tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49782751605211203112024-03-18T04:00:32.352-05:00Ginny's GemsGinny's gemshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05421143450454896428noreply@blogger.comBlogger5162125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978275160521120311.post-59630719737248522302024-03-18T04:00:00.002-05:002024-03-18T04:00:00.131-05:00Mon.’s Devo - Out with the Old and In with the New Read: Numbers 26:52-28:15; Luke 3:1-22; Psalm 61:1-8; Proverbs 11:16-17
The land was divided out by tribes and given out in proportion to how many people they had. Moses and Aaron had been from the tribe of Levi. The tribes were numbered from the age of twenty years old, but the Levites were numbered from the age of one month old (Numbers 3). Twenty was when you could go to war but Levites didn’t fight, they carried the ark and took care of it. At this time, the Levites were not numbered or given land. None of the original people were alive now except Joshua and Caleb.
*** The daughters of Zelophehad from the tribe of Manasseh had no brothers so they would get no land. They came before Moses to present their case and God said to give them an inheritance to carry out their father’s name. This became law for men without heirs.
*** God told Moses to go up on mount Abarim and see the land he had spent his last 40 years traveling to. He would not be able to pass into it but he could view it. Abarim means “land beyond”.
*** Moses asked the Lord who would carry on his position as leader and God chose Joshua to be their shepherd and commander. Moses was to bring him out before the people and present him as their leader before Eleazar the priest. Moses laid his hands upon Joshua and honored him as leader before the people.
*** God gave Moses instructions about the burnt offering, the grain offering, the drink offering, the daily offering and the Sabbath offerings.
*** In Luke, Tiberius Caesar reigned over the land. Pontius Pilate was the governor of Judea and Herod was the tetrarch of Galilee. Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests. But the Word of the Lord came to John who was the son of Zacharias who lived in the wilderness. He preached the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins all around Jordan. He was the voice in the wilderness that the prophets had foretold.
*** John preached that it didn’t matter if you were born a Jew, you had to repent to be saved from the wrath to come. People came to him to be baptized and then asked what they should do. To the people he said they should give their extra to those who had none. He told the publicans to exact no more than that which was appointed to them. To the soldiers he told them to not be violent or accuse anyone falsely.
*** The people wondered if he was the Messiah but John told him that he was just baptizing with water but the one coming after him would baptize with the Holy Ghost and with fire.
*** When Jesus came to be baptized of John, the heaven opened and the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him and a voice came from heaven saying, “thou art my beloved Son, in you I am well pleased.”
*** In both of these readings the old charge is being replaced with the new. New wine has to be put in new vessels. The people had to prepare their hearts and minds to follow Joshua now instead of Moses and the people of the New Testament had to prepare their hearts to follow God instead of man.
*** Lord, thank you that you always lead us through people, your Word and your spirit. May our hearts be prepared to receive the new you are bringing.Ginny's gemshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05421143450454896428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978275160521120311.post-30933209955414129872024-03-17T04:00:00.001-05:002024-03-17T04:00:00.137-05:00Sun.’s Devo - The Promise Fulfilled Read: Numbers 26:1-51; Luke 2:36-52; Pslam 60:1-12; Proverbs 11:15
All the people who came out of Egypt and sinned against the Lord were now dead, so the Lord called Moses to recount the people. There were 601,730 registered troops in Israel. When they came out of Egypt and were in their second year there were 600,000 foot soldiers (Numbers 11:21). In their first census when they came out of Egypt the total number of men who could go to war were 603,550 (Numbers 1:45). So their numbers had ebbed and flowed and were a little less than when they came out of Egypt. If thousands hadn’t died because of disobedience there would have been so many more.
In this list of the tribes it reminds us of what happened to the rebels from Reuben, Dathan and Abiram who rebelled with Koran and were swallowed by the earth. Their children survived.
In the tribe of Manasseh, the Hepherites had no sons so their daughters were named.
When it came to Asher’s tribe, the daughter, Sarah was named first.
*** I just point these out because they are discrepancies that you usually don’t see in a genealogy back then.
*** How ironic, our reading in Luke begins with a woman from the tribe of Asher named Anna. She is a prophet whose husband died seven years after they married. She had lived as a widow after his death until she was now 84 years old. She had never left the Temple but stayed there praying and fasting. She walked up as Simeon was prophesying over Jesus. She began praising God and mentioned him to all who had been waiting for the redemption of Israel.
*** Mary and Joseph returned home and Jesus grew in wisdom and the grace of God. When he was 12, he went with his parents to Jerusalem for the Passover. After the feast, they began traveling home. Mary and Joseph assumed Jesus was with their company but found he was not and returned to Jerusalem.
*** They finally found him in the Temple sitting in the midst of the doctors asking them questions and giving them answers that astonished them. When Mary asked him why he was still there, he answered, “How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be about my Father’s business?”
*** At 12, every Jewish boy began to be employed in his father’s business. His father was God so he was doing God’s business. Mary and Joseph didn’t understand what he was saying and brought him home where he was subject to them. He grew in wisdom and matured. He also grew in God’s favor.
*** Lord, may we grow in wisdom, maturity and grace for your business. We pray for the redemption of the world.
Ginny's gemshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05421143450454896428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978275160521120311.post-18251337672435264072024-03-16T04:00:00.001-05:002024-03-16T04:00:00.149-05:00Sat.’s Devo - Our Covenant of Peace Read: Numbers 24:1-25:18; Luke 2:1-35; Psalm 59:1-17; Proverbs 11:14
This was Balaam’s third chance to please Barak and get his great reward, but he feared God more than he feared Barak. He didn’t resort to divination this time. He just looked at the people of Israel and the Holy Spirit came upon him and he gave his message.
*** He blessed the tents of Jacob and Israel with prosperity, growth of their numbers, and power. They would conquer everyone who got in their way and everyone who blesses them will be blessed and everyone who curses them will be cursed.
*** King Balak flew into a rage and shouted at Balaam for blessing them instead of cursing them like he had hired him to do. Balaam explained to him that he had told him from the very start that he had no power over God and God’s word; he would only speak what God said he could say.
*** Before they parted ways, Balaam told Barak what Israel would do to his people in the far future. A leader would arise out of Israel who would conquer the Edomites, the Moabites, Seir and the Kenites. David did all of this in his time physically. Jesus destroyed these enemies spiritually when he came.
***Balak did find a way to weaken the Israelites through their Moabite women. They sent them down to lure the Israelites into their licentious worship of Baal.
*** The leaders of the people were told to put to death all who were under their jurisdiction who had joined in worshiping Baal of Peor. As they were meeting, a man blatantly brought a Midianite woman into his tent. Eleazar followed him into his tent and killed them both with his sword. This act stopped the plague that had started which ended up killing 24,000 people.
*** Because of Phinehas’ zeal for the Lord and his atoning act for the people, he was promised God’s covenant of peace which would be to his seed after him and the covenant of an everlasting priesthood.
*** Moses then told the people to attack the Midianites and destroy them because they tricked them into worshipping Baal.
*** In Luke, Caesar decreed that the whole world would be taxed so Mary and Joseph had to go back to Bethlehem to pay their taxes. Her baby was ready to come and did come when they got to Bethlehem. She had him in a stable and laid Jesus in the manger where they fed the sheep.
*** That night the angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds in the field who were watching their sheep. The angel told them not to fear but, they were bringing good news to the people of the earth. Today a Savior was being born who was Christ the Lord. They would find him wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. Then the sky lit up with a multitude of angels all praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
*** When the angels left, the shepherds wanted to go and see this sign. They found Mary and Joseph and Jesus and he was lying in a manger, just as the angel had said. They told everyone but Mary kept these things in her heart.
*** When Jesus was eight days old they took him to the synagogue to be circumcised and dedicated to the Lord. There was a devout man named Simeon who had been told by the Lord that he would not see death until he had seen the Lord’s Christ. He was lead to go to the Temple that day and Mary brought Jesus to him to dedicate him. Simeon knew he was the Christ and prophesied over him that now his eyes had seen God’s salvation. He would be a light to the Gentiles and a glory to the Jews. Jesus would be a sign which would be spoken against. A sword would pierce through Jesus’ soul so that many hearts would be revealed.
*** Thank you that your light shone on the earth and brought us to the light of your salvation. May we be the light of the world as Jesus was the light of the world that many would come to salvation. Thank you that you have given us your covenant of peace.
Ginny's gemshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05421143450454896428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978275160521120311.post-46988226511919047152024-03-15T04:00:00.001-05:002024-03-15T04:00:00.200-05:00Fri.’s Devo - God’s Message of Blessing Read: Numbers 22:21-23:30; Luke 1:57-80; Psalm 58:1-11; Proverbs 11:12-13
Balak has hired a sorcerer named Balaam to curse Israel but God wants to make sure he fears Him enough to say exactly what he wants him to say.
*** The angel of the Lord stood before his donkey blocking his way but only the donkey could see him. The angel had a sword drawn and the donkey bolted off the road into a field. Balaam beat the donkey and made it get back on the road.
*** The angel went ahead of them and stood where the road became narrow between two walls, making the donkey squeeze by, crushing Balaam’s leg against the stone wall. Balaam beat his donkey again.
***Next, the angel of the Lord went down the road and stood in front of him and there was no room for the donkey to go around him so the donkey sat down. Balaam beat his donkey again.
*** God spoke through and for the donkey. He asked Balaam why he had beaten him these three times. Balaam answered and told his donkey that he had made Balaam look like a fool. If he had had a sword, he would have killed him.
