Women of Firm Faith

Verses 1-7, “And the Lord spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying, ‘Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: “When you come into the land which I give you, then the land shall keep a sabbath to the Lord. Six years you shall sow your field, and six years you shall prune your vineyard, and gather its fruit; but in the seventh year there shall be a sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a sabbath to the Lord. You shall neither sow your field nor prune your vineyard. What grows of its own accord of your harvest you shall not reap, nor gather the grapes of your untended vine, for it is a year of rest for the land. And the sabbath produce of the land shall be food for you: for you, your male and female servants, your hired man, and the stranger who dwells with you, for your livestock and the beasts that are in your land—all its produce shall be for food.” ' ” The Jews in the wilderness were instructed to take a Sabbath rest and not gather manna, trust...

Verses 1-4, “Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 'Command the children of Israel that they bring to you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to make the lamps burn continually. Outside the veil of the Testimony, in the tabernacle of meeting, Aaron shall be in charge of it from evening until morning before the Lord continually; it shall be a statute forever in your generations. He shall be in charge of the lamps on the pure gold lampstand before the Lord continually.' ” The lamps in the tabernacle were the only source of light, and therefore needed to be tended to continually to keep the light from burning out.  Jesus is our continual light, of whom John the Baptist bore witness. John 1:9, “That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.”  The burning lamps were a reminder that God's presence was always with them.  However, He can choose to remove His presence.  He warns the churches in Revelation 2:5, ...

Verses 1-3, “And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: “The feasts of the Lord, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts. ‘Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work on it; it is the Sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings.’ ”  God wanted His children to observe seven feasts unto Him, all containing spiritual significance.  He also reminds them of the Sabbath rest that is also prescribed as a day set apart to the Lord. Feast of Passover Verses 4-5, “These are the feasts of the Lord, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times. On the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight is the Lord’s Passover.”  In remembrance of the Jews' escape from Egypt, each family would sacrifice a spotless lamb whose blood would cover the family from God's jud...

Verses 1-3, “Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 'Speak to Aaron and his sons, that they separate themselves from the holy things of the children of Israel, and that they do not profane My holy name by what they dedicate to Me: I am the Lord. Say to them: “Whoever of all your descendants throughout your generations, who goes near the holy things which the children of Israel dedicate to the Lord, while he has uncleanness upon him, that person shall be cut off from My presence: I am the Lord.” ' ”  The idea behind this command is that when priests enter the presence of God, they must do so having been cleansed from all unrighteousness.  Don't bring a gift to the alter if you have not repented of what is defiling you.  Hebrews 10:22, 26-27, "...let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. For if we sin willfully after we have received the kno...

Verses 1-4, “And the Lord said to Moses, 'Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them: “None shall defile himself for the dead among his people, except for his relatives who are nearest to him: his mother, his father, his son, his daughter, and his brother; also his virgin sister who is near to him, who has had no husband, for her he may defile himself. Otherwise he shall not defile himself, being a chief man among his people, to profane himself.” ’ ”  Priests were not to touch dead bodies (death being the visible consequence of sin) then touch the holy things of God.  The only exception was if the dead relative was his closest family member.  Becoming defiled would render them unclean and they would be removed from service to men and God. Verses 5-6, “ ‘They shall not make any bald place on their heads, nor shall they shave the edges of their beards nor make any cuttings in their flesh. They shall be holy to their G...

Verses 1-5, “Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Again, you shall say to the children of Israel: “Whoever of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell in Israel, who gives any of his descendants to Molech, he shall surely be put to death. The people of the land shall stone him with stones. I will set My face against that man, and will cut him off from his people, because he has given some of his descendants to Molech, to defile My sanctuary and profane My holy name. And if the people of the land should in any way hide their eyes from the man, when he gives some of his descendants to Molech, and they do not kill him, then I will set My face against that man and against his family; and I will cut him off from his people, and all who prostitute themselves with him to commit harlotry with Molech.”  If God wasn't clear before, He restates His requirements to be separate from the world and to keep His commands. Not only is the person who is committi...

