A wave offering - Numbers 8

by Paul Ice

The Levites were a tribe of Israel devoted entirely to service to the Lord.  They were ordinary Israelites with one exception; because they had chosen the Lord during the golden calf incident, God promised them a special blessing - they were to be inducted into the service of the Lord.

Exodus 32:29

And Moses said, “Today you have been ordained for the service of the Lord. . ."

So here in Numbers 8 they are presented to the Lord as a wave offering.  We have seen the wave offering referred to many times in Exodus.  It is significant that the wave offering was used in conjunction with the Levites.   Moses did not bring the usual material that was used in a wave offering (a harvest of grain).  Rather, he was to present the Levites themselves as the wave offering.

Numbers 8:11

             . . .and Aaron shall offer the Levites before the LORD as a wave offering from the people of Israel, that they may do the service of the LORD.

The Levites take the place of the tradition wave offering and become a “living sacrifice.” They were the offering, not a sheaf of grain.

Interesting that Paul repeats this charge to Christians in Romans 12:1

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Numbers 7

by Adam Johnson

God set Moses with the large task of getting the people ready to move to the Promised Land, but now he also had the new responsibility of consecrating and preparing the new tabernacle to move.

After all the consecration of the new tabernacle was completed the princes of the twelve tribes came bringing large offerings for their respective tribes. God specifically told Moses to take these offerings for the Levites and for the dedication of the altar.

All of the days of offering and dedication ended with God speaking directly with Moses from above the mercy seat in the tabernacle. The only way for anyone to have access to the Lord in any capacity is always through obedience. Sin brings separation and obedience results in God's presence and power. If any of us seek to know Him it first must be because blood was shed to cover our sin. Then we can rejoice in knowing Him through obedience to His Word. As we do this day in and day out we grow in our confidence of His continual presence with us.

We may not be preparing a large building or millions of people to move, but we have daily responsibilities presented before us with our work and families. If we want Him to be with us in all these tasks it must first be our obedience that brings us to Him. "For the law made nothing perfect; but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God." Hebrews 7:19

Numbers 5-6

by Rebekah Johnson


"The Lord bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Numbers 6:24-26

In pronouncing God's favor on the people, the priest was to use a formula for blessing. This beautiful blessing may be only a model, as the so-called "Lord's Prayer" is a model for prayer, but its purpose is clear; it communicates the desire of the LORD to invest His people with His name. The name of the Lord is tantamount to the lord Himself so that this blessing becomes a petition that God might live among his people and meet all their needs. He alone can bless His people, keep them, look on them with favor (make His face shine and turn His face toward them), be gracious to them, and give them peace.

- the Bible Knowledge Commentary

Today we have a High Priest who is so much greater than this earthly priest. "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:14-15)

What does this look like for us? We need only to draw near: "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)

Numbers 3-4 Serving and Carrying

by Jill Ice

In Numbers 3-4, God numbered the Levites and gave them jobs to do.  There were a total of 8,580 Levite men between the ages of 30 and 50, and they each were assigned specific tasks when the Tabernacle was to be moved. 

Being part of a church plant (or “church in a box”, as I like to say), I know what it’s like to set up for church each week.  Of course, setting up for our weekly church service is much less exacting than packing up the Tabernacle for a move or setting up after a move. 

For instance, I’m allowed to look at the furniture I’m moving.  In Numbers, Aaron’s sons were given the task of covering the tabernacle furniture and vessels before the moving commenced.  If the covering was not done properly, a fellow Levite could die. 

As I read through chapter four, I found myself completely identifying with the people referred to in the last verse:

“According to the commandment of the Lord through Moses they were listed, each one with his task of serving or carrying.”

I have done a lot of carrying these past sixteen months.  J

To make a spiritual application – we all have a job to do.  Whether we serve or carry, let’s do it for the Lord, living out the gospel daily.

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.