*** The donkey asked him if he had ever acted this way before and Balaam said he had not. Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes and showed him what the donkey had seen. God told him he had came to block his way became his way was perverse. Another interpretation of that was that he was stubbornly resisting God. I wonder if he hadn’t been trying to figure out a way to curse Israel and bless them at the same time or if just going to meet Balak was perverse in God’s sight.
*** God told Balaam he could go, but only say what he said. Balak took him to the border of his land. There the king sacrificed cattle to their gods and Balaam and Balak’s officials all ate of the sacrificed meat. The next day, they went to see the outer skirts of Israel’s people. Balaam told the king to build seven altars where he sacrificed a bull and a ram on each of them to the Lord.
*** God told him to go tell Balak that Israel was a nation set apart and he could not curse what God had not cursed. Israel was prosperous and righteous.
*** The king was upset but Balaam told him he had warned him he could only say what God allowed him to say.
*** Balak was not finished. He took Balaam to another viewpoint of Israel and told him to at least curse this part. Balaam offered the same sacrifice on seven altars again to the Lord.
*** He came back saying that God was not lying when he blessed them. None of his magic had any power against Israel. Then he blessed Israel with conquest over her enemies.
*** Balak was so upset because not only did he not curse them but he blessed them and cursed himself.
*** Still, Balak would not give up. He took him to one more view point where Balaam offered the same seven altars to the Lord.
*** In Luke, Elizabeth had her baby and no one could believe she wanted to name him John since there were no ‘John’s’ in their family. But Zechariah wrote on a tablet, “His name is John” and then could speak. The people marveled at what John would grow up to be.
*** Zechariah prophesied that John would fulfill God’s covenant promise to his people. He would be the prophet of the Most High and prepare the way for the Lord. He would tell people how to find salvation through forgiveness of the sins. God’s light was going to shine from heaven and give them light to guide them to the path of peace.
*** John grew up in the wilderness until he began his public ministry to Israel.
*** Lord, it is so wonderful to see a promise fulfilled! John was such a welcome sight. We are so pleased to see the evidence of justice beginning to be shown on the earth You are our defense and our strong tower. We run to you and are safe.Ginny's gemshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05421143450454896428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978275160521120311.post-69747346914006260792024-03-14T04:00:00.001-05:002024-03-14T04:00:00.152-05:00Thurs.’s Devo - Obedience to God’s Word Read: Numbers 21:1-22:20; Luke 1:26-56; Psalm 57:1-11; Proverbs 11:9-11
As the children of Israel came closer to Canaan, the king of Arad in Canaan attacked the Israelites and took some of them as prisoners. The people of Israel promised the Lord that if he would help them get their people back, they would destroy all their towns. God heard their prayer and gave them victory.
*** The children of Israel had asked the Edomites if they could pass through their land. They promised not to take anything and to pay for any food they might need. The Edomites refused to let them pass through so they had to go all the way around their territory into the wilderness. There was no water or food out in the wilderness, so the people cried out against the Lord and Moses.
*** God sent them poisonous snakes to bite them and many died. They repented and asked Moses to pray to the Lord to take the snakes away. God told Moses to make a brass snake and put it on a pole and anyone who was bit could look at the brass snake and they would be healed. That snake on the pole is the symbol of healing for the medical field today.
*** They traveled on until they came to Beer where there was a well. They sang a song about the well.
*** When they came to the boundary into the land of the Ammonites, they sent a message to them like they had the Edomites. They also refused to let them travel through their land and the King of Sihon mobilized his whole army and came out to fight them. The Israelites slaughtered them and occupied their land and captured all their towns and surrounding villages.
*** They came to the land of Bashan where Og was the king. Bashan attacked them with his army but the Lord told Moses not to be afraid of him because He would hand them over to Israel also. Israel killed King Og, his sons, and all his subjects and none of his people survived. Israel occupied his land also.
As they approached Moab, Balak, the king of Moab heard of all they had done to the Edomites and the Ammorites so he took a different strategy. Since he had seen he would not be able to defeat them militarily, he decided he would beat them spiritually so he hired Balaam, a sorcerer to put a curse on Israel.
Balak sent messengers to Balaam and offered to pay him to come and curse Israel. Balaam told the men to spend the night with him and he would ask God. God told him not to go with these men and he was not to curse Israel because they were blessed.
When the messengers returned to King Balak and told him what Balaam said, he tried again. This time he sent more men in number and importance to Balaam to appeal to his pride. Balak reminded him, he would pay him well.
*** Balaam told them that he was powerless against God but if they would stay the night he would ask God again. God told him he could go with these men but he could only say what God told him to say.
*** In Luke, Elizabeth was in her sixth month of pregnancy. Gabriel was sent to Mary who was a virgin engaged to Joseph, a descendant of King David.
*** The angel told Mary that she was highly favored and she was chosen to conceive a son name Jesus. He would be very great and be called the Son of the Most High. He would be given the throne of his ancestor David and would reign over Israel forever. His Kingdom would never end.
*** When Mary asked how this would happen, Gabriel explained that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and overshadow her. The baby would be holy and would be called the Son of God. Elizabeth, her relative, was now pregnant too, in her sixth month.
*** Mary responded that she was God’s servant and may everything he said come true.
A few days later Mary went to see Elizabeth in Judea. When Mary walked in the house and greeted Elizabeth, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb jumped for joy and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She began prophesying over Mary. She acknowledged that Mary would be the mother of her Lord. She blessed Mary because of her faith to believe all God said would happen.
*** Lord, may we have the faith to believe that if you say it, we do not even need to question it. May we have faith like Mary and not like Balaam that was tempted to make money from evil kings. May we be God’s servant and give him our lives today to be used for his service. Ginny's gemshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05421143450454896428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978275160521120311.post-55266240260359859122024-03-13T04:00:00.001-05:002024-03-13T04:00:00.153-05:00Wed.’s Devo - God’s Faithfulness Read: Numbers 19:1-20:29; Luke 1:1-25; Psalm 56:1-13; Proervs 11:8
God gave Moses the law of the red heifer which would stand for Jesus. It’s blood was to be sprinkled seven times before the tabernacle where the congregation stood. Then it was to be burned completely on the brazen altar along with cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet. These were all the props at Mt. Calvary. Then the priest was to wash his clothes and bathe in the laver and he would be clean. A clean man was to gather up the ashes of the heifer and take them outside the camp to a clean place where it would be kept for use in the water of separation ceremony. This man would be unclean until the evening. Joseph of Arimathea was that clean man who took the body of Christ to his own tomb.
*** If a person touched a dead body, he would be unclean for seven days. On the third day of that week, he was to purify himself and on the seventh day he would be clean. All of this was symbolic. Our lives constitute the seven days. Our day of salvation is the third day. If we are purified on the day of our salvation, then we will be pure before God the day we die.
*** The law says that if the water of separation is not put on him, he will not be clean. This could be referring to baptism which cleanses us from our sins. If this is so, it is imperative that we be baptized. God gave us laws for a reason which goes beyond our comprehension.
*** The people came to the desert of Zin once again. Miriam die there and was buried.
*** There was no water and the people blamed Moses and Aaron. They accused them of bringing them to this evil place that had was not fertile and there was no water to drink.
*** The Lord told Moses to gather the people and speak to the rock and it would bring forth water. Instead, Moses took his rod and stuck the rock twice and water came out abundantly but God rebuked Moses and Aaron for not doing what he said. He called it the water of Meribah, the same thing he called it in Exodus 17:7 the first time they had come to this exact place.
*** Aaron would die here for complaining with the people about not having water the first time (Exodus 17:7). At that time, it says that the people complained against only Moses, meaning that Aaron was on the side of the people. This second time, Moses and Aaron were mentioned together and the people complained against both of them.
*** Moses would have to die for not obeying the Lord the second time. God had told Moses to speak to the rock. That rock was Christ and he was struck once for our sins. He doesn’t have to die again for our sins. Now we speak the word of confession and salvation and we are saved.
*** It was time for Aaron to die so he was taken up on a mountain for all to see. Moses took the mantle off of Aaron and put it on his son, Eleazar. Aaron then died and the people mourned for 30 days.
*** Luke set out to write the story of Jesus by talking to eye witnesses and putting the story in chronological order. He began with the birth of John the Baptist who would announce the coming of the Messiah.
*** Zacharias was a priest married to Elisabeth who was of the line of Aaron. Both were righteous people who walked with God. She had been barren, so they had no children and now they were both elderly.
*** It was Zacharias’ lot to burn incense this month but when he went in to burn incense, an angel met with him. It told him that his prayer had been heard. His wife would have a son and they were to name it John. It would be filled with the Holy Spirit from the womb. He would be great in God’s sight and he would not drink wine or strong drink. He would turn many people to the Lord.
*** He would have the spirit of Elijah on him and turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just and prepare the people to receive the Lord.
*** Zacharias questioned the angel about their age and the angel told him that since he didn’t believe, he would not be able to talk until it came to past.
*** Zacharias was in the place of burning incense so long, the people outside began to worry. When he came out he couldn’t speak but made motions that let them know he had seen a vision.
*** When Zacharias had completed his days as priest, he came home and he and Elizabeth conceived a child. She went into seclusion for five months. She rejoiced that God had taken away her reproach of barrenness away.
*** Zacharias had prayed for years for a son. Little did he know that God had not forgotten them and was going to answer them at just the right time he needed his son on the earth. Our prayers are always heard by God. He is faithful.
*** Lord, thank you that you answer our prayers even after we are gone from this earth. We proclaim your goodness over our lives, our health, our families and our nation. We say, let the redeemed of the Lord say so. We say good things are coming. Justice is coming. Grace and prosperity is coming. Revival is coming!
