Numbers 15-16

Numbers 15-16

This year, I plan on reading the Old Testament of the Bible within the 2012 calendar year. Follow me on this journey!

Scripture Thought (What I Learned):

Chapter 15: Garments

                There are various sacrificial ordinances, as we have discusses throughout the books of Leviticus and the earlier chapters in Numbers to receive a forgiveness of your sins, or that of the congregation through Atonement.

                Those who sin, with the knowledge of their sin, are shut out from among the congregation. Those however, who sin ignorantly are not and can be forgiven of their sins. But if they were to repeat them a second time, then they could be shut off from the people, because they would now be willfully sinning.

                A group of Israelites go out into the wilderness and find a man who was gathering sticks on the Sabbath day, they take the man to Moses and Aaron to decide what should happen to the man. Aaron and Moses consult with the Lord, and are commanded to have the man stoned to death. So the entire congregation gathers stones and throws them at the man, until he dies.  This, although severe, reminds us of the importance of keeping the Lord's commandments. He puts those commandments in place, for us to follow them.

                The Lord, then speaks to Moses and commands him to make garments or fringes around their garments, so that they might remember the Lord and his commandments always.  The Lord commands the Israelites to not follow after their own heart and eyes, to go a whoring.

                These garments are similar to sacred garments used, by worthy members of the LDS church throughout the world. Although the media and ant-mormon groups go about telling the world about "the secret mormon underwear", the truth of the matter is... that the garments (which are just underwear) are to remind the person wearing them to keep the commandments of God.

Chapter 16: Israel Murmurs

                Koran the son of Ishar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi and Dethan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben took 250 men (who were princes and leaders) to rise up against Moses, because they sought after priesthood offices.

                The Earth opens and swallows up three of the rebels and their families. Fire comes down and consumes the 250 other rebels. The congregation of Israel then murmurs to Moses and Aaron, because of their deaths. The Lord doesn't appreciate the murmurings and sends a plague that kills 14,700! The Moral of the Story... STOP MURMURING!  

Numbers 13-14

Numbers 13-14

This year, I plan on reading the Old Testament of the Bible within the 2012 calendar year. Follow me on this journey!

Scripture Thought (What I Learned):

Chapter 13: Twelve Spies to the Land of Canaan

                The Lord commands Moses to gather the strongest warrior from each of the Twelve Tribes of Israel to go out and seek the Land of Canaan.

                These are the Twelve:

1.       The Tribe of Reuben: Shammua the son of Zaccur

2.       The Tribe of Simeon: Shaphat the son of Hori

3.       The Tribe of Judah: Caleb the son of Jephunneh

4.       The Tribe of Issachar: Igal the son of Joseph

5.       The Tribe of Ephraim: Oshea the son of Nun

6.       The Tribe of Benjamin: Palti the son of Raphu

7.       The Tribe of Zebulun: Gaddiel the son of Sodi

8.       The Tribe of Joseph, namely the Tribe of Manasseh: Gaddi the son of Susi

9.       The Tribe of Dan: Ammiel the son of Gemalli

10.   The Tribe of Asher: Sethur the son of Michael

11.   The Tribe of Naphtali: Nahbi the son of Vophsi

12.   The Tribe of Gad: Geuel the son of Machi

                These are the men who went in search for the Land of Canaan. Moses calls Oshea the son of Nun, Jehoshua. They are commanded to go southward toward the Mountain.

                The twelve travel to the land of Hebron and find only a people of great number and power. There the sons of Anak dwelt, whose names were: Ahiman, Sheshai and Talmai. Hebron was built 7 years be Zoan in Egypt. The twelve travel back home (after 40 days of searching) with the news, but exclaim that they are stronger, because in comparison they were as grasshoppers, because of the giant size of these humans.