Colossians 3:23

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." - Jim Elliot

Taking a break from commenting on today's text (Numbers 1-2) because I can't wrap my brain around anything in that passage today when all I can think about is how powerful the message of the gospel is and how God works in mysterious ways! Mike and Michael, as you know, are in Ecuador with Operation Christmas Child.  This is the information they passed along early this morning in an email to the family:

Last night we got home from the distributions around 6 and dinner and the program started at 7. The program consisted first of the Ecuador National Leadership Team from OCC - all nationals. It is just unbelievable how Samaritan's Purse doesn't swoop in and take over, but instead finds pastors and churches to work with and utilizes them for the work of their own ministry. Over 30,000 children have graduated from The Greatest Journey project in just two years. Over 1,300 nationals have been trained in how to lead this 12 week study. For 2012 their goal is to double this. Overwhelming!

 

Then the big suprise came. The men who are leading the ministry to the Huaorani tribe in the jungle presented the work that is going on there to these people who just a generation ago knew nothing of God. THEN two of the men who speared Nate Saint and Jim Elliot walked in. Short little men, in their eighties, who then shared in their language the story of the killings, which was then translated into Spanish, and then into English. I video taped it all. Michael and I then got our pictures taken with them!

I can only imagine the warm welcome these men will receive from the 5 missionaries who were killed on January 8, 1956, when they go home to Heaven!  I can only imagine how wonderful that reunion will be - something our limited human minds have difficulty comprehending!  

If you have never seen the film, The End of the Spear, or the documentary, Through Gates of Splendor, do so soon!  Both share the testimonies of martyr missionaries Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, Ed McCully, Peter Fleming, and Roger Youderian.  It is a powerful story of redemption! 

Praise the Lord....the glory is His alone!

Leviticus 26-27

"These are the commandments that the LORD commanded Moses for the people of Israel on Mount Sinai."- Leviticus 27:34


The last verse seems to have reference to this whole book. Many of the precepts in it are moral, and always binding; others are ceremonial, and peculiar to the Jewish nation; yet they have a spiritual meaning, and so teach us; for unto us, by these institutions, is the gospel preached, as well as unto them (Hebrews 4:2). The doctrine of reconciliation to God by a Mediator, is not clouded with the smoke of burning sacrifice, but cleared by the knowledge of Christ and him crucified. We are under the sweet and easy institutions of the gospel, which pronounces those true worshippers, who worship the Father in spirit and truth, by Christ only, and in his name. Yet, let us not think, because we are not tied to the ceremonial rites and oblations, that a little care, time, and expense, will serve to honour God with. Having boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, let us draw near with a true heart, and in full assurance of faith, worshipping God with the more cheerfulness and humble confidence, still saying, BLESSED BE GOD FOR JESUS CHRIST. 

Matthew Henry's Commentary

Leviticus 19-21

by Adam Johnson

"Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, for I am the LORD your God. Keep my statutes and do them; I am the LORD who sanctifies you." Leviticus 20:7-8

These chapters in Leviticus focus on the practical aspects of what holy living should look like in the promised land. The Lord made clear in no uncertain terms what would happen to them if they should fail in their obligations of obedience to God. He also clarified that these forbidden practices of evil were done by the people whom God was going to drive out before the children of Israel.

In these two verses God reveals one of His names to the children of Israel, Jehovah-M'Kaddesh. This name means, "The Lord who sets you apart." He brought the people out of slavery in Egypt to the destination of the Promised Land. God continually gave them reminders of who they used to be. Leviticus is actually often quoted in the New Testament not for the ceremonial reminders, but the practical reminders of holy living required by God - the God Who sent His Son to shed His blood to pay our ransom (1 Pet. 1:18-19).

In our everyday living we are not just to be living differently than those without Christ; we are to be living as "set apart to the Lord."

"Who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for
himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works." Titus 2:14

Leviticus 16-18

"For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the alter to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life." Leviticus 17:11

There is a Fountain opened for my cleansing,

where sin's atonement by my Lord was made;

He was the Lamb that was taken to the slaughter,

His blood the fountain where my debt was paid.

Opened for me, opened for me

The precious, cleansing Fount was opened there for me

- Merrill Dunlop

_______________________________________________________

Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.
Hebrews 9:22

Leviticus 14-15

by Jill Ice

Question: What were God's reasons for declaring some food clean and some unclean, or certain conditions such as childbirth and leprosy unclean?

