76 - Summary of the history of Israel.

Kathleen's thoughts

Deuteronomy 34:8 34:9,10-12
Psalm 78: 12-66 105: 16-45, 106: 1-35, 135: 1-20

Today's readings summarizes the journey of the Israelites from Egypt to Moses death.

Deuteronomy 34: 8 speaks of the Israelites in mourning for 30 days

Deuteronomy 34: 10-12 (KJ) And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD KNEW FACE TO FACE,...In all the signs and the wonders, which the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land,...And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses shewed in the sight of all Israel.

The Psalms readings is a summary of the journey before and out of Egypt with Moses which we have just read in the book of Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. It explains it beautifully.

Deuteronomy 34:9 And so now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom, because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites obeyed him and did as the Lord had commanded Moses.

Blessings
Kathleen

76 - Only one for the Job

Moses blesses Joshua before the High Priest.

Chareen's Thoughts

• Moses has died.  He is the only prophet that the LORD knew face to face. [None equal to him] in all the signs and wonders which the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt--to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, And in all the mighty power and all the great and terrible deeds which Moses wrought in the sight of all Israel. Deuteronomy 34:10-12
• All of Israel morned for 30 days.
• Joshua was now the new leader of Israel and he had been fulled of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands upon him; so the Israelites listened to him.
• Psalm 78:12-66 , Psalm 105:16-45 , Psalm 106:1-33 , Psalm 135 sums up the history of Israel to this point. 

¹PRAISE THE Lord! (Hallelujah!) O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever!^(A)

    ²Who can put into words and tell the mighty deeds of the Lord? Or who can show forth all the praise [that is due Him]?

    ³Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are those who observe justice [treating others fairly] and who do right and are in right standing with God at all times.

    ⁴[Earnestly] remember me, O Lord, when You favor Your people! O visit me also when You deliver them, and grant me Your salvation!-- (Psalm 106:1-4)
 ¹PRAISE THE Lord! (Hallelujah!) Praise the name of the Lord; praise Him, O you servants of the Lord!

    ²You who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God,

    ³Praise the Lord! For the Lord is good; sing praises to His name, for He is gracious and lovely!

⁵For I know that the Lord is great and that our Lord is above all gods.

    ⁶Whatever the Lord pleases, that has He done in the heavens and on earth, in the seas and all deeps--

    ⁷Who causes the vapors to arise from the ends of the earth, Who makes lightnings for the rain, Who brings the wind out of His storehouses;  (Psalm 135)

Today's reading finished with these words which really blessed my heart:
 When God called Joshua to lead the nation He did not ask him to be another Moses. Leading Israel out was a task for a Moses, leading Israel in was a task for a Joshua.  Joshua could not be Moses, nor Moses Joshua. You too, have a place in God's eternal scheme of things, but you can only fit into it as you are yourself. (Cover to Cover Day 76 page 346)
 Romans 12:4-6 For as in one physical body we have many parts (organs, members) and all of these parts do not have the same function or use, So we, numerous as we are, are one body in Christ (the Messiah) and individually we are parts one of another [mutually dependent on one another]. Having gifts (faculties, talents, qualities) that differ according to the grace given us, let us use them: [He whose gift is] prophecy, [let him prophesy] according to the proportion of his faith;

So always remember be true to yourself and whom the Lord has made you to be.

Blessings
Chareen

75 - Moses dies

Chareen's Thoughts

• The Lord clearly states his judgement for sin and His deliverance.
• Deuteronomy 32:35 Vengeance is Mine, and recompense, in the time when their foot shall slide; for the day of their disaster is at hand and their doom comes speedily.
• Deuteronomy 32:39 See now that I, I am He, and there is no god beside Me; I kill and I make alive, I wound and I heal, and there is none who can deliver out of My hand.
• Deuteronomy 32:46-47 He said to them, Set your [minds and] hearts on all the words which I command you this day, that you may command them to your children, that they may be watchful to do all the words of this law. For it is not an empty and worthless trifle for you; it is your [very] life. By it you shall live long in the land which you are going over the Jordan to possess.
• Deuteronomy 32:48-49 And the Lord said to Moses that same day, Get up into this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, opposite Jericho, and look at the land of Canaan which I give to the Israelites for a possession.
• Before Moses departed he pronounced a blessing over each tribe. 
• Psalm 91:1-16
  ¹HE WHO ^[a]dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand].    ²I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust!
      ³For [then] He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.
      ⁴[Then] He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust and find refuge; His truth and His faithfulness are a shield and a buckler.
      ⁵You shall not be afraid of the terror of the night, nor of the arrow (the evil plots and slanders of the wicked) that flies by day,
      ⁶Nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor of the destruction and sudden death that surprise and lay waste at noonday.
      ⁷A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you.
      ⁸Only a spectator shall you be [yourself inaccessible in the secret place of the Most High] as you witness the reward of the wicked.
      ⁹Because you have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place,^{(A)
      10}There shall no evil befall you, nor any plague or calamity come near your tent.
      ¹¹For He will give His angels [especial] charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways [of obedience and service].
      ¹²They shall bear you up on their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone.^{(B)
      13}You shall tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the serpent shall you trample underfoot.^{(C)
      14}Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness--trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never].
      ¹⁵He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
      ¹⁶With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation.
  
