February 14 - Leviticus 5-7: On Sacrifices (part 2)

Today’s Reading: Leviticus 5-7

The Message

English Standard Version

Happy Valentine's day! May you feel the Love of our Creator above all others today.

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Cleanliness is more than ritualistic cleanliness.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God continues to give instructions on how to give sacrifices. Sin sacrifices were to be given even if you did not know that what you were doing was wrong. Anything that touched the sacrifice must be holy. The meat could be eaten until the third day. If anyone ate of it on the third day they were excommunicated from the community.
These were the instructions for the different sacrifices given.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

A person could be unclean or guilty without knowing what they were doing.

God made these laws because he wanted to set all things right on the earth. Because of this, transgressions of the Law were taken seriously. Even if a person did not know that what they were doing was wrong they were guilty. However, they were only required to sacrifice an offering to God and were not greatly punished. Ignorance of how what you do sets things wrong does not absolve your guilt.

God requires holiness in rituals.

Everything used in sacrificing needed to be holy. If something was not holy then the sacrifice was not helpful to the person. Holiness means set apart for God. Our sacrifice (our lives) must be holy to God to be acceptable.

Anyone who ate meat on the third day was cut off from their community.

This doesn't sound as bad to us. We can go from town to town, city to city, congregation to congregation and no one will ask if we were cut off from our previous group. However, being excommunicated from Israel meant that person's entire social structure, their protection from people who would do them harm, and help when in need was gone. This was a disastrous situation that anyone would want to avoid. Why would God do this? Anyone who is not fully committed to God setting all things right on the earth should not be part of his Chosen People. The Elect are people dedicated to God. Those who are not dedicated to God can be bad influences and can turn others away from their dedication. This is why God cuts people off for what we would consider small sins.

February 13 - Leviticus 1-4: On Sacrifices (part 1)

Today’s Reading: Leviticus 1-4

The Message

English Standard Version

Today we start Leviticus, the book of laws given at Mount Sinai. Leviticus contains very few "stories," so prepare for many days of shorter posts.

If you are behind in your reading, parts of Leviticus are scan-able. Do not think that Leviticus is unworthy of reading! There are great truths in this book that I will try to point out here in the blog.

Onward!

Thought to Guide Your Reading

All offerings were to be without defect, meaning they had to be the best of the flock.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God spoke to Moses and gave him instructions on how different types of offerings were to be given: whole-animal burnt offerings (both mammals and birds) and grain offerings. Then God used that foundation to discuss two offerings: peace offerings and sin offerings (for the common people, priests, and leaders of the people).

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

A note on sacrifice.

Repeated from February 8
Before we look aslant at this "violent" culture that killed animals for their "bloodthirsty" God, we must remember that the ability to eat meat without killing it yourself is a dramatically new phenomenon. No matter what type of humane way it came to you, at one point the animal died and was processed, most likely by a human. Because we have removed ourselves from this process does not make it barbaric to kill an animal.

Religious rituals are important to God.

This is an entire book dedicated to being holy before God. It presents different offerings that the people were to follow detailed rules. It is chic today to get away from rituals and focus on free-form worship/service/etc. Much of this comes from the overemphasis of rituals. What we must understand is that God cares deeply for how His People worship Him. God presents specific rules for sacrifices because when His people to worship Him in His way God can set things right through His People. It may not seem logical, but by faith we trust that this is happening.

Animal sacrifices were to be "without defect."

The Israelites were not able to use sacrifices as ways to get rid of their defective stock. If an animal was born with a defective leg, it could not be sacrificed. A farmer could not forget God, take his herd to market, and bring whatever was left as his sacrifice. God will not settle for our thoughtless, last-minute sacrifices. He requires that we give up something valuable to us when giving to Him.

Sin sacrifices were for prevention of sin not punishment for sin.

