Friday, February 23, 2007

Numbers 1

Written by Moses
The Israelites had camped near Mount Sinai for more than a year. They had received all the laws and regulations passed down to them recorded in the book of Leviticus. They had been transformed into a new nation and equipped for God’s purpose for them. Moses and Aaron were told to number all the men who were able to serve in the army. This book is named for this census, or numbering of the people.
Taking a census is long and tedious, but very crucial task. Those involved in the military had to be counted to know the military strength before entering the Promised Land.
**Whenever we are at a crossroad, important to take inventory of our resources, reflect, pray and move on with hope in the Lord.

Numbers 2

The nation of Israel was organized according to 12 tribes:

1) It was an effective way to manage and govern a large group of people,

2)Made dividing the Promised Land easier,

3) It was part of the culture and heritage,

4) made it easier to keep detailed genealogies

5) made travelling much more efficient.

As the people left Mount Sinai and traveled across the desert, they began to complain, grumble and disobey. Soon problems surfaced and Moses was not able to effectively manage the people. The books of Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers present a contrast between how much we can accomplish when we obey God and how little when we don’t

ABUNDANT PEACE :)
11:10 PM

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Leviticus 22

God wanted the priests to serve Him and the people. The priests help people draw near to God and worship Him. But after Christ’s sacrifice for us, we are given the freedom and privilege to draw close to God directly. Animals with defects of any form were not acceptable as sacrifices to the Lord because they did not represent God’s holy nature. When we give the best of ourselves to the Lord, we show the true meaning of worship and testify to God’s supreme worth.

Leviticus 23

The purpose for the appointed feasts of the Lord is that God wanted the people to set aside special days for the people to come together to 1) rest 2) receive refreshment 3) remembering with thanksgiving all He had done for them. The feast of the unleavened bread reminded the people of Israel their escape from Egypt.

The consumption of unleavened bread shows:
1) The bread was unique – rep. Israel’s uniqueness as a nation.
2) Yeast was a symbol of sin – the bread rep. the people’s moral purity.
3) The bread reminded the people to obey quickly.

The feast of first-fruits – shows that people can only eat from their harvest after they have offered to God.
The feast of weeks represents a festival praising God for a bountiful harvest.
The feast of tabernacle, also known as the feast of in gathering was a special celebration involving the whole family. It teaches the family about God’s nature and what he had done for them and was a time of renewed commitment.

ABUNDANT PEACE :)
12:07 AM

Saturday, February 10, 2007

Exodus 33

God and Moses talked face to face in the Tent of Meeting like friends. Isn’t that awesome? How I wish I can do that with God…Why did Moses receive such privileges from God? Not due to his talents, gifts or character…but simply because God chose Moses in the first place and Moses obeyed, relied and followed what God asked him to do. Though we can’t talk with God face to face, we can still talk with God and Jesus will always be a friend to us. We just ended today’s Friendship event at MagicBox. God is really reminding us that He is our friend yesterday and today and forever. Praise the Lord!

Moses told God not to send them up to where God wanted them to go if the Lord God won’t be there. I fully agree. I will never want to do something or go somewhere if God will not be there with me. I want His guidance, His blessings and His presence to be with me at all times. I am sure all of you will fully agree with me. But pause again, sometimes, we do things without really praying and seeking His approval…hence, stop and invite God to be with you at all times and in doing all things.

Exodus 34

God did not give Moses the vision of His power and majesty, rather His love. God’s glory is revealed in His mercy, grace compassion, faithfulness, forgiveness and justice.

God mentioned-Do not worship any other god, for the Lord whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. God wants us to give Him wholeheartedly-our heart, mind, time, money…

Moses’ face was radiant after he spent time with God. Although we are not like Moses, we still need to spend time with God - reading and mediating upon His words, praying and simply taking delight to be with Him all the time. We can then radiate the beauty of God in us. This is the beauty that will last. Have you seen someone who is physically not that pretty or handsome, but when you spend time with this person, you find this person so beautiful as the beauty of God is reflected through him/her. I definitely want this type of beauty.