• Such a beautiful Psalm that reminds me of His faithfulness IF I follow Him.
• The Lord told Moses to go to Mount Nebo to view the promised land.
• Moses viewed the land and then the Lord burried him. Moses was 120 years old.

Blessings
Chareen

From Wikipedia: Mount Nebo (Arabic: جبل نيبو‎, Jabal Nibu. Hebrew: הַר נְבוֹ‎, Har Nevo, ) is an elevated ridge that is approximately 817 meters (2680 feet) above sea level, in Jordan. The view from the summit provides a panorama of the Holy Land and, to the north, a more limited one of the valley of the River Jordan. The West Bank city of Jericho is usually visible from the summit, as is Jerusalem on a very clear day.

Mount Nebo, view to north east

Deuteronomy 32:48-49 And the Lord said to Moses that same day, Get up into this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, opposite Jericho, and look at the land of Canaan which I give to the Israelites for a possession.

A view of the Dead Sea from atop Mount Nebo, Jordan.

Mount Nebo, seen from east at a distance of 1.4 km

75 - Moses goes to be with the Lord

Kathleen's thoughts

Deuteronomy 32,33,34

Numbers27: 12-14

Psalm 91

Deuteronomy 32: 19-43. Moses continues to recite the words of this song to the entire assembly of Israel this containing the judgement of sins and God's deliverance. 35... Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay In time their foot will slip for their day of disaster is near and their doom is coming quickly. 36...The Lord will indeed vindicate His people and have compassion on His servants when He sees that their strength is gone... 39. See now that I alone am He; there is no God but Me. I bring death and I give life; I wound and I heal. No one can rescue anyone from My hand...40. I raise My hand to heaven and declare; As surely as I live forever.

Deuteronomy 33 is Moses final words to the 12 tribes of Israel it was a blessing...Verse 1. This is the blessing that Moses, the man of God, gave the Israelites before his death. And so Moses spoke his blessings over them.

Psalm 91 (KJV)

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty...

I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress; my God; in him will I trust...

Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence...

He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust; his truth shall be thy shield and buckler...

Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;...

Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday...

A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come night thee...

Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked...

Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;...

There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling...

For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways...

They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone...

Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet...Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he hath known my name...

He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him...

With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

Beautiful promise from our Heavenly Father. Amen.

Deuteronomy 34: 5-7 And so Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, as the Lord had said...He buried him in the valley in the land of Moab facing Beth-peor, and no one to this day knows where his grave is. Moses was 120 years old hen he died; his eyes were not weak, and his vitality had not left him.

This was a man after God's own heart, a man that served the Lord faithfully to the very end, a man with high standards of living who walked in faith and trusted the Lord with his footsteps right to the very end of his days until he came face to face in glory with Him.

It's been a beautiful journey with Moses and the Israelites and a lot learnt! Looking forward to the next journey with Joshua.

Blessings

Kathleen.