God requires an entire bull to be sacrificed when a person sinned. This bull could have fed an entire family for days, used for warmth, and/or sold to buy other goods. But instead because they went against God's way they were forced to give up that meat, warmth, and money. They would have to watch as this defenseless animal was slaughtered because they did not set things right. God wanted this scene to serve as a deterrent for sin. God's punishment for sin is meant to prevent us from going against Him not give us our just desserts.

February 12 - Exodus 39-40: God Moves In

Today’s Reading: Exodus 39-40

The Message

English Standard Version

Congratulations! You made it through three books! Only 63 to go.

Today finishes the chronicle of the Israelites building what God commanded them to build (Exodus 36-40). Do not skip this section, but remember you aren't going to be tested on the specific aspects of the Aaron's high priest garb or the Tabernacle.

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Moses completes what God commanded him to do.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Sacred clothes were made for Aaron to wear as he went before God in the Tabernacle. This concluded the work done as God commanded.
On the one-year anniversary of the Israelites leaving Egypt, God had them erect the Tabernacle. The Ark of the Covenant was placed inside and all of the furniture was put in place. God came down and inhabited the Tabernacle in a cloud. This cloud would guide the Israelites during their sojourn.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

The Exodus from Egypt is completed—God now resides with Israel, a free nation of people.

The book began with Pharaoh wanting to kill the Jewish boys at birth because his slaves are becoming too numerous to control. It ends with God moving into a beautiful tent that the free nation of Israel built with gold and other precious objects. This ends the Exodus and begins a new phase of life for Israel—the chosen nation of God. This is the theme of Exodus—Israel is God's Chosen People.

February 11 - Exodus 36-38: Bezalel and Ohilab (with Others) Build the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant

Today’s Reading: Exodus 36-38

The Message

English Standard Version

Today and tomorrow (Exodus 36-40) chronicle the Israelites building what God commanded them to build. Do not skip this section, but remember you aren't going to be tested on the specific aspects of the Tabernacle or the Ark of the Covenant. If you need to, use these days to catch up (read both in one day) or review some of the other posts from the past month. Type the link like this (or copy, paste, and insert the correct numbers): grahambates.blogspot.com/2013/mm/dd.html.

I will have shorter posts these two days.

Thought to Guide Your Reading

The people were so generous Moses had to ask them to stop giving freely of their own possessions.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Bezalel and Ohliab and others built the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant. The people continued to give offerings for construction. The workers asked them to stop giving because they had all the gold and other materials needed for construction.
They constructed the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant exactly the way God asked for it to be done.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God gives skills and know-how for more than didactic teaching.

One thing I hope you do not miss when scanning these chapters is that Bezalel, Oholiab, and the other workers were gifted by God to do what they did. They were gifted architects, metal smiths, weavers, etc. God gifts his people in more ways than teaching. If you are gifted in something, God can use you in that.

The people gave more than what was needed because they saw how God had blessed them firsthand.

This is a cool section of scripture. How often does this happen? Not very. How often do charities, churches, and other aid groups have to beg for money/items to help? Very often. But I was struck at why these people were so eager to give. This is why I think they gave—they saw God free them from slavery in Egypt and wanted to thank Him. It's as simple as that. When people see God setting things right in this world they want to give. Churches should make sure that specific examples of God setting things right in the world is prominent and give time for others to give examples of how God is setting things right in their life. Although examples from far-off places are encouraging, feeding a church with these alone will not do. People need to see God working. We can't see how God built a hospital in another continent (unless you visit that continent!).

February 10 - Exodus 33-35: God Prevents Split Allegiances

Today’s Reading: Exodus 33-35

The Message

English Standard Version

Much of today's reading repeats what has already been written in Exodus. For this reason, I want to give a longer explanation of a point that is essential for understanding the rest of the Old Testament.

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God decides the best thing for the Israelites is if He did not go with them into Canaan.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God repeats his promise that he would drive out the Canaanites because of their idolatry and give the land to the Israelites. Now, however, He would not personally go with Israel—for their safety. The Israelites mourned the decision.
God repeated His covenant with the Israelites to Moses. Because of this, Moses' face glowed and he wore a veil to hide it. Moses wanted to see God's glory and God allowed this request.
Moses, after writing the covenant on tablets, repeated it to the Israelites. They accepted and took an offering for materials to build the tabernacle.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God decided not to enter Canaan with the Israelites because He would have destroyed them.