Chapter 14: Israel Murmurs Against Moses

                Israel begins to Murmur, AGAIN. This time they claim that it would be better for them to turn around and head back into Egypt. Joshua and Caleb, however give a good report of the land of Canaan, unlike the "evil" report given in Chapter 13. Moses tells them, that the adults of the congregation of Israel shall not enter the promised land (insinuating that they will not go to the land of Canaan right away). Some rebels in the group, try to go by themselves and are slain by canaanites and amalikites.  

Numbers 11-12

Numbers 11-12

This year, I plan on reading the Old Testament of the Bible within the 2012 calendar year. Follow me on this journey! 

Scripture Thought (What I Learned):

                I learned two major things through today's reading:

       1.  God HEARS and ANSWERS Prayer.

a.       When Moses was in probably one of his darkest hours, pleading with God to send him help, or kill him. The Lord responded with the help he needed. I think that sometimes the Lord will try us, until we can no longer take it anymore. I know in my own life that it is in those darkest hours, the time when you think nothing can go right, when everything that normally makes you happy, just makes you sad. We as humans, have all experienced this loneliness or a feeling of being overwhelmed and stressed out. But if we remember to put God first and pray to him. Talk to him. Then he will listen and answer.

       2.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the ONLY true church on the EARTH!

a.       There are many reasons why the LDS church (more commonly known as the Mormons) is the only true church on earth. But from just two simple verses (6 and 8) we read that the Lord can manifest himself to people through dreams and visions, but through the Prophet (appointed by God himself), God will actually speak to him, "mouth to mouth" or in person. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints is that same church that existed in the time of Moses, only restored in these latter (end) days. In 1820 the Lord answered a young boys prayer about which church he should join. This boy, was Joseph Smith and through him, Jesus RESTORED HIS CHURCH! Today the church has a Modern Prophet and a Quorum of the Seventy. Just as in the days of Moses.

This is the Organization of the LDS church, as of October 2010:

Chapter 11: The 70 Elders of Israel

                We learn that the Lord can get very angry with those who chose to disobey him. It says that when people complained, the Lord would cause a fire to burn among them, but when the people complained to Moses and Moses prayed for them, the fire was quenched.

                After some time though, the congregation of Israel gets upset with only eating Manna. They start complaining about not having meat and demanding it. Moses prays to God and asks for help, saying that he is unable to "...bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy..." (Numbers 11:14) for him, even asking God to kill him, if he did not send help. (See Numbers 11:15)

                But the Lord sends help to Moses, he asks Moses to gather 70 men of the Elders of Israel to be Elders and Officers over the people.

                The first Quorum of the Seventy is organized in the church of Jesus Christ, the Lord appoints these men and gives them authority so that Moses (who acts as the Prophet and President of the Church) can have people to delegate some of the tasks that the Lord would have him complete.

                The Lord tells Moses that he will let the children of Israel eat meat, even providing a whole month of meat. A wind brings in quails from the sea, the Israelites gather them and begin to eat. The Lord however is displeased.

Chapter 12: Speaking to Moses; Mouth to Mouth

                Miriam and Aaron speak to Moses, with discontent over the fact that the Lord only usually speaks to Moses. The Lord hears this and immediately calls all three of them to come to the front of the tabernacle for a talk. The Lord tells them that if he calls a prophet, he will make himself known to them through dreams and visions. This goes for most of his children, but he says with Moses (the prophet) it is different, with him he says, he speaks to Moses MOUTH TO MOUTH. In other words, person to person just like a father speaks to his children and vice versa.

Numbers 9-10

Numbers 9-10

This year, I plan on reading the Old Testament of the Bible within the 2012 calendar year. Follow me on this journey! 

Scripture Thought (What I Learned):

Chapter 9: Commanded to Keep the Passover

                Israel is again commanded to keep the Passover. We also learn again, that the congregation of Israel moved when the cloud descended upon them and they journeyed every time the cloud went up.  (Numbers 9:17-21)

Chapter 10: Ark of the Covenant

                The Lord speaks to Moses and commands him to make two trumpets, for the purpose of calling the assembly for the journeying of the camps of Israel. The trumpets will be used not only for assembly but for calling the princes of each tribe to gather together and to sound the alarm for war.