Verses 1-2, “And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 'Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: “You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.” ' ”  God's people were to be separate from the rest, not look like the rest.  If we call Him Lord, we need to do what He asks of us, which is to live a life holy, unto Him. We have a choice whether or not to obey, but refusing will be our ruin. Luke 6:46-49, “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?  Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like:  He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.  But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which ...

Verses 1-5, “Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 'Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: “I am the Lord your God. According to the doings of the land of Egypt, where you dwelt, you shall not do; and according to the doings of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you, you shall not do; nor shall you walk in their ordinances. You shall observe My judgments and keep My ordinances, to walk in them: I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the Lord.” ' ”  God spoke to His children, making it clear that they are not to behave like the world; they belong to Him. When we care more about being friends with the world, than obedience to our heavenly Father, we are showing our complete lack of love for God.  If you truly love Him, you'll keep His commands.  He considers it hated toward Him when you don't.  James 4:4-5, “Adulterers and adultere...

Verses 1-2, “Now the Lord spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered profane fire before the Lord, and died; and the Lord said to Moses: 'Tell Aaron your brother not to come at just any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, lest he die; for I will appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.' ” The death of Aaron's sons give us the impression that they acted presumptuously, possibly using their position and the fire to show off.  Although the Bible doesn't tell us for certain, this chapter tells us that because of their actions, Aaron may now only enter the Holy Place upon God's invitation.  This protocol will clarify who is in control and to whom all the glory is due. Verses 3-5, “Thus Aaron shall come into the Holy Place: with the blood of a young bull as a sin offering, and of a ram as a burnt offering. He shall put the holy linen tunic and the linen trousers on his body; he shall...

Verses 1-9, “Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 'This shall be the law of the leper for the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought to the priest. And the priest shall go out of the camp, and the priest shall examine him; and indeed, if the leprosy is healed in the leper, then the priest shall command to take for him who is to be cleansed two living and clean birds, cedar wood, scarlet, and hyssop. And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water. As for the living bird, he shall take it, the cedar wood and the scarlet and the hyssop, and dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water. And he shall sprinkle it seven times on him who is to be cleansed from the leprosy, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose in the open field. He who is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, that he may be clean. After t...

Leviticus 13:1-3, “And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying: 'When a man has on the skin of his body a swelling, a scab, or a bright spot, and it becomes on the skin of his body like a leprous sore, then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons the priests. The priest shall examine the sore on the skin of the body; and if the hair on the sore has turned white, and the sore appears to be deeper than the skin of his body, it is a leprous sore. Then the priest shall examine him, and pronounce him unclean.' "  God gave the priests specific signs by which to diagnose those suspected to have leprosy.  As you can see from the length of this chapter, God didn't leave out any details, but made sure the diagnosis could be made accurately in varying situations. Verses 4-8, "But if the bright spot is white on the skin of his body, and does not appear to be deeper than the skin, and its hair has not turned white, then the priest shall isolate the one...

Verses 1-5, “Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 'Speak to the children of Israel, saying: “If a woman has conceived, and borne a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days; as in the days of her customary impurity she shall be unclean. And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. She shall then continue in the blood of her purification thirty-three days. She shall not touch any hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary until the days of her purification are fulfilled. But if she bears a female child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her customary impurity, and she shall continue in the blood of her purification sixty-six days." ' "  The days of purification for having a female child, were exactly double that of having a male child.  Although it's unclear exactly why, I know it isn't because God thinks less of women.  Some suggest that by having a child, you are bringing a sinner into the world, but a female child w...

Verses 1-2, "Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying to them, “Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘These are the animals which you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth..."  God clarified with the Jews which among the land animals, water animals, birds, and insects were clean and could be eaten.  This was not a new thing, because we know from back in Noah's day that there was already a distinction made. Genesis 7:1-3, "Then the Lord said to Noah, 'Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation. You shall take with you seven each of every clean animal, a male and his female; two each of animals that are unclean, a male and his female; also seven each of birds of the air, male and female, to keep the species alive on the face of all the earth.' " The rules regarding unclean animals show the wisdom of God in keeping the Jewish home free from disease and germs....

