Month: January 2026

Day 31 – A Year in the Bible – Leviticus 4-7

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LEVITICUS 4 – The Sin Offering
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them: – Leviticus 4:1-2

Bring the Offering – he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a male without blemish: – Leviticus 4:23

Confess the Sin – And it shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these things, that he shall confess that he hath sinned in that thing: – Leviticus 5:5

Lay Hand Upon the Head of the Offering – And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay the sin offering in the place of the burnt offering. –  Leviticus 4:29

Priest Shall Make an Atonement – and he shall lay his hand upon the head of the goat, and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt offering before the LORD: it is a sin offering. And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out his blood at the bottom of the altar of burnt offering. And he shall burn all his fat upon the altar, as the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him. – Leviticus 4:24-26

LEVITICUS 5 – The Trespass Offering

Reparations
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, If a soul commit a trespass, and sin through ignorance, in the holy things of the LORD; then he shall bring for his trespass unto the LORD a ram without blemish out of the flocks, with thy estimation by shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass offering: – Leviticus 5:14-15

The trespass offering was about making reparations. It showed the Children of Israel (and shows us) the seriousness of sinning against God and others, even if accidentally. A sacrifice was to be made to God and restitution was made to the one trespassed against.

LEVITICUS 6 – THE FIRE SHALL EVER BE BURNING

A Sweet Aroma to the LORD
The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out. – Leviticus 6:13

In this passage, we read about the fire on the altar never going out and burning continually. A plume of smoke rose from the altar day and night. The children of Israel could always smell the burning of the wood and the sacrifices. It was a sweet aroma to the Lord, but it was also a sweet smell of sacrifice to the Lord that reminded them of God who saved them and the one true and living God they worshiped and served.

Our prayers in Revelation are compared to the smoke of sacrifice mixed with the atoning work of Jesus and rising as a sweet-smelling sacrifice to God. Shouldn’t we be preparing for that day even now by keeping the FIRE burning through worship, prayer, and knowing our God!!!

And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand. – Revelation 8:3-4

LEVITICUS 7 – PREPARE YOUR HEART FOR THE GLORY (PT. 1)

Wave Offering
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, He that offereth the sacrifice of his peace offerings unto the LORD shall bring his oblation unto the LORD of the sacrifice of his peace offerings. His own hands shall bring the offerings of the LORD made by fire, the fat with the breast, it shall he bring, that the breast may be waved for a wave offering before the LORD. – Leviticus 7:28-30

Separate and Sanctify: given to God as a show of servitude, peace and commitment. Wave offerings also served to symbolically separate and sanctify the tribe of Levi as servants of God when Aaron, the Head Priest, is commanded to lift and wave each Levite before the altar.

Heave Offering
And the priest shall burn the fat upon the altar: but the breast shall be Aaron’s and his sons’. And the right shoulder shall ye give unto the priest for an heave offering of the sacrifices of your peace offerings. – Leviticus 7:31-32

Raised and Lowered in Dedication to God: a separated portion of the peace offering that was raised and lowered in dedication to God and that afterward was reserved for the priest’s use.

Wave and Heave Offering Taken Off the Peace Offering
He among the sons of Aaron, that offereth the blood of the peace offerings, and the fat, shall have the right shoulder for his part. For the wave breast and the heave shoulder have I taken of the children of Israel from off the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and have given them unto Aaron the priest and unto his sons by a statute for ever from among the children of Israel. – Leviticus 7:33-34

Offerings, Consecrations, Sacrifices
This is the law of the burnt offering, of the meat offering, and of the sin offering, and of the trespass offering, and of the consecrations, and of the sacrifice of the peace offerings; which the LORD commanded Moses in mount Sinai, in the day that he commanded the children of Israel to offer their oblations unto the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai. – Leviticus 7:37-38

Day 30 – A Year in the Bible – Leviticus 1-3

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LEVITICUS 1 – BURNT OFFERINGS

And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock. – Leviticus‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭

I. Offerings (Lev. 1:1–Lev. 6:7)
1. Sweet savor offerings (Lev. 1:1–Lev. 3:17)
i. Burnt offerings
A. Bullock
B. Sheep and goats
C. Turtledoves and pigeons

