THE LAW AND THE WILDERNESS - THE LAW WAS GIVEN FOR THE LAWLESS

 "Realizing the fact that Law is not made for a righteous man, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, .... and whatever is contrary to sound teaching, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God."  

I Timothy 1:9-11 NASB

The slave nation of Israel needed to learn how to behave like free men of God, restraining their appetites and serving the righteous and holy God who had rescued them from slavery.  In their ignorance and superstition, they were still slaves of their passions and the darkness of their old desires.  They still had a lot to learn from their Savior, Jehovah God.

THE GOLDEN CALF  ( Exodus 32:33:6)

While Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the laws, the Israelites were becoming restless.  Since they could not see God, they became frightened and chose in their hearts to fashion an image of a god that made sense to them. An idol image like the Egyptians had. They made a calf idol. This calf idol may have been fashioned on the Egyptian bull god, Apis. When Moses saw this image, he could not help but get outraged, breaking the stone tablets.

MIRIAM AND AARON MURMUR AGAINST MOSES  (Numbers 12)

    

In Numbers chapter 12, Miriam and Aaron murmur against Moses regarding his wife who happened to be a Cushite woman. They said, "Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us as well?"  And the Lord heard it.  Remember that the LORD praises Moses above all other prophets that were on the face of the earth. Because of this murmuring against God's chosen, Moses, the anger of the LORD was on them. Miriam was struck with leprosy and Aaron is forced to confess his wrongdoing. Moses pleaded with God in prayer in her behalf. After seven days of being separated from the camp, Miriam is restored. The following is the historical account as found in Numbers 12:1-16.

"Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married (for he had married a Cushite woman); and they said, ‘Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us as well?’ And the Lord heard it. (Now the man Moses was very humble, more than any man who was on the face of the earth.). Suddenly the Lord said to Moses and Aaron and to Miriam, ‘You three come out to the tent of meeting.’ So the three of them came out. Then the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the doorway of the tent, and He called Aaron and Miriam. When they had both come forward, He said, .... So the anger of the Lord burned against them and He departed.... , behold, Miriam was leprous, as white as snow. As Aaron turned toward Miriam, behold, she was leprous. Then Aaron said to Moses, ‘Oh, my lord, I beg you, do not account this sin to us, in which we have acted foolishly and in which we have sinned. Oh, do not let her be like one dead, whose flesh is half eaten away when he comes from his mother’s womb!’ Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, ‘O God, heal her, I pray!’ But the Lord said to Moses, ‘If her father had but spit in her face, would she not bear her shame for seven days? Let her be shut up for seven days outside the camp, and afterward she may be received again.’ So Miriam was shut up outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on until Miriam was received again." 

SPYING OUT THE LAND  (Numbers 13-14)

Eventually, the Israelites left Sinai heading toward Canaan, the Promised Land. They stopped in the Desert of Zin at Kadesh, just at the edge of the Promised Land. There were twelve men chosen, one from each tribe, to go and explore the land bringing back a report. They were given an extensive list of things to investigate. This list included: living conditions, locations of towns, soil conditions, people, and produce. Hoshea, the son of Nun, was chosen as the scout. He was from the tribe of Ephraim. This Hoshea was actually Joshua, who later led His people into Canaan. Moses changed his name to Joshua, meaning "The LORD saves."

The scouts journeyed from Canaan for forty days and then returned, bringing grapes, pomegranates, and figs with them from the Promised Land. Their report about the land began on a positive note since they had seen that the land was rich and fertile. But when they gave a frightening report on the people of the land, and about how strong and overwhelming they were, the Israelites became frightened listening to their stories. These became more exaggerated and horrid as they went on telling their stories. Fortunately, two of the scouts remained confident, but the other ten spread doubt and began murmuring against Moses and Aaron among them. The Israelites began to question whether or not they would be able to conquer the Promised Land demanding a new leadership.

Moses and Aaron in response to this grumbling and complaining fell face down in front of the people.  Number 14:5. The Israelites' doubting and murmuring were a direct assault on God's leadership as well as His promises. And Moses and Aaron were preparing themselves for God's judgment against the people of Israel, Numbers 16:4, 22, 45: 20:6.

Caleb and Joshua to calm the Israelites about their murmuring began pleading for the Israelites to move into the land by telling them to trust God. "Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “We should by all means go up and take possession of it, for we will surely overcome it.”  They wanted to reassure them that God was going to keep His promises and would take care of them.  But, not being satisfied, they began talking among themselves about stoning their leaders. 

 

"All the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron; and the whole congregation said to them, ‘Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become plunder; would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?’  So they said to one another, ‘Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt.’ Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces in the presence of all the assembly of the congregation of the sons of Israel. Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, of those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; and they spoke to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, saying, ‘The land which we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord is pleased with us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us—a land which flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord; and do not fear the people of the land, for they will be our prey. Their protection has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.’  But all the congregation said to stone them with stones. Then the glory of the Lord appeared in the tent of meeting to all the sons of Israel." Numbers 14:1-10 NASB.

And this is when the LORD stepped in saying, "The Lord said to Moses, “How long will this people spurn Me? And how long will they not believe in Me, despite all the signs which I have performed in their midst? I will smite them with pestilence and dispossess them, and I will make you into a nation greater and mightier than they."  Numbers 14:11-12 NASB.