Ginny's gemshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05421143450454896428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978275160521120311.post-35601190285462795112024-03-12T04:00:00.001-05:002024-03-12T04:00:00.135-05:00Tues.’s Devo - The Honor of the Priesthood Read: Numbers 16:41-18:32; Mark 16:1-20; Psalm 55:1-23; Proverbs 11:7
Two hundred and fifty-four people had died as God poured out his vengeance on Korah and his rebels. The next day, Israel complained and blamed Moses and Aaron for killing them. God was so upset at the people he poured out a plague and people started dropping dead. Moses told Aaron to quickly go and get some coals from the altar in his incense burner and sprinkle incense on it and take it out among the people to stop the plague. He did, but not before 14,700 had died.
*** God wanted to stop this arguing over who he had put in authority over them so he told every tribe’s leader to bring a staff with their name carved on it to the Tabernacle. Aaron brought his also. They put the staffs in the Tabernacle and the next morning only Aaron’s staff had leaves, buds and ripe almonds on it to prove that God had appointed him as the high priest and his sons to the priesthood.
*** When the people saw what happened to Aaron’s rod they thought God would kill them all. God set Aaron’s rod up as a reminder to the people.
*** The Lord told Aaron that he and his relatives, the Levites would be held responsible for any offenses related to the sanctuary but that Aaron and his sons would bear the sins of the priesthood.
*** All of the offerings that are not to be totally burnt on the altar would go to the priests for their portion. Any one who was ceremonially clean of their family was allowed to eat them. Everything that was set apart for the Lord also belonged to them.
*** Every first born of man and animal belonged to the priests but the people could buy them back for five shekels. The priests were to give the Lord one tenth of everything they received from the people.
*** In Mark, as soon as the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James came with spices to put on Jesus’ body. They wondered who was going to roll away the stone for them but when the got there, it was already moved. A young man was in the tomb sitting on the right side of Jesus wearing a long white garment. They were afraid at first. Then the man told them that Jesus was risen and was not there. They were to go tell his disciples and Peter that Jesus has gone before them to Galilee and they would find him there.
*** The Mary’s went to tell the disciples but they didn’t believe them.
*** Jesus appeared in another form to two men who were walking through the country. No one would believe them either. Then Jesus appeared to the eleven disciples and they believed he told them to go into the world and preach his gospel to all people. In his name they would cast out devils, speak with new tongues, take up serpents and if they drank any deadly thing, it would not hurt them. They would lay hands on the sick and they would recover. They obeyed and God’s power confirmed his word with signs and wonders.
*** Lord, as your priesthood, may we go and do the same that others would be blessed and brought into your family.
Ginny's gemshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05421143450454896428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978275160521120311.post-88373494160720916682024-03-11T04:00:00.001-05:002024-03-11T04:00:00.143-05:00Mon.’s Devo - God’s Judgment on Sin Read: Numbers 15:17-16:40; Mark 15:1-47; Psalm 54:1-7; Provers 11:5-6
Moses instructed the people that would come into the land to give a first fruit of their grain to the Lord. If they unintentionally didn’t do this and wished to repent, they could offer their grain with a sin offering and God would forgive them. But, if a person brazenly violated the Lord’s will and blasphemed the Lord, they would not be forgiven but must be completely cut off and suffer the punishment of their guilt.
*** They got to see this happen when a man gathered wood on the Sabbath day. They brought him to Moses and Moses took him to the courtroom in heaven and God declared him guilty. He was to be stoned outside the camp.
*** God told the people as a reminder of his laws, they were to sew blue tassels to the bottom of their clothing.
*** One day Korah from the Kohathites (Levites), along with Dathan, Abiram and On from the tribe of Reuben came to Moses with a complaint. They had rallied 250 of the prominent men of the Kohathites. They accused Moses and Aaron of lifting them selves above the congregation of the Lord when they were holy too.
*** Moses was humbled to his knees. He rebuked Korah who as a Levite already came near to all the holy things of God and ministered before the Lord. He told them to gather all the Kohathites and meet him with their sensors tomorrow at the tabernacle. They would let God decide.
*** Then Moses called Dathan and Abiram to meet with him but they refused to come. They accused Moses of bringing them out to the wilderness to kill them and complained that he had not brought them to a land of milk and honey. Moses took all this before the Lord.
*** The next day he met with the Kohathites. He told them to take incense and put it in their censors with the fire. Korah and his 250 Kohathites did and then the Lord told Moses and Aaron to separate themselves from them and the entire population of people because He was going to consume all of them. Moses and Aaron fell on their faces and cried out to the Lord for the innocent congregation asking God to only punish the guilty.
*** So God told Moses to tell the congregation to separate from Korah and his group. Dathan and Abiram came out of the tents to join Korah. Moses made a proclamation that if these men died a common death, then God had not sent him to lead the people to the promised land. But if God does something new and opens the ground and swallows them up along with their houses, and they go alive to the pit, then all would know that they had provoked the Lord.
*** The ground opened and swallowed Korah and Dathan and Abiram along with their families and their tents. All Israel that saw it fled. A fire came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men that offered incense.
*** Moses told Eleazar the priest to take the censers out of the fire and make them into broad plates to cover the brazen altar to be a reminder to the people that no person who was not a descendant of Aaron should enter the Lord’s presence to burn incense.
*** Burning incense was very holy to the Lord because it represents our prayers. God watches over our prayers to make sure the devil doesn’t add his prayers. Aaron’s two sons died offering strange incense. God is serious about our prayers being offered with holy hands.
*** In Mark, they had kept Jesus up all night questioning him and trying to bring an accusation against him that would stick. They discussed what to do next and decided to take him to Pilate, the Roman governor.
*** Pilate asked Jesus if he was the king of the Jews. Jesus’ reply was “You have said it.” Then the priests gave their accusations. Pilate asked Jesus for a reply, but Jesus would give him none.
*** It was his custom to release a prisoner at Passover so he brought up a well-known murderer and Jesus. He asked the crowd which one he should release. The priests stirred up the crowd to ask for Barabbas. When Pilate asked them what to do with Jesus, they cried “Crucify him!”
*** Pilate had Jesus flogged and given to the officers to crucify. He was taken to Pilate’s courtyard and mocked by his soldiers as if he were a king. Then he was led away to be crucified. The soldiers forced Simon to carry his cross. They took Jesus to Golgotha which means “Place of the Skull”. Jesus refused the wine they offered to ease the pain.
*** The soldiers nailed him to the cross and divided his clothes and drew lots of it. It was nine o’clock in the morning. The priests at the Temple were beginning to offer their first lamb on the altar and would continue slaying lambs all day until 6.
*** A sign was put up saying “The King of The Jews” and two other revolutionaries were crucified on his right and left.
*** People passing by mocked him along with the priests and teachers of the law. At noon the sky went dark until three. At three, Jesus called out “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” quoting Psalm 22.
*** Jesus let out a cry and the veil in the Temple tore from the top down allowing all in to the presence of the Lord.
*** Joseph of Arimathea went to Pilate to ask for Jesus body. Pilat was surprised he was dead already so he sent his soldiers to confirm it. They did and Pilate let Joseph take the body down, He gently wrapped Jesus’ body in linen cloth and laid it in a tomb that had been carved out of a rock. He rolled a stone in front of the entrance and both Mary’s saw this.
*** It is amazing how much power the priests had over the government. That should show us that we govern the government as the Eklesia of God. What we say goes so we need to be declaring what we want to see done in our government.
*** We declare that all the evil leaders and agendas of our government be thrown down and the justice of God replace the deception in the justice system. We declare that godly people will be put in positions of authority and God’s rightful leader, President Donald Trump will be reinstated as our President. Amen!
Ginny's gemshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05421143450454896428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978275160521120311.post-71285317846089092442024-03-10T04:00:00.001-05:002024-03-10T04:00:00.146-05:00Sun.’s Devo - The Devastation of Unbelief Read: Numbers 14:1-15:16; Mark 14:53-72; Psalm 53:1-6; Proverbs 11:4
The people chose to believe the bad report of the ten spies instead of the great report of the two. They rose against Moses and Aaron but their protest was really against God. They plotted to choose a new leader and return to Egypt. How could they choose to go back into bondage?
*** Caleb and Joshua tried to tell the people how wonderful the land was and how God would surely bring them safely into the land. The people there were helpless prey to them and had no protection while they had God with them. But, the people refused to listen to them and instead wanted to stone Caleb and Joshua.
*** Then God spoke. His presence appeared at he Tabernacle. The Lord was angry with the people for being so rebellious and stubborn. God told Moses he would destroy them with a plague and raise up a new nation through him and give them the land.
*** Moses reminded the Lord of what the Egyptians would think of him. They would think he was not powerful enough to bring them into the land he promised to give them, so he killed them in the wilderness.
*** Moses told God to prove that his power was as great as he claimed. Prove that his love is unfailing and that he forgives every kind of sin and rebellion even though he does not excuse the guilty. Moses begged God to forgive the people. These were the people that wanted to get rid of him and elect a new leader. We see the steadfast love of the Lord through Moses.
*** God chose to pardon them, but he swore that they would not enter or see the land he had for them. They would die in the wilderness and he would bring their children into the land. Their children would enjoy the land that they had despised.
*** They were sentenced to wandering for 40 years in the wilderness suffering the consequence for their sins. God would be an enemy to those who rebelled. The ten who brought back the evil report were struck dead with a plague. Joshua and Caleb remained alive.
*** When the people heard God’s response they were filled with grief. A few of them decided they would enter the land on their own, Moses warned them they would be crushed by their enemies because God would not be with them. They went anyway and were attacked by the Amalekites and Canaanites and chased back.