If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD. – Leviticus 1:3

And if his offering be of the flocks, namely, of the sheep, or of the goats, for a burnt sacrifice; he shall bring it a male without blemish. – Leviticus 1:10

And if the burnt sacrifice for his offering to the LORD be of fowls, then he shall bring his offering of turtledoves, or of young pigeons. – Leviticus 1:14

and he shall cleave it with the wings thereof, but shall not divide it asunder: and the priest shall burn it upon the altar, upon the wood that is upon the fire: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD. Leviticus 1:17‬

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LEVITICUS 2 – MEAT OFFERINGS

And when any will offer a meat offering unto the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour; and he shall pour oil upon it, and put frankincense thereon: and he shall bring it to Aaron’s sons the priests: and he shall take thereout his handful of the flour thereof, and of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof; and the priest shall burn the memorial of it upon the altar, to be an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD: – Leviticus‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭

ii. Meat offerings (Lev. 2; 6:14)
A. Fine flour
B. Unleavened baked cakes
C. Unleavened baked pan cakes
D. Unleavened frying pan cakes
E. Priest’s portion
F. No leaven or honey to be used in any offering by fire
G. Firstfruits not to be burned
H. Salt used in all offerings
I. Offering of firstfruits

A Remnant Goes to the Priests
And the remnant of the grain offering shall be Aaron’s and his sons’: it is a thing most holy of the offerings of the Lord made by fire. – Leviticus 2:3

Remnant – A remaining, usually a small part; a fragment or scrap; leftover

Salt of the Covenant
And every oblation of thy grain offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy grain offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt. – Leviticus 2:13

What is the Salt of the Covenant? My Bible note says that this most likely means that the covenant is perpetual because salt was used as a preservative.

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LEVITICUS 3 – PEACE OFFERINGS

And if his oblation be a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offer it of the herd; whether it be a male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the LORD. – Leviticus‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬ ‭

iii. Peace offerings (Lev. 3; 7:11)
A. Cattle
B. Peace offerings: lambs
C. Peace offerings: goats

Perpetual Statute – No Fat or Blood
And the priest shall burn them upon the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire for a sweet savour: all the fat is the Lord’s. It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood. – Leviticus 3:16-17

God does not forbid eating all fat. There is though a specific type of fat that HE wants us to avoid.

Leviticus 1:8 –  And the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar.

If you look at the Hebrew word translated as fat from this verse, it is “peder.” According to Strong’s Dictionary this means – “from an unused root meaning to be greasy; suet. The term “peder” was only used three times in the OT and it was consistently used in relation to animal sacrfices. “Peder” means greasy and it refers to the HARD FAT in the animal, usually located around the kidneys, loins, and liver. This is all supported by the following verses:

Leviticus 9:10 – But the fat, and the kidneys, and the caul above the liver of the sin offering, he burnt upon the altar; as the Lord commanded Moses.

Leviticus 3:4 – And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away.

All of the fats and organs God speaks of have the purpose of either holding, filtering, and/or storing waste products and toxins that can be harmful to the body.

Caul above the Liver – the liver-net, or stomach-net, which commences at the division between the right and left lobes of the liver, and stretches on the one side across the stomach, and on the other to the regions of the kidney.

God knows their purpose because He created them and so He knows that they are unfit for human consumption.

Day 29 – A Year in the Bible – Exodus 35-40

EXODUS 35 – INSTRUCTIONS, SABBATH, OFFERINGS

Instructions and the Sabbath
And Moses gathered all the congregation of the children of Israel together, and said unto them, These are the words which the LORD hath commanded, that ye should do them. Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the LORD: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death. Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath day. – Exodus 35:1-3

Moses has spent 80 days in the mount with God and now gives them instructions he received concerning the priesthood and the building of the tabernacle. But before those instructions Moses reminds the children of Israel of the Sabbath and the consequences of breaking these laws even while building the tabernacle.

