Daily Bible Portion (Monday)
Daily Bible Portion – 2 of 7
"WHEN YOU KINDLE"
(Weekly Reading>>Numbers 8:1 to 12:16, Zechariah 2:14 to 4:7, John 19:31–37, Hebrew 3:1-6)
Water of Cleansing - Numbers 8:6-7
At the setting apart ceremony of the Levites, Moses sprinkled the water of cleansing on them from the red heifer sacrifice (Numbers 19). They were to shave their whole bodies and wash their clothes (take a mikvah/baptism, immersion in water) to purify themselves physically and spiritually. This transformed or changed their status from an unclean realm to a clean realm thus consecrating them to begin their work in the Tabernacle.
Shaving was also a requirement for purifying the metzora (contaminated) person suffering from a tzaris (unclean) affliction (Leviticus 14:8). It was the Levites who were the atonement for the sins of the firstborns who had committed idolatry at Mount Sinai with the golden calf (contamination), hence the obligation for the Levites to shave off their body hair in connection to instructions regarding the infected ones. For this reason their shaving and change of status separated them entirely physically and spiritually from their old characters and natures. This was a foreshadowing of the Messiah our High Priest who would pay the price of redemption for our sins.
The next part of the ceremony for the consecration of the Levites for tabernacle service the Israelite people placed their hands on the Levites and the Levites placed their hands on the sacrifices thereby transferring all the sins of the people onto the sacrifices. After they had fulfilled the obligations of the offerings for the cleansing and dedication the Levites were ready for tabernacle work (Numbers 8:10-11).
The Second Passover - Numbers 9:1-14
The initiation of the second Passover was for those who could not attend the first Passover in the first month/Aviv for the reason of being ceremonially or ritually unclean. This came about when a number of Israelites approached Moses desiring to celebrate. The three things that could bring defilement were: being in the presence of a dead person, sexual immorality and unclean/tzaris infection. When Moses inquired God gave instructions to celebrate a second Passover a month later at the same time - on the fourteenth in the second month. The identical Passover regulations were to be followed; they were to eat the lamb together with unleavened bread and bitter herbs - not leaving any lamb until morning or breaking any of its bones.
No Broken Bones - John 19:31-37
When Jesus, our Passover Lamb, was crucified He hung on the cross for all to see. The leaders at the time wanted to hasten His death as the Annual Sabbath (High Holy Day/First day of Unleavened Bread) was coming. In order not to defile themselves, they asked Pilate to appoint his men to have Yeshua’s legs broken thereby quicken His death by suffocation so they could get on with their celebrations. The soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus and then those of the second but when they came to Jesus they found He had already died, thus they did not break His legs. Instead one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’s side with a spear bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. These things happened so that Scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken” and as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced” (Exodus 12:46; Numbers. 9:12; Psalm 34:20; Zechariah 12:10).
The Cloud Above the Tabernacle - Numbers 9:15-23
When the tabernacle was complete, God’s Presence was seen in the cloud dwelling over the camp by day. If the cloud lifted the Children of Israel knew they were to pack up camp and move out. When the cloud remained stationary, the Israelites made camp. The cloud could linger over the tabernacle for two days, a month or even a year or more. At the Lord's command they camped and at His command they set out. They obeyed God’s directions as given them through Moses.
Today, Jesus is seen in the midst of His people - a great cloud of witnesses.
Obeying the Lord’s Commandments and Moving Camp
Many years ago, while acting as co-leaders of a small fellowship for a period of time. God showed us the season we were in when this fellowship was coming to a close and another season was about to begin. We were excited, yet at the same time it was a great test to see if we would trust and wait for His timing.
We did not take the liberty to move out on our own accord but waited and submitted to God’s direction in our lives. It was not until two years later that we got the word to move camp.
Being patient and wisely guided during these times are extremely important. People, who feel that they are in a time of change, may be too quick to leave a fellowship or situation before the Lord/Yahweh can show them what His real purpose is for their lives. Sometimes He may be allowing troubling times in our lives, not to harm us, but to deliver us just as the Israelites experienced leaving Egypt. We should pray for Yahweh’s vision for our lives and try not to use our own sight in place of His. If Yahweh calls us to move camp, the fruit of the Spirit should be evident in the character and attitude of the action and in our decision making. If there are forms of offenses such as judging, criticism, gossip, slander or anger within ourselves then we would not reflect the Lord/Yahweh’s character but be a reflection of our own personal judgments driving us to move. If the cloud moves for us to follow we need to have peace in our hearts along with scriptural confirmation that this is of Him or scars could forever be etched on people’s hearts. Bitter, unforgiving and hurt people can breed discontentment that multiplies among others. Is Yahweh really moving a people out or are a spiritually sick and injured people moving from congregation to congregation bringing their infections with them? What could bother us about someone else is often an area of healing that Yahweh is trying to address in us. If this were the case, believers need to overcome the enemy in their own hearts and minister to the condition. We should fully submit to all situations and move at Yahweh’s command.
continues tomorrow...