*** The Lord began speaking to the future generation who would enter the land. God is always speaking into our future. He gave them specific instructions about the sacrifices that would please him. God is a loving God who wants us to succeed and be blessed.
*** In Mark, they took Jesus to Caiaphus’ house to be tried. Peter followed and listened from the high priest’s courtyard. He sat with the guards by the fire while inside they were trying to find something to use to warrant killing Jesus. All their false witnesses contradicted one another until finally some man stood up and said that he hear Jesus say that he would destroy this Temple made with human hands and in three days build up another made without human hands. But what Jesus had said was in John 2:19, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will build it up.” He was talking to the Pharisees and telling them when they destroyed the Temple, he would build it up.
*** Since they couldn’t get their stories straight, they asked Jesus what he had to say about the accusations against him. They asked him if he was the Messiah. He answered, “I Am and you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
*** The high priest tore his clothes and accused him of blasphemy. They all gave the verdict of guilty and sentenced him to die.
*** Meanwhile, in the courtyard, Peter denied Jesus three times and the rooster crowd. He remembered the words of Jesus and broke down and wept.
*** Both of our readings today end tragically because sin leads to death, but we know that the end is resurrection and victory.
*** Lord, help us not to be lead by fear and bad reports but remember your promises of freedom and victory. You are the resurrection and the life.Ginny's gemshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05421143450454896428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978275160521120311.post-69353019864492769182024-03-09T05:30:00.001-06:002024-03-09T05:30:00.135-06:00Sat.’s Devo - The Spiritual War Read: Numbers 11:24-13:33; Mark 14:22-52; Psalm 52:1-9; Proverbs 11:1-3
Yesterday we read where Moses was getting overwhelmed with leading this multitude of people, so God put his spirit in 70 men that Moses chose. When the Spirit of God came upon them, they all prophesied. Two of the men chosen didn’t come to the meeting and they still prophesied in the camp. Joshua protested these two and Moses told Joshua not to be jealous of them for his sake. He wished that God would put his Spirit on all of them.
*** Yesterday we also read that the people craved the meat they had in Egypt. Moses told God that it was impossible to find meat for all these people in the wilderness. Well, the God of the impossible did it again. He sent quail that flew three feet from the ground and they could catch them in their hands. They caught quail all day, that night and the next day. No one gathered less than fifty bushels! They began gorging themselves on the meat and God was so angry as he watched them that he sent a plague and many died. The place was called Kibroth-hattaavah which means “graves of gluttony”.
*** Aaron and Miriam criticized Moses because he married a Cushite woman. They were really jealous of his position over the people. They asked “Has God spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken though us too?”
*** Immediately, God called Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to the Tabernacle. God called Aaron and Miriam to step forward and he spoke to them. He told them how he revealed himself to prophets through visions, dreams and riddles but he spoke plainly to Moses, face to face. God was angry with them and when his presence lifted, Miriam was white with leprosy. When Aaron saw it he cried out for Moses to pray for her. Moses prayed for God to heal her. God said that she would have to stay outside the camp for seven days and then she would be healed. Moses was more humble than any other person on the earth.
*** We see the spiritual war that is waging under the surface as Satan tries to stir up division and chaos. We have to recognize it for what it is and choose not to participate.
*** They traveled again and camped in the wilderness of Paran. God told Moses to send out a leader from each of the tribes to explore the land he had promised them. They were to go into the hill country and bring back a report about the land, the people, the towns and the soil and crops.
*** They went out and explored around the city of Hebron. They brought back a cluster of grapes that was so large it took two of them to carry it on a pole. They also brought back samples of the pomegranates and figs.
*** When they returned they gave their report. The land was fertile and beautiful but the people living there were powerful and their towns were large and fortified. They’re were also giants there. Caleb stood and quieted the people and encouraged them to take the land because they could surely conquer it. But the other men who were afraid spread their fear throughout the camp and the people listened to the bad report instead of Caleb’s report of victory.
*** In Mark, Jesus was with his disciples eating the last meal with them. He took the cup and offered it to them saying that this was his blood. The next time he drank wine it would be new wine in the kingdom of God. Then they sang a song and went out to the mount of Olives.
*** Jesus told them that the shepherd would be smitten that night and they would be scattered like sheep. But, when he had risen, He would go before them into Galilee. They had no idea what he meant till after he had risen.
*** Peter said he would not scatter and Jesus told him he would deny him three times that night before the rooster crowed.
*** They came to Gethsemene where Jesus told them to sit and pray. He went off from them and prayed sorrowfully. He prayed that the hour he was facing would be passed from him. But he wanted what God’s will was, not his will.
*** When he returned to his disciples he found them asleep. He pointed out to Peter who had bragged about not scattering, that he couldn’t stay awake for an hour. He left them again to pray and came back to find them asleep again.
*** Jesus told them to get up because his betrayer was near. Judas walked up with a great multitude with swords and staves. He kissed Jesus to show which one he was. The men with him took him and Peter drew a sword and cut off the high priests servant’s ear.
*** Jesus asked them why they didn’t arrest him in the Temple out in the open. He was pointing out the fact that they had to do their evil in the cover of darkness.
*** All the disciples scattered just as Jesus had said they would. One young man who had followed Jesus had a long linen shirt on. When they grabbed him he slipped out of his shirt and ran away naked. All through scripture you find these men in linen garments who I wonder if they aren’t the priests of God’s Tabernacle in heaven. The Bible calls them watchers.
*** Lord, it is encouraging to know that Jesus’ life was orchestrated and you knew every move that the enemy was going to make and were prepared. You are also prepared for every move the enemy is doing now and your plan will be done. We trust in your perfect plan that leads to victory. May we be awake and discerning and not fall for Satan's tricks.
Ginny's gemshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05421143450454896428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978275160521120311.post-14388367090895752562024-03-08T04:00:00.001-06:002024-03-08T04:00:00.136-06:00Fri.’s Devo - The Betrayal Read: Numbers 10:1-11:23; Mark 14:1-21; Psalm 51:1-19; Proverbs 10:31-32
Moses was instructed to make two hammered silver trumpets to signal to the people. When both of them were blown the people were to meet at the entrance of the Tabernacle. When only one was blown it was for only the leaders to meet. Short blasts from the trumpets meant to break camp and begin to move. Different blasts were for different purposes. They were also to be blown at the time of the feasts, new moon and when they offered their offerings to the Lord. It was to remind them of God’s covenant with them.
*** They finally got to move the 12th day of the second month. They traveled to they came to the wilderness of Pagan where the cloud stopped. When they traveled they traveled in this order:
East: Judah
Issachar
Zebulun
The Gershonites and Merarites with all the materials for building the Tabernacle.
South: Reuben
Simeon
Gad
The Kohathites with the Ark and the furniture for the Tabernacle
West: Ephraim
Manasseh
Benjamin
North: Dan
Asher
Naphtali
*** When they left Moses would shout, “Arise, O Lord, and let your enemies be scattered: Let them flee before you.” and when the Ark was set down, he would say, “Return, O Lord, to the countless thousands of Israel”
*** The people soon began to complain about their conditions. God sent fire to destroy some of them on the outskirts of the camp. Moses prayed and the fires stopped.
*** Then some of the foreigners from Egypt stirred up those around them to crave the food from Egypt, especially meat since all they had to eat was manna.
*** God was very angry at the people and Moses got angry at the Lord. Moses was overwhelmed with the responsibility of so many people who complained all the time. God told Moses to choose 70 leaders who he trusted and He would put his Spirit on them. They would help Moses with the responsibility of the people. Then God told him to sanctify himself because tomorrow they would have meat. It would be for a whole month and they would be sick of it by the time it was over. Moses didn’t see how that would be possible but God rebuked him and asked him, “Has my arm lost its power?” After all Moses had seen the Lord do, this was nothing.
*** In Mark, it was two days before the Passover and the priests had decided to wait to kill Jesus until after the celebration. Jesus was at the home of Simon the one who he had cleansed of his leprosy. A woman with expensive perfume came and poured the perfume over Jesus’ head. When some of the people at the table saw this, they asked why she didn’t sell the perfume and give the money to the poor. Jesus rebuked them and told them not to criticize her for her act. They would always have the poor with them but she was anointing his head for burial and her act would be remembered throughout history.
*** That was when Judas Iscariot left and went to the priest to arrange how he would betray Jesus. The priests were delighted and came up with a price.
*** On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples went and set up for their Passover meal together. At the meal, Jesus told them that one of them eating with him would betray him. This distressed the disciples as they asked him if it was them. He explained that he must die, but it would not go well with the one who betrayed him. It would be better if he was never born.
*** Lord, I thank you that you notice all we do for you and reward us according to our heart. May we not be ashamed of your name and may we remain faithful and true to your Word.Ginny's gemshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05421143450454896428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978275160521120311.post-86647919042008639382024-03-07T04:00:00.001-06:002024-03-07T04:00:00.141-06:00Thurs.’s Devo - The Substitute Read: Numbers 8:1-9:23; Mark 13:14-37; Psalm 50:1-23; Proverbs 10:29-30
God told Moses that when he set up the menorah, he was to make the light shine forward because God always speaks of our future. He wants to shine his revelation and light our way into our future. Satan always puts the light on our past and reminds who we were. God sees who we are going to be.
*** There was a special ceremony for purifying the Levites. They were sprinkled with water and their whole body was shaved and washed. After they were clean, they were to present a young bull and a grain offering with oil and a second bull for a sin offering. The people were to lay their hands on the Levites and Aaron would present them to the Lord as a special offering from the people. Then the Levites were to lay their hands on the heads of the bulls and burn them on the altar. This set the Levites apart from the people.
