Day 52

Today’s Itinerary:   Leviticus 14:33-16:34

My Something Old: Leviticus 14:35 The owner of such a house must then go to the priest and say, 'It appears that my house has some kind of mildew.'  How am I contaminated? What kind of “mildew” (sin) has my “house” (heart) sprouted? Pride, judgment, resentment, rebellion, anger, stubbornness. OUCH! I may need some mildew remover!

 

My Something New: Leviticus 16:15-16 “Then Aaron must slaughter the first goat as a sin offering for the people and carry its blood behind the inner curtain. There he will sprinkle the goat's blood over the atonement cover and in front of it, just as he did with the bull's blood. Through this process, he will purify the Most Holy Place, and he will do the same for the entire Tabernacle, because of the defiling sin and rebellion of the Israelites.

I never really thought about the Holy of Holies or the Tabernacle as becoming defiled and having the need to be purified Matthew Henri’s Commentary states the following:

When the priest had come out from the sprinkling the blood of the bullock before the mercy-seat, he must next kill the goat which was the sin-offering for the people and go the third time into the Holy of Holies, to sprinkle the blood of the goat, as he had done that of the bullock; and thus he was to make atonement for the holy place (Lev_16:16); that is, whereas the people by their sins had provoked God to take away those tokens of his favorable presence with them, and rendered even that holy place unfit to be the habitation of the holy God, atonement was hereby made for sin, that God, being reconciled to them, might continue with them. He must then do the same for the outward part of the tabernacle that he had done for the inner room, by sprinkling the blood of the bullock first, and then that of the goat, without the veil, where the table and incense-altar stood, eight times each as before. The reason intimated is because the tabernacle remained among them in the midst of their uncleanness. God would hereby show them how much their hearts needed to be purified, when even the tabernacle, only by standing in the midst of such an impure and sinful people, needed this expiation;

My Something to Do:  Although these may be Old Testament restrictions the spirit of these principles still apply to my life today. Examine the mildew, scrape the area, remove the stone!

Day 42

Today’s Itinerary:   Exodus 32-34

 My Something New: When the people saw how long it was taking Moses to come back down the mountain, they gathered around Aaron. "Come on," they said, "make us some gods who can lead us. We don't know what happened to this fellow Moses, who brought us here from the land of Egypt." So Aaron said, "Take the gold rings from the ears of your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me." All the people took the gold rings from their ears and brought them to Aaron. Then Aaron took the gold, melted it down, and molded it into the shape of a calf. When the people saw it, they exclaimed, "O Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of the land of Egypt!" Aaron saw how excited the people were, so he built an altar in front of the calf. Then he announced, "Tomorrow will be a festival to the LORD!"  The people got up early the next morning to sacrifice burnt offerings and peace offerings. After this, they celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry.  Exodus 32:1-6

The commentaries say that on the 39^th day the people became weary. I often wonder what they had been doing during these thirty-nine days. Camping at the foot of Mount Sinai where the glory of the LORD appeared at the summit like a consuming fire (Exodus 24:17) would they not have been worshipping the one true God who had brought them out of Egypt? They had already experienced countless miracles during their journey and yet in a mere thirty-nine days they had become weary! In their weariness they choose to take matters into their own hands. They choose to take their eyes off God and quickly backslid into their old behavior and way of thinking.  That of idol worship, stubbornness and rebellion which had been born in Egypt during their bondage. Wow! When I broke this down this is what I discovered – ME!

Taking the gold rings from their ears; what had been acquired while in bondage they:

Formed a golden calf of their own making;

Ø  I have formed plans of my own making to follow

Sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings;

Ø  I have sacrificed my relationship and fellowship with God

Celebrated and indulged in every pagan revelry

Ø  I have indulged my own desires

 How easy it is to backslide into old behavior, to take something from our past, be it a possession or experience and form a plan that is out of the will of God when our prayers are not answered quickly.

My Something Old: Moses asked the LORD his God to show favor to the people. So the LORD changed His mind about the terrible disaster He had threatened to bring on His people. Exodus 32:14.  The mighty power of prayer; that God allows himself to be prevailed upon by the humble, believing boldness of Moses, an intercessor.

