Monday, July 31, 2023

So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole

Numbers 21:1-9

When the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming along the road to Atharim, he attacked the Israelites and captured some of them. Then Israel made this vow to the Lord: “If you will deliver these people into our hands, we will totally destroy their cities.” The Lord listened to Israel’s plea and gave the Canaanites over to them. They completely destroyed them and their towns; so the place was named Hormah.

They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!

Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.

The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.

Why?

But the people grew impatient on the way"; There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!

Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived: Here symbolized look up Jesus on the cross will be alived and saved from the sins.

The Lord listened to the Israelites' plea and gave Canaanites over to them. Actually, they had no experience or weapons or strong fighters. For the Lord them so they may destroy them.

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20章發生亞倫和米利暗,過世,表示第二代的開始。舊生命不能進神的國,新生命才能進神的國。我們的舊生命死了,有了新生命才能進入神的國。

他們向耶和華發願,不是發怨言。出埃及後遇到的第二戰爭。在曠野,他們的敵人就是他們自己的私慾。發出的怨言和以前一樣,不信的心與想法仍然影響他們,人的罪會影響下一代,影響到我們的周圍,但是他們這次不一樣,不是摩西主動,百姓主動到摩西面前認罪,求神赦免他們。重生的人還是會犯罪,但是會認罪。仰望神就可以得醫治,看似毫無相關的事,這是考驗人是否真正願意悔改?其實和傷口沒有關係。神的方法是叫智慧人羞愧!以現在的說法應該說打毒蛇血清。

這次的災難得醫治不是普遍性、群體性,而是個別性的。不是一個代表來看銅蛇。信仰沒有派代表的。

人求的是什麼?蛇離開。神給的不是叫蛇離開。問題在於人是否聽話,危險的不是蛇,而是聽話。蛇掛起來已經表示蛇已經被殺了。考驗人是否相信神勝過蛇!神給的是更深層的,我們常常向神求的是膚淺的。

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How?

Pray to the Lord if the Lord listens it will be successes to our destination, and overcome our challenges in our jobs or life.



Edom Denies Israel Passage and Aaron died on moutain Hor

Numbers 20:14-29

“Now we are here at Kadesh, a town on the edge of your territory. Please let us pass through your country. We will not go through any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will travel along the King’s Highway and not turn to the right or to the left until we have passed through your territory.”

But Edom answered: You may not pass through here; if you try, we will march out and attack you with the sword.

Then Edom came out against them with a large and powerful army. Since Edom refused to let them go through their territory, Israel turned away from them.

The whole Israelite community set out from Kadesh and came to Mount Hor. At Mount Hor, near the border of Edom, the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, Aaron will be gathered to his people. He will not enter the land I give the Israelites, because both of you rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah. Get Aaron and his son Eleazar and take them up Mount Hor.  Remove Aaron’s garments and put them on his son Eleazar, for Aaron will be gathered to his people; he will die there.”

Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain, and when the whole community learned that Aaron had died, all the Israelites mourned for him thirty days.

Why?

Edom is the brother of Israel, but they refused Israeltes pass through their territory.

Moses is a good leader, when negotiations fail he leads Israelte no fight with Edom and goes away Edom.

Because of the event of the waters of Meribah, the Lord refused Aaron enter the promised land so he died on Moutain Hor. And the whole community mourned for him thirty days. This is great mourning to them. This means an old generation is passing away.

How?

One day I will pass away, my life is in the hands of the Lord. Be a good Christian before the Lord I limited time i the world.





Sunday, July 30, 2023

Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites

 Numbers 20:1-13

Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron. They quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the Lord! Why did you bring the Lord’s community into this wilderness, that we and our livestock should die here? Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!”

The Lord said to Moses, Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.”

So Moses took the staff from the Lord’s presence, just as he commanded him. He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock? Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.

But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”

These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the Lord and where he was proved holy among them.

Why?