Stirred to Give Willingly
The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses. – Exodus 35:29 

Eighteen Kinds of Offerings
1. Bracelets
2. Earrings
3. Rings
4. Tablets
5. Gold jewelry
6. Blue thread (Ex. 35:23)
7. Purple thread (Ex. 35:27; 28:17-21)
8. Scarlet thread
9. Fine linen
10. Goats’ hair
11. Red rams skins
12. Badger skins
13. Silver (Ex. 35:24)
14. Brass
15. Shittim wood
16. Onyx and other stones
17. Spices of various kinds (Ex. 35:28)
18. Olive oil

Filled with the Spirit – In Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge, and Workmanship
And Moses said unto the children of Israel, See, the LORD hath called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; and he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship; and to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in the cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work. And he hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of the engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any work, and of those that devise cunning work. – Exodus 35:30-35 

Five acts of God in relation to Bezaleel:
1. God called Bezaleel.
2. God filled him with the Spirit, wisdom, understanding, and knowledge, for all manner of workmanship in gold, silver, brass, precious stones, wood, embroidery, and weaving (Ex. 35:30-35).
3. God gave him the gift of teaching (Ex. 35:34).
4. God gave him Aholiab as helper.
5. God filled both with wisdom and ability for the work of the tabernacle (Ex. 35:35).

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EXODUS 36 – THE PEOPLE WERE RESTRAINED FROM BRINGING MORE OFFERINGS

The Stuff They Had was Sufficient
And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the LORD commanded to make. And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing. For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much. – Exodus 36:5-7

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EXODUS 37 – BEZALEEL MADE…

– Ark of shittim wood
– Mercy Seat
– Cherubims for the Mercy Seat
– Table of shittim wood
– Candlestick
– Four Bowls
– Knop
– Seven Lamps
– Talent of Pure Gold
– Incense altar
– Crown of gold
– Holy Anointing oil
– Pure incense of sweet spices

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EXODUS 38 – OBEDIENCE

Bezaleel also made …

– Altar of Burnt Offering
– Laver of Brass
– Court

Obedience to God’s Commands
And Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that the Lord commanded Moses. – Exodus 38:22

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EXODUS 39 – AS THE LORD COMMANDED MOSES

Holy Garments for Aaron
And of the blue, and purple, and scarlet, they made cloths of service, to do service in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron; as the LORD commanded Moses. And he made the ephod of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen. And they did beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in the blue, and in the purple, and in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, with cunning work. They made shoulderpieces for it, to couple it together: by the two edges was it coupled together. And the curious girdle of his ephod, that was upon it, was of the same, according to the work thereof; of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen; as the LORD commanded Moses. – Exodus 39:1-5

Stones of Memorial
And they wrought onyx stones inclosed in ouches of gold, graven, as signets are graven, with the names of the children of Israel. And he put them on the shoulders of the ephod, that they should be stones for a memorial to the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses. – Exodus 39:6-7

Breastplate of Cunning Work
And he made the breastplate of cunning work, like the work of the ephod; of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen. It was foursquare; they made the breastplate double: a span was the length thereof, and a span the breadth thereof, being doubled. And they set in it four rows of stones: the first row was a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this was the first row. And the second row, an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond. And the third row, a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst. And the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper: they were inclosed in ouches of gold in their inclosings. And the stones were according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet, every one with his name, according to the twelve tribes. And they made upon the breastplate chains at the ends, of wreathen work of pure gold. And they made two ouches of gold, and two gold rings; and put the two rings in the two ends of the breastplate. And they put the two wreathen chains of gold in the two rings on the ends of the breastplate. And the two ends of the two wreathen chains they fastened in the two ouches, and put them on the shoulderpieces of the ephod, before it. And they made two rings of gold, and put them on the two ends of the breastplate, upon the border of it, which was on the side of the ephod inward. And they made two other golden rings, and put them on the two sides of the ephod underneath, toward the forepart of it, over against the other coupling thereof, above the curious girdle of the ephod. And they did bind the breastplate by his rings unto the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it might be above the curious girdle of the ephod, and that the breastplate might not be loosed from the ephod; as the LORD commanded Moses.- Exodus 39:8-21

The Robe of the Ephod
And he made the robe of the ephod of woven work, all of blue. And there was an hole in the midst of the robe, as the hole of an habergeon, with a band round about the hole, that it should not rend. And they made upon the hems of the robe pomegranates of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and twined linen. And they made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates upon the hem of the robe, round about between the pomegranates; A bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, round about the hem of the robe to minister in; as the LORD commanded Moses. – Exodus 39:22-26

Coats, Mitre, Bonnets, Breeches, Girdles
And they made coats of fine linen of woven work for Aaron, and for his sons, And a mitre of fine linen, and goodly bonnets of fine linen, and linen breeches of fine twined linen, And a girdle of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, of needlework; as the LORD commanded Moses. – Exodus 39:2-29

Plate of the Holy Crown
And they made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote upon it a writing, like to the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD. And they tied unto it a lace of blue, to fasten it on high upon the mitre; as the LORD commanded Moses. – Exodus 39:30-31

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EXODUS 40 – BECOMING A LEVITE

Become – to come, change, or grow to be; to be suitable or necessary to the dignity, situation, or responsibility of.