My Something to Do:  Do not become weary in the wait. Weariness causes weakness opening the door to temptation which inevitably lead to sin. Stand firm on God’s promises and His unfailing faithfulness.

Day 40

Today’s Itinerary:   Exodus 25-28

Perhaps it is the memory of being five years old. My Dad patiently explaining each step in detail what would become our new home. The materials used for our future home came from rescued, broken and abandoned homes. Every piece of material carefully cleaned and restored for its intended use. This comes back to me each time I read the tedious details in these scriptures and keep me from simply skimming through.

As the dawn was breaking this morning I slowly began to wake. I felt a new urgency to dig deeper into today’s reading that honestly in the past seemed somewhat dull but always seemed to draws me in. With coffee in hand I was determined to find the nugget God had for me today.  God is never dull and is always, always faithful. The further I dug the more details were revealed. Much like my Dad the more questions I asked the more answers He provided.

Exodus 25:2-8 “Tell the people of Israel to bring Me their sacred offerings. Accept the contributions from all whose hearts are moved to offer them. Here is a list of sacred offerings you may accept from them: gold, silver, and bronze; blue, purple, and scarlet thread; fine linen and goat hair for cloth; tanned ram skins and fine goatskin leather; acacia wood; olive oil for the lamps; spices for the anointing oil and the fragrant incense; onyx stones, and other gemstones to be set in the ephod and the priest's chestpiece. "Have the people of Israel build Me a holy sanctuary so I can live among them.

The following are just a few things I discovered:

Ø  GOLD – Deity/Purity

Ø  SILVER - Redemption

Ø  BRASS - Judgment

Ø  BLUE - Heavenly nature and origin

Ø  PURPLE - Royalty

Ø  SCARLET - Sacrificed blood

Ø  FINE LINEN - Spotless righteousness

Ø  GOAT'S HAIR - The sin bearer

Ø  RAM'S SKINS DYED RED - The suffering of Christ, the depth and devotion of Christ

Ø  BADGER'S SKINS - Humility of Christ ( a common, ordinary-looking skin)

Ø  SHITTIM WOOD (Acacia) - Humanity of Christ

Ø  OIL for the LIGHT - The Holy Spirit

Ø  SPICES for Anointing, OIL - Sweetness and preciousness of Christ

Ø  ONXY STONES - Speaks of the Glory of Christ

Ø  POMEGRANATES – Fruitfulness

Ø  BELLS – Symbol of testimony

There is so much more information regarding the Tabernacle available at:

http://www.thebiblestudypage.com/taber_main.shtml

Day 39

Today’s Itinerary:   Exodus 22:16-24:18
 

But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals would multiply and threaten you. I will drive them out a little at a time until your population has increased enough to take possession of the land. (Exodus 23:29-30)

How beautifully God took me out of my land of bandage and addiction into a land of freedom I would once day possess. Sending an angel before me to protect me on my journey and lead me safely to the place He prepared for me. Changing me from the inside out little by little.  Step by step God delivered me from slavery gathering me to Him that His glory would shine and not mine.  Each day God’s word became more alive to me. The more I depend on God, obeying His word the stronger and more alive I become utterly destroying the old demons and replacing them with a new harvest of God’s promises.

My Something New: "You must not mistreat or oppress foreigners in any way. Remember, you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt. (Exodus 22:21). This verse jumped off the pages at me in light of my own Egypt. I am not to mistreat, persecute or judge those that are struggling with them own bondage. It is important to remember that everyone has their own form of bondage/addiction and I was once in bondage myself. Through my own testimony and walk into freedom I am able to offer freely love, compassion and understanding.

My Something Old: "You must not follow the crowd in doing wrong.” (Exodus 23:2a) and "Make no treaties with them or their gods. They must not live in your land, or they will cause you to sin against Me. If you serve their gods, you will be caught in the trap of idolatry." (Exodus 23:32-33).  As a child my parents, although not choosing my friends, always reminded me that “You are what your environment is and will become what you hang around with.”