People of Israelites frequently quarreled with Moses and Aaron for living water, food, meals, etc. They forget their life is in the hands of the Lord. In the Holy Name of the Lord, the Lord will provide them their needs.

So as we, my life is in the hands of the Lord, so I don't need to worry about what I should eat, clothes, or living place, what I should be concerned is how to honor the Name of the Lord.

To be a leader of Israel, Israelites should take responsibility to honor the Name of the Lord, Moses and Aaron did not say anything or honor the Lord, so the Lord didn't allow them to enter the promised land.

How?

Am I a good minister in church and a good staff in my working company? May the Holy Spirit remind me and let me do the best thing before people.

Saturday, July 29, 2023

The ceremonially clean

Numbers 19:1-22

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron:  “This is a requirement of the law that the Lord has commanded: Tell the Israelites to bring you a red heifer without defect or blemish and that has never been under a yoke. Give it to Eleazar the priest; it is to be taken outside the camp and slaughtered in his presence. Then Eleazar the priest is to take some of its blood on his finger and sprinkle it seven times toward the front of the tent of meeting. While he watches, the heifer is to be burned—its hide, flesh, blood and intestines.  The priest is to take some cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet wool and throw them onto the burning heifer. After that, the priest must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water. He may then come into the camp, but he will be ceremonially unclean till evening. The man who burns it must also wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he too will be unclean till evening.

The man who gathers up the ashes of the heifer must also wash his clothes, and he too will be unclean till evening.

Whoever touches a human corpse will be unclean for seven days.

For the unclean person, put some ashes from the burned purification offering into a jar and pour fresh water over them. Then a man who is ceremonially clean is to take some hyssop, dip it in the water and sprinkle the tent and all the furnishings and the people who were there. He must also sprinkle anyone who has touched a human bone or a grave or anyone who has been killed or anyone who has died a natural death.

The man who sprinkles the water of cleansing must also wash his clothes, and anyone who touches the water of cleansing will be unclean till evening. Anything that an unclean person touches becomes unclean, and anyone who touches it becomes unclean till evening.

Why?

Unclean people can not worship the Lord, so who is called ceremonially unclean. It needs the ceremonial procedure to clean it.

Touching the corpse may touch some disease that affects our health, so it needs to clean the clothes and make a clean ceremony through the priest.

These procedures remind us that the Lord is Holy, so everyone who comes to worship the Lord should be Holy, and the minister may pray or sprinkle water or oil to make the ceremony clean. 

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19章處理可拉事件後的影響與處理。犯律法的罪要獻贖罪祭,要用血。染到不潔淨與罪有關,而是有潔淨的條例,即潔淨的水來潔淨。

本章說明如何預備潔淨的水。不潔淨的人藉著這個水,來潔淨,才能親近神。類似贖罪祭的做法。

第一類因為執行神吩咐工作任務的人。通常比較簡單,當天洗衣、洗澡就好了。他去處理別人的問題自己要小心,要去處理。須要恢復處理別人問題的人要謹慎。

處理不潔淨的人,如碰到屍體等。除了撒潔淨水以外還要隔離7天。好好反省自己,調整自己的腳步與神的關係。第三類是第三天不願意被撒水的,無法潔淨,要被剪除。人不要驕傲。

現在潔淨潔淨與我們現在有什麼關係?人與物和罪的關係,受到罪的影響,受到世俗的影響,雖然沒有做犯罪的事,但是已經在罪惡的環境中,被世俗力量所影響。我們的服事,要在事先預備潔淨自己,預備自己心的態度。

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How?

Keep us living in Holy behavior, it is not close to the sinners but keep our heart mind, and behavior closer to the Lord.



Friday, July 28, 2023

You must present a tenth of that tithe as the Lord’s offering

Numbers 18:8-32

Then the Lord said to Aaron, “I myself have put you in charge of the offerings presented to me; all the holy offerings the Israelites give me I give to you and your sons as your portion, your perpetual share. You are to have the part of the most holy offerings that is kept from the fire. From all the gifts they bring me as most holy offerings, whether grain or sin[a] or guilt offerings, that part belongs to you and your sons. Eat it as something most holy; every male shall eat it. You must regard it as holy.

