Category: BIBLE/SCRIPTURE

Exodus – Part 34

The Jewish father not only had to redeem his first born child if it were a male child, but he also had to give to the Lord, the firstborn of cattle, or more clearly said, to the priesthood. This included every animal except a donkey. The lowly donkey was the only Israelite animal that was non-kosher. Kosher is Hebrew for “fit” or “appropriate” and describes the food that is suitable for a Jew to eat, and therefore was unfit for the sacrifice. Donkey’s and Pigs are very non-Kosher. Bringing a donkey to sacrifice would be like bringing a pig for sacrifice. Even though the donkey was unfit for the sacrifice don’t think that they got away without paying any dues. Actually, if a male colt of a Donkey is the firstborn it must be redeemed with a sheep. Now if that owner of the colt does not give the priest a sheep, it is ordered that the colt’s neck must be broken to kill that male baby donkey.

Then Scripture turns the subject back to God’s people, the Israelites. Yes, God is all knowing and He is all wise. He is aware that when these people, who were so happy to be freed from their slavery, could very easily change their minds about freedom when they were faced with war. Men who have been enslaved for generations are not usually willing to fight for a freedom they never knew. For this reason God led the people roundabout into the wilderness at the Sea of Reeds. Moses had taken with him the bones of Joseph. That had been Joseph’s instructions and  Moses was assured God would take notice. They set out from Succoth, and camped at Ethan that was at the edge of the wilderness. And then we are told that God did not leave them to their own devices.

The Lord led them by way of a pillar of cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night. That way they could travel both in daylight  and also at night. With the Egyptians in pursuit the Lord changed the direction of the Israelites so the Pharaoh will think they have lost their way. God wants the Israelites to camp facing the sea. He then plans to stiffen Pharaoh’s heart so He, Pharaoh and his army will pursue the Israelites. God’s plan is to gain glory through Pharaoh and his host. When God inflicts just revenge on evildoers His name is glorified. Or said another way, God gains glory by rewarding good and punishing evil. And then and only then will the Egyptians come to know that the Israelites God is the Lord. God’s plan of turning the Israelites back gave the King of Egypt confidence to pursue the Israelites and put them back into slavery.

Pharaoh was so excited about the prospect that he hitched his own chariot rather than wait for anyone to do it for him. At this time a chariot was regarded as the most advanced military weapon. This gave Pharaoh an extreme advantage  over the Israelites, or so he thought. He took six hundred of his picked chariots and also the rest of the chariots of Egypt, with officers in every one of them, The Israelites caught sight of the Egyptians advancing upon them and they were greatly frightened. Their freight make them cry out to the Lord.

Think about the situation of the Israelites. They had been in captivity for 400 years, 200 of which they spent as subjective slaves. Having been slaves for so long they did not have the mentality that they were capable of freeing themselves. This could be why God allowed, or planed, for them to be in the wilderness long enough for them all to die leaving a completely new generation to take over and be in charge. Freedom requires responsibility and they had not learned or understood the responsibility to be free. Or even learned how to be responsible  or self-reliant. They did not have the attitude  to defend themselves. Their fear caused them to question Moses intention for taking them out of Egypt. They reminded Moses that they never really wanted to leave Egypt but instead were willing to be slaves all along. They would much rather do that than die in the wilderness.

We have heard similar complaints in our own country. Patrick Henry buoyed the spirits during the American War of Independence when his hue and cry was, “Give me liberty or Give me death.” In contrast we have all heard the term “Better Red than dead.” Thankfully that was countered with “Better Dead than Red” The Israelites statement made it clear to Moses that they would put up with anything, including the death of their first born sons, in order to be taken care of. We, in our country should understand this attitude because we have people who will allow their lives to be dictated by unethical politicians for the advantage of being taken care of from the cradle to the grave.

We know when Scripture talks about freedom it is to be free from the law that enslaves us. But the apostle Paul does tell us, “stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath mad us free, and be not entangle again with the yoke of bondage.”

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Book of Life – Lamb’s Book

Book of Life – Lamb’s Book of Life, are they the same? There are 2 views!

1st view – YES, they are the same book.
2nd view – NO, your name is entered into the book of life from the foundation of the world and removed when you die rejecting Faith in God. Your name is entered into the Lamb’s Book of Life when you are saved and never removed.

