The pillar of cloud by day and fire by night is what captured my attention in Numbers chapter 9. I noticed that the text reiterated the same information 7 times! Seven is the number of completeness or perfection. Clearly, this was important to the Lord. So I paused to wonder why . . .
Read MoreCarriers of God's Presence
As priest of the Most High God (1Pet 2:9), I pay close attention whenever priests are mentioned in the Old Testament. Those references give valuable insight or instruction. In this reference from Numbers 4:16, God is telling Moses which parts of the tabernacle the various sons of Levi will carry as they march through the wilderness.
Eleazar, the priest, has the responsibility of carrying . . .
Read MoreMarching Orders
One of the organizational details is the Marching Order of the tribes. When the pillar of cloud and/or fire would lift from the Tabernacle, the Israelites were to break camp and follow. God gave specific instruction about the order in which they should march.
I began to wonder if there was a significance to our Christian walk in their Marching Orders. And I believe I have found one. . .
Read MoreIn the Wilderness
The book labeled “Numbers” in our Bible has a couple different names in Hebrew. The most common Hebrew name is “bemidbar” which means “in the wilderness.” “In the wilderness” is a much more befitting title because the wilderness wanderings . . .
Read MoreNo More Sea?
I love to walk on the beach. There is something about the roar of the ocean and the salt air that causes me to heave a contented sigh. Even if the wind whips the waves into whitecaps, I still enjoy watching the water swirl about. So when I contemplated a new heaven and new earth without a sea as it says in Revelation, . . .
Read MoreFrozen to his Sword
Eleazar, one of David’s three mighty men, is a beautiful analogy for the spiritual battles of life.
First, his name, Eleazar, means “God is my help.” What an auspicious beginning! And it is all the more poignant when you look at Who . . .
Read MoreLove Your Neighbor
Look what I found buried in a list of sundry laws: Love your neighbor as Yourself. Tucked in near the end of a sentence, at the bottom of a list of do’s and don’ts, is God’s true intention. Love your neighbor. Jesus made these words famous, but He is quoting them .. .
Read MoreSermon on the Mount
Moses climbed the mountain with two tablets of stone for God to write on. The Ten Commandments on those stones was God’s summary of the Old Testament Law. The Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7 is basically a restatement of that Law, seen through the eyes of grace. Jesus climbed the mountain . . .
Read MorePresent the Tablets of your Heart
Twice Moses spent 40 days on the mountain and came down with 2 tablets of stone. The first set where hewn and engraved by the finger of God. But Moses shattered those tablets . . .
Read MoreHappy New Year!
Discover creative ways to encourage others and to motivate them toward acts of compassion, doing beautiful works as expressions of love. Hebrews 10:24 TPT
This verse beautifully and succinctly sums up my life’s goal. . . .
Read MoreThe Holy Place as a Prayer Closet
The Tabernacle in the wilderness is a picture of what we would call a “prayer closet.” The Tabernacle is actually a tent. . . .
Read MorePorpoise Skins Representing the Holy Spirit?
Buried in the intricate detail of the wilderness Tabernacle are the 4 layers of curtains for the Holy Place. This is the enclosed tent where the priests ministered at the Table of Showbread, the Altar of Incense, the Menorah, and the Ark of the Covenant. God prescribed 4 layers of curtains with the final layer made of porpoise skins (or badger skins, depending on your translation). In other words, the layer that would be seen from the outside is porpoise skins. I had an idea that I was considering and needed to know what are these porpoise skins all about. My biblical references were no help. . . .
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