Moses kindly interceded for His people before the LORD.  He persuaded God to forgive them.  And He did!  But despite His forgiveness, God did not allow them to enter the Promised Land. The Israelites were forced to wander in the wilderness until all the adults from twenty years old and upward who had murmured against Him had died. Only their children then under twenty years of age would be allowed to enter the Promised Land, along with Caleb and Joshua.  Numbers 14:20-35.  That is so sad!

Again, in rebellion, the people of Israel chose to disobey God deciding to go to the Promised Land and take possession by taking a part of it to themselves.  This was without Moses' blessing.  Tragically the Amalekites and the Canaanites came down and struck them and drove them out as far as Hormah, Number 14:45 NASB.  So they wandered grumbling in the wilderness for forty years. The LORD provided for them and cared for them in spite of their rebellion throughout this time.  He kept guiding them!

They continued grumbling and murmuring as in the case of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.  Korah took men from among the congregation who gathered together against Moses and Aaron unto the door of the Tabernacle. This is when the glory of the LORD appeared to them, and the LORD told Moses and Aaron saying "Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them instantly.’ But they fell on their faces and said, ‘O God, God of the spirits of all flesh, when one man sins, will You be angry with the entire congregation?"  The LORD again speaks with Moses to speak on behalf of Him.

He spoke with the elders of Israel who followed Him. This is what Moses told the congregation, "Depart now from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing that belongs to them, or you will be swept away in all their sin.’ So they gathered up their wives, sons and their little children and stood in the door of their tents. Moses then said to them, ‘By this you shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these deeds; for this is not my doing. If these men die the death of all men or if they suffer the fate of all men, then the Lord has not sent me. But if the Lord brings about an entirely new thing and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that is theirs, and they descend alive into Sheol, then you will understand that these men have spurned the Lord.’  As Moses finished speaking the ground that was under them split open and the earth opened its mouth swallowed them up, and their households, and all the men who belonged to Korah with their possessions."  Numbers 16:26-32 NASB.

Fire then came forth from the Lord and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering incense which were not of the seed of Aaron. What a terrible thing it is to fall into the hands of an angry God!!

 

Again, the Israelites began grumbling gathering and rebelling against Moses and Aaron. The glory of the LORD appeared before the Tabernacle, and the LORD said to Moses, "Get away from among this congregation, that I may consume them instantly. Then they fell on their faces."  Numbers 16:45 NASB.  Moses then told Aaron to take up his censor putting in fire from the altar laying incense on it.  He then quickly brought it to the congregation and made atonement for them since God's judgment and wrath had begun. There was a plague among the people.  So He put on the incense making atonement for the people.  The plague killed 14,700, besides those who died on account of Korah. Then Aaron returned to Moses at the doorway of the tent of meeting, for the plague had been checked.  Numbers 16:46-50.

In Chapter 17 of Numbers, the LORD told Moses to bring a staff from each tribal leader, twelve rods, to the Tabernacle to stop the grumbling. Aaron's staff blossomed.

In Chapter 18 of Numbers, the LORD told Aaron: “To the sons of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they perform, the service of the tent of meeting."

In Chapter 19 of Numbers, The LORD told Moses and Aaron to burn a heifer outside the camp for the water of cleansing. Anyone who is unclean and does not cleanse themselves shall be cut off.

In Chapter 20 of Numbers, The LORD told Moses to speak to a rock to produce water but instead he disobeyed and did not sanctify Him striking the rock. In this chapter, Edom refused Israel passage, and Aaron died on Mount Hor.

In Chapter 21 of Numbers, the people grumbled again, so the LORD sent snakes. Moses made a bronze snake and whoever looked at it lived. The inspired account is found in verses 6-9.

"The Lord sent fiery serpents among the people and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. So the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, because we have spoken against the Lord and you; intercede with the Lord, that He may remove the serpents from us.” And Moses interceded for the people. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard; and it shall come about, that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, he will live.” And Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on the standard; and it came about, that if a serpent bit any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived."

Also in this chapter, the Israelites defeated the Amorites of Heshbon and Bashan. Thus Israel lived in the land of the Amorites and possessed the land.  The brief account of this conquest is recorded in verses 21-31.

"Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon, king of the Amorites, saying, ‘Let me pass through your land. We will not turn off into field or vineyard; we will not drink water from wells. We will go by the king’s highway until we have passed through your border.’ But Sihon would not permit Israel to pass through his border. So Sihon gathered all his people and went out against Israel in the wilderness, and came to Jahaz and fought against Israel. Then Israel struck him with the edge of the sword, and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as the sons of Ammon; for the border of the sons of Ammon was Jazer. Israel took all these cities and Israel lived in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all her villages. For Heshbon was the city of Sihon, king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab and had taken all his land out of his hand, as far as the Arnon..."  

WATER FROM THE ROCK  (Numbers 20:1-13 and 27:12-14)

After some time had passed, the Israelites passed again through the Desert of Zin, at Kadesh. Miriam, Moses and Aaron's sister, died and was buried there. Where they decided to camp, there was a shortage of water. The quarreling began. Again, the Israelites began to moan and grumble about their hard luck. They were wishing and longing for the good old days in Egypt. They longed for the figs, grapes and pomegranates of the Promised Land. It is evident that they never learned their lesson!

