Day 55

Chapter 24 verses 17 through 23 are the famous verses which declare "...fracture for fracture, eye for eye and a tooth for tooth" but I find it interesting that in the New Testament, this changes. Skipping way ahead to Matthew 5 verse 38, "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also."

I wonder why this changes. Could it be that when this was originally stated in Leviticus, there was no law or courts or order, but later in the time of Matthew, courts existed to establish order among the people?

I have found that an eye for eye only creates anger and more problems, rather than solving them. I heard a saying that goes, "An eye for an eye, then 2 people blind." From my experiences, revenge is not sweet.

Day 54

The last paragraph of the reading today struck me as interesting. It says, "...keep my commandments and do them: I am the Lord. And you shall not profane my holy name, that I may be sanctified among the people of Israel..." (chapter 22 verses 31 and 32)

God first instructs us to keep His commandments, but He also says what keeping His commandments does. It keeps us from profaning His holy name. Keeping the Lord's commandments keeps us from not giving Him the glory, respect and honor He deserves. I have never thought of it that way.

And as a result of not profaning His holy name, He is sanctified. He is glorified with the full glory He deserves. I have never thought of this before, but it really puts things into perspective. This is something I need to remember on a daily basis.

Day 53

Jackie Roese gave a message at our church a few weeks ago about gleaning. She touched on this passage, chapter 19 verses 9 and 10. It was really neat to hear her talk about how to apply this to current day.

The passage states, "When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the LORD your God."

I believe this speaks to not just farmers but me as well! I believe this says that whatever my talents, gifts or blessings, share them with those who are lacking. Share and give to those who do not have the means to obtain what I have when I have an abundance. This can be monetary gifts, other blessings, or even the teaching of new skills. Bless others with my gifts and they will truly see Christ through me.

Day 52

It seems to me in this passage (chapter 16) that Aaron is performing an atonement for the sins of his sons. They were sinful and still entered the Holy Place. Therefore, it has to be cleansed. Aaron could not enter the Holy Place until it was cleansed or he would die.

I believe this emphasizes how God wants us to be pure when entering into His presence. Our first action when coming before the Lord in prayer or in worship is to ask for forgiveness and be right with God. I am going to make sure I am right with God when entering into prayer.

Day 51

Leprosy seems to be a big deal in Bible times. I think it is interesting that God gives them laws about leprosy. God gives them instructions on how to tell if someone has leprosy or not.

I can see why this is an important section. Leprosy, if I remember correctly, is rather contagious and also rather miserable and deadly. If there were no laws on it, there could be chaos at times when everyone is afraid of someone with just a rash, or people are sent out of the camp for no good reason.

I see this as another way that God is taking care of His people, just like He does today.

Day 50

Moses and Aaron go into the tent of meeting at the end of chapter 9. "...When they came out, they blessed the people, and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the pieces of fat on the altar..." (verses 23 and 24) That is pretty sweet! Fire came from before the Lord and consumed the offerings, but that is not all.

Chapter 10 states, "Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron,...offered unauthorized fire before the Lord." They did not follow the instructions God gave them for the offerings. The same fire that came out from before the Lord and consumed the offerings also "...consumed them, and they died before the Lord." (verse 2) God really means what He says. He commanded them to offer sacrifices to the Lord, and if done improperly, will result in death.

I believe Christ was fully human without sin and was the only one who could sacrifice Himself and atone us from our sins. If not, it would mean death to us all.

Thanks be to the Lord who sacrificed Himself to save us from our sins!

Day 49

Chapter 8 goes through the ordination process for Aaron and his sons to work in the tabernacle. I find it interesting how it was a way of cleansing them before starting the work of the Lord.

First Moses washed them with water, then anointed them with oil, then gave a sin offering for them, then a burnt offering, then finally the ordination offering. It was a process to remove their physical dirt, then their dirt of sin, then making them pure for the service of the Lord.