74 - Mose last words to Israel

Moses annoints Joshua before the assembly

Chareen's Thoughts

• He reminds Israel that WHEN they turn back to the Lord love and follow Him then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion upon you and will gather you again from all the nations where He has scattered you. Deut 30:3-4 There is ALWAYS a blessing to be had when we follow the ways of our Lord.
• And the Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your [mind and] heart and with all your being, that you may live. Deuteronomy 30:6 
• And the Lord your God will make you abundantly prosperous in every work of your hand, in the fruit of your body, of your cattle, of your land, for good; for the Lord will again delight in prospering you, as He took delight in your fathers, If you obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this Book of the Law, and if you turn to the Lord your God with all your [mind and] heart and with all your being. Deuteronomy 30:9-10 
• [If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God which] I command you today, to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His ordinances, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land into which you go to possess.Deuteronomy 30:16 
• And may love the Lord your God, obey His voice, and cling to Him. For He is your life and the length of your days,... Deuteronomy 30:20 
• Moses asked the Lord for a new shepherd to lead the people and the Lord appointed Joshua to lead and the High Priest to be the go between Joshua and the Lord. Numbers 27:15-23
• And Moses called to Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong, courageous, and firm, for you shall go with this people into the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to possess it. It is the Lord Who goes before you; He will [march] with you; He will not fail you or let you go or forsake you; [let there be no cowardice or flinching, but] fear not, neither become broken [in spirit--depressed, dismayed, and unnerved with alarm] Deuteronomy 31:7-8 
• Moses then wrote down the final law and gave it to the priests. The Lord prophesied the apostasy of the people when they entered the new land.
• Moses wrote and read a song to the assembly before the Lord.

³For I will proclaim the name [and presence] of the Lord. Concede and ascribe greatness to our God.

    ⁴He is the Rock, His work is perfect, for all His ways are law and justice. A God of faithfulness without breach or deviation, just and right is He. Deuteronomy 32:3-4

Blessings
Chareen

74 - Moses time comes to a close as leader of the Israelites

Kathleen's thoughts

Deuteronomy 30,31,32

Numbers 36:13 & 27: 15-23

This must have been a very sad time for the Israelites and the priests knowing that Moses will soon be going home to be with the Lord. It must have been a form of mourning. I bet Moses being at the age of 120 must have been very tired too but he still found the time to sit and tell the Israelites what will happen to them and they need to choose between the blessings and curses.

Deuteronomy 30: 19 I call heaven and earth to witness this day against you that I have set before you life and death, the blessings and the curses: therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live.

Deuteronomy 30: 14 But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your mind and in your heart, so that you can do it.

Moses also tells them this...Deut: 31: 8 It is the Lord Who goes before you; He will (march) with you; He will not fail you or let you go or forsake you; (let there be no cowardice or flinching, but) fear not, neither become broken (in spirit) (depressed, dismayed, and unnerved with alarm.

9. And Moses wrote this law and delivered it to the Levitical priests, who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel.

Moses takes Joshua son of Nun, a man who has the Spirit in him and lays his hands on him to take over his possition as leader of the Israelites,

The Lord tells Moses to tell these words to all Israel. I am now 120 years old; I can no longer act as your leader. The Lord has also told me I won't cross the Jordan and the Lord your God is the one who will cross ahead of you, and Joshua is the one who will cross ahead of you, as the Lord said.

Deut: 31; 6 For it is the Lord your God who goes with you; He will not leave you or forsake you.

Deuteronomy 32: 1-18 Song of Moses. Beautifully written and was recited aloud every single word to the entire assembly of Israel.

Revelations 1;11, 17b-18 Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches;;; I am the First and the Last, and the living One. I was dead, but look - I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades.

Blessings

64 - your God shall fight for you.

Chareen's Thoughts

• Today's reading started with a recap of the first allotment of land which was parceled out to the tribes of: Reuben, Gad and half the tribe of Mannasseh.
• Before the Israelites crossed the Jorday the Lord gave them specific instructions about destroying ALL the idols and demolishing the high places (these are the temples etc) in their new land.  They were to drive out of the land all the tribes the Lord told them to and take full possession of the land.  The land was to be divided by lot and the size decided by the size of the tribe inheriting the land.
• And I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, Your own eyes have seen all that the Lord your God has done to these two kings [Sihon and Og]; so shall the Lord do to all the kingdoms into which you are going over [the Jordan]. You shall not fear them, for the Lord your God shall fight for you. Deuteronomy 3:21-22
• Oh how my heart grieved as I read about Moses pleading with God to see the promised land. My heart is comforted in knowing that Moses saw the fulfillment of the Messaih and stood in the promised land with the Lord.
• God told Moses to go to the top of Pisgah and look out over the land and commision Joshua to take his place.
• The Lord gave the Israelites specific boundries to the land that He was giving them as an inheritance.
• The Lord is the one who chose the men to divide the land among the tribes of Israel.
• The Levites did not inherit land because the Lord was their portion, however the Lord did promise them cities to live in.

 It's amazing how the Lord prepared the people and instructed them before they even crossed the Jordan. You can see His character of orderliness. He promised to fight for Joshua and the Israelites.  As a parent I know that feeling of wanting to stand for your children.  Our God is so very very good.
Blessings
Chareen.