*** Now the Levites were the substitutes for all the first born of Israel. God shows this substitution principle all through scripture. The ram was given as a substitute for Isaac. Judah offered himself as a substitute for Benjamin in the story of Joseph. Jesus was given as a substitute for us. They would make sacrifices to purify the people so that no plague would strike them when they came to the tabernacle to worship the Lord.
*** The Levites were to serve at the age of 35 and retire at 50. Fifty is the number for Jubilee where everyone is redeemed and goes free.
*** A year after they left Egypt, God instructed them to celebrate the Passover on the same day they had first celebrated it in Egypt. If in the future they were unclean at that time because they had touched a dead body or were gone on a journey and could not be there, they were allowed to celebrate it the next month on the fourteenth. If they refused to celebrate the Passover they would be cut off from the community of Israel and suffer the consequences of their guilt. If foreigners wanted to join in the celebration they should be allowed to do this.
*** From the day the Tabernacle was set up the cloud of God’s glory covered the Tabernacle. When it lifted and moved they were to break camp and follow whether it was day or night. When it lingered in a spot for a time, they were to stay also. They only moved when it moved.
*** In Mark, Jesus continues the answer to the question his disciples asked him about the signs of the destruction of Jerusalem. He told them that when they saw the sacrilegious objects standing in the Temple then they must flee to the hill. This will be a time of anguish and turmoil. Many false Christs and prophets would arise and everything on earth and in the heavens would be shaken.
*** Then they will see the Son of Man coming ion the clouds with power and glory. He will send his angels to gather his chosen ones. Jesus warning was to stay awake and on guard because no one knows the day or hour this will happen.
*** Lord, may we only move when you move. Thank you that you light our path and shine your revelation on us. May we walk in the light as you are in the light and have fellowship with you. Thank you for being a substitute for us and dying in our place.
Ginny's gemshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05421143450454896428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978275160521120311.post-6087357465747583162024-03-06T04:00:00.001-06:002024-03-06T04:00:00.136-06:00Wed.’s Devo - A Nazarite Vow Read: Numbers 6:1-7:89; Mark 12:38-13:13; Psalm 49:1-20; Proverbs 10:27-28
A person who wanted to set themselves apart to the Lord in a specials way could take a Nazarite vow. If they chose to do this they could not eat or drink anything that comes from the vine or drink any alcoholic drinks, they must not cut their hair during the time of their vow and they must not go near a dead body even if it is their next of kin.
*** If someone died beside them then their hair is defiled. They were to wait seven days then shave their heads. On the eight day they must bring two turtle doves or two young pigeons to the priest. He will offer one as a sin offering and one as a burnt offering. Then he must reaffirm his vow and let his hair begin to grow and start his time of separation anew.
*** When his time of separation is over, he is to bring a burnt offering, a sin offering, a peace offering a grain offering and a liquid offering to the Lord. He will then shave his head and place it on the fire beneath the peace offering. The priest would give the person some of the offering so that he could lift it up to the Lord. Whatever the person vowed during his time of separation he must be careful to do it.
*** God gave Moses a special blessing to give to the people which became a popular song during Covid called “The Blessing.” (Numbers 6:24-27)
*** Among the twelve tribes, they were to bring six wagons and twelve oxen. There was a wagon for every two leaders and an ox for each leader. The wagons would be used to carry all the things for the Tabernacle. Each leader of their tribe was to donate certain things on their appointed day. The offering consisted of a silver platter to be used for grain offerings , a silver basin for olive oil, a gold container for the incense, a young bull, a ram and a lamb for burnt offerings, a male goat for sin offerings, two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and fie one-year-old male lambs for the peace offerings. All of these were the dedication offering at the time the altar was anointed.
*** Speaking of offerings, Jesus sat watching the people bring their offering to the Temple. He rebuked the teachers of the religious law because they loved their show of importance and piousness while they shamelessly cheated the poor widows out of their property.
*** Then he pointed out how one of these widows who gave the smallest gift, gave the greatest gift to the Lord because she gave all she had.
*** The disciples brought attention to the massive stones in the walls of the buildings. Jesus said that they would be completely demolished and not one stone would be left on the other.
*** Later, the disciples asked him when this would happen and what signs to lead up to it. Jesus told them that many would come first claiming to be the Messiah. There would be wars and threats of war but not to panic. There would be earthquakes and famines, but this is only birth pains. When these things begin to happen, beware because they would be handed over to their local councils and beaten in the synagogues. They would stand trial which will be their opportunity to witness for Him. The Holy Spirit will tell them what to say. Families will be torn apart and betray one another.
*** All of this happened just as he depicted after Jesus rose from the dead.
*** Lord, may we offer ourselves daily as a living sacrifice and be set apart for service to you.Ginny's gemshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05421143450454896428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978275160521120311.post-20289893435943089772024-03-05T04:00:00.001-06:002024-03-05T04:00:00.344-06:00Tues.’s Devo - We are the Temple of the Holy Spirit Read: Numbers 4:1-5:31; Mark 12:18-37; Psalm 48:1-14; Proverbs 10:26
The Koathites were the Levitical division in charge of the most holy objects in the Tabernacle. The Levites only had to serve in the Tabernacle 20 years of their lives - from the age of 30-50.
*** When it was time to tear down the Tabernacle and move, the Koathites first took down the curtain in front of the Holy of Holies and covered the Ark of the Covenant. Since they couldn’t look at the ark, I would think they took it down and walked with the curtain backwards covering the Ark much like Noah’s two sons did to cover his nakedness in Genesis 9:22-23. They then put goatskin leather and a blue cloth over the Ark.
*** To understand this better, think of the goatskin as being our own flesh and the blue cloth standing for heaven and the scarlet cloth being the blood of Jesus. Moses was instructed to make the objects like the ones God’s showed him on the mountain that were in heaven. So the ones that had the blue cloth are also in heaven. The only one that had purple was the brazen altar because it stood for the cross. Since purple is made with blue and red mixed together it is special. Jesus came from heaven to earth to blend the two as one. He did this by dying on the cross.
*** We are now the temple of the Holy Spirit so all of these objects are in us. We have access to the Father through prayer which is the table of incense. We enjoy fellowship as we eat his Word at the table of shewbread. We are illuminated with revelation by the light of the candlestick and we are invited into the presence of the Lord at the Ark of mercy.
*** The only one that was covered with a scarlet cloth was the table of shewbread where we drink the wine of his blood.
*** The Gershonites and the Merarites were responsible for carrying the items in the Tabernacle when they marched.
*** People who had skin diseases that were contagious were to stay outside the camp. If anyone betrayed the Lord by doing wrong to another person must confess their sin and make full restitution and add 20 percent to it. If there is no one living to make restitution to, then the restitution money was to go to the priests.
*** If a man suspected his wife of unfaithfulness, then the man was to bring his wife to the priest and he would do a jealousy test. The woman would stand before the Lord and unbind her hair. She was to place her hands on the offering that her husband brought. Then she was to drink the bitter water given to her by the priest and he would pronounce over her a curse if she is guilty. She would then drink the water and if she was guilty her abdomen would spasm and swell and she would be barren. If she was innocent she would experience no ill effects. In this way, the truth would be known and the guilty condemned or the innocent affirmed.
*** In Mark, the Sadducees came to Jesus with a trick question to get his opinion about resurrection since they didn’t believe in the resurrection. Jesus proved through scripture that God was the god of life and resurrection.
*** Then one of the men listening realized he had answered well and asked him his question. He asked which of all the commandments were the most important. Jesus answered to love God with all your heart then he told them that the second most important commandment was equally important which was to love your neighbor as yourself. By saying this he was condemning the religious leaders who prided themselves in doing the first but failed miserably at the second.
*** The man who asked the question had a sincere heart. When he heard Jesus’ answer he said that to love the Lord and others was more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices required by the law. Jesus was impressed by this man’s understanding and told him that he was not far from he Kingdom of God. No one dared ask him another question.
*** Later Jesus asked the crowd a question. He asked them why the teachers of religious claim that the Messiah is the son of David. They had wrongly taught that the Messiah would be the son of David. Jesus pointed out that David called the Messiah his Lord not his son. The people loved Jesus’ teaching which fed their souls. The teachers of the law hated Jesus for exposing them.
*** Lord, help us to keep things in perspective. We choose to put you first and honor the people in our lives. Ginny's gemshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05421143450454896428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978275160521120311.post-80112222239263087542024-03-04T04:00:00.001-06:002024-03-04T04:00:00.131-06:00Mon.’s Devo - The Responsibilities of the Priests Read: Numbers 2:1-3:51; Mark 11:27-12:17; Psalm 47:1-9; Proverbs 10:24-25
When the tribes set up camp, they were to camp under their banners in a certain formation. The tribes of Judah, Issachar and Zebulun were to camp on the east side of the Tabernacle. When it was time to leave, they would lead the way. They also marched under their banners.
*** The tribes of Reuben, Simeon and Gad marched behind them and were to camp on the south side of the Tabernacle. The Tabernacle carried by the Levites were to set out from the middle of the camp. Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin came next and were to camp on the west side of the Tabernacle and the divisions of Dan, Asher, and Naphtali brought up the rear and were to camp to the north of the Tabernacle.
*** From heaven it looked like a huge cross walking on the earth with the foot of the cross going first.
*** The priesthood came from the line of Aaron. He had four sons: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar which were all anointed to be priests. Nadab and Abihu died in the Lord’s presence when they offered strange fire before the Lord. After this, God called forward the tribe of Levi and presented them to Aaron to serve as his assistants in the Tabernacle. They were to carry and help maintain all the furnishings of the Tabernacle. Only the priests and Levites were allowed to come near the Tabernacle, anyone else would die.