Becoming a Levite
And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office. And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats: And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations. Thus did Moses: according to all that the Lord commanded him, so did he. – Exodus 40:13-16

Aaron was a Levite.

Day 28 – A Year in the Bible – Exodus 32-34

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EXODUS 32 – THE GOLDEN CALF

When the People Saw that Moses Delayed
And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him – Exodus 32:1

Fourteen Steps in Aaron’s Backsliding
1. He listened to the people in their criticism of Moses (Ex. 32:1).
2. Went along with the seditious mob for fear of being unpopular (Ex. 32:1,22).
3. Agreed with them to make an idol (Ex. 32:2).
4. Received gold from the people to make an idol (Ex. 32:4).
5. Made a golden calf to worship.
6. Built an altar before it (Ex. 32:5).
7. Made a proclamation of a feast to it, calling it Jehovah.
8. Sacrificed to it (Ex. 32:6).
9. Sanctioned licentious eating, drinking, singing, dancing, honoring the idol (Ex. 32:6,19).
10. Worshiped the calf (Ex. 32:8).
11. Claimed the calf was God who led them out of Egypt.
12. Laid the blame of sin upon others (Ex. 32:21-23).
13. Lied about making the calf (Ex. 32:24).
14. Exposed the whole nation to the wrath of God and their enemies (Ex. 32:11-14,25).
(Taken from Dake Study Bible Notes)

Play
And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play. – Exodus 32:6

Play – from the Hebrew: tsachaq (H6711), “to laugh outright in merriment or scorn; to sport; mock; play the whore.” It is translated “play.”

Singing and Dancing
And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp. And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I hear. And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses’ anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount. – Exodus‬ ‭32‬:‭17‬-‭19‬ ‭

Six Religious Activities of Israel
1. Making preparation for worship (Ex. 32:1-4)
2. Proclamation of worship (Ex. 32:5)
3. Gathering for worship (Ex. 32:6)
4. Offerings burnt and peace offerings
5. Eating and drinking the sacrifices and drink offerings
6. Singing, dancing, shouting (Ex. 32:17-19)
(Taken from Dake Study Bible Notes)

Some of these activities could be lawfully carried on in worship to God, but not to idols. This shows that outward manifestations of worship, sacrifices of gold and other valuables, shouting, dancing, and singing in themselves are no proof of a spiritual experience with God.

Repentance
And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the LORD; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin. And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin–; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book. Therefore now go, lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine Angel shall go before thee: nevertheless in the day when I visit I will visit their sin upon them. And the LORD plagued the people, because they made the calf, which Aaron made. – Exodus‬ ‭32‬:‭30‬-‭35‬ ‭

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EXODUS 33 – IF THY PRESENCE GO NOT WITH ME

If I have Found Grace in Thy Sight
And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle. And Moses said unto the Lord, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight. Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people. And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth. – Exodus 33:11-16

Oh God, You know me by name, and You have extended grace to me over and over. Oh Lord, if I have found favor in Your sight today, will You extend Your grace once more and teach me Your ways? Will You tell me what You would have me to know so that I may know more about You, Lord? I want to know You, and I want to know Your ways and continue to find grace in Your sight. God, I am lonely in this place, and I need You to go with me. If not You, who will go with me? Oh Lord, draw me close to You and help me through this day. Give me FIRE and help me to live a HOLY life and a life free of regret and offense.

And God says to me as He said to Moses – My Presence shall go with thee (Melissa), and I will give thee (Melissa) rest.

Thank You, Father. I love You, my Good, Good Father, and Your beautiful Son Jesus. I adore You, wise and comforting Holy Ghost. Thank You for teaching me Your ways this morning through prayer and Your Word and Your still small voice. Thank You for Your rest.