I wonder if I am pure when trying to do the Lord's work. Am I clean and cleansed when trying to fulfill God's plan for me? Does this get in the way of my service to Him? I need to keep this in mind as I believe it may hinder me from using my gifts for the Lord.

Day 48

The reading for today talks about several types of offerings including sin offerings. I paid close attention to this section because I know Christ was eventually my sin offering forever.

I found it interesting to read in chapter 4 verse 3 "...bringing guilt on the people, then he shall offer for the sin that he has committed a bull from the herd without blemish to the Lord for a sin offering."

I read this and saw the parallelism to Christ and His death. When there is guilt on all the people, the only thing that can redeem all of them is "...a bull from the herd without blemish..." or a man born of this world without sin.

Christ died for us and was the perfect one to sacrifice Himself for the redemption of all of us who are guilty of sin. Thank You for Your sacrifice.

Day 47

Numbers 8 describes the cleansing process for the Levites in order for them to serve in the tent of meeting. They brought "...the Levites before the tent of meeting and assembled the whole congregation of the people of Israel. When you bring the Levites before the Lord, the people of Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites, and Aaron shall offer the Levites before the Lord as a wave offering from the people of Israel, that they may do the service of the Lord." (verses 9-11)

What an awesome way to lift someone up to the Lord and to show your support. When my wife and I were having our first baby, our young married's class at church did this for us. It was great to know that everyone there was lifting us up to the Lord and also showing their support for us. We could tell that the Lord blessed us that day. Thank you Bert and Lisa for the many ways you have helped my wife and I through the hard times; quite often without even knowing it.

How cool would it be to have this done more often? To show the support of many for one person. What a difference that could make!

Day 46

After the tabernacle was built, the first offerings were brought. They came first from the chiefs of each tribe brought oxen and wagons to be used by those in the tabernacle.

Then the chiefs brought their offerings of grain and sacrifices. Each one brought something on their day. This lasted 12 days. Once that was finished, "Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim; and it spoke to him." (verse 89) Finally after all the hard work of making the altar, the cherubim, and the tabernacle itself, God speaks to Moses from within the tent of meeting! How gratifying that must have been when Moses saw that all they had done was worth it!

I wonder what God said to Moses that first time in the tabernacle. I'm sure it was "well done!" One day, God will speak to us, after we have completed what He has called us to do, and say, "Well done!" I am waiting for that day.

Day 45

"Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle." (chapter 40 verse 34) "For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys." (chapter 40 verse 38)

How cool that must have been to physically see the presence of God filling their holy place. They see a cloud by day and fire at night! I wish I could have seen the "appearance of fire" (Numbers 9 verse 15) at night. What a constant reminder of the presence of God!

I wonder how often I miss seeing the presence of God today. I don't think it is as obvious as a cloud of fire, but I do believe His presence is here constantly. I think if I keep my eyes open, I will see Him everywhere! I just need to keep my eyes open.

Day 44

Bezalel has quickly become one of my favorite people in the Bible. He was specifically chosen by God to create the items for the tabernacle because he had the skill and the gifts to do so. Chapters 37 and part of 38 go into detail of how Bezalel made all that was required by God to the exact specifications.

I believe he was honored and remembered in these chapters to let us know how proud God is when we step up to God's challenges, listen to His call and come through. God gave Bezalel those gifts for exactly this purpose; to make the items necessary for the tabernacle. What gifts has He given me? When will He call me to use them for His glory? Has He already called me?

Day 43

Moses came back from Mount Sanai tasked with building a tabernacle and many items to go inside it. These were no ordinary items, but ones that required many fine materials and many people with different skills.

Moses gave the challenge to the people of Israel and they came with their own materials, goods and skills and gave them freely for this project. "All the men and women, the people of Israel, whose heart moved them to bring anything for the work that the Lord had commanded by Moses to be done brought it as a freewill offereing to the Lord." (chapter 35 verse 29). So much so, Moses had to put a stop to the giving because "The people brought much more than enough for doing the work that the Lord commanded them to do." (chapter 36 verse 5)

How amazing of an illustration is this? Picture all of the people coming and giving their time and posessions for this project for the Lord!

