lord, may your glory rest on our countenance so much that it draws the hungry people to us.
After the people were punished and atoned for Moses removed the presence of God from their midst and put it outside the camp. If they wanted to come into God’s presence it would take some effort on their part. Moses went back and forth from the people to the Tabernacle but Joshua stayed in the tabernacle. It is possible to continually live in the presence of God.
Moses asked to see God’s glory which must have been different from His face because he spoke face-to-face with God already. To show him his glory, Moses was told to stand on a rock (Jesus) and he would hide him in a cleft in that rock so he could just see his back side. I think this was Moses’ glimpse into the future where we can, because of Jesus, behold God’s glory and live. Little did Moses know that when he saw God’s glory, God’s glory remained on him. So much so that he shone. It bothered the people so he had to veil himself when he went out in public. When we have been with the Lord, we should shine also. So much, that it could make people uncomfortable to be around us, yet it will draw the hungry. We should glow.
God rewrote the tablets of the law. Then God proclaimed who he was: The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin…” God made a covenant with them to so miracles for them that they had never seen done before. He would drive out their enemies but they were to promise not to make any covenants with them…including marriage. They were not to worship their gods because God is a jealous God and wants all our worship.
God gave them the laws again for the tabernacle and everyone gave toward it’s building with a willing heart.
Lord, may your glory rest on our countenance so much that it draws the hungry people to us.
I have always loved to study the Bible and look for hidden meanings to know God better. I think God hides things and shares them with those who will spend the time seeking them out. He loves to reveal his mysteries with us. I pray that I will rightly divide the truth so that others might love his word like I do. I pray that God will be magnified in your life as you read my blog.
Monday, February 9, 2015
Mon.’s Devo - The Way to God
Read: Ex. 30-32
The altar of incense was to be the picture of prayer. Our prayers go up to the Lord like sweet incense. Every morning new incense was burned because God’s mercies are new every morning. This incense was to burn continually because Jesus, our high priest ever lives to make intercession for his saints.
The laver was the huge bowl that the priests used to wash before and after sacrificing. It represents our cleansing from sin. They also washed their feet to show that their walk was sanctified also.
They were given a formula to make sweet incense that no one was to copy or put on anyone that was not a part of them. It was holy. We can’t give the Holy Spirit to those who are not Christians.
Bezaleel was given skill to construct the pieces for the tabernacle. His name means “in the shadow of God”. He was given Ahisamach to help him. His name means “support of his father”. He stands for the Holy Spirit who comes along side us and helps us do what God has told us to do. They made everything from the furniture to the garments of the priests.
Lastly, God gave them the commandment about the sabbath. It was to be a day of rest. It was to be a picture of the last millennium where we rest in the Lord. We will rest just as God did from his work.
While Moses was up on the mountain learning about all these things the children of Israel got tired of waiting and decided to find someone visible to worship - a golden calf, and something fun to do - a party, which was more like an orgy. The calf was the image of the god Apis worshipped by the Egyptians. Aaron would have had to make the mold, melt the gold and pour it into the mold to make it. Not exactly something that would just jump out of the fire like Aaron told Moses happened. LOL!
Moses broke the law on the tablets like the people had broken in their hearts. They had to drink the water with the powder of their gods in it. How many times to we have to taste the drink of our sin and reap the consequences. Their sin exposed them to the enemy which is what sin does. It removes the covering of God’s protection from us and we are exposed to the hand of the devil. It took the priestly tribe to atone for their sin. For us, it is the priestly side of Jesus that atoned once and for all for our sin.
Lord, thank you for showing us how to draw near to You. We are saved at the brazen altar and cleansed at the laver. Then we are invited to fellowship at your table of shewbread where we eat the Word. Your Holy Spirit illumines the Word and reveals it’s truth by the light of the candlestick and our prayers are accepted by you at the table of incense. The veil was torn away at the cross so we have free access into your throne room where we can fellowship with You.
The altar of incense was to be the picture of prayer. Our prayers go up to the Lord like sweet incense. Every morning new incense was burned because God’s mercies are new every morning. This incense was to burn continually because Jesus, our high priest ever lives to make intercession for his saints.
The laver was the huge bowl that the priests used to wash before and after sacrificing. It represents our cleansing from sin. They also washed their feet to show that their walk was sanctified also.
They were given a formula to make sweet incense that no one was to copy or put on anyone that was not a part of them. It was holy. We can’t give the Holy Spirit to those who are not Christians.
Bezaleel was given skill to construct the pieces for the tabernacle. His name means “in the shadow of God”. He was given Ahisamach to help him. His name means “support of his father”. He stands for the Holy Spirit who comes along side us and helps us do what God has told us to do. They made everything from the furniture to the garments of the priests.