Exodus 35

Tabernacle construction- the people were called to construct the tabernacle based on God’s specific instructions. God gives each of us a gift, a talent. We are to use them to His glory. Thank God for whatever gift or talent you have and for some of us who are not sure what are our gifting, ask God to reveal to you and use it for His glory.

ABUNDANT PEACE :)
1:56 AM

Thursday, February 08, 2007

Exodus 28
Give us some details about the priests. Not only was a priest from the tribe of Levi, but also a descendant of Aaron (Moses’ brother), Israel’s first priest. The priests performed the daily sacrifices, maintained the tabernacle and provide counsel to the people how to follow God. They are the representatives of God and they need to live worthy lives. Aaron was in charge of all the priests and Levites. Now, Jesus is our high priest as he had sacrificed himself on the cross for the atonement of our sins. PTL! No need for daily sacrifices anymore! Safe us the time for marketing!

Exodus 29
Sin prevents people from approaching God. God then appointed priests from the tribe of Levi and set up a system of sacrifices to help the people approach God. God is actually preparing the people for the coming of Jesus Christ. Our God is a holy God. The holiness of God is greatly emphasized-the priests, the clothing, the tabernacle and the sacrifices had to be clean and consecrated as a preparation to meet God. Let’s come before God with reverence and repentance daily.

In verse 45-46- shows God’s GREAT desire to be with the people and to protect them. God wants to live among us in our hearts and minds. Allow God to dwell and participate in every aspects of our lives. Let God be the Lord of our lives!

ABUNDANT PEACE :)
1:00 AM

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

Exodus 25 – 31 gives the full record for the building of the tabernacle based on God’s directions.
Exodus 35-39 tells how these instructions were to be carried out.

Exodus 25
The high qualities of the precious materials used to build the tabernacle shows God’s greatness and transcendence. The curtain surrounding the most Holy Place shows God’s moral perfection symbolized by His separation from the common and unclean. The portable nature of the tabernacle shows God’s desire to be with His people as they traveled. Till now, God still desires to want us draw close to Him. Indeed, Christianity is not a religion but a relationship with God!

Exodus 26
Food for thought: When Jesus died on the cross, the curtain in the temple (which had replaced the tabernacle) tore from top to bottom (Mark 15:38) symbolizing our free access to God because of Jesus’ death. No longer do we need to approach God with sacrifices and through priests

Exodus 27
The altar of burnt offering was the first thing the Israelites saw as they entered the tabernacle courtyard. They could only go to God through sacrifices but now Jesus has made the ultimate sacrifice for all of us.

ABUNDANT PEACE :)
12:57 AM

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Exodus 22

These are God's principles in action given to the Israelites. They serve to guide, protect and bless the people if they choose to abide to the principles. God also stressed the principles of restitution-making wrong RIGHT! If you have done someone wrong, make a point to make wrong RIGHT as this will

1) help ease any pain you have caused

2) help others more forgiving and

3) cause you to think before doing the wrong thing again.

Exodus 23

Laws of Justice and Mercy, Sabbath Laws, The Three Annual Festivals...again God gave out a list of laws for the people to follow, so that they will live right before the eyes of the Lord, God.

God is such a merciful and loving God who is always there to want to guide us, warn us so that we do not fall into the trap of sinning against Him and need to bear the consequences of our sins and hence miss out His blessings for us. God's angel to prepare the way---most likely the angel was a manifestation of God. God was the angel the same way He was present in the pillar of clouds and fire for the Hebrew people.

God will never leave nor forsake us...He is and will be there for all of us, in whatever situation we are in, at any point of time in our lives, He chose to want to be there for us---shows how wonderful and loving God is to us.

Exodus 24

God confirmed the covenant. God chose Moses alone to approach Him. Moses wrote down everything the Lord had said. Moses then built an altar at the foot of the mountain and set up 12 stone pillars representing the 12 tribes of Israel to worship and honour God.

God called Moses to go up to the mountains and He gave Moses the tablets of stone with the law and commands written for the people's instructions. Moses was with the Lord, God for 40 days and nights. Awesome, right?

ABUNDANT PEACE :)
12:01 AM