Again, Moses and Aaron, realizing that the judgment of God against their grumblings was likely to happen, both fell face down on the ground. The Lord's glory filled the place. God then instructed Moses saying:

1. Take the rod

2. Gather the people
3. Speak to the rock

Then water would pour from the rock.   



Instead, Moses:

1. Took the rod
2. Gathered the people
3. Spoke to the people
4. Struck the rock

Still, water poured from the rock.

But the LORD became angry with Moses. Remember, God had instructed Moses to speak to the rock, asking for water. He had stood before the people gathered in a solemn assembly before the rock. The purpose of this was to demonstrate God's provision for His people's needs. Instead, Moses spoke to the people himself, striking the rock as though he was the provider of the water himself. Moses' problem was that he refused to sanctify God.  The following is what God said to him, "But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you have not believed Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them."  Numbers 20:12 NASB.  How sad it is that Moses and his brethren lost their right to go to the Promised Land!

The LORD did allow Moses to see the Promised Land before he died. He viewed the land from Mount Nebo of the Abarim Mountain. This is what the LORD told Moses, "Go up to this mountain of Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab opposite Jericho, and look at the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the sons of Israel for a possession. Then die on the mountain where you ascend, and be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people, because you broke faith with Me in the midst of the sons of Israel at the waters of Meribah-Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin, because you did not treat Me as holy in the midst of the sons of Israel."  Deuteronomy 32:48-52. (See also Numbers 27:12-17).

 

Joshua is appointed to succeed Moses. "So the Lord said to Moses, ‘Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him; and have him stand before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation, and commission him in their sight. You shall put some of your authority on him, in order that all the congregation of the sons of Israel may obey him. Moreover, he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before the Lord. At his command they shall go out and at his command they shall come in, both he and the sons of Israel with him, even all the congregation.’ Moses did just as the Lord commanded him; and he took Joshua and set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation. Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him, just as the Lord had spoken through Moses."  Numbers 27:18-23 NASB.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

In Exodus 20, we read of  Ten Commandments and again in Deuteronomy 5.  These were spoken by God to Moses on Mount Sinai/Horeb and then carved by God into two tablets of stone, Deuteronomy 5:22.

When our Lord Jesus was asked in Matthew 22:36-40 and also in Mark 12:28-34 which Commandment was the greatest, He said,

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."

Notice that the first part of Jesus' response came from Deuteronomy 6:5, and the second part came from Leviticus 19:18.

These two passages summarize the Ten Commandments:  The first 3 or 4 Commandments deal with loving God while the last 7 or 6 Commandments involve loving others, that is to say, our neighbor.  The Sabbath Commandment, number 4, was a day of rest for them where they merely worshiped God, but it was also a day to rest. Today, we Christians, do not keep the Sabbath, but we do assemble to remember the death and resurrection of Christ on the First Day of the week, which falls on Sunday.  The rest of the Commandments have been given again under the authority of Jesus our Lord!

The Ten Commandments

No other gods

No idols

Honor God's name

Rest of Sabbath

Honor your parents

Do not murder

Do not commit adultery

Do not steal

Do not lie

Do not covet

SACRIFICES AND THE THREE ANNUAL FESTIVALS

In Numbers 28-29 we read of the sacrifices that the LORD commanded the Israelites to offer daily as well as for Sabbaths and other festivals. There were three annual feasts for the Israelites which were: The Passover which was the first feast of the year. The second feast was the Feast of Weeks.  The third feast was the Feast of the Tabernacles.  These are found in Exodus 23:14-19; Exodus 24; Leviticus 23, Deuteronomy 16:1-13.

THE FEAST OF THE TABERNACLES (SUKKOTH)

The Jewish Feast of the Tabernacles comes from Leviticus 23:33-44.  This festival is observed on the fifteenth day of the Hebrew month of Tishri, which falls either in September or October of their modern calendar. The people were to erect booths called, Sukkoth, according to the law in Leviticus:

"Now on the first day you shall take for yourselves the foliage of beautiful trees, palm branches and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days. You shall thus celebrate it as a feast to the Lord for seven days in the year. It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations; you shall celebrate it in the seventh month. You shall live in booths for seven days; all the native-born in Israel shall live in booths, so that your generations may know that I had the sons of Israel live in booths when I brought them out from the land of Egypt. 'I am the Lord your God.' So Moses declared to the sons of Israel the appointed times of the Lord."  Leviticus 23:40-44 NASB.

This celebration commemorates the Israelites' time in the wilderness and also is associated with the end of the harvest year. On the first day and the eighth day, the Israelites were to present burnt offerings to the LORD. They were to live in booths on all of these days. These booths were made out of branches and were often decorated with pictures and verses.

CONCLUSION

The Wilderness experience taught the young nation of Israel some of the fundamentals of trusting and obeying God.  Often we face this problem as Christians.  We do not want to leave behind the old man of sin getting stuck in the past way of thinking and living, rather than letting the new man of righteousness live in us.  Their trust was in the flesh rather than in God.  This brings to mind what the Apostle Paul said by inspiration of God, " But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.  More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ..."  Philippians 3:7-11.  May the Lord help us to learn from the experiences of these children of God.