A study of each time the terms are used is needed and it makes an interesting study.
The Book of Life is mentioned 4 times in the Old Testament.
Exodus 32:32-33, Psalm 69:27-28, Daniel 12:1
It is mentioned 6 times in the New Testament.
Philippians 4:3, Revelation 3:5, 17:8, 20:12,15, 22:19
Lamb’s Book of Life is referenced in Revelation 13:8 21:27
In Exodus a name will be blotted out of the Book of Life.
Exodus 32:32 Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin–; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.
Exodus 32:33 And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.

In Psalm removal is mentioned from the book of the living.
Psalm 69:27-28 Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness. Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.
In Daniel, only those still written shall be delivered.
Daniel 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
The Lord Jesus commented on this:
Luke 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
The Apostle Paul wrote of the book of life.
Philippians 4:3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.
Again the Lord Jesus from heaven commented.
Revelation 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

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Revival

an instance of something becoming popular, active, or important again

Is not found in the scripture. Revived, Revive, Reviving

Revived: to regain life, consciousness, or strength.
Genesis 45:17 …Jacob their father revived.
Judges 15:19 …his spirit came again, and he revived…
1 Kings 17:22 …the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.
2 Kings 13:21 …he revived , and stood up on his feet.
Romans 7:9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
Romans 14:9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

Revive:
To return to life; to recover life.
To recover new life or vigor; to be reanimated after depression.
To recover from a state of neglect, oblivion, obscurity or depression.
To renew in the mind or memory; to recall.
To bring again into notice.
Psalm 85:6 Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?
Psalm 138:7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.
Isaiah 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
Hosea 6:2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.
Hosea 14:7 They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.
Habakkuk 3:2 O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.

Reviving: give new strength or energy.
Ezra 9:8 And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.
Ezra 9:9 For we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.

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Scripture

Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. Luke 24:45 So often we open our Bibles to hear from God. But we fai… | Bible promises, Scripture, Luke 24


Without the Scripture (Bible) we have nothing on which to base our belief’s. The Bible is God’s word about man and his relationship to God.
Psalms 12:6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
Psalms 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.The Lord Jesus told how important Scripture is:
(Matthew 24:35, Mark 13:31, Luke 16:17, Luke 21:33) Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Study the Word
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
1 Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
Reason to Study
2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Doctrine a belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a Church, political party, or other group.
Reproof an expression of blame or disapproval.
Correction the action or process of correcting something, used to introduce an amended version of something one has just said.
Instruction detailed information telling how something should be done, operated, or assembled.
Righteousness the quality of being morally right or justifiable.
2 Timothy 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Perfect having all the required or desirable elements, qualities, or characteristics; as good as it is possible to be.
Furnished to supply with what is useful or necessary, to fit out, provide, equip.
And to conclude:
1 Corinthians 2:12-16 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.

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Predestinate

Definition of predestinate 1 to foreordain to an earthly or eternal lot or destiny by divine decree. 2 predetermine.

Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Romans 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Ephesians 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Ephesians 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

Unconditional election is a Reformed doctrine relating to predestination that describes the actions and motives of God prior to his creation of the world, when he predestined some people to receive salvation, the elect, and the rest he left to continue in their sins and receive the wrath.

Which is it? or is it Both?

Romans 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.
Romans 9:11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
Romans 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
Romans 11:7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
Romans 11:28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father’s sakes.

Colossians 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

1 Thessalonians 1:4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.

1 Timothy 5:21 I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.

2 Timothy 2:10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;

When we believe in the death, burial and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) of the Lord Jesus Christ and confess He is God with our mouth (Romans 10:9), we are elected and predestined to be like Him, seated with Him in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6).

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Propitiation

The action of appeasing a god, spirit, or person, (by doing something that pleases them).

Romans 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

Hebrews 9:5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercy seat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.

1 John 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
1 John 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

In Romans 3:25 and Hebrews 9:5 (A.V., “mercy-seat”) the Greek word hilasterion is used. It is the word employed by the LXX. translators in Exodus 25:17 and elsewhere as the equivalent for the Hebrew kapporeth , which means covering, and is used of the lid of the ark of the covenant (Exodus 25:21 ; 30:6 ). This Greek word (hilasterion) came to denote not only the mercy-seat or lid of the ark, but also propitiation or reconciliation by blood. On the great day of atonement the high priest carried the blood of the sacrifice he offered for all the people within the veil and sprinkled with it the “mercy-seat,” and so made propitiation.
In 1 John 2:2 ; 4:10 , Christ is called the “propitiation for our sins.” Here a different Greek word is used (hilasmos). Christ is “the propitiation,” because by His becoming our substitute and assuming our obligations He expiated our guilt, covered it, by the vicarious punishment which he endured. (Compare Hebrews 2:17, where the expression “make reconciliation” of the A.V. is more correctly in the RSV “make propitiation.”)