“I give you all the finest olive oil and all the finest new wine and grain they give the Lord as the firstfruits of their harvest. All the land’s firstfruits that they bring to the Lord will be yours. Everyone in your household who is ceremonially clean may eat it.

But you must not redeem the firstborn of a cow, a sheep or a goat; they are holy. Splash their blood against the altar and burn their fat as a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord. Their meat is to be yours, just as the breast of the wave offering and the right thigh are yours. Whatever is set aside from the holy offerings the Israelites present to the Lord I give to you and your sons and daughters as your perpetual share. It is an everlasting covenant of salt before the Lord for both you and your offspring.”

The Lord said to Aaron, “You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any share among them; I am your share and your inheritance among the Israelites.

I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the tent of meeting.

The Lord said to Moses,  “Speak to the Levites and say to them: ‘When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the Lord’s offering.

Why?

The Lord declared everyone including Aaron and the Levites they could take the tenth of that tithe, but they also have to present a tenth of that tithe as the Lord's offering.

The Levites work for the tent of meeting, their work is to serve the Lord so they have no inheritance in their land, but all Isrealites have to devote their offering to the Lord, and part of it could be theirs. So the Lord is fair and takes care of everyone belongs to the Lord.

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祭司要保護利未心,利未人要保護以色列人,不可讓人隨意親近聖所。神給他們很重的責任,也給他們祝福。

-20 神給祭司的東西

21~32神給利未人的東西

沒有燒掉的東西都是舉祭,初熟的,頭生的,都是最好的都歸祭司。以色列人出產的十分之一都歸利未人,且是最好的部份。祭司和利未人都沒有產業,以色列人一定要把產業分給他們,要他們專心在神的託付工作上。耶和華就是他們的產業,生活沒有缺乏且超過以色列人。舉祭是最好的部份,收到的要再把十一拿出來,利未人拿到十分之11,比以色列人還要多,他們還要把所得的十分之一獻給祭司。每週主日,每天早晨晨更,收入的十分之一奉獻給神。重要的是我們的心態如何?沒有把最好的奉獻出來就是褻瀆聖物。存感恩的心,將初熟的果子獻給神。

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How?

Don't worry about what I am eating or where I am staying, if we devoted our tenth of the tithe, the Lord will give enough food to us. Thanks the Lord!

Thursday, July 27, 2023

I am giving you the service of the priesthood as a gift

Numbers 18:1-7

The Lord said to Aaron, “You, your sons and your family are to bear the responsibility for offenses connected with the sanctuary, and you and your sons alone are to bear the responsibility for offenses connected with the priesthood. Bring your fellow Levites from your ancestral tribe to join you and assist you when you and your sons minister before the tent of the covenant law. They are to be responsible to you and are to perform all the duties of the tent, but they must not go near the furnishings of the sanctuary or the altar. Otherwise both they and you will die. They are to join you and be responsible for the care of the tent of meeting—all the work at the tent—and no one else may come near where you are.

You are to be responsible for the care of the sanctuary and the altar, so that my wrath will not fall on the Israelites again. I myself have selected your fellow Levites from among the Israelites as a gift to you, dedicated to the Lord to do the work at the tent of meeting. But only you and your sons may serve as priests in connection with everything at the altar and inside the curtain. I am giving you the service of the priesthood as a gift. Anyone else who comes near the sanctuary is to be put to death.”

Why?

This is a special duty in Israelites, only Aaron and his sons may serve the Lord as priests at the altar and inside the curtain. Other Levites can serve the Tent but can not close to the altar and inside the curtain.

Other Levites are responsible to Aaron and perform all the duties of the tent.

The Lord makes this regulation in order for Israelites not to be put to death. Because the Lord is Holy.