*** Levi had three sons: Gershon, Kohath and Merari. The descendants of Gershon were given the area west of the Tabernacle for their camp. They were to care for the Tabernacle by carrying and setting up all the outer curtains. The Kohath’s were given the area south of the Tabernacle to camp. Their responsibility was caring for the sanctuary - the Ark, the furniture, the inner curtain and all the equipment used inside the Tabernacle. Eleazar, Aaron’s son was the chief administrator over the Levites and the oversight of the sanctuary.
*** The descendants of Merari were to camp north of the Tabernacle and their job was to care for the frames supporting the Tabernacle.
*** God told Moses that now the Levites were to serve as substitutes for all the firstborn sons of the people. God told Moses to take a census of the male sons one month old or older from the tribe of Levi. A census was also taken of the first born sons of the people. There were 273 more firstborn sons of Israel than there were Levites so to redeem the extra first born sons they were to collect five pieces of silver for each of them and give it to the priest for their redemption price.
*** In Mark, Jesus came back to Jerusalem the next day and came to the Temple area. He was met by the priests and religious leaders who had plotted to kill him. They demanded to know by what authority he was doing all his miracles.
*** Jesus was not to be outsmarted. He asked them by what authority John the Baptist operated under. Because they were afraid of the people, they refused to answer him. So he refused to answer them.
*** Then Jesus told the parable about the owner of a vineyard who leased his vineyard to tenant farmers. At the time of the harvest, the owner sent his servants to collect his share of the crops. But the farmers beat the servants and sent them back empty-handed. They did that to the next servant and killed the third. The owner decided to send his only beloved son to collect but the evil farmers thought they could kill him and take possession of the vineyard. They murdered his son.
*** Jesus asked them what they thought the owner of the vineyard would do. Then he answered his own question. He would come and kill those famers and lease the vineyard to others. Then he quoted Psalm 118:22-23 about the chief cornerstone.
*** The religious leaders wanted to arrest Jesus right them because they knew they were the evil farmers in the story.
*** Later, they tried to trick Jesus by asking him whether it was right to pay taxes to Caesar or not. Jesus asked them to show him a Roman coin and asked whose picture and title were stamped on it. They replied it was Caesar’s. Jesus said to give to Caesar what belonged to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God. They were amazed at his answer.
*** God is wisdom and that wisdom is ours if we ask for it. He will give us an answer to everything we need.
*** Lord, thank you for all the pictures you give us throughout the Bible of your great plan of redemption and salvation. Thank you for your wisdom to navigate our journey through this life. May we plant seeds for the future.Ginny's gemshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05421143450454896428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978275160521120311.post-84672524299643710112024-03-03T04:00:00.001-06:002024-03-03T04:00:00.147-06:00Sun.’s Devo - Redemption Read: Leviticus 27:14- Numbers 1:54; Mark 11:1-26; Psalm 461-11; Proverbs 10:23
If a person has given his possession to the Lord, when the Jubilee Year arrives, he has the option to buy it back by adding 20 percent to the price that the priest had valued the land. The land is accessed by how much grain that can be planted in it. If the land is dedicated to the Lord in the Year of Jubilee, then the price is the highest because it is accessed for the years until the next Jubilee. If he chooses not to buy it back his land in the Year of Jubilee then the person who does buy it will be the new owner. At the next Jubilee, the land would go to the priests.
*** All first born cattle are the Lord’s but can be bought back with an additional 20 percent. But a person, animal or family property that was given as a vow must never be sold or bought back. It is set apart as holy and belongs to the Lord. If a person was condemned to die, he could not be bought back.
*** These people that were vowed to the Lord for a devoted gift or for destruction are final. This has to do with judgment. Salvation is final but so is condemnation. The saved will be given eternal life and the unholy will be condemned to eternal death.
*** The tithe is always the Lord’s and cannot be bought back.
*** On the first day of the second month of the year Israel left Egypt the warriors from the different tribes were recorded and written down. Tribal leaders were appointed by the tribes. The number of the men were recorded according to tribes but the Levites were not recorded. Their job was to tend to the Tabernacle and all its components.
*** Each tribe had its own banner and camped under its banner. The Levites camped around the Tabernacle to protect the community from the Lord’s anger.
*** In Mark, Jesus sent his disciples ahead of him to Jerusalem and told them exactly what they would find, what they were to do and say. It happened just as he said and since they obeyed, all went according to plan. They brought back the young donkey and Jesus rode it into the city. It was prophesied in Zechariah 9: 9, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
*** Many of the people spread their coats down for the donkey to walk on and other spread their leafy branches they were carrying and shouted praised to Jesus and the coming Kingdom of David. They were singing the hallel that they sang on the way to Jerusalem every year.
*** Jesus went to the Temple and assessed what was going on then left.
*** The next day he passed the fig tree that had no figs and cursed it. It stood for Jerusalem. He said, “May no one ever eat your fruit again.” He had assessed that the priesthood had no good fruit.
*** He went back to Jerusalem and drove out the money changers and rebuked them for making the Temple a market place and a den of thieves, instead of a house of prayer for all nations.
*** When the leading priests and teachers of the law heard what Jesus had done, they began plotting how to kill him.
*** Jesus and his disciples left that evening and passed by the fig tree. It was withered from the roots. Peter remembered what Jesus had said that morning and mentioned it to Jesus. He said to have faith in God. They could root up mountains and throw them into the sea with faith. But first they had to forgive in their hearts.
*** The mountain he was referring to was the religious system of the day. It could be rooted up but it had to be done with a pure heart and with faith. We are watching this happen in our day. Glory to God!
**** Lord, thank you for your promises. Help us to understand the meaning of your laws and apply them to our lives. Thank you that you redeemed us with the price of your blood and we are forever saved. Ginny's gemshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05421143450454896428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978275160521120311.post-56724206528484186512024-03-02T04:00:00.001-06:002024-03-02T04:00:00.153-06:00Sat.’s Devo - The Year of Jubilee Read: Leviticus 25:47-27:13; Mark 10:43-52; Psalm 45:2-27; Proverbs 10:22
Our reading begins by giving a way for a poor person to be redeemed by a relative. At the end of our reading God tells them the price of a person depending on their age. This was to be a way of redemption not a plan of slavery.
*** At the Year of Jubilee all would be set free. Jubilee points to different times in history where God intervened in the lives of his people and gave them freedom from their enemies. It points ahead to the day of Judgment when all would be free and judged. Those hidden in Christ will not be judged but rewarded. The ones who rejected Christ will be condemned.
*** The nation who follows God’s laws and serves him alone will be blessed. Their crops will be abundant; they will have peace from their enemies; they will be fertile and multiply; they will have more than enough.
*** If they reject God’s laws they will be punished. They will experience famine, wars, calamities, plagues, and death. Their cities will lie in ruins and they will live in fear and dread for tomorrow.
*** In spite of what they choose, God said he would remember his covenant he made with the people on Mt. Sinai.
*** In Mark, Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem to die. He walked ahead of them and the disciples were filled with awe but the people following were filled with fear. Jesus took his 12 disciples apart and told them exactly what was going to happen when he got there. He was going to be betrayed to the religious leaders, they would sentence him to die and hand him over to the Romans. They would beat and flog him and finally kill him, but after three days he would rise again.
*** They clearly didn’t get what he was saying because James and John asked him if they could sit in places of honor next to him when he came to his throne. Jesus told them they didn’t know what they were asking. Then he asked them if they could drink from the bitter cup of suffering he was about to drink from. They said they would. Jesus agreed with them but said that the places of honor were not his to give, but God’s.
*** The other disciples were most upset when they found out what James and John had asked of Jesus but Jesus explained that the way to be exalted in his kingdom was to be the servant. I’m sure this shut them all up.
*** Jesus encountered a blind man on the way and healed him. The man followed Jesus. He was about to find out just who healed him and get the opportunity to believe or reject him.
*** Lord, thank you for giving us eyes to see who your are and how wonderful our salvation is. May we die daily and give up our lives to follow you. We wait in great expectation of our Jubilee.Ginny's gemshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05421143450454896428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978275160521120311.post-4815879566954333842024-03-01T04:00:00.001-06:002024-03-01T04:00:00.166-06:00Fri..’s Devo - Eternal Life Read: Leviticus 24:1-25:46; Mark 10:13-31; Psalm 44:9-26; Proverbs 10:20-21
The menorah in the tabernacles was to be trimmed with our olive oil and kept burning continually. Twelve loaves of unleavened bread was to set on the table of shewbread and refreshed every week. They were to be set out on the table, six on each side as if the twelve tribes of Israel were feasting with the Lord on his words continually.
*** A son whose father was Egyptian and whose mother was an Israelite got into a fight with the son of an Israelite family. The first son blasphemed the Lord’s name and cursed. He was brought before Moses to judge what would happen to him. The lord told Moses to take him outside the camp and let the one who heard what he said put his hands on the boy’s head and transfer what he heard back to the son. Then the people would stone him. This was to be the precedence if someone blasphemed the Lord.
*** The land was to enjoy its Sabbath every seventh year. No work or pruning or reaping was to be done that year and the next year they could eat what grew naturally.
*** Forty-nine years was to be counted and on the fiftieth, there was to be a celebration and it would be called the Year of Jubilee. A trumpet would be sounded throughout the land and everyone should return to their possession and family. No one was to sow or reap or gather. It is a holy year and everyone was to eat what they had. Everyone could redeem property that was in their family. All property was sold with Jubilee in mind which would affect the price of the property. If it was close to Jubilee, the property would be sold for little because it was not going to be theirs for long. But if it was years until Jubilee, it could be sold for more.