This is a strange thing to say. God is removing Himself from their travel party because he cannot stand their backbiting, grumbling, and quickness to give up on Him. He knows that His patience goes only so far. What a sobering thought. God is not among us for our own protection.

God drove out the people living in Canaan to keep Israel safe from temptation.

This is the reason he tells them,

Stay vigilant. Don't let down your guard lest you make covenant with the people who live in the land that you are entering and they trip you up. Tear down their altars, smash their phallic pillars, chop down their fertility poles. Don't worship any other god. God - his name is The-Jealous-One - is a jealous God. Be careful that you don't make a covenant with the people who live in the land and take up with their sex-and-religion life, join them in meals at their altars, marry your sons to their women, women who take up with any convenient god or goddess and will get your sons to do the same thing. (34:12-16, The Message)

God demands full allegiance to setting all things right on the earth through Him. He requires his people to stay away from people with different allegiances to prevent having split allegiances. This is the reason he forbid marrying the women of Canaan. It wasn't for racial purity. The people of Canaan were probably the descendents of Abraham. The reason was because He knew they would cause the men to give up their allegiance to God (and eventually they would).
This point is essential for understanding the rest of the Old Testament. God's only care for Israel was for full allegiance to His way because His way is the only way things are set right on the earth. The entire Law of Moses was given to help them stay focused on that goal. All of God's dealings with the nation of Israel dealt with their allegiance to God. God cannot set all things right on the earth when His people have split allegiances.
How does this translate to today?
First, don't marry someone who doesn't have full allegiance toward God setting all things right on the earth. There is too much temptation to change allegiances. But remember, just as God's commandments were not about racial purity this is not about denominational purity. It's about our God being a jealous god. God will not share us with any other entity or thing. We should keep ourselves pure from anyone that could influence our allegiance away from our Creator who is setting all things right on the earth.
Also, groups of Christians we call the church should not include people who are not fully committed to God. Let me reiterate—this isn't about denominational purity or racial purity. It's about the church having full allegiance to God. God does not want his people making covenants with people not focused on God setting all things right on the earth because the temptation to leave their allegiance would be too great.
Visitors are welcome (God makes several references to "strangers" and "sojourners" within Israel). However, eventually visitors should either choose to align with God to set all things right on the earth or leave for a lack of common ground. Strangers and sojourners could become part of Israel, but they had to become one of the Chosen People. I cannot see how churches can stay God's Chosen People when they allow those who are not fully committed to God to join them. If God did not want that for His people then He does not want that for his people now.

February 9 - Exodus 30-32: Aaron Leads the People to Sin and Gives the Lamest Excuse

Today’s Reading: Exodus 30-32

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God gives Moses the opportunity to be the father of a great nation. He turns God down.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God gave instructions for an incense altar inside the tabernacle. Each family gave a shekel to prevent punishment during a census—no matter whether rich or poor. God had them make "holy oil" for the priests. He wanted Bezalel and Oholiab to create the tabernacle, altar, and ark. God repeated the Sabbath command.
Fearing Moses was deceased, the people begged Aaron for a god. Aaron made a calf from their gifts of gold. The people bowed down.
God offered Moses Abraham's blessing. Moses refused. Instead, he destroyed the calf and purified the camp. God also punished Israel.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Everyone paid the exact same amount in the Atonement Tax.

This is a strange tax. God required it because he would otherwise punish the people for taking a census. That is odd. What is not odd or strange is that God required each person to pay the exact amount. He is explicit that no person is to pay more than half a shekel and no person is to pay less than half a shekel. Although part of me wants to bring out a political lesson from this, I have to remind myself that the Old Testament is not a grouping of parables. I cannot make any lesson I want out of the text. So I won't.