Lastly, God gave them the commandment about the sabbath. It was to be a day of rest. It was to be a picture of the last millennium where we rest in the Lord. We will rest just as God did from his work.
While Moses was up on the mountain learning about all these things the children of Israel got tired of waiting and decided to find someone visible to worship - a golden calf, and something fun to do - a party, which was more like an orgy. The calf was the image of the god Apis worshipped by the Egyptians. Aaron would have had to make the mold, melt the gold and pour it into the mold to make it. Not exactly something that would just jump out of the fire like Aaron told Moses happened. LOL!
Moses broke the law on the tablets like the people had broken in their hearts. They had to drink the water with the powder of their gods in it. How many times to we have to taste the drink of our sin and reap the consequences. Their sin exposed them to the enemy which is what sin does. It removes the covering of God’s protection from us and we are exposed to the hand of the devil. It took the priestly tribe to atone for their sin. For us, it is the priestly side of Jesus that atoned once and for all for our sin.
Lord, thank you for showing us how to draw near to You. We are saved at the brazen altar and cleansed at the laver. Then we are invited to fellowship at your table of shewbread where we eat the Word. Your Holy Spirit illumines the Word and reveals it’s truth by the light of the candlestick and our prayers are accepted by you at the table of incense. The veil was torn away at the cross so we have free access into your throne room where we can fellowship with You.
I have always loved to study the Bible and look for hidden meanings to know God better. I think God hides things and shares them with those who will spend the time seeking them out. He loves to reveal his mysteries with us. I pray that I will rightly divide the truth so that others might love his word like I do. I pray that God will be magnified in your life as you read my blog.
Sunday, February 8, 2015
Sun.’s Devo- The High Priest
Read: Ex. 27-29
The sides of the altar are equal in measurement to show that anyone can come to this altar and be cleansed. There were horns on each corner to represent power over judgment. If a person wanted mercy he would take hold of the horns of the altar.
The five priests were all from Aaron’s line and were to wear priestly garments. Aaron was the high priest. The first thing he put on was the linen robe. It was to be light and airy so that he wouldn’t sweat. Jesus told us to take his yoke upon us and to learn of him because his yoke was easy and his burden was light. If we walk in the spirit we are not to sweat or worry. Next, Aaron was to put on an ephod which he wore on his shoulders. The curious girdle was the sash that held it down. On the shoulders he had engraved onyx stones of the names of the 12 tribes of Israel. When God looked down from heaven he was reminded of his children by name.
The breastplate went on top of the ephod which had the stones of the tribes. The priest wore them close to his heart and when the people looked at the priest it was a reminder of the love God had for his people. On his hem were bells and pomegranates intermittently. The pomegranate stood for the Word of God with all its seeds in it. The pomegranate was known to have the same number of seeds as the Words has laws. The bells were the sounding of the Word. If the Word isn’t proclaimed it is just knowledge in a book. It has to be spread.
On his head, the priest wore a mitre or a tiara that had a gold plate that said, Holiness to the Lord. The thoughts of the priests were to be holy.
Before Aaron and his sons could minister, they were to be anointed with oil. Then they were to sprinkle blood from the sacrifice on their right ear, right thumb and right toe. This was to sanctify what they heard, did and their walk.
Jesus, thank you for being our High Priest. Help us to walk as priests before you.
The sides of the altar are equal in measurement to show that anyone can come to this altar and be cleansed. There were horns on each corner to represent power over judgment. If a person wanted mercy he would take hold of the horns of the altar.
The five priests were all from Aaron’s line and were to wear priestly garments. Aaron was the high priest. The first thing he put on was the linen robe. It was to be light and airy so that he wouldn’t sweat. Jesus told us to take his yoke upon us and to learn of him because his yoke was easy and his burden was light. If we walk in the spirit we are not to sweat or worry. Next, Aaron was to put on an ephod which he wore on his shoulders. The curious girdle was the sash that held it down. On the shoulders he had engraved onyx stones of the names of the 12 tribes of Israel. When God looked down from heaven he was reminded of his children by name.
The breastplate went on top of the ephod which had the stones of the tribes. The priest wore them close to his heart and when the people looked at the priest it was a reminder of the love God had for his people. On his hem were bells and pomegranates intermittently. The pomegranate stood for the Word of God with all its seeds in it. The pomegranate was known to have the same number of seeds as the Words has laws. The bells were the sounding of the Word. If the Word isn’t proclaimed it is just knowledge in a book. It has to be spread.
On his head, the priest wore a mitre or a tiara that had a gold plate that said, Holiness to the Lord. The thoughts of the priests were to be holy.