I believe God gave everyone skills to be used for His purpose. From engineers to designers to laborers, God has equiped us with exactly what we need for His purpose. Again, chapter 35 verse 29 states, "...the people of Israel, whose heart moved them to..." God works in our hearts and moves us to action when He needs us. Be sure not to ignore the call.

Day 42

Chapter 34 verses 29-35 are titled "The Shining Face of Moses." When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets (the second time), "...the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God" (verse 29). Moses's face shone after talking with God and it actually scared all of the people! And it didn't stop shining either! Verse 33 says, "...when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face."

Moses's face continued to shine so much so, he had to wear a veil all the time! Verses 34-35 say "Whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he would remove the veil, until he came out. And when he came out and told the people of Israel what he was commanded, the people of Israel would see the face of Moses , that the skin of Moses's face was shining. And Moses would put the veil over his face again until he went in to speak with Him."

Moses knew God, talked to Him often and even had God pass by him and saw God's back. How amazing it is that after being in the presence of God, Moses's face would not stop shining! How wonderful of a God I serve!

Day 41

In the past few chapters, God has given Moses instructions to build and make some complicated things from a tabernacle, to an altar for incense covered in gold. But Moses is just one guy! How is he going to do this? And some of the things God requires are not easy to make! How is he going to build this?

Chapter 31 verses 2-6, "See, I have called by name Bezalel...and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft. And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab...And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you..."

God calls Moses to build all of these things, then God gives Bezalel, Oholiab and all able men the ability to accomplish what needs to be accomplished!

God does the same thing for me. God calls me to do a number of different things. Then He gives me the ability to accomplish what He requires. There is no use for excuses saying "I can't do it" because if God is going to ask us to do something, the ability to accomplish it will be there!

Day 40

This passage gives an in depth description of what the Lord wanted His tabernacle, alter, ark of the covenant and the priests to look like.

What is described here sounds amazing! Everything going into the tabernacle was covered in pure gold. The tabernacle itself was lined with purple and blue fabrics and even the priests were dressed with rare gems in their garments when coming before the Lord.

This makes me wonder if we have become to relaxed when we come to church. We come in jeans and a nice shirt, but that doesn't even compare to what was worn by Aaron when approaching the Lord in the tabernacle. I wonder if the Lord wants to see us dressed better when we come before Him in His house, the church?

Day 39

I feel misled. For a long time, it was my understanding that Moses only received the 10 Commandments when on the mountain, but after reading the following chapters, there are many more laws that were not mentioned.

The Lord provides us with Laws about Social Justice in chapters 22 and 23. One that really struck me is found in chapter 23 verse 4 and 5, "If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you shall bring it back to him. If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying down under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it; you shall rescue it with him."

Those verses ask a lot! This is a law that God gives to treat your neighbor as your friend and help out when it is needed. Even if it is someone who hates you or someone who is your enemy. For me, this is so hard to do!

I seem to get some gratification when seeing someone I don't like suffering or struggling. That may even be human nature. But that is not what God commands us to do! Instead of watching and not helping, God requires us to help out when even our enemy is having trouble. This is not easy, but this may be one way to set Christians apart from everyone else. This is how to show God's love. I need to start making an effort to do what God requires.

Day 38

I like this passage. I have read and heard the Ten Commandments hundreds if not thousands of times, but I have never read further. Not only does God give the commandments to live by, He also lays out some common sense rules about when to repay someone for a wrong.

I think most of these specific examples specified in these chapters can be summed up in a few sentences. If you are careless and, because of that carelessness, someone loses something of value, you are responsible to pay them back. However, if you are taking every precaution possible and still something of value is lost, it is not required to pay them back.