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16章有審判,17章亞倫是神揀選,審判為了煉淨以色列人,煉淨後要為百姓指出一條正確的路。指出祭司和利未人服事職務的差別,更多是他們恩典的不同。1-8節講責任。

「一同擔當」兩次,「聯合」兩次,「看守」出現三次

祭司要擔任本族人罪孽,擔當干犯聖所的罪孽。一同擔當:祭司要把百姓罪孽帶到神面前獻贖罪祭。祭司需要有肩膀來承擔,百姓的問題就是我的問題,百姓的事情就是我的事情。即以色列人就是我的家人。教會弟兄姊妹就是我的家人,即愛人如己。

聯合: 利未人要與祭司聯合,在做同一件事,保護會幕,祭司的榮耀也是和利未人一同分享,如同肢體一樣,只是分工不同。

看守會幕:靠近聖所很好要照著神定的方法,道路。不是用自己的方法或是不拘小節,卻不可失去敬畏的心。這也是謙卑的態度。所以會幕要看守,保護外面的人。不同於一般廟宇有鐵欄杆保護裏面金牌不會被偷。祭司保護利未人,利未人保護以色列人。

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How?

God is Holy so people who worship the Lord should be holy either.





Wednesday, July 26, 2023

Put back Aaron’s staff in front of the ark of the covenant law, to be kept as a sign to the rebellious

Numbers 17:1-13

The Lord said to Moses,  “Speak to the Israelites and get twelve staffs from them, one from the leader of each of their ancestral tribesWrite the name of each man on his staff. On the staff of Levi write Aaron’s name, for there must be one staff for the head of each ancestral tribe. Place them in the tent of meeting in front of the ark of the covenant law, where I meet with you. The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid myself of this constant grumbling against you by the Israelites.”

The next day Moses entered the tent and saw that Aaron’s staff, which represented the tribe of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds. Then Moses brought out all the staffs from the Lord’s presence to all the Israelites. They looked at them, and each of the leaders took his own staff.

The Lord said to Moses, “Put back Aaron’s staff in front of the ark of the covenant law, to be kept as a sign to the rebellious. This will put an end to their grumbling against me, so that they will not die.” Moses did just as the Lord commanded him.

The Israelites said to Moses, “We will die! We are lost, we are all lost! Anyone who even comes near the Tabernacle of the Lord will die. Are we all going to die?”

Why?

In order to let the Israelites not grumble again, the Lord let twelve tribes staff in the tent, and only Aaron's staff sprouted and budded, blossomed, and produced almonds. This is the symbol that the Lord has chosen Aaron as the priest before the Lord. Other tribes are not chosen.

It is the Lord who shows his power and decisions and symbols before the Israelites that who is chosen before the Lord. 

Israelites have gotten the grace from the Lord but still rebel against the Lord, for men easily forget the grace of the Lord when private desire rises up and overcomes the heart of fear the Lord, then grumble comes out.

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瘟疫止住了,亞倫在死人活人中間是為百姓禱告,神聽了亞倫的禱告,已經證明亞倫有這樣的權柄。再次以亞倫的杖來證明亞倫的權柄來自神!

本來只是可拉這族人的不滿,後來卻漫延到全會眾,摩西、亞倫是唯一能夠親近會幕的人。杖代表權柄。只是隔天杖就開花、結果,其他的杖是枯枝,只有連在葡萄樹上才能開花結果。這也代表神的創造性的權能,及生命的延續。代表亞倫也領受從神來的權柄與生命。結了熟杏,杏樹在耶利米書中,杏樹在春天最早開花,也預告春天來了。耶利米書中表示神的證話話快成就了。神揀選了亞倫,利未支派,必定會成就的,同樣進入應許之地也必成就。神必定成就神的話。

以色列人對摩西說:我們死啦!我們滅亡啦!都滅亡啦!凡挨近耶和華帳幕的是必死的。我們都要死亡嗎?Why?