I Beseech Thee, Shew Me Thy Glory
And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name. And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: and it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: and I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen. – Exodus 33:17-23

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EXODUS 34 – THE LORD PASSED BY BEFORE HIM

God Reveals Himself
And the Lord descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. – Exodus 34:5-7

I have never seen something in today’s passages of Exodus. The Lord stood with Moses, and the Lord proclaimed His Name and who He was to Moses…and so to us. Yes, we should declare His Names back to Him and this dying world, but first, He has declared them to us. He is the Lord God, Merciful, Gracious, Longsuffering, abundant in Goodness, abundant in Truth, Forgiving, Just.

Proclaim – to announce or declare officially or formally; to make known publicly or openly

God Warns
Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee: – Exodus 34:12

God instructs the children of Israel to be careful entering into new lands; to be careful not to come into agreements with the inhabitants of the land in ways that might change their beliefs of the laws God gave them. This is a good warning for us as well. We should be careful when establishing core relationships. Whether it sounds “politically correct” or not, those we spend the most time with have the most influence on us…whether that group is a work group, a social group, or family.

Heed – to give careful attention to
Snare – anything serving to entrap or entangle; a device for capturing small game; to catch or involve by trickery or wile.

God’s Presence Changes Us
And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses’ hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him. And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him. – Exodus 34:29-30

God was concerned that the Israelites would spend time with the inhabitants of the land and be changed. In the same type of way, when we spend time with others, we are changed. When we spend time in the Presence of God, we are changed. He changes us, and the people around us can see the change, just like the children of Israel could see Moses face shining with the Glory of God. There is only one way we can truly be carriers of the Light and that is to spend time in the Presence of the Light of the World. His Name is Jesus!

Day 27 – A Year in the Bible – Exodus 30-31

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EXODUS 30 – COMMANDS

An Altar to Burn Incense Upon
And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of shittim wood shalt thou make it. – Exodus 30:1

Fifteen Commands–the Altar of Incense
1. Make an altar to burn incense upon.
2. Make it of shittim wood.
3. Make it 25 in. square (Ex. 30:2).
4. Height: 4 ft. 2 in.
5. Make four horns of the same size and shape for the four corners.
6. Overlay it with pure gold–the top, sides, and horns (Ex. 30:3).
7. Make a crown of gold around it.
8. Make four gold rings for the four corners to be placed under the crown for staves to carry it (Ex. 30:4).
9. Make two staves of shittim wood (Ex. 30:5).
10. Overlay them with gold.
11. Put the altar before the veil in the holy place opposite the ark of the testimony on the other side of the veil (Ex. 30:6).
12. Aaron shall burn sweet incense upon it every morning and evening when he prepares the lamps (Ex. 30:7-8).
13. The incense shall burn perpetually like the lamps, day and night.
14. Do not offer strange incense, any burnt sacrifice, or meat offering upon it; do not pour any drink offering on it (Ex. 30:9).
15. Aaron shall make an atonement upon its four horns once a year with the blood of the sin offering (Ex. 30:10).
(Taken from Dake Study Bible Notes)

The Ransom for Souls (Atonement Money)
When thou tamest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the Lord, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them. – Exodus 30:12

Five commands–atonement money:
1. Charge every man a ransom.
2. When he registers each shall give an half shekel as an offering to God (Ex. 30:13).
3. Every man twenty years old and older shall pay the registration tax (Ex. 30:14).
4. The rich shall not give more; the poor shall not give less than an half shekel (Ex. 30:15).
5. Use the money in the tabernacle service (Ex. 30:16).
(Taken from Dake Study Bible Notes)

The Brasen Laver
Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein. – Exodus 30:18

‬Five Commands–the Laver of Brass
1. Make a laver and its base of brass.
2. Put it between the tabernacle door and the brazen altar.
3. Put water in it so Aaron and his sons can wash their hands and feet when they minister in the tabernacle and offer sacrifices (Ex. 30:19-20).
4. If they fail to wash their hands and feet while ministering they shall die (Ex. 30:20-21).
5. This shall be a statute forever for all priests (Ex. 30:21).
(Taken from Dake Study Bible Notes)

The Holy Anointing Oil
and thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil. – Exodus‬ ‭30‬:‭25