This is a simple concept, but sometimes it is difficult. Quite often, I want revenge for something I lost, even when I know it wasn't their fault. I think revenge can sometimes be misconstrued as closure, but it rarely ever results in it.

I think God is saying to use common sense and good judgment when seeking restitution. As simple as that is, it is good to hear.

Day 37

The second half of chapter 17 describes a battle between Israel and Amalek. I am curious to see why Amalek attacked Israel, but it does not say.

This is a cool story because Moses goes to the top of a hill and holds up his staff. When his hands are up, Israel wins, but when it falls, Israel starts loosing. So Aaron and Hur helped him. Israel ends up winning the battle with God's help.

I think this describes what true friendship is all about. Moses is doing what is needed and what was described by God. Moses can do it for a little while, but quickly grows tired holding his hands up in the air. Aaron and Hur are there and the help Moses through. If they were not with Moses, he would not have been able to hold up his hands and the Israelites would have lost.

I am so blessed to have the friends that I have. Most of all, I am so blessed to have my best friend as my wife who has supported me and been there for me when I needed someone the most. I could not have done many of the things I have without her support and the support of many others.

God has put friends in our lives to help us in doing what God has for us to do. Whether that be moving to a strange part of the country, or being in the mission field. He will be there and give us the support and all that we need to accomplish what He has us do.

Day 36

God is always there when I need Him! Chapter 13 verse 22 talks about the pillar of cloud and pillar of fire that led the Israelites. It says, "The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people."

I find it so comforting that not only God is with us, but when we are taking steps for Him, when we are vulnerable, when we need Him, God shows us He is with us! The Israelites were taking a huge step of faith by setting out into the desert with Moses in order to have something better. They escape to a desert! That seems like a joke to me. How can you escape when you are in a desert?

I'm sure there were Israelites thinking that same thing. But that is the cool part about this is that when they are taking a huge step of faith and need His encouragement, God physically shows that He is present! The pillars of cloud and fire lead them and are a constant reminder that their God is with them. When you are living by faith and trusting God to take care of you, He will be with you. There is no need to worry! You just have to look and see!

I have a tough time trusting God, but I have seen Him working in my life so many times! I am a fool, but I come before Christ as a boy who is trying to deepen his trust and lean on Him for everything. I continue to try.

Day 35

The first 2 verses of the reading really got me thinking. Chapter 10 verses 1-2 say, "...Go in to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, that I may show these signs of mine among them, and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and of your grandson how I have dealt harshly with the Egyptians and what signs I have done among them, that you may know that I am the Lord."

I think it is interesting that God is the one hardening Pharaoh's heart. To me that implies that God controls who believes in Him and who does not! That gets into a little bit of a deeper debate than what I want to get into, but I find that interesting that it implies God controls man's heart and his acceptance of the word.

I do like God's reasoning though. He hardens the hearts of the Egyptians in order for Him to be able to show the signs of the 10 plagues. He is doing this in order for others and future generations to know that He is the Lord and is capable of anything.

I also believe that God uses unbelievers to display signs and work in believers to strengthen their faith and to show Christ to those believers who need it. This may be why non believers sometimes prosper while devout believers sometimes struggle.

There is a lot of controversial statements brought up in this passage and even in the first 2 verses, but, I believe that God works through believers and non-believers alike to strengthen one's faith and bring others to Him. I also believe the Holy Spirit has worked in my life and in my heart and has revealed Christ to me, and because of that, I will put my trust in and follow Christ for which I am forever grateful.

Day 34

This Pharaoh of Egypt is not too smart. Moses and Aaron speak to Pharaoh saying these things are from God, but yet he does not believe!

At first, the plagues that were brought were not too severe. Even Pharaoh's magicians could do the same thing! That still boggles my mind in that there were magicians who did not follow God who could do the same things...to a point.

Once Moses took the dust of the Earth and turned it into swarms of gnats, even the magicians said, "This is the finger of God." (chapter 8 verse 19) But still, Pharaoh did not believe.

