Exclusion, Various Laws and Firstfruits
Legal, Financial and Ritual Concerns
Purity and the Nazarite Vow
The Kohathites, Gershonites and Merarites have specific tasks to perform as part of their duties as Levites. Moses provides a process for a husband to determine if his wife has had sexual relations with another man, specific process and details. I don’t believe there is a law written for the other way around. Interesting. The …
More Laws and Feasts; Final Tabernacle Preparation
The theme of Leviticus might be this: Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the Lord your God. Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the Lord, who makes you holy. As a nomadic people, their first question may have been, “how can we show the Lord our appreciation?” Instead of looking at …
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Craftsmanship; The Golden Calf
and Bezalel and Oholiab step into the picture. Not kings or judges, not prophets or apostles, these men were chosen because of their great skill. Bezalel was filled “with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills–to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, …
Joseph and Jacob Reunited; Final Blessings
and Joseph reveals himself to his brothers and completely forgives them all. It’s interesting that Joseph presents his family to Pharaoh and “Pharaoh and all his officials were pleased” (Genesis 45:16). Joseph’s service to Egypt was one with such integrity and honor that all those in power, the royal dynasty if you will, are pleased …
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The Famine
and Joseph’s dream becomes a reality some 20 years in the making: So when Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground. To disguise himself, Joseph uses an interpreter to employ his scheme to hold his brothers and teach them a lesson. Deep inside it seems Joseph’s longing for …
Joseph the Interpreter
and Stephen’s speech, just before his stoning (with Saul as a witness), succinctly summarizes how God provided for our ancestors in the darkest of hours. My present uncomfortable circumstance pales in comparison, but I know that God will provide for me and my family and so I pray that I will learn even more today …
Isaac Gets Life
and “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”> This is an amazing, familiar story that I’ve heard preached and taught several times. Isaac was born to Abraham as promised, now Abraham is put to an ultimate test. One thing …