Lots of reasons have been offered.  Perhaps there is symbolism in the choice of animals.  The clean animals represented virtues, the unclean vices.  Or maybe the unclean animals were the ones that the godless countries around Israel used in their pagan worship.  Others argue that certain animals, creatures, or certain conditions were unclean because they were literally unclean.  They were unhealthy and lacked hygiene.  But all of a sudden, in Acts 10, God told Peter that he could eat everything, that God had declared all these animals clean. Did they suddenly become healthy, too?

I wonder if some of the Israelites questioned God’s laws and the meaning behind them also.  Maybe some of the laws didn’t make sense to them either. Later we are told that God explains that He wanted them to be a holy, set-apart people for His purpose. 

Do you find yourself sometimes questioning the reason or legitimacy of what God has called Christians to follow?  It doesn’t make sense that if you want to be first, you must be last.  It is not very logical if you want to have wealth that you should give.  We are at times tempted to compromise our ethics due to the cultural norm.  It’s easy to follow when the teachings make logical sense or are generally accepted by those around us, but when God asks us to have faith it is a test of confidence in God.  Faith and obedience is the common thread.  It is what transcends all cultures and all generations.

Getting Messy

by Paul Ice

Leviticus 1-4

Have you ever really considered what it was like to be a priest in the Tabernacle?  When you read the process of the sacrifice in Leviticus, it seems like the process of forgiving sins was a messy one.  And yet each passage ends with, “a pleasing aroma to the LORD.”

Then one day there was an atonement made for all sin.  Likewise, it was very messy.  And yet Isaiah writes, “Yet it pleased the Lord to crush Him.”

I think we would struggle to watch either of these taking place.  Yet shouldn’t we consider -  “What can wash away our sins? Nothing but the Blood of Jesus. What can make us whole again? Nothing but the Blood of Jesus.” Those who trust walk into the floodwaters of His Grace. We step into the cleansing flow of God’s Love poured out for us. Nothing but the Blood of Jesus.

Exodus 39-40

by Adam Johnson

"For the cloud of the LORD was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys." Exodus 40:38


The children of Israel finished the tedious tasks given them by Moses for the completion of the tabernacle. Throughout all the work, the scripture continually notes that the people did according to all that they were commanded to complete. What was the purpose of all of this difficult and exacting work? It was more than just a building for worship; its purpose was to be the physical location for the presence of the Lord.

The people knew the tabernacle signified the presence of the Lord - the same Presence that had led them through the Red Sea and through the wilderness to Mt. Sinai - a cloud by day and pillar of fire by night. It led them through their journeys. It was a cause of comfort, security, and also fear as no one, not even Moses, could enter because of the glory of the Lord.

Today we do not have pillars of fire to direct us to stay or go in our life journeys. We are presented with difficult questions and tasks everyday. Where are our signposts? The amazing thing is we have more today than even the disciples who lived with Jesus. "We have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place..." 2 Peter 1:19. We have much to direct us in everyday living - the Holy Spirit within us and the living Word of God.

Exodus 36-38 A heart for service

by Rebekah Johnson

"And Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whose mind the LORD had put skill, everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to do the work." Exodus 36:2

These were gifted men. The LORD had prepared their hearts for service and equipped them with the skill and desire to work for Him in the building of this monumental task - the building of the Tabernacle. They were equipped, they were willing, and they were used.

These men were just like you and me -- they had the same struggles, they had the same fears, they had the same God given gifts. Nobody was commanded by Moses or God to come serve in the work of God. Their hearts were in tune with what was required of them. They realized their responsibility to stir up the skills, the gifts that God had uniquely given to them.

What God-given skills or gifts are we being called to use in God's work today? What's holding us back from answering the stirring of our hearts with service and action?

"For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you." 2 Timothy 1:6

photo via

Exodus 33-35 A Stiff-Necked People

by Jill Ice

Exodus 33:5 For the LORD had said to Moses, “Say to the people of Israel, ‘You are a stiff-necked people…”

Ouch.  Not a complimentary description of the people of Israel.  And it was not the first time God had used this phrase in reference to Israel (see Exodus 32:9). 