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Perdition

A state of final spiritual ruin; loss of the soul; damnation

Twice the phrase “son of Perdition” is mentioned in the New Testament. The first time refers to Judas:

John 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
Acts 1:20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.
Psalm 69:25 Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents.
Psalm 109:8 Let his days be few; and let another take his office.
The second time refers to a man of sin yet to be revealed. It appears that he will be revealed after the Rapture.
2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
Paul mentions Perdition 3 more times:
Philippians 1:28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.
1 Timothy 6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
Paul warns Jews who believed Jesus was the Messiah not to turn back to the Law: (Hebrews 6:1-6) and then again:
Hebrews 10:39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
Remember the definition of PERDITION: a state of final spiritual ruin; loss of the soul; damnation
This is destination of the Beast and all unsaved humans:
2 Peter 3:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
Revelation 17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
Revelation 17:11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.

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Joy

Jesus Others and You

Joy is: Being in God’s will
Being Faithful
Being a fruitful Branch
Being a Soul Winner

Fullness of Joy Psalm 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Shall reap in Joy Psalm 126:5-6 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

The Lord Jesus used Parables to teach about Joy:
Enter into the Joy of the Lord Matthew 25:21,23 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord…. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

He spoke to His Apostles where their joy would come from:
Joy may be full John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

The Lord Jesus warned His Apostles sorrow was coming BUT it would be turned into Joy:
Sorrow shall be turned to Joy John 16:19-22 Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me? Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
And it still applies today. When we believe in the death, burial and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-4), and confess that Jesus is God (Romans 10:9) sorrow is lifted. And each time we feel low, sorrow, all we need to is take it to Him in Prayer in faith, trusting is Him. As Paul wrote:
1 Timothy 2:1-5 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

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Read the Word

Many churches and organizations today challenge their members to read through the Bible in one year. The first reference to reading the word is found in Exodus where Moses read from the book of the covenant (Genesis) to all Israel:
Exodus 24:7 And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient.
Moses reminds Israel to keep the word of God by having it read, all the time.
Deuteronomy 17:19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them:
Deuteronomy 31:11 When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing.
Joshua knew the importance of reading the word of the Lord.
Joshua 8:34-35 And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law. There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them.
There came a time after Joshua that Israel strayed from reading God’s word. In fact, it appears they even lost it. Then during the reign of Josiah, the high priest Hilkiah found it.
2 Kings 22:8 And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.
2 Kings 22:10 And Shaphan the scribe shewed the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath delivered me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king.
2 Kings 22:16 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah hath read:
2 Kings 23:2 And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the people, both small and great: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the LORD.
2 Chronicles 34 records this same event and it influenced the reign of Josiah.
During the reign of Artaxerxes, Jerusalem was being rebuilt, that Ezra the scribe brought the book of the law, to encourage the people.
Nehemiah 8:3 And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.
Nehemiah 8:8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.
Nehemiah 8:18 Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according unto the manner.
Nehemiah 9:3 And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the LORD their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and worshipped the LORD their God.
Nehemiah 13:1 On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever;
Isaiah prophecies of a time coming:
Isaiah 34:16 Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.
Jeremiah stresses the importance of reading the words of the Lord.
Jeremiah 36:6 Therefore go thou, and read in the roll, which thou hast written from my mouth, the words of the LORD in the ears of the people in the LORD’s house upon the fasting day: and also thou shalt read them in the ears of all Judah that come out of their cities.
Jeremiah 36:10 Then read Baruch in the book the words of Jeremiah in the house of the LORD, in the chamber of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the scribe, in the higher court, at the entry of the new gate of the LORD’s house, in the ears of all the people.
Jeremiah 36:13-15 Then Michaiah declared unto them all the words that he had heard, when Baruch read the book in the ears of the people.
Therefore all the princes sent Jehudi the son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi, unto Baruch, saying, Take in thine hand the roll wherein thou hast read in the ears of the people, and come. So Baruch the son of Neriah took the roll in his hand, and came unto them. And they said unto him, Sit down now, and read it in our ears. So Baruch read it in their ears.
Jeremiah 36:21 So the king sent Jehudi to fetch the roll: and he took it out of Elishama the scribe’s chamber. And Jehudi read it in the ears of the king, and in the ears of all the princes which stood beside the king.
Jeremiah 36:23 And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth.

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