百姓原來對神的話是存懷疑的態度,現在反而嚇死了,沒有想到是否相信神,反而百姓擔心自己是否也被擊殺。百姓沒有想到這是神的恩典,只是單純害怕神,神是要人尊榮神,不是要人因為神的刑罰而怕神。

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How?

Fear the Lord and obey the command of the Lord is our way and salvation in our short life in this world.



Tuesday, July 25, 2023

The next day the whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron

Numbers 16:36-50

The Lord said to Moses, “Tell Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest, to remove the censers from the charred remains and scatter the coals some distance away, for the censers are holy the censers of the men who sinned at the cost of their lives. Hammer the censers into sheets to overlay the altar, for they were presented before the Lord and have become holy. Let them be a sign to the Israelites.”

So Eleazar the priest collected the bronze censers brought by those who had been burned to death, and he had them hammered out to overlay the altar, as the Lord directed him through Moses. This was to remind the Israelites that no one except a descendant of Aaron should come to burn incense before the Lord, or he would become like Korah and his followers.

The next day the whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. “You have killed the Lord’s people,” they said.

Then Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer and put incense in it, along with burning coals from the altar, and hurry to the assembly to make atonement for them. Wrath has come out from the Lord; the plague has started.” 

But 14,700 people died from the plague, in addition to those who had died because of Korah. Then Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance to the tent of meeting, for the plague had stopped.

Why?

Grumble means against the Lord, do not trust in the Lord, so the wrath of the Lord started with the plague.

If we trust the Lord we should live with joy and peace under any circumstances.

The cencers are Holy not because used by the sinners. so the Lord asked Moses to collect the censers and hammer them into sheets to overlay the altar. And it reminds people should not come to burn incense in their own way.

Grumble: Complaint about something in a bad-tempered way. make a low rumbling sound. to complain about someone or something in an annoyed way. They feel unfair or they like to judge others in their way, The Lord did not satisfy their needs, the food, the property or the health or the income, and their family safety. People are always selfish in facing everything, but the Lord loves us and even gave us his son as our salvation. Who can compare to the Lord? How can we complain or grumble about anything?

People grumbled Moses and Aaron complained to the Lord. Those people still did not understand to be a people of the Lord.

How?

God is Holy so all of God's followers have to be Holy before the Lord!





Monday, July 24, 2023

will you be angry with the entire assembly when only one man sins?

Numbers 16:16-35

Moses said to Korah, “You and all your followers are to appear before the Lord tomorrow—you and they and Aaron. Each man is to take his censer and put incense in it—250 censers in all—and present it before the Lord. You and Aaron are to present your censers also.” So each of them took his censer, put burning coals and incense in it, and stood with Moses and Aaron at the entrance to the tent of meeting. When Korah had gathered all his followers in opposition to them at the entrance to the tent of meeting, the glory of the Lord appeared to the entire assembly. The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Separate yourselves from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once.”

But Moses and Aaron fell facedown and cried out, “O God, the God who gives breath to all living things, will you be angry with the entire assembly when only one man sins?

Then the Lord said to Moses,  “Say to the assembly, ‘Move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.’”

Then Moses said, “This is how you will know that the Lord has sent me to do all these things and that it was not my idea: If these men die a natural death and suffer the fate of all mankind, then the Lord has not sent me. But if the Lord brings about something totally new, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them, with everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the realm of the dead, then you will know that these men have treated the Lord with contempt.”

As soon as he finished saying all this, the ground under them split apart and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, and all those associated with Korah, together with their possessions.  They went down alive into the realm of the dead, with everything they owned; the earth closed over them, and they perished and were gone from the community. At their cries, all the Israelites around them fled, shouting, “The earth is going to swallow us too!” And fire came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense.

But when the assembly gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron and turned toward the tent of meeting, suddenly the cloud covered it and the glory of the Lord appeared. Then Moses and Aaron went to the front of the tent of meeting, and the Lord said to Moses,  “Get away from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once.” And they fell facedown.