.Verses 1-3, "Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. So fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. And Moses said to Aaron, 'This is what the Lord spoke, saying: "By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; And before all the people I must be glorified." ’ So Aaron held his peace.”  After the consecration experience, Aaron's sons decided to seek God on their own, and not in the way He prescribed.  Because their fire was unauthorized, and God found it so offensive, He not only rejected their offering, but consumed them with fire.  Aaron held his peace because God was just in doing so, and the example was set for the rest that they must fear and respect God and come to Him only in the way He authorizes. Many so called Christians today attempt to find their own ways to God.  Ju...

Verses 1-4, "It came to pass on the eighth day that Moses called Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel. And he said to Aaron, 'Take for yourself a young bull as a sin offering and a ram as a burnt offering, without blemish, and offer them before the Lord. And to the children of Israel you shall speak, saying, "Take a kid of the goats as a sin offering, and a calf and a lamb, both of the first year, without blemish, as a burnt offering, also a bull and a ram as peace offerings, to sacrifice before the Lord, and a grain offering mixed with oil; for today the Lord will appear to you." ’ ”  After the seven day consecration period had been completed, the Lord would reveal Himself in an awesome way.  But first, Aaron had to deal with his own sins and the sins of the people, though animal sacrifices for atonement. Verses 22-24, "Then Aaron lifted his hand toward the people, blessed them, and came down from offering the sin offering, the burnt offering, and peace...

Verses 1-12, "And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 'Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, the anointing oil, a bull as the sin offering, two rams, and a basket of unleavened bread; and gather all the congregation together at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.' So Moses did as the Lord commanded him. And the congregation was gathered together at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. And Moses said to the congregation, 'This is what the Lord commanded to be done.' Then Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them with water. And he put the tunic on him, girded him with the sash, clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod on him; and he girded him with the intricately woven band of the ephod, and with it tied the ephod on him. Then he put the breastplate on him, and he put the Urim and the Thummim in the breastplate. And he put the turban on his head. Also on the turban, on its front, he put the golden plate, the holy crown, as the Lord had co...

Verses 1-5, "Likewise this is the law of the trespass offering (it is most holy): In the place where they kill the burnt offering they shall kill the trespass offering. And its blood he shall sprinkle all around on the altar. And he shall offer from it all its fat. The fat tail and the fat that covers the entrails, the two kidneys and the fat that is on them by the flanks, and the fatty lobe attached to the liver above the kidneys, he shall remove; and the priest shall burn them on the altar as an offering made by fire to the Lord. It is a trespass offering."  The law of the trespass offering involved giving the fat and the kidneys to God, but the rest was to be eaten by the priests. Whichever priest was officiating would be responsible for the distribution.  The offering was made as a guilt offering, required of those who unintentionally sinned against God.  Remember, there is no sacrifice for those who intentionally sin.  Hebrews 10:26, "For if we sin willfully aft...

Verses 1-7, "And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 'If a person sins and commits a trespass against the Lord by lying to his neighbor about what was delivered to him for safekeeping, or about a pledge, or about a robbery, or if he has extorted from his neighbor, or if he has found what was lost and lies concerning it, and swears falsely—in any one of these things that a man may do in which he sins: then it shall be, because he has sinned and is guilty, that he shall restore what he has stolen, or the thing which he has extorted, or what was delivered to him for safekeeping, or the lost thing which he found, or all that about which he has sworn falsely. He shall restore its full value, add one-fifth more to it, and give it to whomever it belongs, on the day of his trespass offering. And he shall bring his trespass offering to the Lord, a ram without blemish from the flock, with your valuation, as a trespass offering, to the priest. So the priest shall make atonement for him befo...