 

Luci

THE LAW AND THE WILDERNES - GOD'S TABERNACLE

GOD'S TABERNACLE

The Tabernacle was very different in substance and purpose from other ancient temples. Even though it had some items that were similar to those of the other temples such as a Holy of Holies for God Himself, a Holy Place for the Levite priests, courtyards, incense, candlesticks, food and basins for washing. God's Tabernacle was much different.  Consider the following:

• God's purpose to reside in the Tabernacle was not in order for His people to meet His needs.  He did not have to be fed, clothed or washed as the ancients did their gods.
• The Holy of Holies contained only an ark and a lid that was called the Mercy Seat.
• No idol god sat in the Holy Seat.
• God never needed light, a bed, a dresser for His clothes, a throne or a table for food. All of these items were in the Holy Place for the priests to use.
• The Tabernacle was not stationary, but portable.
• God was never confined to the Tabernacle.
• God would go in front of His people in order to guide them when the Tabernacle was packed up for travel.
• God was willing to live in a tent, just as His people who also were living in tents. God did not need a high dwelling place that stood high above those of His people.  He just resided among His people.  His only desire was for His people to know Him and obey Him!  
• No food was ever brought before God to taste or consume.
• God's required sacrifices were simple compared to those of the Near Eastern ancient gods.
• God never needed to wash His hands. The water basin was used only by the priests to wash themselves for purification and cleansing purposes.
• To enter into God's presence was a holy and reverent act. Only the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies.  He only entered once a year.  Notice there were no windows to allow others to see inside.
• There was no class system. The Tabernacle was available to everyone. Even the poor could participate of the special offerings when available. 
• God did not need clothing. The laws regarding clothing only covered what the priests wore, not what God wore.

INSIDE THE TABERNACLE

The Tabernacle was separated into sections:  the Outer Courts, the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies.  Both the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies were confined in a tent.  The entire Tabernacle along with its courtyard was surrounded by a fence.

The Holy Place and the Holy of Holies were shielded with hangings of blue, purple and crimson linen, colors of royalty, which could be seen only from the inside. The linen covered a durable layer of black curtains made out of goat's hair. All around this was a tent layer made of ram's skin, followed by another layer of skin on top. The Tabernacle looked like any other tent from the outside.  Its layers of skin provided protection from the ceremonial elements.

Altar of Burnt Offering:   Exodus 27:1-8:   This was made of acacia wood covered with bronze. All the utensils were also covered with bronze. This altar was designed to be carried. The sacrifices on the altar covered the unintentional sins of the Israelites in order that they might have been cleaned.

"For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"  Hebrews 9:13-14; see also Mark 14:24, Hebrews 19, I Peter 1:18-19, 2 Corinthians 5:21

Laver or Basin for Washing:  Exodus 30:17-21:    This was made of bronze. The priests used it to cleanse themselves before entering the Inner Courts.	"Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water."   Hebrews 10:22.
Table of Shewbread:   Exodus 25:23-30 This sat in the Holy Place. It was made of acacia wood overlaid with gold. It was designed to be portable like the rest of the Tabernacle. All the utensils were also covered in gold. Twelve loaves of bread were placed in two rows of six each, on the table each Sabbath. This stood as a reminder of the Covenant God made with the twelve tribes of Israel as well as Israel's dependence upon God as their Provider.	"Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst." John 6:35, 48-51
Lampstand or Menorah:   Exodus 25:31-40:  This was made of pure gold and supported seven lamps. It gave light for the priests.	"Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life."  John 8:12
Altar of Incense:   Exodus 30:1-10 This was made of acacia wood covered with gold. It sat in the Holy Place. It was burned twice a day by the Priests.	Psalm 141:1-2 indicates that our prayers are like incense to the Lord. Likewise in Revelation 5:8 and 8:3, an angel of the Lord offers incense before the throne and the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne.
The Veil:   Exodus 26:31-35: This was made of wool and linen. It was decorated with cherubim. It separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies.	"And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split."   Matthew 27:51  "Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh" Hebrews 10:19-20

The Ark of the Covenant:    Exodus 25:10-22:  The ark was a chest made of acacia wood covered with gold inside and out. "The Mercy Seat," was its gold cover. It featured two golden cherubim facing each other. God spoke to Moses from above the Mercy Seat, between the two cherubim. Inside the ark there were the two stone tablets containing the Ten Commandments.

In John 1:14 Jesus says, "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." "For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance."    Hebrews 9:15

NOTE: God showed Moses the design of the Tabernacle on Mount Sinai. According to the Book of Hebrews, what Moses saw was exactly the pattern that God wanted him to follow in building the Tabernacle:  

"According to all that I am going to show you, as the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furniture, just so you shall construct it."

 Exodus 25:9 NASB

"See that you make them after the pattern for them, which was shown to you on the mountain." 

Exodus 25:40 NASB

See also Exodus 26:30, Numbers 8:4, Acts 7:44 and Hebrews chapters 8:5 and 9:1-10 related to the building of the Tabernacle.

In our last discussion we will consider examples of  disobedience toward God and the terrible consequences. We will also discuss the Ten Commandments and the Feast of the Tabernacles.  