Before Aaron and his sons could minister, they were to be anointed with oil. Then they were to sprinkle blood from the sacrifice on their right ear, right thumb and right toe. This was to sanctify what they heard, did and their walk.
Jesus, thank you for being our High Priest. Help us to walk as priests before you.
I have always loved to study the Bible and look for hidden meanings to know God better. I think God hides things and shares them with those who will spend the time seeking them out. He loves to reveal his mysteries with us. I pray that I will rightly divide the truth so that others might love his word like I do. I pray that God will be magnified in your life as you read my blog.
Saturday, February 7, 2015
Sat.’s Devo - The Mercy Seat and the Candlestick
Read: Ex. 25-26
God had shown Moses the pattern of the tabernacle in heaven when he was on the mountain with God. Now he was to reconstruct it on earth. He told him just how to make it where it could be torn down and carried through their wanderings and reassembled when they camped. Everything in the tabernacle was to teach them how to draw near to God. They were only to give offerings for the tabernacle out of a willing heart. Now we know why they asked the Egyptians for all their jewelry and gold and silver.
Everything had meaning. The structure was made of wood and overlaid with gold. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. People throughout the Bible are represented as trees : ex. Ps. 1. A tree cut down and fashioned into a board for use is a Christian. A board overlaid with gold is an overcomer. The staves were the same thing only they were the supports. They are the pastors, teachers, preachers, intercessors etc. that offer support to the body. The wood they used was from the shittim with is the acacia wood. It is known for its thorns. This was probably the wood they used to make Jesus crown of thorns. We are the ones who put that crown of thorns on his head because we are all sinners saved by his blood.
The mercy seat was made because we are sinners. It is our way to God. On top of the mercy seat sits two cherubim of pure gold. They stretch forth their wings and cover us and take our requests to God. Inside the mercy seat they were to place the testimony that God gave to Moses written on tablets of stone. Because of the Word of God hidden inside us, we can obtain mercy and grace. The mercy seat was to be behind the curtain in the most holy place.
The candlestick, table of incense, and the table of shewbread are placed in the holy place before the curtain. The candlestick is also of pure gold. It is a beautiful menorah which has six branches and a center staff. These stand for the seven spirits of God found in Isaiah 11:2. “And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.” The center staff is the Spirit of the Lord himself - all of them. The candlestick is the illumination of the Holy Spirit that enables us to understand what we read in the Bible.
Holy Spirit, illumine us this year to read and understand Your Word. Thank you for the mercy of God that saves us and gives us access to You.
God had shown Moses the pattern of the tabernacle in heaven when he was on the mountain with God. Now he was to reconstruct it on earth. He told him just how to make it where it could be torn down and carried through their wanderings and reassembled when they camped. Everything in the tabernacle was to teach them how to draw near to God. They were only to give offerings for the tabernacle out of a willing heart. Now we know why they asked the Egyptians for all their jewelry and gold and silver.
Everything had meaning. The structure was made of wood and overlaid with gold. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. People throughout the Bible are represented as trees : ex. Ps. 1. A tree cut down and fashioned into a board for use is a Christian. A board overlaid with gold is an overcomer. The staves were the same thing only they were the supports. They are the pastors, teachers, preachers, intercessors etc. that offer support to the body. The wood they used was from the shittim with is the acacia wood. It is known for its thorns. This was probably the wood they used to make Jesus crown of thorns. We are the ones who put that crown of thorns on his head because we are all sinners saved by his blood.
The mercy seat was made because we are sinners. It is our way to God. On top of the mercy seat sits two cherubim of pure gold. They stretch forth their wings and cover us and take our requests to God. Inside the mercy seat they were to place the testimony that God gave to Moses written on tablets of stone. Because of the Word of God hidden inside us, we can obtain mercy and grace. The mercy seat was to be behind the curtain in the most holy place.
The candlestick, table of incense, and the table of shewbread are placed in the holy place before the curtain. The candlestick is also of pure gold. It is a beautiful menorah which has six branches and a center staff. These stand for the seven spirits of God found in Isaiah 11:2. “And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.” The center staff is the Spirit of the Lord himself - all of them. The candlestick is the illumination of the Holy Spirit that enables us to understand what we read in the Bible.
Holy Spirit, illumine us this year to read and understand Your Word. Thank you for the mercy of God that saves us and gives us access to You.
I have always loved to study the Bible and look for hidden meanings to know God better. I think God hides things and shares them with those who will spend the time seeking them out. He loves to reveal his mysteries with us. I pray that I will rightly divide the truth so that others might love his word like I do. I pray that God will be magnified in your life as you read my blog.