I think I am more like this Pharaoh than I want to be. God can be throwing me sign after sign after sign of His awesome power, His grace, His generosity and His love, but I quite often miss it! God brings storms, moves trees with the wind, protects me each day and blesses me with a place of work and a steady income. There are so many other ways God shows himself. It is necessary to take time in quiet and reverence and see God's signs every day.

Day 33

How cool is the statement in chapter 6 verse 7, "I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God..."

I know God has taken me to be His, and He is my God, but I never quite thought of it this way. God has taken me to be His! He has made me His own! He will be my God! Since I am His, He will take care of me! He will carry me thorough the hard times. He will rejoice with me when it is time to rejoice! He will be there for me.

Why worry? Why get distressed? God has taken me to be His and He is my God. Period.

Day 32

I can relate well to Moses. He sees a burning bush in the desert in chapter 3, but noticed the fire is not consuming the bush. This is rather miraculous, however, Moses needs God to tell him that it is God in that fire. I sometimes don't see it. God can be right there, but I miss Him. I either need to look back upon it, or I need someone to flat out tell me, "Hey, that was God!"

God charges Moses to go to Egypt and rescue His people from Pharaoh. Again, I can relate to Moses. His response in chapter 4 verse 1 is, "They won't believe me or listen to my voice." God gives Moses signs to present to Pharaoh including turning his staff to a snake, then back to a staff again, making his hand leprous after putting it in his cloak, then turning it back to normal the same way, and finally, pouring water from the Nile on the ground and it turning into blood. All of these signs are given to him, not to mention this is all coming from a burning bush that is not burning up, and still, Moses says in chapter 4 verse 13, "Oh my Lord, please send someone else."

God is all powerful and if He charges us with a task, He is going to give us what we need to accomplish that task! Quite often we make excuses about others not listening or we are not equipped for the task. We may even have some physical disability that would hinder the accomplishment of that task like Moses's speech issue, but God is with us! He will "...be with your mouth and teach you what to speak." (verse 12).

All we need is faith to go when God calls us. God will do the rest!

Day 31

God gives a great comparison of Him and man in this passage. Chapter 40 and 41 challenge Job to be like God. "Have you an arm like God?" (verse 9), "Behold, Behemoth...let him who made him bring near his sword!...Can one take him by his eyes, or pierce his nose with a snare?" (verse 15-24). What about the Leviathan? The dragon? He breathes fire and He counts iron as straw and bronze as rotten wood. Touch him! I dare you! You will not do it again!

God is showing Job his might and power and saying to Job that if he can tame the fiercest beasts man can comprehend, then God will acknowledge that Job can save himself.

Job sees the error in his words and says, in my opinion, the most reverent words in the Bible. Chapter 42 verse 3, "...I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know." Wow! Too wonderful for me to know!

God has a plan for me. Who am I to challenge God when I am in some minor misery? God knows the big picture and I do not. I have to stop uttering what I do not understand, and believe that what God has in store is too wonderful for me to know.

Day 30

All throughout Job so far, Job has been asking for a chance to present his case to God and prove that he has done nothing wrong. He cries out in his misery to ask God why he is being put through so much punishment.

Today, God comes to Job, but God is the one who speaks! God challenges Job and says, "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the Earth?" (chapter 38 verse 4). "Have you commanded the morning since your days began?" (verse 12). God continues to challenge Job in his knowledge of life beginning (chapter 39 verse 1), and in his ability to give animals strength (verse 19).

Chapter 40 verse 2 sums it all up, "Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it." Shall a mortal man accuse the Almighty? If you still want to argue, present your case!

Job does the smartest thing yet. Verse 4, "...I lay my hand on my mouth." Job sees the error in his ways trying to challenge God.

I sometimes try this too. I ask why I am in the situation that I am in with finances and sometimes relationships. But I need to put my hand over my mouth and be quiet. Because God has me where He wants me and who am I to challenge Him? I am to keep my mouth shut and enjoy being right where God wants me.