Luci

THE LAW AND THE WILDERNESS - MOUNT SINAI & THE LAW

MOUNT SINAI AND THE LAW

MOUNT SINAI

When the Israelites arrived at Mount Sinai, they had been out of Egyptian slavery from three months. God gave them three days in which they were to consecrate themselves before He would meet with them in preparation of the establishment of His covenant with them.  God wanted to have a relationship with His people. He wanted their love, loyalty and faith. God's desire to have this unique relationship WAS UNIQUE. HIS COVENANT WITH THEM WAS ALSO UNIQUE.  Covenants were not uncommon in the ancient world, but a covenant between God and His people was something new to them. God wanted to dwell among them, care for them, and protect them.  In other ancient religions, man's purpose was to work incessantly for their gods meeting their god's needs. What a remarkable contrast between God's Covenant with the Israelites and the covenants of the pagans.  God in His covenant would do all the work. He would be their God, their King and their Judge.  But God had to set boundaries or borders in order that that He might govern their actions or behavior.  All the Israelites had to do was to TRUST AND OBEY HIM.  God's Law!

THE LAW

When we talk about the Law  that God gave Moses, it is often thought that we are referring to the Ten Commandments. Notice that God also gave Moses 603 other laws in addition to the Ten Commandments, totaling 613  laws.  These laws can be divided into three categories: civil or judicial, moral and ceremonial.

• Civil and Judicial laws: These laws dealt with conflicts between citizens, disputes over property rights and personal injuries.  An example of this law is found in Exodus 21:33.
• Moral laws: These laws helped in protecting the helpless such as slaves, widows, orphans and foreigners. These laws were unheard of in other law codes. God's laws were just UNIQUE. An example of this law is found in Leviticus 19:35.
• Ceremonial laws: These laws included the tabernacle regulations, instruction for different kinds of sacrifices, and rules regarding cleanliness and holiness. An example of this law is found in Leviticus 22:26-27.

God' laws were always good, and not burdensome to obey.  The Israelites failed in obeying and keeping them, because they were rebellious.  Notice that the law itself was not harsh nor was it impossible to keep and obey.  In Psalm 119:97, David speaks of the law, "O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day."  Also, these laws were part of the Covenant between God and the Israelites in which He promised to be their God and to make them His special and chosen people.  

"Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel."   

Exodus 19:5-6.

God gave Moses the Law when Moses ascended to Mount Sinai for a period of over forty days.  The overarching Ten Commandments came first, then the moral and civil laws and finally the ceremonial laws.  The moral and civil laws were to provide the Israelites with a guidebook to live a righteous life for the first time.  The Ten Commandments were to dictate and define right from wrong according to God Himself as well as in the moral and civil laws.  God's purpose has always been for His children to live upright in their dealings with other people.  He also wants His children to share and care for the weak and helpless the same way that He cares.  This is evident through out HIS LAWS.  God's laws teach us that He is HOLY!  Also, it is very clear to see that God is a  JUST GOD.

BIBLICAL LAWS COMPARED TO ANCIENT LAWS OF THE GENTILES

The differences between God's laws that He gave to Moses and the laws written for other ancient cultures as in the case of the Code of Hammurabi are very distinct:

• God's laws were only given by Him and not a human king.
• The laws were given orally at first and then they were written down.  There was no other way.
• These laws were designed by God with the purpose of having a relationship with His people.
• The laws did not make any separation of social classes.  All Israelites were considered equal.
• No one was to be punished for a crime committed by another person.
• Punishments were commonly less brutal and tended to fit the crime.
• Only one punishment was allotted for a crime rather than numerous punishments.
• The death penalty was used sparingly.
• Slaves were to be treated with kindness.
• Slaves were to work for only six days, just like the rest of the household.
• Hebrew slaves were to be freed after seven years.
• The laws were built around relationships rather than property.
• Human life was more valuable than property.
• The helpless were to be protected.
• Care was to be given to the alien or stranger.
• The practice of charging penalties on loans was banned.
• They were all expected to take care of the needs of others, even the needs of their enemies.
• The dignity of the poor and helpless was to be protected.
• Each person was to learn all the law.  Education about the law was very important. 

After the moral and civil laws, God gave the Israelites instructions to build His Tabernacle. This was a kind of mobile temple. Then God gave the ceremonial laws and the laws of holiness.  This new Tabernacle was to be God's dwelling place among His people. There was one condition, the Israelites had to make themselves holy in order to approach and be close to God:  "Speak to all the congregation of the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy." Leviticus 19:2 NASB.  It is obvious they needed to learn to behave, appear and worship Him in a manner that was worthy of Him, if they wanted God to dwell among them.  The God of yesterday is the same God today!

There were many differences between God's Tabernacle and other Ancient temples. The Israelites were familiar with these Ancient temples.  Remember Egypt was filled with gods and their temples.  Each city had a temple for each god. Ancient temples were usually large, majestic and stationary, since most gods were tied to their localities. They were built using slave labor and vast amounts of money. They were usually higher than the surrounding buildings and houses. They were opulent in design, filled with rooms. Their holy place often had windows so that their people could see their god sitting on his throne.  The main focus of these temples was to meet their gods' needs. Their idol gods were fed twice a day. The king was the only one worthy of partaking of their gods' table.  This is outrageous!

In our next study we will be considering some fascinating facts about God's Tabernacle.