But 14,700 people died from the plague, in addition to those who had died because of Korah. Then Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance to the tent of meeting, for the plague had stopped.

Why?

Moses under this situation still prayed to the Lord for his people, "Will you be angry with the entire assembly when one man sins? So the Lord put the family of Korah and 250 men who were offering the incense.

Even though many people still opposed Moses and Aaron, people like to get more power, and grumbling may influence them. People feel unfair but they forget that we are not the judge but the Lord is.

How?

Do not grumble in our daily life, No one likes to grumble today but trust in the Lord, all my way and my life is arranged and protected by the Lord. 






Sunday, July 23, 2023

Korah, Dathan and Abiram against Moses

Numbers 16:1-15

Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain Reubenites they came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the Lord’s assembly?

When Moses heard this, he fell facedown. Then he said to Korah and all his followers: “In the morning the Lord will show who belongs to him and who is holy, and he will have that person come near him. The man he chooses he will cause to come near him. You, Korah, and all your followers are to do this: Take censers and tomorrow put burning coals and incense in them before the Lord. The man the Lord chooses will be the one who is holy. You Levites have gone too far!

He has brought you and all your fellow Levites near himself, but now you are trying to get the priesthood too. It is against the Lord that you and all your followers have banded together. Who is Aaron that you should grumble against him?

Then Moses became very angry and said to the Lord, “Do not accept their offering. I have not taken so much as a donkey from them, nor have I wronged any of them.”

Why?
How do we look at the position and servant's work in the churches? The key point is not the position but is the heart to serve others. Everything does one thing in church and all of us united to serve the Lord and honor the Holy name of the Lord.

The point of Korah and his followers they were still like the life in Egypt, they thought they may live better than in wildness. They were still like to be slaves of Egypt instead of being free before the Lord. They refuse the love of the Lord and the righteousness of the Lord. Even the Lord has saved them tne times after they came from Egypt.

How?

May the Lord give me a clear mind and lead me to walk on the way to honor the Holy name of the Lord.



Saturday, July 22, 2023

Offerings for Unintentional Sins

Numbers 15:17-41

You and the foreigner shall be the same before the Lord: The same laws and regulations will apply both to you and to the foreigner residing among you.

The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter the land to which I am taking you and you eat the food of the land, present a portion as an offering to the Lord. Present a loaf from the first of your ground meal and present it as an offering from the threshing floor. Throughout the generations to come you are to give this offering to the Lord from the first of your ground meal.

if this is done unintentionally without the community being aware of it, then the whole community is to offer a young bull for a burnt offering as an aroma pleasing to the Lordalong with its prescribed grain offering and drink offering, and a male goat for a sin offering. The priest is to make atonement for the whole Israelite community, and they will be forgiven, for it was not intentional and they have presented to the Lord for their wrong a food offering and a sin offering. The whole Israelite community and the foreigners residing among them will be forgiven, because all the people were involved in the unintentional wrong.

But if just one person sins unintentionally, that person must bring a year-old female goat for a sin offering.

But anyone who sins defiantly, whether native-born or foreigner, blasphemes the Lord and must be cut off from the people of Israel. Because they have despised the Lord’s word and broken his commands, they must surely be cut off; their guilt remains on them.

Why?

Unintentionally sins are different from anyone who sins defiantly. Unintentionally sins could be erased when offering the sacrifice to the Lord, and the priest to make atonement for them. But sins defiantly is against the word of the Lord, so will be put to dead.

Sabbath day is the day to honor the Lord, so if go out to work will be put to death. it is against the laws of the Lord.

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素祭要把工作成果獻給神!