Day 29

Elihu paints a great picture of God's greatness and majesty. He provides a great description of the God we serve! Chapter 36 verse 29, "Can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds, the thunderings of His pavilion?" Verse 32-33 "He covers His hands with the lightning and commands it to strike the mark. Its crashing declares His presence..."

It is something to think that God commands the lightning to strike where it strikes. When one sees a bolt of lightning, it appears to be random, having many branches and by no means straight. But God is in control of the lightning and says exactly where it should go!

Elihu also some great advice: chapter 37 verse 14, "...stop and consider the wondrous works of God." Wow! Stop, take time in your day, put down what you are doing, and consider the wondrous works of God!

Day 28

I always thought that there was only 3 friends with Job, however, I found out there is a fourth! His name is Elihu and he is the youngest of Job and his friends. He has not spoke because he wanted to hear and be taught by those that were older, but he finally got so mad at their responses that in chapter 32, he had to open his mouth.

Elihu is the reality check for Job and his friends. He says something I really like. Starting in chapter 32 verse 8, Elihu says, "...it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand. It is not the old who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right. Therefore I say, 'Listen to me; let me also declare my opinion.'" Elihu realizes what was discussed 2 days ago. True wisdom comes from God, not man. God gives wisdom to both the old and the young! In this case, Elihu had to speak because he just couldn't stand the reasoning Job and his friends were coming up with!

This says 2 things: First is that wisdom can only come from the Lord. It is not found in man or in anything worldly. Only by true faith do we become wise.
Second is that this is not reserved for the aged. True wisdom can come from both older and younger people as well. Even children!

The best thing to do, is if I am being led by the spirit with wisdom, speak up! And also keep in mind that it is not only the elderly who are truly wise, but God gives wisdom to both the elderly and the young alike.

Day 27

In Job's final appeal to his misery, he says if he has done anything wrong, let his body decay, let his fields remain baron, let him be judged. These are very confident words. I would only be confident enough to utter these kinds of words if I was so close to God that I knew Him intimately.

Chapter 31 verses 13-15 ask a very good question. Verses 13 and 14 say, "If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or maidservant, when they brought a compliant against me, what then shall I do whe God rises up? When he makes inquiry, what shall I answer Him?" If I have ignored others when they bring something up that I am doing wrong, what am I going to do when God brings something up that I do wrong? Whoa!

It is tough when others let me know I am doing something wrong. But in this passage, it is saying how I handle others bringing something to my attention that I need to fix is the same as how I handle God bringing up my wrongs! That's a lot to think about.

I will try to be better at listening and taking grievances against me to heart when they are brought to my attention in order to show Christ in me.

Day 26

I have always tried to strive for wisdom. I have read the book of Proverbs several times and have gotten a lot out of it. I am looking forward to reading it again later this year. However, there was always one statement in Proverbs that repeated itself over and over and I didn't fully understand. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." I did not know what the fear of the Lord meant.

Job 28 verses 23 through 28 explain this. Chapter 28 is Job speaking and it is titled, "Where is Wisdom?" The first 22 verses explain where wisdom is not and how it cannot be obtained. Most of these examples are trying to find wisdom in man, but it is not there. Verse 23 and 24 say, "God understands the way to [wisdom], and He knows its place. For He looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens." He then explains what is under the heavens and how he created it before going on to say in verse 28, "...the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding."

This explains a lot to me! This is saying that only God knows and understands the way to wisdom. There is no other source of wisdom; not by man, not by earthly things, but only through God! So when it is said that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, they mean trusting in God, following Him and pursuing a close relationship with Him is the first step in obtaining wisdom from the only one who knows what wisdom truly is! One must be a follower of Christ to receive wisdom because He is the only one who is truly wise!

The only ones who have wisdom are the ones who put their faith in Christ. Man cannot be wise. Man can only put their faith in the one who is truly wise.