*** If an Israelite becomes so poor they have to hire themselves out for work, they were not to be treated as a slave but as a hired servant. He would remain a servant only until the Year of Jubilee. Then he and his family would be free to return to their own family and his father’s possession.
*** In Mark, Jesus rebuked his disciples for sending the children away. Jesus loved the children and told them that they were just like the kingdom of God. He took them in his arms and blessed them.
*** A man came to Jesus all caught up in working his way to God through works. He said that Jesus was “good,” and wanted to know what he could “do” to inherit eternal life. Since he was looking for something he could “do” to obtain eternal life, Jesus gave him something he couldn’t do, which was to sell all he had. Doing good was not how to obtain eternal life. The man went away sad.
Jesus explained that it was hard for those who “trusted” in their wealth to enter the kingdom of God because to enter the kingdom you had to give up everything. But with God, this was possible. Those who did give up everything would receive one hundred fold in this time (with persecutions), and in the age to come they would receive eternal life.
*** Lord, thank you that our salvation isn’t contingent on our works but on what you did for us on Calvary. We accept that finished work and thank you. May we live in honor of You and partner with your to bring your kingdom down to earth.Ginny's gemshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05421143450454896428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978275160521120311.post-72314210052941896412024-02-29T04:00:00.003-06:002024-02-29T05:29:04.581-06:00Thursday Feb. 29, 2024This year is a leap year so there is no reading on this day. This would be a great day to catch up if you are behind or just ask the Lord what He wants you to read. May you be extremely blessed today!Ginny's gemshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05421143450454896428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978275160521120311.post-126681931516557632024-02-28T04:00:00.001-06:002024-02-28T04:00:00.141-06:00Wed.’s Devo - God’s Feasts Read: Leviticus 22:17-23:44; Mark 9:30-10:12; Psalm 44:1-8; Proverbs 10:19
The people were allowed to offer of their own cattle, offerings to the Lord. The animals had to be clean and without blemishes to be acceptable. That is why we come to the Lord repenting first. God will accept only those with a broken heart who have confessed their sins and asked for forgiveness. Then they will be saved.
*** God gave them days that God proclaimed to be holy meetings with the Lord. The first was the Sabbath which was every seventh day. On that day they were not to work, but their dwellings should be holy.
*** Then he gave them the feasts that were to be special appointed times they would meet with God. The first was the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight which was the Lord’s Passover. The fifteenth day would be the Feast of Unleavened Bread. They were to eat unleavened bread for seven days. They were not to work on the first and seventh day of that feast but offer an burnt offering the seven days of the feast.
*** The third feast was the feast of First Fruits. They were to bring a sheaf of their first fruits to the Lord. The priest would wave the sheaf before the Lord on the day after the Sabbath. They would also offer a burnt offering of a lamb, a grain offering and a drink offering.
*** On the day after the Sabbath they were to count seven Sabbaths or fifty days, then offer a new grain offering to the Lord. This grain offering should be two loaves made with yeast. The priest would wave them before the Lord He shall also offer seven lambs, one bull and two rams as burnt offering to the Lord as well as grain offerings and drink offerings. A goat was to be offered as a sin offering and two male lambs as a peace offering. No work was to be done on this day. When they reaped the harvest of this season, they were not to reap the corners but leave them for the poor and stranger.
*** On the seventh month on the first day, they were to celebrate the feast of trumpets. It would be a sabbath rest and a memorial of blowing of trumpets. They were not to work on this day but offer a burnt offering.
*** The tenth day of the seventh mount would be called the Day of Atonement. On this day they were to afflict their souls and offer burnt offerings to the Lord. It was the most holy day. Any one who does not repent on this day or who works on this day will be cut off from his people. It was to be a sabbath of solemn rest.
*** The seventh feast would be the Feast of Tabernacles. It was to be celebrated on the fifteenth day of the seventh month. It was to be celebrated for seven days. The first day they were not to work. For seven days they would offer offerings to the Lord and on the eight day they would have a holy meeting with the Lord. The were not to work on this day either but offer burnt offerings to the Lord. On the first day of the feast they were to take branches from the fruit tree, the palm, leafy tree, and the willow and use them to rejoice before the Lord. They were to dwell in booths those seven days to remind them of the booths they dwelt in when God brought them out of Egypt.
*** These feasts were huge markers for us. They signify God’s holy days when he comes to earth and visits with his people. Jesus fulfilled the first four feast already and has the last three yet to fulfill. He died on Passover, was buried on Unleavened Bread and rose on First Fruits. He gave his Spirit on Passover.
*** He will one day blow the trumpet and come for his bride. Then he will open the books and judge on the Day of Atonement. He will create a new earth on Tabernacles. We have much to look forward to.
*** As Jesus traveled through Galilee with his disciples he told them that the Son of Man would be betrayed into he hands of men and killed but rise on the third day. The disciples didn’t understand so they quarreled among themselves about who would be the greatest. Jesus told them if they wanted to be great they had to be the greatest servant. He told them that if they received a child in his name they were receiving him.
*** John told Jesus that he saw someone casting out demons in His name and they forbade him to continue. Jesus told them not to forbid them because if they work a miracle in his name, they will not speak evil of him later. If they are not against him, then they are for him. Anyone who gives a cup of water in His name will be rewarded.
*** Whoever causes another to trip up in their walk, it would be better if he was drown in the sea. Whatever is causing a person to sin, they need to cut it out of their lives.
*** They came to the region one Judea and a crowd was gathered and Jesus taught them. The Pharisees came and asked him if it was lawful for a man to divorce his wife. Jesus told them that Moses permitted men to write a certificate of divorce only because their hearts were hard. God had planned from the beginning for man to be joined as one to his wife and not separate.
*** The disciples asked Jesus when they were alone about it again. He told them that whoever put his wife away and married another committed adultery and caused the wife he put away to do the same if she remarried. It was because they were not giving them a writ of divorcement making it legal under God’s law.
*** Lord, may we live by the spirit of your law of love. May we walk in love and forgiveness. Ginny's gemshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05421143450454896428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978275160521120311.post-90459535721833171392024-02-27T04:00:00.001-06:002024-02-27T04:00:00.141-06:00Tues.’s Devo - The Glory Read: Leviticus 20:22-22:16; Mark 9:1-29; Psalm 43:1-5; Proverbs 10:18
God gave them his laws to show them what pleases him so he could bless them. If they refused to obey his laws and worship him alone, then the land would vomit them out of it like it was going to do to the inhabitants living there now. God wanted them to be separated from evil and know the difference between what was clean and what was unclean.
*** God had specific laws for the priests. They were not to defile themselves for the dead unless it was someone who was their next of kin. They were not to marry a harlot or a divorced woman. The priests were to be holy set apart because they were the ones who would offer the bread of God. The daughter of a priests who played the harlot should be burned with fire.
*** The high priest could not even defile him self if his father or mother died. Nor shall he leave the sanctuary because the anointing oil is on him. He must take a wife from the virgins of his own people.
*** None of the descendants of Aaron who were handicapped in any way could serve as priests. They could eat the holy bread only not in the tabernacle. A priest was defiled if he had leprosy, had a discharge, or had touched anything unclean. He could eat the holy offerings once he washed his body with water when the sun went down. If he had leprosy he had to wait until he was healed and cleansed from it.
*** The ones in a priest’s household could eat the holy offerings if he was clean. If he ate something holy unintentionally he could restore the offering to the priest and add one-fifth to it.
*** Jesus said to render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God, the things that are God’s.
*** Jesus told them that there were some of them that would not taste death until they saw the kingdom of God present with power. Six days later, he took Peter, James and John up on a mountain to see his glory. They saw Jesus shine in glory and Elijah and Moses appeared with Jesus and talked with him. Peter wanted to make three tabernacles for them, but a cloud overshadowed them and a voice came out of the cloud saying, “this is My beloved Son, Hear Him!” When the cloud went, only Jesus was standing there. He told the three not to tell anyone what they had seen until he rose from the dead. They didn’t understand what that meant but they kept quiet about it.
*** They asked him why the scriptures said that Elijah must come first but they said it was so he could restore all things. Then he told them that Elijah had come and they did what they wanted to him. He was referring to John the Baptist.
*** When they came down from he mountain there was a crowd. The disciples couldn’t deliver a man from demons. Jesus commanded the deaf and dumb spirit from the man and he fell and looked dead. Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up and he arose. (What a picture of death and resurrection.)
*** When the disciples asked why they couldn’t deliver the boy, Jesus sad that this kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.
*** Lord, may we live fasted lifestyles so that we can pray, believe and see your deliverance. We pray for our nation, that she would be delivered from evil men and ideas. We pray that your people would be able to hear, see and understand what you are doing and work with your plan.
Ginny's gemshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05421143450454896428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978275160521120311.post-14185012957135701762024-02-26T04:00:00.001-06:002024-02-26T04:00:00.245-06:00Mon.’s Devo - God’s Faithfulness 2-26-24Read: Leviticus 19-20:21; Mark 8:11-38; Psalm 42:1-11; Proverbs 10:17
Today we read many laws about the interactions between people. They were to honor women, strangers, neighbors, their parents and elders. They were not to have anything to do with mediums, familiar spirits and those who sacrifice their kin to Molech. They were to be totally consecrated to the Lord and be holy. They were to obey his statutes.
*** The worship of Molech involved child sacrifice and sexual deviation such as homosexuality, bestiality, and incest. It also involved consulting with mediums and other reign religious practices.