The people were not far removed from the miraculous events God had accomplished in bringing them out of Egypt.  Already the cycle had begun – repentance and renewed ambitions to follow God, then a fall into unbelief, bitterness and sin.  Moses was faithful to intercede to God on the people’s behalf time and time again. 

Lest we come down too hard on the cycle of belief and unbelief in the history of Israel, might we examine our own lives?  What traits of this stiff-necked people might we find evident upon a closer look?

Here are eight marks* of a stiff-necked people:

1.    Certainty that you are right.

2.    Refusal to listen to anyone else.

3.    Defensive when criticized.

4.    Making excuses for your shortcomings.

5.    Lashing out at others.

6.    No desire to examine your own life.

7.    Repeated pattern of misbehavior.

8.    Prayer without repentance.

-*Dr. Ray Pritchard

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 

(Psalm 51:10)

Exodus 30-32 The Finger of God

by Diana Durrill

"And he gave to Moses, when he had finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God." - Exodus 31:18

This is a magnificent visual, don't you think?  Can you just see the finger of God reaching down to hand write the law for the people of Israel?  My imagination tells me that God has very nice handwriting and the tablets were very beautifully scripted.  However, the message inscribed was difficult - for no man has ever been able to keep the whole law.  


We see in the New Testament that God does some more writing but this time His handiwork is even more beautiful because He didn't write on tablets of stone and the message was not the law.  Rather, He wrote a message of grace on the tablets of our hearts -- your heart and my heart!  He has taken His word and engraved it through the work of the Holy Spirit.  The effect of this is a personal transformation from the inside out!  A natural by-product of what has been written on our hearts, inscribed by God, is that we are (or should be) a living testimony of what the power of Jesus Christ can do in a life!  

"And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts."

2 Corinthians 3:3

Exodus 28-29 Who is between you and God?

[29] So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgment on his heart, when he goes into the Holy Place, to bring them to regular remembrance before the LORD. - Exodus 28:29 ESV

Aaron, the High Priest. A man chosen by God, who must have his own sins cleansed by the shedding of the blood of the innocent. Then, and only then, could he come into the very presence of God. Aaron died...

[7] but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. - Hebrews 9:7 ESV

Jesus, the Great High Priest. The Son of God. Tempted, yet never sinned. Offered His innocent Self as the sacrifice for the sins of the world. Jesus rose from the dead...


[15] For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. - Hebrews 4:15 ESV

[26] For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. - Hebrews 7:26 ESV

[1] Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, - Hebrews 8:1 ESV


[25] Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, [26] for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. [27] And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, [28] so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. - Hebrews 9:25-28 ESV

Exodus 25- 27

Way back in chapter 6 God told Israel, "I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God." I think this detailed focus on the sanctuary, ark, tabernacle and all that it entails is grounded in God this truth repeated again in 25:8:

And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. 

Think about that verse for a minute. "Dwell in their midst." God wants to have a relationship with us. He extends His hand to us. He is an initiator.

While He is reaching out, the Lord shows much about His character. Here are some of my observations:

- Everything about this tabernacle was excellent. No shortcuts, only the best.
- He takes worship very seriously.
- The setting set the tone show His holiness.
- Worship was purposeful and deliberate.

When I think about this, I am reminded that though the New Testament church age of grace is very different these aspects of our Lord and Savior have never changed.

Exodus 22-24

by Paul Ice 

2 Questions

I.  Context is vital right?

Understanding who is writing, who it is written to, when it was written, the culture in which they live, etc. is very important.  Read out of context, this would be an odd passage.

II.  Are all sins equal in the eyes of God?

Maybe you have heard that before.  When you read this passage does it make you think that God views some sins as more serious than others? 

1. It is always difficult and dangerous to attempt to list sins according to their degree of seriousness.
2. Earthly punishment is no comparison to eternal punishment.
3. Which sins get punished the most severely?  Interesting in this passage - the first 15 verses of Exodus 22, every one who does wrong gets fined.  In the next nine verses, they die.   But look what happens when you mistreat aliens or orphans or widows.  "My wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless" (Exodus 22:24).  Ouch!
4. In one sense, all sins are equal in that they all separate us from God.  Or, in other words, every sin, no matter how bad, is equally effective in separating us from God.
5. The good news is that Jesus’ atonement for our sins paid for all of them, no matter how big or small.