Friday, February 6, 2015
Fri.’s Devo -The Power of the Law
Read: Ex. 22-24
One thing that is obvious to me when I read the laws is that all sin is weighed on a different scale. Some sin had to be paid back five times and others just double. When the thief steals, he must be required to pay us back. Our thief, Satan, is not flesh and blood but the law still applies to him. We have to require that he repay us everything he steals from us. If we don’t then he gets away free. We use our authority in the Lord and demand the devil pay us back for everything he has stolen from us with interest. Some of the things he steals is our health, our time, our money, our children, our creativity, our gifts, our marriage, etc.
In Chapter 23 the law commands that we help those who need help even if we don’t like this person. It commands us to have compassion on new people, sinners and people of other religions because once we were without God.
God gave them a command for the sabbath. The people, the animals and the land were to rest on the seventh year. Three times a year they were to hold a feast which would coincide with their different harvests. The first feast would be the wheat harvest which would be the feast of Passover, Unleavened bread and First fruits. The next harvest was the barley harvest which occurred at Pentecost or feast of weeks. The last feasts would be at the fruit harvest which were the feast of Trumpets, Yom Kippor and Feast of Tabernacles. God would mark these feasts as very important times He would move on the earth.
Then he sent his angel before them (the Holy Spirit) and if they did what he said God would cut off their enemies, take their sickness away, they would have no miscarriages or infertility, and their enemies would flee from them. Their enemies would keep their land for them until they could occupy it, then they would have to leave it to them. Could life be better? Something tells me we are living below this standard. They were told not to agree with their enemies and not to COEXIST!
Unlike the days of Moses, we are all invited to draw near to God because of the blood of Jesus. (Hebrews 10:22) We can see God just like Moses, Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu and the seventy elders did. The veil has been rent.
Lord, anoint our eyes to see into the heavens and see You. Help us to walk in the authority You have given us because of the blood.
One thing that is obvious to me when I read the laws is that all sin is weighed on a different scale. Some sin had to be paid back five times and others just double. When the thief steals, he must be required to pay us back. Our thief, Satan, is not flesh and blood but the law still applies to him. We have to require that he repay us everything he steals from us. If we don’t then he gets away free. We use our authority in the Lord and demand the devil pay us back for everything he has stolen from us with interest. Some of the things he steals is our health, our time, our money, our children, our creativity, our gifts, our marriage, etc.
In Chapter 23 the law commands that we help those who need help even if we don’t like this person. It commands us to have compassion on new people, sinners and people of other religions because once we were without God.
God gave them a command for the sabbath. The people, the animals and the land were to rest on the seventh year. Three times a year they were to hold a feast which would coincide with their different harvests. The first feast would be the wheat harvest which would be the feast of Passover, Unleavened bread and First fruits. The next harvest was the barley harvest which occurred at Pentecost or feast of weeks. The last feasts would be at the fruit harvest which were the feast of Trumpets, Yom Kippor and Feast of Tabernacles. God would mark these feasts as very important times He would move on the earth.
Then he sent his angel before them (the Holy Spirit) and if they did what he said God would cut off their enemies, take their sickness away, they would have no miscarriages or infertility, and their enemies would flee from them. Their enemies would keep their land for them until they could occupy it, then they would have to leave it to them. Could life be better? Something tells me we are living below this standard. They were told not to agree with their enemies and not to COEXIST!
Unlike the days of Moses, we are all invited to draw near to God because of the blood of Jesus. (Hebrews 10:22) We can see God just like Moses, Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu and the seventy elders did. The veil has been rent.
Lord, anoint our eyes to see into the heavens and see You. Help us to walk in the authority You have given us because of the blood.
I have always loved to study the Bible and look for hidden meanings to know God better. I think God hides things and shares them with those who will spend the time seeking them out. He loves to reveal his mysteries with us. I pray that I will rightly divide the truth so that others might love his word like I do. I pray that God will be magnified in your life as you read my blog.
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Thurs.’s Devo - Pentecost- The Gift of the Holy Spirit
Read: Ex. 19-21
It has been 50 days since they put the blood on the doorposts of their houses and were saved from the death angel. Fifty days after Passover is Pentecost. Today we read about the first Pentecost. God invites them to be his peculiar treasure, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. He appeared to them in a fire and a cloud on the mountain. At the blast of a trumpet He spoke to the people and called Moses up on the mountain to receive his laws.