63 - Something less than God's best ?

Chareen's Thoughts

• The Lord instructed Moses to gather 1000 warriors from each tribe and execute vengeance on Midian and then he would die.
• They killed Balaam and all the kings of Midian. Destroyed the cities and took captives.  They were to kill all male children and woman who had been married or who were not virgins.  They had to remain outside of the camp.Numbers 31:8-24 
• The Lord Himself instructed Moses on how to divide the spoils among the Israelites. There is a full accounting of the spoils.
• There were offerings to the Lord too.
• Not ONE Israelite soldier died in the war of vengeance.
• Tribes of Reuben and Gad requested the land east of Jordan as an inheritance due to the fact that they had a large number of livestock and the land was excellent for raising livestock.
• These tribes commit to war with the Israelites till each tribe has received it's inheritance.
• The first division of land inheritance is given.

 Today's reading finished with these words and left me with much to think on:

 What a tragedy that some of God's people, within sight of the Land of Promise, should prefer to settle for something less than God's best. How is it with you ? Are you content to remain this side of Jordan? Are you settling for less than God's best ?  


As I was reading today's reading I never considered the requests of the tribes of Gad and Reuben as anything less than the best till I read these words.  These words have me hungering to know and walk in His very best for me.
Blessings
Chareen

59 - The Lord your God has been with you and you have lacked nothing!

Kathleen's thoughts

Caduceus medical symbol

Deuteronomy 2,3
Numbers 21,33
The Biblical days and today is no difference. The people in the wilderness were always grumbling and never satisfied. God was with them supplying all their needs and even witnessed the presence of God being among them and today we also always grumbling about what we have and what we don't have. We are never satisfied. God dwelled amongst them in the wilderness for 40 years feeding them giving them water.
Philippians 2:14 Do all things without murmuring and disputing:

Deuteronomy 2:7 For the Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He watched over your journey through this immense wilderness. The Lord your God has been with you this past 40 years, and you have lacked nothing.

Have you ever wondered why there is a snake in the symbol of the medical symbol we see today but then when you investigate where it suppose to have originated from the Greek The Rod of Asclepius The Greek god of medicine and healing, he used only one snake on a staff. It is here that we see how stories from generations to generation is passed down and it takes one man to twist it to become demonic this is a good link for you to read. Rod of Asclepius.

The photo on this page is a medical symbol used mostly around the world.
Below is the truth about the bronze rod and the snake symbol.

Numbers 21: 5-9
God - when the Israelites were speaking against him He got angry and sent poisonous snakes amongst the people and it bit them so that many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said we have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you, Intercede with the Lord so that He will take the snakes away from us and this Moses did.

The Lord then told Moses to make a snake image and mount it on a pole. When anyone who is bitten looks at it, he will recover. So Moses made a bronze snake and mounted it on a pole. Whenever someone was bitten, and he looked at the bronze snake, he recovered.

This reading is also about the Israelites walking to the land God had promised.

Blessings

58 - Miriam and Aaron goes home to be with the Lord.

Kathleen's thoughts.

Numbers 18,19.20,21,33

Death of Aaron by James Tissot

Once again the Israelites are grumbling and have no water they complained about the vegitation Moses and Aaron went to the entrance of the tent of meeting and fell on their faces. God gives instruction for them to assemble the people and to take their staffs to the rock and Moses hits the rock and water flows.

Burning of the red Heifer is a sin offering.

Miriam dies and is buried in Kadesh.

The Lord told Moses to take Aaron's son Eleazar and bring them up Mount Hor. Remove Aaron's garments and put them on his son Eleazar, Aaron will be gathered to his people and die there.

So Moses did as the Lord commanded, and the climbed Mount Hor in the sight of the whole community. After Moses removed Aaron's garments and put them on his son Eleazar, Aaron died there on top of the mountain. Aaron was 123 years old when he died on Mount Hor.

Imagine knowing when you walk up the mountain you going to die. Ummm

The community and the whole house of Israel mourned for 30 days.