初熟的果子要獻舉祭:在享受之前想到獻給神,這所有一切都是神所賜的。相信奉獻初熟果子以後還會有一批一批的進來。舉祭用初熟的麥子做餅獻給神,舉起來奉獻給神,放下來是從神那裏領受下來,這些其實要給祭司的。

誤犯是一時軟弱,不是出於對抗神,不是給人犯罪的理由,是神給人一條路,重新開始。贖罪祭不是讓人可以犯罪,如果故意挑戰神,明知故犯就必須治死。

干犯安息日的罪有這麼嚴重嗎?剛講完宣告上面的話,這人是故意褻瀆神,所以被治死!守安息日最明顯,在於是否看重神?還是看重自己。猶太人多麼看重安息日,神也看重,今天我們是否參加主日?繸子在於提醒我們不要忘記神的命令!

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How?

Our God is full of love and righteousness. Fear the Lord is the way to living in peace and joy.



Friday, July 21, 2023

An aroma pleasing to the Lord

Numbers 15:1-16

You present to the Lord food offerings from the herd or the flock, as an aroma pleasing to the Lord—whether burnt offerings or sacrifices, for special vows or freewill offerings or festival offerings— then the person who brings an offering shall present to the Lord a grain offering of a tenth of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with a quarter of a hin of olive oil. With each lamb for the burnt offering or the sacrifice, prepare a quarter of a hin of wine as a drink offering.

With a ram prepare a grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with a third of a hin of olive oil, and a third of a hin of wine as a drink offering. Offer it as an aroma pleasing to the Lord.

When you prepare a young bull as a burnt offering or sacrifice, for a special vow or a fellowship offering to the Lord, bring with the bull a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with half a hin of olive oil, and also bring half a hin of wine as a drink offering

The community is to have the same rules for you and for the foreigner residing among you; this is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. You and the foreigner shall be the same before the Lord: The same laws and regulations will apply both to you and to the foreigner residing among you.

Why?

An aroma pleasing to the Lord is God pleased.

All of these offerings with the flock, ram, lamb, or bull are with different grains of olive oil and wine.

All these regulations are for the burnt offering and drink offering.

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在記載事件後就會記載律法規條,教導獻祭的事。

人的問題最大是後悔跟隨主,這比道德的罪更嚴重。人會出問題,因為生命沒有建立起來。神藉著會幕把通到神面前的路建造起來,因此我們受洗後,生命需要建造、成長。

你們到了我所應許的地方,要....雖然神要他們再回到曠野,40年,是否永遠不會到應許之地?表示這事必定會成就,應許是不會改變的。

燔祭、平安祭和素祭,前兩者都是獻動物,後者是穀物。

奉獻燔祭代表全然的委身,沒有自己,不再以自我為中心,獻平安祭為了感恩,感恩的人不會驕傲,生活中每件事都心存感恩。這兩者都是為之前的事做彌補的事。同獻的素祭:油和酒,這是生活的奉獻,把工作成果獻上,不管做什麼都是為主做的。奉獻時我們每天的生活、工作也當作在為主而做的奉獻!

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How?

Worshiping the Lord or devoting something to the Lord needs to follow the regulation of the Lord declared.


Thursday, July 20, 2023

Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun

Numbers 14:26-45

So tell them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord, I will do to you the very thing I heard you say: In this wilderness your bodies will fall—every one of you twenty years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me. Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. As for your children that you said would be taken as plunder, I will bring them in to enjoy the land you have rejected. But as for you, your bodies will fall in this wilderness. Your children will be shepherds here for forty years, suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the wilderness. For forty years—one year for each of the forty days you explored the land—you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.’

these men who were responsible for spreading the bad report about the land were struck down and died of a plague before the Lord.  Of the men who went to explore the land, only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh survived.

When Moses reported this to all the Israelites, they mourned bitterly. Early the next morning they set out for the highest point in the hill country, saying, “Now we are ready to go up to the land the Lord promised. Surely we have sinned!

Nevertheless, in their presumption they went up toward the highest point in the hill country, though neither Moses nor the ark of the Lord’s covenant moved from the camp. Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down and attacked them and beat them down all the way to Hormah.

Why?