God told the people to rehearse these feasts every year and at appointed times he fulfills them. In Acts God fulfilled the Feast of Pentecost by sending his Holy Spirit. This was the day the church was born and God’s peculiar treasure, his kingdom of priests were released on the earth. This time the fire wasn’t on the mountain where only one person was invited but it was on every person in the room. They were the mountain of the Lord with tongues of fire on their heads. They were all invited to come into God’s presence. Peter became the trumpet that spoke forth God’s word to the people that had come to rehearse the festival. They were given the ability to speak the languages of the people so they could communicated with them the Good News. Instead of the Law, they were offered the Holy Spirit without measure.
After God gave Moses the basic ten we know as the Ten Commandments he broke them down to practical living. The number one thing I get from reading Chapter 21 is that we are responsible for our actions and God requires us to take that responsibility serious.
Lord, thank you for the precious gift of the Holy Spirit.
It has been 50 days since they put the blood on the doorposts of their houses and were saved from the death angel. Fifty days after Passover is Pentecost. Today we read about the first Pentecost. God invites them to be his peculiar treasure, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. He appeared to them in a fire and a cloud on the mountain. At the blast of a trumpet He spoke to the people and called Moses up on the mountain to receive his laws.
God told the people to rehearse these feasts every year and at appointed times he fulfills them. In Acts God fulfilled the Feast of Pentecost by sending his Holy Spirit. This was the day the church was born and God’s peculiar treasure, his kingdom of priests were released on the earth. This time the fire wasn’t on the mountain where only one person was invited but it was on every person in the room. They were the mountain of the Lord with tongues of fire on their heads. They were all invited to come into God’s presence. Peter became the trumpet that spoke forth God’s word to the people that had come to rehearse the festival. They were given the ability to speak the languages of the people so they could communicated with them the Good News. Instead of the Law, they were offered the Holy Spirit without measure.
After God gave Moses the basic ten we know as the Ten Commandments he broke them down to practical living. The number one thing I get from reading Chapter 21 is that we are responsible for our actions and God requires us to take that responsibility serious.
Lord, thank you for the precious gift of the Holy Spirit.
I have always loved to study the Bible and look for hidden meanings to know God better. I think God hides things and shares them with those who will spend the time seeking them out. He loves to reveal his mysteries with us. I pray that I will rightly divide the truth so that others might love his word like I do. I pray that God will be magnified in your life as you read my blog.
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Wed.’s Devo - Christ - the Rock of Ages
Read: Ex. 16-18
The children of Israel left the oasis of Elim and came to the wilderness of Sin. Here they sinned. Isn’t that what usually happens? You come off of a spiritual victory and Satan is right there to meet you and steal your victory. Statistics show that more teenagers have sex after a really Spirit-filled meeting. It is because our emotions are peaked and if not mature, a person can be tempted to confuse this spiritual wine with natural lust.
Back to Moses. They had run out of food so the people were complaining to Moses and blaming him for their lack. (Sounds like people who leave a church because they are not being “fed”.) It was never the purpose of the local church to “feed” us. We are suppose to go out and pick up our own manna every day. God told Moses that he was sending quail and manna. They were to gather manna for six days and double on the sixth day. Amazingly, it spoiled if they gathered too much during the week but stayed fresh on the seventh day. I think this is a picture of doctrine through the ages. Prior generations couldn’t understand the teaching that we are accustomed to now. It was a huge scandal when Martin Luther came out with the doctrine “the just shall live by faith.” That doctrine is a staple now. We are in the sixth day or the sixth millennium which means that we are getting twice the teaching and understanding of the prior millenniums. We are storing up for the last millennium.
At the next place, Rephidim, the people got mad because they had run out of water. God told Moses to strike the rock and water came pouring out - enough to supply a multitude and their animals! First Corinthians 10:4 tells us that that rock was Christ. One of the definitions of the word “strike” is to wound. Christ was wounded for us on the cross. Out of his side poured water and blood. Out of this rock poured the Holy Spirit in abundance. Once we are saved we can drink of the Holy Spirit without restraint, but we have to do the drinking. As soon as they got their holy water, the Amelekites came to steal their joy.
When Mose’s could no longer hold his arms up in his own strength, he was able to with the help of his friends and a rock. It is much easier to fight a battle leaning on Jesus and with the aid of fellow Christians. Christ is our banner!
Lord, thank you for the Holy Spirit that was given without measure. May we daily drink of his waters and eat of your meat.
The children of Israel left the oasis of Elim and came to the wilderness of Sin. Here they sinned. Isn’t that what usually happens? You come off of a spiritual victory and Satan is right there to meet you and steal your victory. Statistics show that more teenagers have sex after a really Spirit-filled meeting. It is because our emotions are peaked and if not mature, a person can be tempted to confuse this spiritual wine with natural lust.