*** One of the statutes that stood out to me was 20:12. It says that if a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them should be put to death because they had committed perversion. I am reminded of Tamar who played the harlot and slept with her father-in-law, Judah. He wanted her stoned until he found out whose child she was bearing. Under the law he would have died also so he didn’t charge her. He proclaimed that she was more righteous than him. He had not kept his promise to her.
*** The sexual laws are given again but this time the consequence is given. The consequences are death, guilt, being cut off from their people or dying childless.
*** In Mark the Pharisees kept asking for a sign from heaven to test him. Jesus was exasperated in his spirit wondering why they insisted on a sign. Signs were everywhere but they refused to read them so Jesus said that no sign would be given them.
*** Once in the boat, Jesus told his disciples to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod. They thought he was talking about physical bread but he was talking about the wrong doctrine of the Pharisees and the government. They had the Bread of Heaven with them so they would never run out of bread.
*** Lord, we have the Bread of Heaven always with us. May we never despair or worry. You have been faithful to us in the past and will be with us in the future.
Ginny's gemshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05421143450454896428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978275160521120311.post-7661267321608399442024-02-25T04:00:00.001-06:002024-02-25T04:00:00.245-06:00Sun.’s Devo - The Day of Atonement Read: Leviticus 16:29-18:30; Mark 7:24-8:10; Psalm 41:1-13; Proverbs 10:15-16
On the tenth day of the seventh month God set the day said as the Day of Atonement when the people would bring sacrifices to atone for the nation. It was a national day of repentance. There was to be no work on that day because it was a holy day. It was the one day of the year where the high priest would go into the Holy of Holies and offer atonement for the people.
*** Anyone who killed one of their animals was to bring an offering to the Lord because to remove the guilt of shedding blood. If he didn’t bring the sacrifice to the Lord, he was to be cut off from his people.
*** They were to stop offering sacrifices to demons. They were not to eat the blood of any beast because their life was in that blood.
*** In Chapter 18 God gives the laws of sexual morality. They were not to lie with anyone who was kin to them or that belonged to someone else. Verse 18 says not to marry two sisters or it would make them rivals. We saw that carried out in Rachel and Leah. Some of the things listed God called these sexual sins: wicked acts, violations, defilements and detestable sins. These were the acts that were done in Egypt and would be done in the land they were going but they were not to participate in them or the land would vomit them out of the land just as it was vomiting the inhabitants for them to possess it.
*** Jesus went to Tyre and stayed at a place he thought would be secret but a lady found out and fell at his feet. She told Jesus of her daughter who was possessed by demons. She was not a Jew so Jesus said that he must first feed the children from is own family. It was not right to take their food and throw it to the dogs. But she answered that even the dogs under the table are allowed to eat the scraps from the children’s plates. Jesus told her that was a good answer. Then he healed her daughter.
*** Jesus then went to Sidon and met a deaf man with a speech impediment. He begged Jesus to lay his hands on him and heal him. Jesus led him away from the crowd and put his fingers in the man’s ears. Then he spit on his fingers and touched the man’s tongue. Looking up to heaven he said, “Be opened.” Instantly the man could hear and speak plainly.
*** Jesus told the crowds not to tell people but the more he told them not to tell, the more they told. The crowds grew until there were more than 4,000 people. They were hungry so Jesus asked his disciples how much food they had. They came up with a few fish and seven loaves. Jesus blessed the food and it multiplied to feed the crowd. Seven large baskets of leftover food was taken up.
*** Jesus and his disciples left immediately to cross over to the region of Dalmanutha which means “the poor portion”.
*** Lord, your compassion is limitless. Thank you that your desire is to make us clean and completely whole.
Ginny's gemshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05421143450454896428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978275160521120311.post-56557478220173364152024-02-23T04:00:00.005-06:002024-02-23T04:00:00.138-06:00Sat’s Devo - Cleansing
Read: Leviticus 15:1-16:28; Mark 7:1-23; Psalm 40:22-27; Proverbs 10:13-14
*** Moses was to speak to the children of Israel about any discharges from their body. This issue makes the person unclean and anything of anybody his discharge happened to touch. Everything that he has touched must be cleansed and when he stops having the discharge he must wash himself and count seven days from after being clean and then he is clean. On the eighth day, he is to take two turtledoves or two your pigeons and bring them to the door of the tabernacle and given to the the priest. One would be the sin offering and the other the burnt offering.
*** The same ritual must happen after a man has an emission of semen or a woman has an emission of blood. These laws were laws that kept the people from spreading diseases and kept them clean.
*** After Aaron’s sons offered unholy fire and died, God told Moses to tell Aaron that they priest were not to come just any time into the Holy of Holies inside the veil where the ark was or they would die. There would be one special day where the high priest could enter and that day would be the Day of Atonement.
*** On that day, Aaron would dress in his priestly garments and bring a bull and two goats to the tabernacle. The ram would be his own sin offering which he would offer first to cleanse himself. Then he would take the two goats to the door of the tabernacle and cast lots for them. One would be for the Lord and the other lot for the scapegoat. The one that fell for the Lord would be sacrificed and a censer full of burning coals from the altar would be brought inside the veil. There the priest would put incense on it and that a cloud of incense would fill the tabernacle. Blood from the bull would be sprinkled on the mercy seat seven times. Then the goat would be killed for the sin offering for the people. It would also be sprinkled on the ark seven times. Then he shall come out and offer the blood of the bull and the goat on the horns of the burnt offering seven times
*** The live goat would then be brought before the people and Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat and confess all the iniquities, transgressions and sins of the children of Israel. This goat would be led into the wilderness by the hand of a fit man. “Fit” means “timely”. This man, Jesus, came at just the right time to carry our sins from us. This fit man would release the goat in the wilderness to show that our sins are removed from us as far as the east is from the west.
*** Aaron was then to come out and take off his garments and wash his body in water in the laver and put on garments and offer the burnt offering for himself and the people making atonement for them.
*** The fit man would come and wash himself before he could come into the camp. The rest of the bull and the goat was to be taken outside the camp and burned. The person who burned it would have to wash himself before he came back into the camp.
*** This ceremony represented the repentance to be made for the nation once a year. This was the most holy day of their year.
*** In Mark, the Pharisees complained that Jesus’ disciples didn’t follow their traditions of washing their hands in their ritualistic manner. Jesus called them hypocrites because they put aside God’s commandments to follow their own. He also nailed them for not honoring their faith and mother by not taking care of their elderly parents but giving it to the priests instead. Jesus explained that it was the heart that would be judged not their rituals. Sin or righteousness comes from the heart.
*** Lord, may we learn from your Word what you require of us not what man requires of us. You say that we are to love mercy and justice and walk humbly before you. May we do that today.
Ginny's gemshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05421143450454896428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4978275160521120311.post-89972368441766420392024-02-23T04:00:00.002-06:002024-02-23T04:00:00.138-06:00Fri.’s Devo - The Cleansing Power of the Blood Read: Leviticus 14:1-57; Mark 6:30-56; Psalm 40:1-10; Proverbs 10:11-12
On the day of a leper’s cleansing, he was bring two living clean birds, cedar wood, scarlet, and hyssop and present them and himself to the priest. The priest would examine him one last time and if he is healed then the priest would take the things he brought for his cleansing. The priest would command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water. The other objects would be dipped in the blood the bird that was killed over the running water. The man who had leprosy would be sprinkled with the blood seven times and the other bird would be set free. He would was his clothes, shave off all his hair and wash himself in water and be clean. Then he was to come into the camp but stay outside his tent seven days.
*** On the seventh day, he was to shave all the hair off his head and wash his clothes again and his body and be clean.
*** On the eighth day he would take two male lambs and one eye lamb and flour and oil and present it as a grain offering and a log of oil to the Lord.
*** The priest shall present the man and his offerings before the Lord and take one of the lambs, the grain offering and the log of oil and wave it before the Lord. He would kill the lamb for the sin offering and the burnt offering in the holy place. The priest would apply some of the blood from the offering on the tip of his right ear, his right thumb, and his right big toe. The rest of the blood would be applied by the priest to his head.
*** The house that is to be cleaned of a plague or mildew is the same ritual as for person. Instead of washing the house, it was to be scraped clean.
*** The rituals of them both represent the cleansing of the cross by the blood of Jesus. Jesus is represented by the birds. The first bird represents his death. His blood is applied to our sin and we are pronounced clean. The bird that goes free is the resurrection of both Jesus and the one who is now clean.
*** Jesus had sent his disciples out in pairs giving them power over unclean spirits (John 6:7). They came back telling Jesus all the things that happened while they were out. Jesus took them to rest for a while but the multitudes saw where they were going and followed them. Jesus came out and began to teach them. At the end of the day, his disciples told him to send the crowd away so they could find food. Jesus told them to feed them. They answered that they only had five loaves and two fish. So Jesus took what they had and blessed it and broke it. He let the disciples hand them out and all 5,000 people ate and there were 12 baskets of left-overs picked up.
*** Jesus put his disciples into the boat to go to the other side. He sent the people home and he went to the mountain to pray. In the middle of the night, Jesus saw that the disciples were fighting a storm. He walked out on the sea and comforted them. When he stepped into their boat, the storm stopped. They marveled.
*** They stepped out of the land of the Gadarene but instead of being told to leave, they were met with a multitude of people waiting to receive him with their sick. The man that had been delivered of the legions of demons had spread the word and his testimony influenced the people to accept Jesus.
*** The power of a testimony is great. It is the power of the Holy Spirit that can break all fears and prejudices.
*** Lord, may we walk in your resurrected power and see the miracles that you performed in our day. Thank you for the cleansing power of your blood.
Ginny's gemshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05421143450454896428noreply@blogger.com0