Eleazar son of Aaron became priest in the place of Aaron.

blessings

58 - Red Heifer

Moses Strikes the Rock
James Tissot 1902

Chareen's Thoughts:

• In yesterdays reading we learned that the Levites did not inherit land but were given the tithe as their payment for their service in the tabernacle. Today's reading starts off telling the Levites to tithe on tithe.
• The Lord gives instruction to burn a red heifer and use it's ashes to make purification water for those who are unclean.  His instructions for its use are quite specific.
• Miriam dies in Kadesh and is buried.
• The people once again revert to their habit of complaint and unbelief in Meribah. Aaron and Moses go before the Lord and He instructs them to speak to the rock before the assembly so that the Lords holiness would be known but Aaron and Moses disobey the Lord and strike the rock twice to bring forth water.  Hence the name Meribah.
• The consequence of Aaron and Moses disobedience is that the Lord says that neither of them shall enter the promised land.
• At this point in Moses life he is blessed with grand children.
• Israel continued their journey to Mount Hor.  Along the way the Edomites refused them passage along the King's highway.
• At Mount Hor the Lord instructs Moses, Aaron and Aarons son Eleazar to ascend the mountain and pass on the office of High Priest.  It is here that Aaron died he was 123 years old and it had been 40 years since the Israelites had departed from Egypt. The whole house of Israel mourned the death of Aaron for 30 days.

 I often wonder why Moses chose to disobey the Lord and strike the rock rather than speak to it.  This man of God who walked before the Lord, who saw His form who often interceded for the people of Israel.  One of my frustrations too with this story is the consequence the Lord gave him of denying him entry to the Promised Land after all that he had done.  One day while meditating on this I realised that Moses did set foot in the Promised land.  He saw the fulfilment of the Lords promises.  He stood their with the very son of the Most High God.

Blessings
Chareen

For Further Reading:

• The Mystery of the Red Heiffer: Divine Promise of Purity over at The Temple Institute.
• Red Heifer over at Wikipedia.
• Audio A Red Heifer is Alive and well in Israel over at Israel National News
• The Red Heifer over at Great Dreams.
• Red Heifer born in Israel over at The Temple Institute. (Photographs)
• Complete video on Red Heifer teaching from The Temple Institute.

57 - I am your portion and your inheritance

Chareen's Thoughts:

The death of Korah, Dathan & Abiram.

• Today's reading started with the story of Korah, Dathan and Abiram who rebelled against the leadership of Aaron and Moses. 
• The Lord then calls them and their 250 followers to appear before Him in the morning.  The Lord decided they needed to die for their sin but Aaron and Moses interceded for the crowd.
• The Lord then said that Korah, Dathan and Abiram will die by the land swollowing them and their families. Their deaths were a sign of God's choice of Aaron and Moses as leaders.
• The Lord sent a holy fire to consume the 250 followers of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.
• It intrigued me that the very next day after witnessing the Lord dealing with jealsousy and insurrection the congregation grumbled and complained about Moses and blamed him for the deaths of the others. 
• The Lords anger burned against them and He sent a plague to consume Israel.  Aaron makes an atonement offering and the plague is halted. 14 700 died in addition to Korah and the others.
• You then see the patience and love of the Lord as He chooses to prove that He has chosen Aaron.  He asks for a staff from each house in Israel with the name of the leader of each tribe.
• The rods were placed in the tent of meeting. And the next day Moses went into the Tent of the Testimony, and behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted and brought forth buds and produced blossoms and yielded [ripe] almonds. Numbers 17:8 
•  The Lord once again confirms the Levitical responsibilites to the people.  

These are two verses that stood out to me today: And the Lord said to Aaron, You shall have no inheritance in the land [of the Israelites], neither shall you have any part among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the Israelites. Numbers 18:20 and And, behold, I have given the Levites all the tithes in Israel for an inheritance in return for their service which they serve, the [menial] service of the Tent of Meeting. Numbers 18:21
This second verse stood out because often times people grumble and complain about the tithe being used to pay the pastor or staff of a church but the Lord Himself declares that is what it's for !
Blessings
Chareen

44 - The priestly ministry begins

Kathleen's thoughts

Numbers 3,7 & 26 Leviticus 7,8,9,10

Can you imagine hearing God's voice when walking into the Holy of Hollies. Numbers 7:89 When Moses entered the tent of meeting to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim. He spoke to him that way.

God's instructions of consecrating and anointing Aaron and sons took place and so the ministry of the priests take place.

The disobedience of Aarons sons Nadab and Abihu decided to do their own ritual by taking their own fire pan, put fire in it, placed incense on it and presented unauthorized fire before the Lord which he had not commanded. Then flames leaped from the Lord's presence and burned them to death before the Lord. Leviticus 10:3 This is what the Lord meant when He said; I will show My holiness to those who are near Me, and I will reveal My glory before all the people.

Aaron must have been heart broken for in scripture Lev: 10:3 It says But Aaron remained silent.