Luci

THE LAW AND THE WILDERNESS - MANNA FROM HEAVEN & THE AMALEKITES

MANNA FROM HEAVEN

GRUMBLING AND COMPLAINING

After the Israelites left Egypt, crossed the Red/Reed Sea and left behind their previous life of Egyptian slavery (the picture above is a picture of the Israelites in slavery). In light of all the miracles God performed for them, one might assume their gratitude for God would never end. Notice that these Israelites were former slaves who had been abused, beaten and oppressed throughout their entire lives. This led them to have a flawed or imperfect body and spirit. When they suddenly found themselves free from Egyptian slavery in the desert without homes and enough food supply or water, they were terrified! They also knew little of the God of Moses. They were only concerned about their present and basic needs: food, water and shelter. Furthermore, they were soon facing the attack of the Amalekites. They felt helpless and fully dependent upon God as their provider and protector. But, they were not yet used to trusting God to take care of them.

At Marah, God provided water for them twice. He made bitter water drinkable for them. In the desert He made water flow from a rock. Let's not forget the manna, the food from heaven. In all three circumstances, God proved over and over His love even when they grumbled and acted like a faithless people. God's faithfulness to them was not based upon their good behavior. Notice that the Egyptian gods expected their people to be enslaved by them and to feed them as well. But the One and only True God acted like a father to His children, rescuing them from slavery, feeding them with manna from heaven and providing them with enough water in the dessert.

In Exodus 15:22-27; 16 and 17:7, we can read of their grumbling and complaining. The Israelites began to complain and grumble soon after God had provided them with water. They began to cry out against Moses and Aaron as soon as their food supply was finished, wishing they were back in Egypt saying, "who will give us meat to eat? We remember the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic, but now our appetite is gone. There is nothing at all to look at except this manna." Numbers 11:5.

The Lord heard their grumbling and complaining, but cared and loved them enough to overlook their lack of faith. He provided both meat and bread for them in the form of quail and bread, "manna," from heaven. "And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “I have heard the grumblings of the sons of Israel; speak to them, saying, at twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread; and you shall know that I am the Lord your God." Exodus 16:11-12 NASB.

The "manna" came every day, except on the Sabbath, but the quail came only once. God provided for them throughout their forty years in the dessert. "The house of Israel named it manna, and it was like coriander seed, white, and its taste was like wafers with honey." Exodus 16:30-31 NASB. It fell with the dew overnight, and was gathered in the morning.

The following are the instructions for the manna:

• They were to gather enough manna in the morning for the entire day.
• They were to gather enough only for the people living in their tent.
• They were not to gather extra and keep it overnight; when they tried to do this, it became spoiled and filled with maggots.
• They were to gather double portions on the sixth day so that they could rest on the Sabbath day. They could keep it only on that the night without being spoiled.

Notice the following:

• This manna from heaven was a daily reminder of God's love and provision for them, his people. God was teaching them to rely on Him. Likewise, they were dependent on Him alone, a loving God. This was such a distinct contrast with their former lives as slaves, in which they were dependent upon the Egyptians who were anything but merciful and loving.
• They had come out of a world of oppression in which rest and leisure was not allowed. God Himself rested on the seventh day after He had created the heavens and the earth. God was in His kindness establishing the Sabbath and giving them, these former slaves, a taste of what is real freedom. The freedom to rest!

In Joshua 5:11-12 we read, "On the day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. The manna ceased on the day after they had eaten some of the produce of the land, so that the sons of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate some of the yield of the land of Canaan during that year." The Israelites celebrated the Passover just before they entered the Promised Land of Canaan. They ate unleavened bread and roasted grain the next day.   Manna stopped coming from heaven!

THE AMALEKITES (Exodus 17:8-6)

The Israelites were forced to fight against the Amalekites at Rephidim. These Amalekites might have been descendants of Esau. Esau's son Eliphaz had a concubine who bore him a son named Amalek in Genesis 36:12. This means they were related to the Israelites. Now, the Amalekites attacked from the rear, killing off the weak and helpless, "how he met you along the way and attacked among you all the stragglers at your rear when you were faint and weary; and he did not fear God."  Moses sent Joshua to fight against the Amalekites while he, Moses, stood on top of a hill holding God's staff high in his hand, where it was visible for the Israelites to see. As long as Moses kept his staff high, the Israelites would prevail, but when Moses let his hand down, the Amalekites would prevail. When Moses' hands became tired, the Israelites took a stone and placed it under him to sit on. Aaron and Hur held his hands one on one side and one on the other in order to keep his hands STEADY. They held Moses' hands all throughout the day until the sunset. In doing this Joshua and Israelites were able to defeat the Amalekites with the sword, "Then Amalek came and fought against Israel at Rephidim. So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose men for us and go out, fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will station myself on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought against Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. So it came about when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands were heavy. Then they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady until the sun set. So Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this in a book as a memorial and recite it to Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” Moses built an altar and named it The Lord is My Banner; and he said, “The Lord has sworn; the Lord will have war against Amalek from generation to generation." Exodus 17:8-16 NASB.

It is clear to me that God was trying to show the Israelites that they needed God's help since they were powerless. I think that when Moses raised his hands this shows us that Moses was calling upon God for help. We are powerless without God's help!