 My Something to Do:  God has lavished His unfailing love upon me and asks that I obey Him and hold nothing back from Him (Exodus 22:29), All the time, talents, or treasures that have been given me in the renewing of my heart are blessings from God to be used for His glory.  Be aware of who I hang out with. I can offer friendship, love, compassion and understanding from a distance without compromising my heart and values.

Day 38

Today’s Itinerary:   Exodus 20-22:15

The Ten Commandments

 

1.    You must not have any other god but Me. 

2.   You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea.: You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject Me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love Me and obey My commands.

3.    You must not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse His name.

4.    Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the LORD your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. For in six days the LORD made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day He rested. That is why the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.

5.    Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

6.    You must not murder.

7.    You must not commit adultery.

8.    You must not steal.

9.    You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.

10. "ou must not covet your neighbor's house. You must not covet your neighbor's wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.

Day 36

Today’s Itinerary:   Exodus 13-15

Soooo much good stuff in today’s reading I’m not even sure where to begin

 My Something New: "And in the future, your children will ask you, 'What does all this mean?' Then you will tell them, 'With the power of His mighty hand, the LORD brought us out of Egypt, the place of our slavery. (Exodus 13:14)

It is our responsibility to tell our children both natural and spiritual children what God has done. I never really thought of my testimony being a command from God before. My own testimony is something I have never felt necessary to share unless it served a purpose.  Through this scripture it confirms something God has placed up my heart. That in due time I am to be prepared “in season and out of season” that I might be able to explain what I do,  why I do it, and the wonderful power and might God has shown to me in my life.

More New: God said, "If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt." (Exodus 13:17b).

When the Israelites were freed from their bondage after hundreds of years in captivity they were in no way ready for battle. Spiritually and physically they had been worn down. Much the same way I had been worn down by my own bondage of addiction. After receiving deliverance there was a period necessary for growth to become stronger physically as well as spiritually before I was able to fight any battles. And yes there were times that turning back to my Egypt looked tempting. But by God’s grace I grew stronger each day through His word and the promise of a better “Land”.

My Something Old: Then the angel of God, who had been leading the people of Israel, moved to the rear of the camp. The pillar of cloud also moved from the front and stood behind them. The cloud settled between the Egyptian and Israelite camps. (Exodus 14:19-20a).

As the source of their bondage grew closer the angel of God repositioned himself between the source of bondage and the promise of deliverance blocking their access to return to what was once familiar. In my weakest moments when turning back seems to be the easier choice I am so very thankful that God had at times put up roadblocks to stop me. Roadblocks that help me to stop, examine, pray and see His glory at work in my life giving me direction and courage to move forward.

My Something to Do:  Keep my eyes on God. Be still and know He is God and move when He says “Now Move!”

Day 32

Today’s Itinerary:   Exodus 1-4
                                  1 Chronicles 6:1-3a

My Something New:  Exodus 3:20 I will raise My hand and strike the Egyptians, performing all kinds of miracles among them. Then at last he will let you go.

God is telling Moses that He will perform ALL KINDS of miracles (not just one or two) confirming His power not only to Pharaoh but the Hebrews as well.  I am sure that having been oppressed for 300 years the Hebrews had very likely become not only become physically worn down but spiritually as well. God heard their cries and knew it was time to act. . I am sure that through the miracles that were to come the Hebrews faith in the covenant promises made to Abraham were restored to many.

 Something Else New:  Reuel gave Moses his daughter Zipporah to be his wife – Reul was the son of Essau and Bashemath (the daughter of Ishmael)

My Something Old:  Exodus 4:10-12  But Moses pleaded with the LORD, "O Lord, I'm not very good with words. I never have been, and I'm not now, even though You have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled."

How I can so relate to this feeling of inadequacy. I know what is in my heart but when it comes to speaking those words they never seem to express the same organization and clarity. However I have found that when I rely on God alone the words either spoken or written seem to flow and I find myself in awe knowing it was not my power but God alone. My problem still remains however to step into that faith that God will give me the words when I feel I need them the most.

 My Something to:  Continue to trust God to provide what I need when I need it.  He hears my cries and knows when to act.  His timing is always perfect.