Then instructions were given to Aaron by Moses that Eleazar and Ithamar. Do not let your hair hang loose and do not tear you garments or else you would die.

They were also instructed not to go outside the tent of meeting they would die because the Lord's anointing oil is on you. So they obeyed Moses.

Blessings

44 - Consecrated for service

ChareenThoughts:

• Numbers 7:89  And when Moses went into the Tent of Meeting to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was upon the ark of the Testimony from between the two cherubim; and He spoke to [Moses].
• So Moses did as the LORD commanded him,  these words are common.  You hear them over and over. I wonder what our lives would look like if we walked in such obedience ?
• Leviticus 8:1-36 Aaron is consecrated for service as the first High Priest
• Lev 8:33 days of ordination were 7.  The number of perfect completion.
• Lev 9 is all about the first sacrifices made.  As I read all I could think about was the amount of work that went in to each and every sacrifice and the smell. The smell of cooking meat is good but the smell of butchered and burned meat is another all together.  
• Lev 10:1-7 Two of Aarons sons go and do their own thing and pay for their sin of arrogance with death.

Reading all about the different burnt offerings and sacrifices has given me an appreciation for this verse:
and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. Rev 1:5-6 The challenge for us is to know what sacrifices burn on the altars of our hearts ? Are we following and worshiping as the LORD has commanded or are we doing our own thing ?

Blessings
Chareen


Source Bible Gateway.com - Leviticus 10:3

Leviticus 10:3

Amplified Bible (AMP)

³Then Moses said to Aaron, This is what the Lord meant when He said, I ^[a][and My will, not their own] will be acknowledged as hallowed by those who come near Me, and before all the people I will be honored. And Aaron said nothing.

Footnotes:

1. Leviticus 10:3 Perhaps few believers have ever identified themselves with Nadab and Abihu, and yet few, if any, of us have not done exactly what they did in principle. Their sin, which God took so seriously and which proved fatal to them, was not a mere matter of failing to obey the letter of God's law for priests. Their inexcusable folly was in trying to please the Lord their way instead of His way. Who of us cannot recognize himself as the offerer of this prayer, with only the details lacking: "O Lord, make me rich! Then I will make large donations to Your interests!" Yet our very poverty may be the means to the end which He has in love and wisdom planned for us, the ultimate purpose of our creation, perhaps, which substitution of our will for His will would utterly defeat. No wonder God removed Nadab and Abihu from the earth! They, like ourselves, had acted like the child of a great painter who attempted to work on his father's priceless canvas instead of on the tablet assigned to him. They, like the child, were banished from the father's presence. And every believer does well to recognize the importance of being entirely surrendered to "God's will; nothing more; nothing less; nothing else; at any cost." And that does not mean first making an unholy alliance in marriage, or in business, or in thought, and then adjusting it to God's will. Remember Nadab and Abihu, who "offered strange and unholy fire before the Lord." It does not pay.

42 - Moses given the order of duties by God

Kathleen's thoughts

Numbers 3,8,4

Every first born male of the Israelites one month old or more to be registered and a list of their names.

God told Moses "You are to take the Levites for me I am the Lord"

The total registered were 22,273

The Lord told Moses "Take the Levites from among the Israelites and ceremonially cleanse them and then to present them before the tent of meeting and assemble the entire Israelite community. Then present the Levites before the Lord as a presentation offering from the Israelites, so that they may perform the Lord's work. Next The Levites are to lay their hands on the heads of the bulls Sacrifice one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering to the Lord, to make atonement for the Levites. The Levites need to stand before Aaron and his sons, and you are to present them before the Lord as a presentation offering. In so doing this will separate the Levites from the Israelites and may come to serve at the tent of meeting once you have ceremonially cleansed them and presented them as a presentation offering.

SO God has taken the Levites exclusively to Aaron and his sons to perform the work for the Israelites at the tent of meeting and to make atonement on their behalf.

Instructions were also given in regard to the Levites From 25 Years old or more a man enters the service in the work at the tent of meeting but at 50 years old he is to retire from his service and no longer serve. He may assist his brothers to fulfill responsibilities at the tent of meeting but he must not do the work.

Eleazar Son of Aaron the priest has oversight of the lamp oil, the fragrant incense, the daily grain offering and the anointing oil He has oversight of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, the holy objects and their utensils.