One interesting thing that caught my attention was the "raising of the rod and hand." Notice that in both victories, one over the Egyptians at the Red/Reed Sea and the other over the Amalekites, Moses had to raise his rod along with his hands as a real sign to them of God's mighty power over their enemies, Your right hand, O Lord, is majestic in power, Your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy."   Exodus 15:16 NASB.

After the victory over the Amalekites, Moses built an altar which he called "The Lord is My Banner; and he said, “The Lord has sworn; the Lord will have war against Amalek from generation to generation."  Exodus 17:15-16 NASB.

God had sworn that since the Amalekites had attacked the Israelites, they were going to eventually be wiped off the face of the earth. Ironically, God used the Amalekites to punish Israel's rebellion before He punished the Amalekites. Isn't that a remarkable thing! God's ways are unique!

The Amalekites in the Bible:

• Numbers 14:43-45: Here the Amalekites and Canaanites attacked Israel. They won because the Israelites were sinning against the LORD.
• Judges 3:13: The Amalekites and the Ammonites joined with the Moabites to attack Israel. Again they won because Israel had sinned against their LORD.
• Judges 6:3: The Amalekites and Midianites attacked Israel, ruining their crops. Again they won because the Israelites had sinned against the LORD.
• I Samuel 15:1-9: Saul was instructed to destroy the Amalekites completely because of the many attacks against the Israelites. But unfortunately Saul sinned against the LORD losing favor with God.
• I Samuel 27:8-9: David fought the Amalekites. He began to reduce the population of the Amalekites.
• I Samuel 30: The Amalekites raided David’s camp kidnapping their wives and sons. David pursued the Amalekites killing all but 400 young men.
• I Chronicles 4:43: During the time of Hezekiah, the remnant of Amalekites were completely destroyed from the face of the earth.

In our next discussion we will consider the Laws that Israel received from God at Mount Sinai.

Luci 

SEEKING THE ONE WHO SEEKS US

 

   "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened."  

Matthew 7:7-8 NASB

Have you ever heard knocking at your door unexpectedly?  Do you feel like answering when it is inconvenient for you?  Do you ignore it?  Or simply don't want to deal with any one at the door?  The answer is obviously going to be different for each of us.  Some will prefer to ignore it if it is not urgent.  Others may not feel like answering the door.  Eventually the person on the other side will have to give up and go.

I believe and am convinced that God "knocks" on our door many times.  Unfortunately we ignore His calling.  We may deceive ourselves into thinking that it is not urgent.  We may fear what might happen if we answer His knock.  It is sad when we want Him to go away and we ignore His gentle knocking.  Will He knock again?  God never forces His way through our door.  He has given us free will.  He waits patiently for us to answer His knock.  He is patiently waiting for us! 

Jesus is reminding us to seek and knock in order to find Him.  He will open His door only if we indeed purpose in our heart, mind and soul to pursue Him.  The one who seeks finds.  The one whose door opens, knocks.  We diligently pursue God, when we start seeking Him and thus we find God.  Sadly, we give up the phase of seeking and finding too soon.  We think we have found God, but after a few half-hearted attempts, we determine He is not as great as we thought.  We think God is not worth changing our lives of sin for lives of righteous living.  We deceive ourselves thinking it is too much work, thus we are discouraged and we cease caring about our souls. 

The key is our knocking.  Notice that God tells us that the one who seeks finds.  But that's not the end.  There is more to do.  Those who knock at the door will have the door opened to them.  This means we have sought God and have found Him.  Then once the door is opened we are to pursue and seek Him by continuing to knock at His door.  Notice the relationship is mutual.  He wants and demands that we love, pursue and seek Him with all of our heart, mind and soul.  There is no way around it!

To pursue God with all of our heart, soul and mind means knocking on His door daily with an abiding faith, obedience, determination and patience.  This is a daily decision we must make in order that we may see Him and walk with Him.  Likewise, this requires daily prayer, asking our Lord to provide all that we need in abundance in order that we may seek Him.  We must purpose in our hearts to knock at His door daily seeking His wisdom and guidance in order to do His will.  Remember, He that is faithful has promised to open the door to us if we diligently seek Him.  He is not saying He might open the door, He is reassuring us that He will open the door for us.  God is faithful and keeps His promises.  Let's never forget that!

In Revelation 3:20, God tells us, ” Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me."

God has promised us that if anyone hears His voice and opens the door, He will eat with him and vice versa.  But in order that we may enter and dine with Him, we must hear His voice.  That means we must take the step of opening the door to His calling and instruction.  We must never forget that our relationship with God depends a lot on our own actions and response to His calling.  Our actions must be that of pursuing Him, knocking on His door and opening the door when we hear Him knocking on ours.  We are to open it and let Him in. "The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, But He loves one who pursues righteousness."   Proverbs 15:9 NASB.

“He must turn away from evil and do good; He must seek peace and pursue it."   I Peter 3:11 NASB.