                In the 20th day of the second year the cloud lifted up and the children of Israel took their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran.

                Each tribe with their standard was lifted as they marched forth in a prescribed order. The ark of the covenant, however always went before them.

Numbers 7-8

Numbers 7-8

This year, I plan on reading the Old Testament of the Bible within the 2012 calendar year. Follow me on this journey! 

Scripture Thought (What I Learned):

Chapter 7: The Lord Speaks to Moses

                At the dedication of the Tabernacle, the Princes of Israel bring offerings to the dedication of the temple.

1.       On the first day; Nashon the son of Amminadab for the Tribe of Judah

2.       On the second day; Nethaneel the son of Zuar, prince of Issachar

3.       On the fourth day; Elizur the son of Shedeur, prince of the children of Reuben

4.       On the fifth day; Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, prince of the children of Simeon

5.       On the sixth day; Eliasaph the son of Deuel, prince of the children of Gad

6.       On the seventh day; Eliashma the son of Ammihud, prince of the children of Ephraim

7.       On the eighth day; Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur, prince of the children of Manasseh

8.       On the ninth day; Abidan the son of Gideoni, prince of the children of Benjamin

9.       On the tenth day; Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, the prince of the children of Dan

10.   On the eleventh day; Pagiel the son of Ocran, prince of the children of Asher

11.   On the twelth day; Ahira the son of Enan, prince of the children of Naphtali

                Each one of them bringing these offerings:

o   one silver charger (130 shekels)

o   one silver bowl (70 shekels)

o   one gold spoon (10 shekels)

§  For a Burnt Offering:

·         one young bullock

·         one ram

·         one lamb

§  For a Sin Offering:

·         one goat

§  Peace Offering

·         two oxen

·         five rams

·         five goats

·         five lambs

                All of the offerings were filled with fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering. When Moses went into the Tabernacle he heard a voice come from the Mercy Seat, that was upon the ark of the testimony, from between the two cheribums and the Lord spoke to him.

Chapter 8: Washed and Consecrated

                The Levites are washed, consecrated and set apart by the laying on of hands. They are the Lord's and are in place of the first born of every family. They are a gift to Aaron and his sons to do the service of the Temple.

                

Numbers 5-6

Numbers 5-6

This year, I plan on reading the Old Testament of the Bible within the 2012 calendar year. Follow me on this journey! 

Scripture Thought (What I Learned):

Chapter 5: Sinners

                Everyone who is a Leper is considered unclean and must be "put out" of the camp. This includes male and female, so that they might not "defile" the camp or the rest of the congregation of Israel. If a man or woman is to sin, they must confess of their sins and make a restitution of that sin.

                If a woman was unfaithful to her husband or had been presumed to have been unfaithful to her husband, she was to be brought before a priest. The priest will charge her by oath and by that he can decide whether this was true, through the Jealous Offering, which is like a trial.

Chapter 6: No Wine of Strong Drink

                                The Law of the Nazarite is set forth. Those who want to live the law, must separate themselves unto the Lord. They are not to drink wine or strong drink. Those who live this law and take the vow to live the law, by separating themselves unto the Lord must shave their heads if they become defiled.

Summary of Leviticus

Summary of Leviticus

This year, I plan on reading the Old Testament of the Bible within the 2012 calendar year. Follow me on this journey! 