Back to Moses. They had run out of food so the people were complaining to Moses and blaming him for their lack. (Sounds like people who leave a church because they are not being “fed”.) It was never the purpose of the local church to “feed” us. We are suppose to go out and pick up our own manna every day. God told Moses that he was sending quail and manna. They were to gather manna for six days and double on the sixth day. Amazingly, it spoiled if they gathered too much during the week but stayed fresh on the seventh day. I think this is a picture of doctrine through the ages. Prior generations couldn’t understand the teaching that we are accustomed to now. It was a huge scandal when Martin Luther came out with the doctrine “the just shall live by faith.” That doctrine is a staple now. We are in the sixth day or the sixth millennium which means that we are getting twice the teaching and understanding of the prior millenniums. We are storing up for the last millennium.
At the next place, Rephidim, the people got mad because they had run out of water. God told Moses to strike the rock and water came pouring out - enough to supply a multitude and their animals! First Corinthians 10:4 tells us that that rock was Christ. One of the definitions of the word “strike” is to wound. Christ was wounded for us on the cross. Out of his side poured water and blood. Out of this rock poured the Holy Spirit in abundance. Once we are saved we can drink of the Holy Spirit without restraint, but we have to do the drinking. As soon as they got their holy water, the Amelekites came to steal their joy.
When Mose’s could no longer hold his arms up in his own strength, he was able to with the help of his friends and a rock. It is much easier to fight a battle leaning on Jesus and with the aid of fellow Christians. Christ is our banner!
Lord, thank you for the Holy Spirit that was given without measure. May we daily drink of his waters and eat of your meat.
I have always loved to study the Bible and look for hidden meanings to know God better. I think God hides things and shares them with those who will spend the time seeking them out. He loves to reveal his mysteries with us. I pray that I will rightly divide the truth so that others might love his word like I do. I pray that God will be magnified in your life as you read my blog.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Tues.’s Devo -The Battle is the Lord’s
Read: Ex. 13-15
God explained to Moses that they were not to eat unleavened bread for seven days and then hold a feast. The leaven stands for sin and Satan’s doctrine. Their bread was to be God’s Word and righteousness. This is a picture of our lives as Christians. Once we are saved then we are to live righteously by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. We are to pass down to the next generation everything that God does for us. Every first born was to be redeemed with a lamb. What a picture! Our first born nature has to be redeemed by the Lamb of God. God slew the first born of the Egyptians because they were evil but he redeems the first born of his children!
They took the bones of Joseph and emptied Joseph’s tomb. Jesus was laid in the tomb of Joseph of Armathea and he emptied it also when he rose from the grave.
God led them out in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. He was shade from the sun in the daytime and warmth and light in the night. Psalms 91 says that we are hid under the shadow of the Almighty - our shade during the day. We are covered with the blood of Jesus and nothing can penetrate that. God illumines our darkness during our night seasons when we feel lost and confused.
They were commanded to camp before Baal-hahiroth which means the “mouth of wrath”, between Migdol which means “a tower” and the sea, over against Baal-zephon which means “the destroyer”. In other words they were given an exact position they were to take against the enemy. They were taking a position of strength (the tower) between the wrath of God and the power of the Devil. The battle would be played out in the sea. The sea is the sea of humanity and God and Satan’s battle field is the earth. We are the objects of Satan’s wrath and the power of the Lord against him. This is why we need to be able to see and understand what is going on so we will know how to respond and fight.
There was no way the devil was going to let the Israelites escape if he could help it. He raised up these tired, beaten down, ravaged Egyptians to stop the children of Israel from reaching their destiny. Satan will do anything within his power to stop us from succeeding, All we need is faith to stand and obey what God says and God will do the fighting and delivering.
Lord, may we sing Moses’s song over our enemy.
God explained to Moses that they were not to eat unleavened bread for seven days and then hold a feast. The leaven stands for sin and Satan’s doctrine. Their bread was to be God’s Word and righteousness. This is a picture of our lives as Christians. Once we are saved then we are to live righteously by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. We are to pass down to the next generation everything that God does for us. Every first born was to be redeemed with a lamb. What a picture! Our first born nature has to be redeemed by the Lamb of God. God slew the first born of the Egyptians because they were evil but he redeems the first born of his children!
They took the bones of Joseph and emptied Joseph’s tomb. Jesus was laid in the tomb of Joseph of Armathea and he emptied it also when he rose from the grave.
God led them out in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. He was shade from the sun in the daytime and warmth and light in the night. Psalms 91 says that we are hid under the shadow of the Almighty - our shade during the day. We are covered with the blood of Jesus and nothing can penetrate that. God illumines our darkness during our night seasons when we feel lost and confused.