Five Commands–the Holy Anointing Oil
1. Make holy anointing oil of: pure myrrh, 19 1/2 lbs.; sweet cinnamon, 9 3/4 lbs.; sweet calamus, 9 3/4 lbs.; cassia, 19 1/2 lbs.; and olive oil, 6 qts. (Ex. 30:22-25).
2. Anoint the tabernacle, ark, table of showbread and its vessels, the candlestick and its vessels, altar of incense, the brazen altar and its vessels, the laver and its foot, and sanctify them to be most holy (Ex. 30:26-29).
3. Anoint Aaron and sons and consecrate them to be ministers (Ex. 30:30).
4. The holy anointing oil is not to be poured on the flesh of any man (other than priests, Ex. 30:30; Ps. 133:2),
5. No man is to make any oil like it to be used in Israel (Ex. 30:31-32). Whoever makes any like it or puts it on a stranger shall die (Ex. 30:33).
(Taken from Dake Study Bible Notes)

The Holy Incense
And the LORD said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight: And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy: – Exodus 30:34-35

Four Commands–the Holy Incense
1. Take four sweet spices: stacte, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense, of equal weight to make incense or holy perfume (Ex. 30:34-35)
2. Beat some of it very small and put on the altar of incense before the ark of the testimony (Ex. 30:36)
3. Do not make any like it for your own use (Ex. 30:37)
4. Anyone making any like it for his own use shall die (Ex. 30:38)(Taken from Dake Study Bible Notes)
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EXODUS 31 – COMMANDED TO REST

Filled with the Spirit of God
And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship. And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee. – Exodus 31:3-6

This is another scripture where the Spirit of God fills the people with wisdom, understanding, knowledge and ability. The scripture says to devise cunning works and do all kinds of crafts and “workmanship.”

Cunning – skill employed in a shrewd or sly manner, craftiness; showing or made with ingenuity. Artfully subtle.

The Sabbath
Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you. Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. Exodus 31:13-16

God instituted observing the Sabbath as a sign between Himself and each child. It is a part of His never-ending covenant, and we should honor our part of that perpetual covenant.

Perpetual – continuing or enduring forever; everlasting
Covenant – a solemn agreement, usually formal, between two or more persons to do or not do something. In the Bible a covenant is the conditional promises made to humanity by God, as revealed in Scripture. The agreement between God and the ancient Israelites, in which God promised to protect them if they kept His law and were faithful to Him.

It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed. – Exodus 31:17

God created us in His likeness. He was busy with creation for six days and on the seventh He rested. Why? For rest and refreshment. If God had a need for rest and refreshment, and His Son Jesus had a need for rest and refreshment – shouldn’t we? Lord, help us to understand this command to rest!

The Finger of God
And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon Mount Sinai, two tablets of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God. – Exodus 31:18

Day 26 – A Year in the Bible – Exodus 27-29

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EXODUS 27 –

Pure Oil
And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always. – Exodus 27:20

There was a pure oil that burned and brought Light that was to never go out. Oil the symbol of the Holy Ghost. God charges us to remain faithful and diligent to “keep the lamp burning.” As those who are to be reflections of His light (light-bearers), we are only able to do God’s work through the power and strength granted by the Holy Ghost, who lives within and fills them.

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EXODUS 28 – SANCTIFY THEM THAT THEY MAY MINISTER UNTO ME

Holy Garments – that He (Aaron) May Minister Unto Me
And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty. And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office. And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office. – Exodus 28:2-4

I love how the artisans are said to be “filled with the spirit of Wisdom.” Artistic ability of any kind is a gift from God, as is Wisdom. Expressions of art through things like needlework and sculpting were some of the earliest gifts that we read about in the Bible, and crafts such as these done as unto the Lord or for the Kingdom purposes is using your skills with wisdom. I imagine an artist would do their best work filled with the Holy Ghost? Don’t I do my best work, whether in an occupation or crafting, if I am filled with the Holy Ghost and anointed for that purpose? This passage was a great encouragement to me.