The Kohathites clan were not allowed to even look at them or they would die,. So the Lord instructed Moses that he was to take men from 30 - 50 years old - everyone who is qualified to do work at the tent of meeting . So when the camp was to move on Aaron and his sons are to go in take down and pack up and cover them according to God's plan and then the Kohathites would come and carry them but they are not to touch the Holy objects or they will die. This applied to The Gershonites too but they were to transport the tabernacle curtains the tent of meeting with its covering and the covering made of manatee skin on top of it. the screen for the entrance to the tent of meeting the hangings of the courtyard the screen for the entrance at the gate of the courtyard that surrounds the tabernacle and the altar, along with their ropes and all the equipment for their service. The Merarites They are responsible for to carry as the whole of their service at the tent of meeting the supports of an bases, the post of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs and ropes including all their equipment.

And so Moses and Aaron and the leaders of the community registered the...

Kohathites 30 -50 Years old 2,750

Gershonites 30 -50 years old 2,630

Merarites 30 -50 Years old 3,200

The Levites by their clans and their ancestral houses form 30 -50 Years old. 8,580

total 17,160

Blessings

41 - The Levitical tribe and their duties according to God's plan and order.

Image from The Temple Institute

Kathleen's thoughts

Exodus 35 - 38 & 40 Numbers 3 & 10

The trumpet - What a significant instrument of the Lord. It had to made of hammered silver and the orders were...When both are sounded in long blasts, the entire community is to gather before you at the entrance to the tent of meeting. However if one is sounded only the leaders, the heads of Israel's clans are to gather before you.

When you sound short blasts, the camps pitched on the east are to set out. When you sound short blasts a second time, the camps pitched on the south are to set out. Short blasts are to be sounded for them to set out,,,When calling the assembly together, you are to sound long blasts, not short ones...The sons of Aaron, the priests, are to sound the trumpets. You use of these is a permanent statute through your generations.

THIS PART IS INTERESTING.

Verse 9 When you enter into battle in your land against an adversary who is attacking you, sound short blasts on the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the Lord you God and be delivered from your enemies.

This brought to mind the wars of past of using a trumpeter to march the soldiers into battle. They new then if they did this the Lord was with them and would deliver them from their enemies.

Exodus 40: 1-15 When everything was complete God gave instructions to Moses to anoint and consecrate. This anointing will serve to inaugurate a permanent priesthood for them throughout their generation.

Moses was given instructions to the tribe of Levi to assist him and to take care of the tent of meeting and perform duties for the Israelites by attending the service of the Tabernacle and the total amount of men to perform these duties was 22,000.

Blessings

41 - They will serve as a reminder ...

The erection of the Tabernacle and the Sacred vessels

Chareen's Thougths:

• Exodus 35:1-3 Sabbath a day of rest.  He gave it to us to rest and be renewed. It is holy unto Him.
• Exodus 38: 21-31 is a complete accounting summary of what was used to build the Tabernacle. I was reading over at Pro Youth Worker and he worked out that it would cost around $57 000 000 to build the Tabernacle today. The thing that I find astounding is that all this was given freely ! Someone worked out that it would take 8 600 people to move the Tabernacle.
• Silver Trumpets were used to alert the people.  Numbers 10:1-10 why ? ... They will serve as a reminder for you before your God: I am the LORD your God. Numbers 10:10 This has me thinking what can I do that will help me and my family remember the Lord my God daily, monthly and annually ?
• Exodus 40 God tells Moses to set up the Tabernacle ready for service.
• Numbers 3:5-39 The Levite Tribe is given to Aaron to serve as the temple/tabernacle carers. There were 22 000 males in this clan alone.

He leaves nothing to chance.  He is a God of order.  Everything had a place and a use.  Each person had their task and it was specific.

What do you do in your home that serves as a reminder of the Lord your God ?

Blessings
Chareen

For Further Reading:

• What would it cost to build the Tabernacle described in Exodus ? over at Pro Youth Worker
• The Desert Tabernacle calculator over at The Desert Tabernacle. An interesting look at the weights of the items of the Tabernacle.
• Tabernacle explorer 3 D download FREE
• Diagrams of Tabernacle and Furniture.  Interesting.
• Picture of the remade Silver Trumpets over at The Temple Institute.
• The New Temple
• More Teaching on the Tabernacle
• Tabernacle Insights Part 1 & 2
• 
  

40 - The Tabernacle being built according to God's orders

Kathleen's thoughts

Exodus 36 - 39

And so the workman were put to work building the Tabernacle, Ark of the covenant Priestly robes. Bezalel must have been a very busy man. I can just see him watching and taking measurements to see it's the correct size according to God's plan. What a honour!