They were commanded to camp before Baal-hahiroth which means the “mouth of wrath”, between Migdol which means “a tower” and the sea, over against Baal-zephon which means “the destroyer”. In other words they were given an exact position they were to take against the enemy. They were taking a position of strength (the tower) between the wrath of God and the power of the Devil. The battle would be played out in the sea. The sea is the sea of humanity and God and Satan’s battle field is the earth. We are the objects of Satan’s wrath and the power of the Lord against him. This is why we need to be able to see and understand what is going on so we will know how to respond and fight.
There was no way the devil was going to let the Israelites escape if he could help it. He raised up these tired, beaten down, ravaged Egyptians to stop the children of Israel from reaching their destiny. Satan will do anything within his power to stop us from succeeding, All we need is faith to stand and obey what God says and God will do the fighting and delivering.
Lord, may we sing Moses’s song over our enemy.
I have always loved to study the Bible and look for hidden meanings to know God better. I think God hides things and shares them with those who will spend the time seeking them out. He loves to reveal his mysteries with us. I pray that I will rightly divide the truth so that others might love his word like I do. I pray that God will be magnified in your life as you read my blog.
Monday, February 2, 2015
Mon.’s Devo - The Locusts and the Passover
Read: Ex. 10-12
Today, I want us to look at this story from a different perspective. Sometimes we are the Pharaoh that refuses to let God’s people go. We hold them in judgement and unforgiveness. If God can’t get our attention by His kindness (remember the blessings that Joseph brought to Egypt), then he will have to turn us over to disaster. It will get worse and worse till we finally let them go or be destroyed. Sadly, many people don’t recognize God’s hand and accept their sickness and poverty and call it “bad luck”. I’m not saying that everything bad that happens to us is because of our sin, but it could be. It certainly was in Pharaoh’s case. I am saying that our unforgiveness and bitterness can lead to our destruction physically, mentally, and spiritually.
I find it comical that when Moses prophesied the locusts were coming, Moses’ servants begged Pharaoh to let them go. Pharaoh tried to bargain with Moses and let him just go with the men but when Moses refused, he ended up throwing Moses out. The locusts came and then the three days of darkness. Pharaoh finally told them they could go…only to change his mind.
God then gave Moses and Aaron instructions about the feasts - his eternal plan for the earth. First, God gave them a new New Year. It had been Tishri1 and now it would be Nisan 1. The first month on their civil calendar had become the 7th month on their spiritual calendar. The seventh month on their civil calendar had now become the first. As a nation they were given a new spiritual birth day which is what happens when we are born again. On the tenth day of Nisan they were to sacrifice a lamb and everything that they were commanded to do to that lamb would be what their brothers many centuries later would do to Jesus. This lamb would save the first born just as Jesus would save our natural first birth. The second feast of unleavened bread would represent our sanctification of cleansing that salvation offers us.
They left Egypt on the exact day of the month that they had entered Egypt 430 years earlier. God is a god of detail and order. His plan is perfectly orchestrated.
Notice that anyone who wanted to be circumcised and keep God’s commands could eat the Passover and be saved. They would be considered as one of the Israelites and many of the Egyptians did. This is the picture of the Gentile being grafted in to the family.
Lord, You are so mighty in your great plan for the earth and for us. We are so thankful to be your children, your friend and your ambassador.
Today, I want us to look at this story from a different perspective. Sometimes we are the Pharaoh that refuses to let God’s people go. We hold them in judgement and unforgiveness. If God can’t get our attention by His kindness (remember the blessings that Joseph brought to Egypt), then he will have to turn us over to disaster. It will get worse and worse till we finally let them go or be destroyed. Sadly, many people don’t recognize God’s hand and accept their sickness and poverty and call it “bad luck”. I’m not saying that everything bad that happens to us is because of our sin, but it could be. It certainly was in Pharaoh’s case. I am saying that our unforgiveness and bitterness can lead to our destruction physically, mentally, and spiritually.
I find it comical that when Moses prophesied the locusts were coming, Moses’ servants begged Pharaoh to let them go. Pharaoh tried to bargain with Moses and let him just go with the men but when Moses refused, he ended up throwing Moses out. The locusts came and then the three days of darkness. Pharaoh finally told them they could go…only to change his mind.
God then gave Moses and Aaron instructions about the feasts - his eternal plan for the earth. First, God gave them a new New Year. It had been Tishri1 and now it would be Nisan 1. The first month on their civil calendar had become the 7th month on their spiritual calendar. The seventh month on their civil calendar had now become the first. As a nation they were given a new spiritual birth day which is what happens when we are born again. On the tenth day of Nisan they were to sacrifice a lamb and everything that they were commanded to do to that lamb would be what their brothers many centuries later would do to Jesus. This lamb would save the first born just as Jesus would save our natural first birth. The second feast of unleavened bread would represent our sanctification of cleansing that salvation offers us.