Again, Peter instructs us to take two steps:  A seeking step and an action step.  According to Peter, we must seek peace but we cannot stop there.  We must then pursue peace.  God demands and expects action from us.  Notice He says pursue Me and knock at My door.  The Word of God here gives us a beautiful picture of a mutual relationship with God.  One tells us that we are to seek, find and knock and the other one tells us that He is standing and knocking and that we are to open the door.  He knocks at our door, but we also knock at His.  God tells us, "I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me."  When we determine in our heart to pursue Him, that is when we have that mutual relationship with Him partaking of His bread of life.  Then the door will be opened to us.  We will then be able to partake of His love, abide in Him and know Him.

When you feel that God is silent, keep pursuing Him!  Why struggle?  To find Him requires a lot of perseverance knocking at His door.  Don't lose heart.  I guarantee you He will knock back at your door.  Remember His promise.  He will open the door!  God is faithful and keeps His promises.  The door has been opened to me and definitely it will be opened to you too.  "He who pursues righteousness and loyalty finds life, righteousness and honor."  Proverbs 21:21 NASB.

We must be willing to humble ourselves before His throne by asking Him to give us wisdom to respond to His knocking at our door.  We must persevere in knocking at His door while we walk His path and have the confidence that our door will be opened by Him.

May God help us to always remember that when we ask, we will receive.  May He also help us to pursue His righteousness and His peace departing from evil with a diligent and sincere heart.

Luci

IS SOMEONE CAUSING YOU TO BE IRRITATED OR ANNOYED?

So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;  bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.  Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.  

Colossians 3:12-14 NASB

 

Have you ever met someone in the body of Christ or outside the body of Christ who has made you feel this way? Perhaps, those who get under your skin?   "And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, PUT ON a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and PATIENCE; bearing with one another and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should YOU." Colossians 3:12-13.  Patience is mentioned here. We must learn PATIENCE in order to deal with irritation. In the New Testament, there are two words for PATIENCE. The first one is for PATIENCE under trials.  This is the kind of patience God uses to give us hope when we're under heavy burdens. He's using these trials to help us accomplish what is necessary for our growth and perfection. Knowing and being confident that He will see you through it with a stronger FAITH.  The second word is for PATIENCE with people.  This means interacting with others. Being patient with those immature and irrational people in our lives.  The second kind of PATIENCE is what I want to talk about.

It may seem unreasonable, but God has designed situations in which some irritating people may come into our lives with the purpose of building us up.  These may be people in your family, your spouse, your parents or even your children, and it may be someone in the body of Christ.  Paul really had all this in mind when he talked about relationships within the body of Christ.  Consider how many brethren love Jesus and His church until they meet someone within the body who irritates them.  But remember, you are going to be the irritating person for someone else.  The beauty of being in the body of Christ is that when we interact deeply with members of the body, we are going to have to learn to deal with such things.  Offenses, frustrations and annoyances are going to come.  So be prepared to deal with them because (1) God has redeemed you, (2) You're still growing into the stature of Christ, (3) God has designed this so that we might grow.

With this in mind, what do you do when you're around those that irritate you?  Do you choose to be patient with them?  Here are a few things to take into consideration:   (1) Remember that God has been very patient with you. Just think of all the foolishness you've done in your life, and yet we have a wonderful God who has been patient with us and has not cast us away, even when we deserve it. I need to grow here! I need to learn patience toward others since I am not naturally patient!  (2) There are always factors that you don't understand about the lives of others.  Maybe the person who irritates you or drives you crazy to the bone, has had a bad experience in the past that you don't know about.... and there may be some factors very fresh in that person's life as recent as 30 minutes ago that you have no clue about,  (3) Remember that you are not God!  Instead of judging, pray for them and help them carry their burdens in love.  I understand there is time for admonishing one another with Scripture.  But don't forget, this must be done in order to build them up in their faith.  It must be done with a prayerful humble attitude, not with bitterness or frustration in our hearts. God does not approve of this!  (4) Never underestimate that God is working in your life and in their lives.  He is strengthening the muscle of spirituality, maturity and firmness.  Don't forget that our purpose is to be a blessing to others,  (5) Remember that patience is learned moment by moment in irritating circumstances.  It is learned through changing seasons. We must be willing to learn patience with a humble attitude in order to exercise self-control. We need to let God train us here!  (6) God's will is to build the character of Christ in us by teaching us to rule over our emotions,  (7) There are so many blessings that come through learning and exercising patience with one another.  Do you remember Saul of Tarsus?  He was a persecutor and murderer of Christians.  I bet no one in the Lord's church liked him at all!  They hated him!  Yet, our Lord chose him as a valuable vessel to do His work.  So, when someone is irritating you remember that God may be using them in order to work in both our lives.

It is impossible not to experience this in and out of the body of Christ.  But be careful about giving someone a piece of your mind.  You might not have much to spare!   Be Christ like, not emotional.  Don't let your emotions condemn you.  Why not wait, hope, labor, be steadfast and cultivate faithfulness.  You are responsible before God for controlling your emotions, not theirs.  He is the ultimate JUDGE.

So let's underline the importance of patience, ruling over our emotions, waiting on God patiently, practicing patience with those who push our buttons.  Valuing patience is valuing spiritual maturity!  “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who captures a city.”  Proverbs 16:32.  What a powerful verse!  A slow to anger person, one who controls his spirit, is better, stronger, and more rare than a person able to capture a whole city.  In other words, he who is patient, WILL WIN.

In what areas do you find it most difficult to be patient toward others?  May God help us to bear this burden!

Luci