If you watch the video's that Chareen has placed here on this blog

• More Teaching on the Tabernacle
• Tabernacle Insights Part 1 & 2

Source: Temple Institute

They  explain the whole readings of today of the Tabernacle, the Ark and all the accessories that was needed plus the High Priest's garments

Blessings.
Kathleen

39 - Moses' face shines with God's glory!

Kathleen's thoughts,

Leviticus 27 & Exodus 35 - 37

Moses comes down the Mt Sinai with his face shining with God's glory and he was carrying the tablets of the 10 commandments. It must have been a awesome sight but can also imagine how frightening it must have been for the Israelites.

Moses gives the instruction for the collection (offering) for the Lord of gold, silver and bronze; blue purple, and scarlet yarn, fine linen goat hair; ram skins dyed red and manatee skins; acacia wood; oil for the light ; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; and onyx with gemstones to mount on the ephod and the breast plate. He also ordered for Bezalel, Ohollab and all the craftsman to start on the Tabernacle, ark, Table for the bread of the Presence, Curtain of linen and the Menorah (7 stick lamp stand)

It is a scriptural principle to give according to one's income,, Those whose giving is not according to their income may find that God adjusts their income according to their giving. Makes one think about our tithes.

Luke 6:38 (KJ)

Give and it shall be given unto you'; good measure pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

Blessings

37 - The LORD a God Merciful and Gracious

The Adoration of the Golden Calf by Nicolas Poussin:

Chareen's Thoughts:

• Exodus 32:1-29 is all about the golden calf and how the people wanted something to worship because Moses had not reappeared from the mountain. 
• I have been reading a commentary on the golden calf by Rabbi Ken Spiro where I learned a lot about the story of the golden calf and it's implications to the Jewish nation. 
• In Exodus 32:26-29 we read how Moses asks Who is for the LORD ? and the levites stand with him and then go through the camp and kill those who were involved in the sinful act.  You see that Jew kills Jew. One of the moral lessons learned by the Jewish nation through the story of the golden calf is:  Judaism teaches you're either part of the problem or you're part of the solution, and that you have a legal obligation to be part of the solution. Being a by-stander is not an option. (Till today, the Bible is virtually the only moral/legal code in the world that demands that you actively do good as epitomized by the expression "...go in His ways." (Deut. 28:9) - Rabbi Ken Spiro
• Its at this point the Lord chooses to leave the people and let the angel lead because He is so angry.  He says to Moses: ... But I will not go with you because you are a stiff-necked people; otherwise, I might destroy you on the way. Exodus 33:3
• At this point the people remove their jewellery as a sign of repentance/mourning for their actions. Exodus 33:4 - 6
• Tent of Meeting was made and erected outside of the camp as a symbol of the Lord separating Himself from the people as a consequence of their sin. This is where Moses went to meet with the Lord. Exodus 33:7-11 Interestingly I note that Moses came and went but Joshua would not leave the inside of the tent (verse 11).  It also interested me that each time Moses went to the tent of meeting the people spent that time in worship (verse 10)
• Exodus 33:12-23 Moses interceded for the people and God says He will return and lead His people.
• Exodus 33:18 Moses asked the Lord to show him His glory.  What an amazing request of the God who made the heavens and the earth. Even more importantly the Lord grants His request. (verse 19 - 23)
• Exodus 34:1-28 Moses once again remains with the Lord for 40 days and the Lord sustains him.  The Lord renews his directions for worship and following Him.
• Exodus 25:1-7 The Sabbath rest for the land.  Interesting.  The Lord made the harvest of the sixth year 3 times the normal size so the people would have food for the sabbath year, the year they sowed up to the next harvest.
• The year of Jubilee !  Wow imagine living with this gracious law.  To be set free and celebrate! Exodus 25:8-24

And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord! the Lord! a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving-kindness and truth, Keeping mercy and loving-kindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but Who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children, to the third and fourth generation. Exodus 34:6-7
“For the word of the Lord is right; and all His work is done in faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the loving-kindness of the Lord.” Psalm 33:4-5 AMP

Blessings
Chareen

For Further Reading

• Golden Calf over at Wikipedia
• Only a tiny portion of Jews participate in worshiping the golden calf. So why blame the whole nation? by Rabbi Ken Spiro over at A Crash Course in Jewish History #12. ♥♥♥♥ highly recommend this article.
• I found this 5 minute teaching on what happened when the people made a idol. I can't find the second half but was encouraged just the same.