He Shall Bear the Names of the Children of Israel on His Shoulders 
And thou shalt take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel: six of their names on one stone, and the other six names of the rest on the other stone, according to their birth. With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, shalt thou engrave the two stones with the names of the children of Israel: thou shalt make them to be set in ouches of gold. And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod for stones of memorial unto the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD upon his two shoulders for a memorial. – Exodus 28:9-12

He Shall Bear the Judgment of the Children of Israel On His Heart
And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the LORD continually. And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron’s heart, when he goeth in before the LORD: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually. – Exodus 28:29-30

HOLINESS TO THE Lord Shall Be Always Upon Aaron’s Forehead
And it shall be upon Aaron to minister: and his sound shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy place before the LORD, and when he cometh out, that he die not. And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE Lord. And thou shalt put it on a blue lace, that it may be upon the mitre; upon the forefront of the mitre it shall be. And it shall be upon Aaron’s forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD. – Exodus 28:35-38

The words “HOLINESS TO THE LORD” actually have the same connotation as belonging to the Lord. Set apart for the Lord.

Everyone knows who Aaron is by the words he wears fastened to the front of his turban. They know Who he belongs to. He stands out. If I am part of the royal priesthood (and I am), shouldn’t I stand out too? Shouldn’t everyone know whose I am and what I am about not necessarily by Words on my forehead but by the way I live my life?

Anoint, Consecrate, Sanctify Them, that They May Minister Unto Me
And for Aaron’s sons thou shalt make coats, and thou shalt make for them girdles, and bonnets shalt thou make for them, for glory and for beauty. And thou shalt put them upon Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him; and shalt anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office. – Exodus 28:40-41

Anoint – to rub, sprinkle on, or smear with a liquid; to dedicate to the service of God
Consecrate – to make or declare sacred; set apart or dedicate
Sanctify – to make holy; set apart as sacred; purify; render legitimate or binding

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EXODUS 29 – SANCTIFIED BY MY GLORY

I Am the LORD Their God
This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD: where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee. And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory. And I will sanctify the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar: I will sanctify also both Aaron and his sons, to minister to me in the priest’s office. And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God. And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them: I am the LORD their God. – Exodus 29:42-46

God wanted to dwell among His children. He wanted to be their God. His tabernacle was right at the center of all they did…and yet even so, they kept running back to idols. I think about that personally. The Holy Ghost resides in me, and so He is in the center of all I do and hears all I say; every word I type here goes through His eyes and heart. Are there areas of my life that I allow some of the world to enter in? Am I making idols of things and people right in front of His face? How sad that must make Him.

Day 25 – A Year in the Bible – Exodus 24-26

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EXODUS 24 – THEY SAW THE GOD OF ISRAEL

A Paved Work of a Sapphire Stone
Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel: and they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness. And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink. – Exodus‬ ‭24‬:‭9‬-‭11‬ ‭

Moses Went into the Midst of the Cloud
And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them. And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God. And he said unto the elders, Tarry ye here for us, until we come again unto you: and, behold, Aaron and Hur are with you: if any man have any matters to do, let him come unto them. And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount. And the glory of the LORD abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud. And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel. And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights. – Exodus‬ ‭24‬:‭12‬-‭18‬

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EXODUS 25 – THE MERCY SEAT

A Mercy Seat of Pure Gold
And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof. And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat. And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof. And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be. And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee. – Exodus 25:17-21

There I Will Meet with Thee
And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel. – Exodus‬ ‭25‬:‭17‬-‭22‬ ‭

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EXODUS 26 – A DIVIDE BETWEEN THE HOLY PLACE AND THE MOST HOLY

Secret Places
And thou shalt hang up the veil under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the veil the ark of the testimony: and the veil shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy. – Exodus 26:33

This passage reminds me that because of the price Jesus paid on the cross, there are secret places with the Lord, available to those who seek Him.

Day 24 – A Year in the Bible – Exodus 20-23

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EXODUS 20 – I AM THE LORD THY GOD

God gives His Law: He is Holy
And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not. And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was. – Exodus 20:18-21

God wants a face-to-face meeting with the Israelites to give them His law. When it is time for the meeting, they become afraid. An up-close encounter with God can be as troubling as it is comforting. God is a holy God, and Israel couldn’t see, feel, hear God, and not be acutely aware that He is altogether perfect and holy, and they were not.