Scripture Thought (What I Learned): 

Summary of Leviticus:


Leviticus 1-2:  Animal Sacrifice/Offerings of Flour and Oil 
Leviticus 3-4:  Don't eat blood or Fat/Sinners forgiven through Sacrifices 
Leviticus 5-6:  Forgiveness comes through Trespass Offerings/Forgiveness through Atonement 
Leviticus 7-8:  Forgiveness through Sacrifice/ Washing and Anointing 
Leviticus 9-10:  Atonement by Sacrifice/ Unauthorized Sacrifices 
Leviticus 11-12:  What may or may not be eaten/The Law of Purification 
Leviticus 13-14:  The Law of Leprosy/Cleansing Lepers 
Leviticus 15-16:  Other types of Un-cleanliness/Forgiveness by Atonement 
Leviticus 17-18:  Don't eat blood/Sex abominations 
Leviticus 19-20:  Commandments/laws of God/Sexual Sins 
Leviticus 21-22:  High Priest = Holy/ Sacrificial Animals are perfect 
Leviticus 23-24:  Weekly Sabbath/Law of Israel

Leviticus 25-27: Jubilee/Keep the Commandments/Tithing

                Chapters 1-5 describe the sacrifices from the point of view of the common man in Israel. It covers what sacrifices are to be performed and what each one consists of. Chapters 6-7 go over much of the same material, but more from the point of view of the priest performing the sacrifice. The priest would be in charge of performing the actual ceremony and dividing up the sacrifice between God, the priest and the offerer. Sometimes however an entire sacrifice would be offered only to God, in the case of burnt ashes... etc.

                Chapters 7-10 describe the consecration (by Moses) to Aaron and his sons, in order to become the first priests and the first ones to perform the sacrifices. It also discusses the importance of being not only authorized, but with the proper priesthood authority to exercise and perform certain ordinances, after two of the sons of Aaron do this without permission. Chapters 11-15 instruct the common people of Israel on purity and cleanliness. Eating certain animals or even touching them for that matter can be a violation of the commandments of God. These conditions of the animal or the person who ate/touched the animal can affect clothing, walls of a house. Each condition has certain ceremonies that must be performed and waiting periods to alleviate the sinner. In chapter 17, we read about the Day of Atonement, which is a day in which only the high priest can enter into the holiest part of the sanctuary, which is also known as the "holy of holies". The priest sacrifices a bull for the priests and a goat for the common people (lay people), a third goat; "the scapegoat" is sent to the wilderness.

                Chapters 17-26 contain much of the "Holiness Code", which prohibits the slaughter of animals outside of the Temple, even for food. The code also gives a long list of sexual sins: which include: incest, homosexuality and bestiality. Penalties are imposed for those who worship Molech, or who consult wizards and other supernatural mediums. The code also includes: Mourning rituals for the priests, blasphemy punishments by death, rules for eating of sacrificial animals, the calendar is explained, rules for the Sabbath and the years of Jubilee are set. The end of the code tells Israel that they can either chose to follow those rules or be visited by horrible punishments and expulsion from the holy land for disobeying.HoHHHHG

Summary of Exodus

Summary of Exodus

This year, I plan on reading the Old Testament of the Bible within the 2012 calendar year. Follow me on this journey! 

Scripture Thought (What I Learned):

Summary of The Second Book of Moses: Exodus:

•          The Pharaoh of Egypt, fearful of the growing numbers of the Israelites orders that all the newborn boys in be thrown into the river.
•          A Levite woman saves her child, by placing him in an ark of bulrushes, where the daughter of the Pharaoh  finds him. This child is named Moses and is raised as her own.
•          Moses becomes aware of his origins and when he grows up he notices the abuse of the Israelites.
•          Moses sees an Egyptian beating an Israelite slave and ends up killing an Egyptain overseer and flees to Midian.
•          In Midian, Moses marries the daughter of Jethro, who is a priest in Midian. While there, Moses has an encounter with God in a burning bush. Moses asks God what his name is, and he responds, "I AM that I AM". God instructs Moses to head back to Egypt and lead the Hebrews to the land of Canaan, the promised land of Abraham.
•          God appears again, and several more times while he is in Egypt. God instructs Moses to appear before Pharoah and instruct him on God's demands, to let the people go.
•          Pharoah hears the demands and does nothing, this follows a series of 10 plagues, which always end with Pharoah promising to let the Hebrews go, but never doing it or stopping them as the being to leave. Because every time God hardens the heart of Pharoah.
•          God instructs Moses to institute the Passover among the Hebrews. God kills all the first born and livestock of Egypt, passing over the doors with blood on them.
•          Pharaoh finally lets the Hebrews leave Egypt and the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt begins. Over 600,000 Hebrews (excluding the Levites) leave the land of Egypt. As they leave, Pharaoh changes his mind and pursues after them through the wilderness.
•          Moses parts the red sea and is able to move all of the Hebrews across the Red Sea on dry ground, and closing the waters of the Red Sea on the troops of Egypt.
•          The Exodus becomes very difficult, but as long as the Hebrews follow the commandments of God, he provides for them; including Manna and Water.
•          Moses appoints Judges of Israel.
•          At the base of the Mountain the congregation of Israel sees and hears God in the clouds. God commands Moses to come up the mountain, where he instructs him on the laws and commandments of God and his kingdom. Moses receives the 10 commandments and other laws. The people of God (Israel) promise to abide by these commandments, with the promise that they will see the Holy Land of Canaan.
•          Moses is instructed to build the tabernacle (which at this point in time is a traveling tent like temple, where they perform ordinances and sacrifices under the guidance of the priest Aaron and his sons.
•          While Moses speaks with God, Aaron makes a golden calf and the people of Israel begin worshiping it. God informs Moses of this atrocity and threatens to destroy all of Israel. Moses pleads to him on their behalf.
•          Moses comes down from the Mountain again, this time with his face "transformed", or basically without the vail.
•          The people of Israel begin to follow the commandments, the tabernacle is finished and ceremonies and rituals start to take place as they travel throughout the wilderness.

Numbers 3-4

Numbers 3-4

This year, I plan on reading the Old Testament of the Bible within the 2012 calendar year. Follow me on this journey! Please, if you have questions or comments... let me know! 

Scripture Thought (What I Learned):

Chapter 3: Aaron and his sons administer

                Generations of Aaron:

·         Nadab

·         Abihu

·         Eleazer

·         Ithamar

                The Tribe of Levi is commanded to come towards the Tabernacle, so that Aaron could take charge of them, and they are numbered.

                The Tribe of Levi (the sons of):

·         Gershon - The Gershonites are commanded to pitch their tents behind the Tabernacle westward, Eliasaph the son of Lael is appointed chief over the Gershonites.

o   Libni

o   Shimei

·         Kohath - Was the family of the Amramites, Izeharites, Hebronites and the Uzzielites. The family of Kohath and all of their sons are commanded to pitch their tents on the side of the Tabernacle southward, Elizaphan the son of Uzziel is appointed chief over the tribes of Kohath. These tribes are in charge of the ark, the table, the candlestick, the altars, the vessels of the sanctuary and all the service within.

o   Amram

o   Izehar

o   Hebron

o   Shimei

·         Merari - Was the family of the Mahlites, and the Mushites; Zuriel the son of Abihail is appointed chief over the family of Merari. - The Family of Merari are put in charge of the boards, bars, pillars, sockets and all the vessels of the tabernacle. Also they are in charge of the courtyards of the tabernacle.

o   Mahli

o   Mushi

                Eleazer the son of Aaron is appointed chief over the Levites.

                Moses is commanded by the Lord to number all the males of the congregation of Israel from one month old and up.

Chapter 4: 30+ Years

                Several times in this chapter it mentions 30+ years old to 50 years old. Verses: 3,23, 30, 35, 39, 43 and 47. Levitie Law required teachers and/or priests to be 30+ years old. Jesus was baptized at the age of 30 and began his ministry in the same year. He was following this Levite Law. See Luke 3:23.

                When the camp of Israel moves, because at this point the Israelites had fled from Egypt and were still wandering in the wilderness. This meant that the Tabernacle was mobile. As we learned in the last chapter each family within the tribe of the Levites were in charge of one particular part of the tabernacle. The Levite Families of Kohath, Gershon, and Merari carry the burden of carry all of the tabernacle (in its mobile form) as they travel.