They left Egypt on the exact day of the month that they had entered Egypt 430 years earlier. God is a god of detail and order. His plan is perfectly orchestrated.
Notice that anyone who wanted to be circumcised and keep God’s commands could eat the Passover and be saved. They would be considered as one of the Israelites and many of the Egyptians did. This is the picture of the Gentile being grafted in to the family.
Lord, You are so mighty in your great plan for the earth and for us. We are so thankful to be your children, your friend and your ambassador.
I have always loved to study the Bible and look for hidden meanings to know God better. I think God hides things and shares them with those who will spend the time seeking them out. He loves to reveal his mysteries with us. I pray that I will rightly divide the truth so that others might love his word like I do. I pray that God will be magnified in your life as you read my blog.
Sunday, February 1, 2015
Sun.'s Devo - The Harvest
Read: 7-9
The plagues of Egypt was a showdown between the gods of Egypt and and the God of Israel. Pharaoh refused to see the sign of the rods of his enchanters being swallowed up by Aaron’s rod but I bet the enchanters understood it. You can tell a person not to take drugs and what the consequences will be, but he has to have a heart to understand. God hardened Pharaohs which means that what was in his heart he just gave him the resolve to be obstinate and not cave. God knew his heart was evil and would never be His. God’s desire was to punish the nation of Egypt for all the years they had oppressed his people. He wanted to spoil the land and deliver his people which was exactly what He did.
For many of us, the devil has been oppressing us mentally, spiritually, financially, and physically. We need to turn the tables. We need to command the devil to give us back everything he stole from us with interest. Jesus is our Kinsman Redeemer. Redeem means to get back what has been stolen.
On the forth plague, God made a distinction between the land of Egypt and the land of Goshen where the Israelites lived. On the forth day God hung the Sun, Moon and stars to declare rule and reign over the heavenly realm. In the forth millennium, Jesus came to earth to establish authority over death and proclaim salvation had come. The forth plague was the flies and Beezebub means “Lord of the Flies”. It is as if God was drawing a dividing line and saying to the devil: Egypt is your kingdom and Goshen is mine. That is exactly what Jesus blood is. It is the dividing line between those who are evil and those who are saved.
The plagues hit every harvest. The devil has always been after the harvest of souls and so has God. God totally ruined their harvest and left the land desolate, stinking and depleted.
Lord, help us to get Your heart for the harvest of souls that is coming before you come back. First you have to spoil the world’s harvest which we are witnessing daily. Thank you that you have our Goshen prepared for us.
The plagues of Egypt was a showdown between the gods of Egypt and and the God of Israel. Pharaoh refused to see the sign of the rods of his enchanters being swallowed up by Aaron’s rod but I bet the enchanters understood it. You can tell a person not to take drugs and what the consequences will be, but he has to have a heart to understand. God hardened Pharaohs which means that what was in his heart he just gave him the resolve to be obstinate and not cave. God knew his heart was evil and would never be His. God’s desire was to punish the nation of Egypt for all the years they had oppressed his people. He wanted to spoil the land and deliver his people which was exactly what He did.
For many of us, the devil has been oppressing us mentally, spiritually, financially, and physically. We need to turn the tables. We need to command the devil to give us back everything he stole from us with interest. Jesus is our Kinsman Redeemer. Redeem means to get back what has been stolen.
On the forth plague, God made a distinction between the land of Egypt and the land of Goshen where the Israelites lived. On the forth day God hung the Sun, Moon and stars to declare rule and reign over the heavenly realm. In the forth millennium, Jesus came to earth to establish authority over death and proclaim salvation had come. The forth plague was the flies and Beezebub means “Lord of the Flies”. It is as if God was drawing a dividing line and saying to the devil: Egypt is your kingdom and Goshen is mine. That is exactly what Jesus blood is. It is the dividing line between those who are evil and those who are saved.
The plagues hit every harvest. The devil has always been after the harvest of souls and so has God. God totally ruined their harvest and left the land desolate, stinking and depleted.
Lord, help us to get Your heart for the harvest of souls that is coming before you come back. First you have to spoil the world’s harvest which we are witnessing daily. Thank you that you have our Goshen prepared for us.
I have always loved to study the Bible and look for hidden meanings to know God better. I think God hides things and shares them with those who will spend the time seeking them out. He loves to reveal his mysteries with us. I pray that I will rightly divide the truth so that others might love his word like I do. I pray that God will be magnified in your life as you read my blog.
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