I Am the LORD Thy God
I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s. – Exodus 20:2-17

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EXODUS 21 – EYE FOR EYE, TOOTH FOR TOOTH

He that Stealeth a Man and Selleth Him
And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death. – Exodus 21:16

Eye for Eye, Tooth for Tooth
And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe. And if a man smite the eye of his servant, or the eye of his maid, that it perish; he shall let him go free for his eye’s sake. And if he smite out his manservant’s tooth, or his maidservant’s tooth; he shall let him go free for his tooth’s sake. – Exodus 21:23-27

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EXODUS 22 – IF THEY (WIDOWS AND ORPHANS) CRY AT ALL UNTO ME, I WILL SURELY HEAR

The price for hurting widows and orphans
Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry; And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless. – Exodus 22:22-24

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EXODUS 23 – MINE ANGEL SHALL GO BEFORE THEE

Take No Gift 
And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous. – Exodus 23:8

Hearken – to hear and to give heed or attention to what is said; to listen
Listen – to give pay attention; heed; obey; to wait attentively for a sound
Attend – to take care of; minister to ; devote one’s services to; to wait upon; watch over; to be present at

Hearken to the voice of the angel
Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him. But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries. – Exodus 23:20-22

Many times we are unaware of what God has given us. He gives us His Word. He provides us Pastors and other ministers to guide and direct us. He gives us the Holy Ghost to teach us and comfort and be with us every step of the way. And He gives us angels. In Exodus, God told them that He had given them An Angel. They couldn’t see the angel, but they were to listen and obey his voice.

Of angels, Hebrews 1:14 says, they are ministering spirits sent to serve us (who will inherit salvation).

Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

We are never alone. We have Holy Ghost who is always with us. And we have angels to do their assigned work on His behalf and for our good. In Exodus, we learn that the angel of God bears His Name. And so if the Israelites were to hear and heed the voice of His angel, so should we hearken if an angel speaks, and we should always, always hearken to what the Holy Ghost says because that is God Himself speaking.

I Will Send Hornets Before Thee
For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off. Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images. And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee. There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren, in thy land: the number of thy days I will fulfil. I will send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee. And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee. I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee. – Exodus‬ ‭23‬:‭23‬-‭29‬ ‭

Day 23 – A Year in the Bible – Exodus 17-19

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EXODUS 17 – JEHOVAH-NISSI

Then Came Amalek and Fought with Israel
Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand. So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. – Exodus 17:8-10

Lift their arms
And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. – Exodus 17:11-12

Honor the leaders and serve them by holding up their weary hands. Realize that you have no idea all that the Father has placed as assignments in their lives, even as they have no idea the full extent of your call. Honor. They are chosen for the purpose of leading, shepherding, teaching. Honor them.

Jehovah-Nissi
And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi: for he said, Because the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation. – Exodus 17:13-16

Jehovah-Nissi – Jehovah is my banner

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EXODUS 18 – JETHRO COUNSELS MOSES, MOSES HEARKENS

Moses Choses Rulers
And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening. And when Moses’ father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even? And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God: when they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws. And Moses’ father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good. Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone. Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God: and thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do. Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: and let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee. If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace. So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said. And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves. – Exodus‬ ‭18‬:‭13‬-‭26‬ ‭

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EXODUS 19 – A PECULIAR TREASURE UNTO ME

Ye Shall Be a Peculiar Treasure Unto Me
And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. – Exodus 19:3-6

God gives His Law: He is Holy
And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. – Exodus 19:16

Day 22 – A Year in the Bible – Exodus 14-16

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EXODUS 14 – FREE BUT STILL A BATTLE AND WORK

Free, but still a battle to be fought
And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness. And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. – Exodus 14:11-14

Free, but still a work to be seen
Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore. And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses. – Exodus 14:30-31

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EXODUS 15 – FREE BUT STILL A SONG

Free, but still a song to be sung
Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him. The Lord is a man of war: the Lord is his name. – Exodus 15:1-3

The children of Israel were free, and they went from slavery to the desert toward the Promised Land. They were free, but God didn’t take them the easiest and quickest route. There was a work to do in the desert, and the desert season for them would last over 40 years. Like the Israelites, I should embrace my desert seasons because there are so many lessons to be learned there.

One lesson is that even when I do everything right, many times, things get worse. In those times, the only thing I need to do is shut my mouth (stop complaining) and watch God fight and win these (His) battles.

He Shall Heal Me
And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee. – Exodus 15:26

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EXODUS 16 – HOW LONG REFUSE YE TO KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS

And the Lord said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws? – Exodus 16:28