Designers can have God-given talent.

God personally chose Bezalel and Oholiab. He gave them His spirit so they could do what he had chosen them for. God-given ability to set things right is not limited to worship or "churchy" things.

God is serious—the Sabbath is to be holy!

God is dead-set on the Israelites having a day of rest. It is in the Ten Commandments and this is the third time it is mentioned in the Law. God is adamant—everyone needs one day of rest during the week. Breaking the Sabbath is punished by exile or death. God told them to either take a day off a week or lose everything. This is a big deal. Rest one day of every week to keep things right with yourself.

The people wanted a god because they thought Moses was dead, not because they were horrible, terrible, no-good, very-bad people.

When Moses climbed the mountain, a great cloud came over and made the entire mountain look like it were on fire (chapter 24). They feared Moses had died and they were then alone. When people feel alone, they do desperate things. So they made Aaron create a god for them.

Moses turns down Abraham's promise.

God was willing to make Moses the father of a great nation. But Moses—the one all of the people grumbled against—stood up for them and begged God to spare their lives. This should show how wonderful Moses was. Moses' want to make things right ranks along with Abraham.

Aaron gives what might be the lamest excuse I have ever heard.

As noble and great Moses shows himself to be, Aaron's excuse as to why they were worshiping the calf is politician-esque.

Master, don't be angry. You know this people and how set on evil they are. They said to me, 'Make us gods who will lead us. This Moses, the man who brought us out of Egypt, we don't know what's happened to him.' … I threw [the gold] in the fire and out came this calf. (32:22-24, The Message)

God required the blood of his own people to atone for cheating on him with another god.

This is a difficult passage to digest. Moses not only killed some of the people for worshiping the calf, he had the men kill their own family, their own friends, their own neighbors. This was to show God they were more dedicated to God than anything else. Being committed to God setting all things right on this earth requires severing ties with those who do not.

February 8 - Exodus 28-29: Aaron is Set Apart for Diplomatic Relations with God

Today’s Reading: Exodus 28-29

The Message

English Standard Version

This is the last day of a group of technical laws for that specific generation. Today's reading is about the High Priest's clothes and the consecration sacrifice. So use today to catch up (read yesterday's and today's in one day) or review some of the other posts from the past month. Type the link like this (or copy and paste): grahambates.blogspot.com/2013/mm/dd.html.

I will have shorter post today. It is not objectionable to scan through these chapters, but make sure you aren't breezing too quickly—there are some good gems here.

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God is making Aaron prepared to meet Him. Aaron must be dressed differently and ritually clean to stand out from the others.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

It was time for God to prepare Aaron and his sons to become his representatives to the Israelites. God gave specific instructions on making beautiful and glorious clothes for Aaron to wear. These clothes would represent the twelve tribes coming before God.
Aaron and his sons needed to be ritually clean. So God provided a way for them to be clean.
When these were finished, God would inhabit the tabernacle and the people would know that God was the one who took them out of Egypt.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

The Sanctuary and the Chest were to remind the people that God, their god, lived among them.

Repeated from yesterday's comments.
Although God would never "live" there as other gods were thought to live in their temples, this sanctuary would be the place where God would come down and speak to Moses from time to time and would be his "home" while the Israelites lived in the wilderness. But the most important reason for this to be built was what it represented. The Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant were to remind the people that God resided among them. God came to them. They did not need to trek to far-away regions to speak to their God. He would be with them.

Aaron's clothes were to symbolize glory and beauty.

This is an interesting choice for God. Aaron's robes would symbolize the God that they served. God is beautiful and worthy of glory.

A note on sacrifice.

Before we look aslant at this "violent" culture that killed animals for their "bloodthirsty" God, we must remember that the ability to eat meat without killing it yourself is a dramatically new phenomenon. No matter what type of humane way it came to you, at one point the animal died and was processed, most likely by a human. Because we have removed ourselves from this process does not make it barbaric to kill an animal.