Exodus 19-21

by Adam Johnson

"Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel." Exodus 19:5-6 NASB

These verses are part of the introduction that the LORD was giving Moses leading up to the Ten Commandments, one of God's first Covenants. However, this portion is singled out by repetition in the New Testament (I Pet. 2:5,9; Rev. 5:10) as part of the New Covenant established by Jesus Christ. When the Lord speaks to us multiple times it should be something that really grabs our attention, and this principle is based on the nature of God Himself.

We are commanded to be set apart ourselves based on the fact that just like Israel we are "called-out ones." As our Savior and God is Holy, we ourselves are to be holy -- Priests in the reflection of the fact that our Lord is our great high priest, and we are to be His followers and representatives to a world that refuses to own Him as King.

How am I to do this? How are you to do this? What does it look like? What does God demand of me? These questions I asked myself and realized that the required response from us is great because what He gave to ransom us is great.

"But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY." 1 Peter 2:9-10 NASB

Exodus 16-18 The LORD is my Banner

by Rebekah Johnson

"And Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The LORD Is My Banner," Exodus 17:15

What a testimony! Joshua had just led the Israelites to victory defeating the Amalekites while Moses, with the help of Aaron and Hur, held up his staff overlooking the battle.

This same staff had been God's "visual aide" to His people on many occasions (Exodus 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 17). The staff visually symbolized God's presence and awesome power over evil and His control over every circumstance.

With this declaration, Moses recognized the One who had caused this victory. The LORD was their King. He was the ONE they were to rally around, the One who's banner they were to follow.

Just as the LORD was the Israelites banner to claim, so He is ours. Jesus Christ was lifted up on a cross and rose from the grave as Victor of death and sin. He has given us the victory, and HE is the banner we must follow. He is the all-powerful, all-knowing One who is in control of our lives. He is our Banner.

Exodus 13-15 Remember

by Jill Ice

Finally – they left!  

God had freed the Israelites from their long bondage (over 400 years) in Egypt.  Immediately Moses constrains the people to “Remember”. 

“Remember this day in which you came out from Egypt” (13:3)

“You shall tell your son..’It is because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt’” (13:8)

God is the same throughout all ages.  He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).  Thus He is still saving and preserving a people across all generations who will speak of His glorious works – either by declaring “I came out of Egypt” (Exodus 13:8) or as the man born blind said, “I was blind, but now I see” (John 9:25). 

May we continually remember our deliverance by echoing Moses’ song in Exodus 15:

“I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously;

² The LORD is my strength and my song, 
   and he has become my salvation; 
this is my God, and I will praise him, 
   my father's God, and I will exalt him.

¹¹ Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? 
   Who is like you, majestic in holiness, 
   awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?

¹³ You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed; 
   you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode.

¹⁸ The LORD will reign forever and ever.”

Exodus 10-12 The Passover Lamb

"The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are.  

And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, 

and no plague will befall you to destroy you, 

when I strike the land of Egypt."  Exodus 12:13

He saw Jesus coming toward him, and said,  

"Behold the Lamb of God, who takes way the sin of the world." John 1:29

Exodus 7-9

By Mike Durrill


[3] But I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, [4] Pharaoh will not listen to you. - Exodus 7:3-4a ESV


God will harden hearts for his own purpose and glory. Sobering, is it not? This seems unfair, maybe even cruel. Why would God purposely harden a heart? The answer lies in the truth of Who God is and in the fact that there are facets of God that we may never understand. 



[8] For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. - Isaiah 55:8 ESV



However, He has revealed to us what He wants us to understand about Him...the truths that He is Good, Kind, Just, and Holy are what we continue to meditate on as we walk through this life loving and trusting in His revealed character.


Oh God, would you give me the opposite of a hard heart? Would you maintain a soft and pliable heart within me?