"WHEN YOU KINDLE"
(Weekly Reading>>Numbers 8:1 to 12:16, Zechariah 2:14 to 4:7, John 19:31–37, Hebrew 3:1-6)
Water of Cleansing - Numbers 8:6-7
At the setting apart ceremony of the Levites, Moses sprinkled the water of cleansing on them from the red heifer sacrifice (Numbers 19). They were to shave their whole bodies and wash their clothes (take a mikvah/baptism, immersion in water) to purify themselves physically and spiritually. This transformed or changed their status from an unclean realm to a clean realm thus consecrating them to begin their work in the Tabernacle.
Shaving was also a requirement for purifying the metzora (contaminated) person suffering from a tzaris (unclean) affliction (Leviticus 14:8). It was the Levites who were the atonement for the sins of the firstborns who had committed idolatry at Mount Sinai with the golden calf (contamination), hence the obligation for the Levites to shave off their body hair in connection to instructions regarding the infected ones. For this reason their shaving and change of status separated them entirely physically and spiritually from their old characters and natures. This was a foreshadowing of the Messiah our High Priest who would pay the price of redemption for our sins.
The next part of the ceremony for the consecration of the Levites for tabernacle service the Israelite people placed their hands on the Levites and the Levites placed their hands on the sacrifices thereby transferring all the sins of the people onto the sacrifices. After they had fulfilled the obligations of the offerings for the cleansing and dedication the Levites were ready for tabernacle work (Numbers 8:10-11).
The Second Passover - Numbers 9:1-14
The initiation of the second Passover was for those who could not attend the first Passover in the first month/Aviv for the reason of being ceremonially or ritually unclean. This came about when a number of Israelites approached Moses desiring to celebrate. The three things that could bring defilement were: being in the presence of a dead person, sexual immorality and unclean/tzaris infection. When Moses inquired God gave instructions to celebrate a second Passover a month later at the same time - on the fourteenth in the second month. The identical Passover regulations were to be followed; they were to eat the lamb together with unleavened bread and bitter herbs - not leaving any lamb until morning or breaking any of its bones.
No Broken Bones - John 19:31-37
When Jesus, our Passover Lamb, was crucified He hung on the cross for all to see. The leaders at the time wanted to hasten His death as the Annual Sabbath (High Holy Day/First day of Unleavened Bread) was coming. In order not to defile themselves, they asked Pilate to appoint his men to have Yeshua’s legs broken thereby quicken His death by suffocation so they could get on with their celebrations. The soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus and then those of the second but when they came to Jesus they found He had already died, thus they did not break His legs. Instead one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’s side with a spear bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. These things happened so that Scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken” and as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced” (Exodus 12:46; Numbers. 9:12; Psalm 34:20; Zechariah 12:10).
The Cloud Above the Tabernacle - Numbers 9:15-23
When the tabernacle was complete, God’s Presence was seen in the cloud dwelling over the camp by day. If the cloud lifted the Children of Israel knew they were to pack up camp and move out. When the cloud remained stationary, the Israelites made camp. The cloud could linger over the tabernacle for two days, a month or even a year or more. At the Lord's command they camped and at His command they set out. They obeyed God’s directions as given them through Moses.
Today, Jesus is seen in the midst of His people - a great cloud of witnesses.
Hebrews 12:1-2 “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Yeshua, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Obeying the Lord’s Commandments and Moving Camp
Many years ago, while acting as co-leaders of a small fellowship for a period of time. God showed us the season we were in when this fellowship was coming to a close and another season was about to begin. We were excited, yet at the same time it was a great test to see if we would trust and wait for His timing.
We did not take the liberty to move out on our own accord but waited and submitted to God’s direction in our lives. It was not until two years later that we got the word to move camp.
Being patient and wisely guided during these times are extremely important. People, who feel that they are in a time of change, may be too quick to leave a fellowship or situation before the Lord/Yahweh can show them what His real purpose is for their lives. Sometimes He may be allowing troubling times in our lives, not to harm us, but to deliver us just as the Israelites experienced leaving Egypt. We should pray for Yahweh’s vision for our lives and try not to use our own sight in place of His. If Yahweh calls us to move camp, the fruit of the Spirit should be evident in the character and attitude of the action and in our decision making. If there are forms of offenses such as judging, criticism, gossip, slander or anger within ourselves then we would not reflect the Lord/Yahweh’s character but be a reflection of our own personal judgments driving us to move. If the cloud moves for us to follow we need to have peace in our hearts along with scriptural confirmation that this is of Him or scars could forever be etched on people’s hearts. Bitter, unforgiving and hurt people can breed discontentment that multiplies among others. Is Yahweh really moving a people out or are a spiritually sick and injured people moving from congregation to congregation bringing their infections with them? What could bother us about someone else is often an area of healing that Yahweh is trying to address in us. If this were the case, believers need to overcome the enemy in their own hearts and minister to the condition. We should fully submit to all situations and move at Yahweh’s command.
continues tomorrow...
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