Emotional action or action without the Lord won't be successful. 

For we are sons of the Lord, we were sinners, obeying the word of the Lord is the essential way of peace and freedom to us. 

When Moses told them the word of the Lord to the Israelites we thought they had sinned so we wanted to fight the Canaanites but without Moses nor the ark of the Lord's covenant moved from the camp.

Forty years is a long time in wildness for Israelites rejected the Lord ten times. Grumbling and not trusting in the Lord is their problem.

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第一代的以色列人,20歲以上的人,即數點可以打仗的60萬人無法進應許之起,其他如婦人和孩子可以進入應許之地,因為他們完全沒有能力打仗的人,反而可以進入應許之地,得到恩典。知道自己完全沒有能力,完全依靠神的可以得勝。神的審判也是恩典,報惡信的人遭瘟疫馬上死。40天抵40年,回到曠野繼續學習認識神,依靠神。經過一年學不會,就繼續學習。38年時間足夠他們悔改!

他們不願意接受神的審判,不甘心留在曠野,他們似乎悔改,卻沒有順服神安排的道路,接受神的審判。因此他們沒有真正悔改,只是怕回到曠野,死在曠野,似乎在賭看看是否能夠得勝?拒絕神安排的路,只是憑一時的衝動。反正都會死,爭鋒陷陣也有可能會得勝。人可以勇敢,但是沒有神的同在,只會送命。

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How?

The way of these Israelites is a mirror to all Christians and how we should serve the Lord in our lives.


Wednesday, July 19, 2023

The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion

Numbers 14:11-25

The Lord said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the signs I have performed among them? I will strike them down with a plague and destroy them, but I will make you into a nation greater and stronger than they.”

Moses said to the Lord, “Then the Egyptians will hear about it! By your power you brought these people up from among them. ... If you put all these people to death, leaving none alive, the nations who have heard this report about you will say, The Lord was not able to bring these people into the land he promised them on oath, so he slaughtered them in the wilderness.’

“Now may the Lord’s strength be displayed, just as you have declared: The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.’ In accordance with your great love, forgive the sin of these people, just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now.”

The Lord replied, “I have forgiven them, as you asked.  Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the Lord fills the whole earth, not one of those who saw my glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times— not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their ancestors. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it. But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it. Since the Amalekites and the Canaanites are living in the valleys, turn back tomorrow and set out toward the desert along the route to the Red Sea.

Why?

Sometimes when we do something wrong the Lord may forgive us our sins, but sometimes the Lord doesn't forgive. It depends on the Lord. And the Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sins and rebellion. The Lord has forgiven Israelites in wildness ten times for their tested the Lord. So the Lord said they wouldn't enter the promised land. except for Caleb and Joshua.

How great is the faith and understanding pray to the Lord for Israelites! So we should pray to the Lord for those who do not know the Lord, may they have a chance to turn to the Lord and get this salvation.

How about my faith? Do I closely walk with the Lord and listen to God's word?

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摩西的禱告及神回應摩西的禱告。

神行這麼多神蹟,百姓還是不信神!批評神!為什麼百姓一件神蹟都沒有想到。這也是我們遇到關卡時我們是否也無法越過?我們也應該要記得神在我們身上行過的神蹟。

即使摩西的後代延續,並不與神對亞伯拉罕的應許違背。摩西非常清楚神的心意,神不是要降災的心意,神更在意神的榮耀,摩西按著神榮耀與慈愛的本性來禱告!神若擊殺以色列人也是公義,符合真理,但是神的榮耀是否得著?整本聖經中神都是如此,沒有因為神的公義擊殺一切背逆的人。或是說難道耶和華管不了這些人所以把他們殺了。神改用愛的能力勝過罪孽,這比毀滅的能力更大。神帶領他們回到曠野,讓他們承擔自己的罪,也是讓神的榮耀彰顯。

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How?

Trust in the Lord, God is my way and my strength. Dear Lord, please give me the faith to follow you!