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The primary purpose of the Bible is to tell us who God is, who we are, how we are to live in relationship with God, and how we are to live in relationship with each other.
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BitByBitBible
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Today is Palm Sunday - a great time to recall the Hebrew festivals and how they are fulfilled in Jesus. We can add that Palm Sunday - 4 days before Passover - was when the lambs were selected for sacrifice. Powerful imagery and foreshadow for Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection.
BitByBitBible@BitByBitBible
Festivals – God’s Instruction to a Redeemed People Foreshadow God’s Plan of Redemption: Spring Festivals: · Passover o Passover commemorates a substitutionary protective sacrifice. o Passover foreshadows Jesus’s crucifixion as the Lamb of God. · Unleavened Bread (Matza, bread without yeast) o Matza commemorates the beginning of Israel’s redemption journey. o Matza foreshadows Jesus’ death and burial without sin. · Firstfruits o Firstfruits celebrates the beginning of the harvest. o Firstfruits foreshadows Jesus’ resurrection. Jesus was crucified on Passover, buried as the first day of Matza began, and was resurrected on Firstfruits - the exact biblical days! But that's not all!! Summer Festival: The Festival of Weeks was a summer festival: · “Weeks” commemorates Moses receiving Torah instruction on Mt. Sinai and telling Israel to write God’s instruction on their hearts and minds. · “Weeks” foreshadows the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. We know Weeks better by its Greek name, Pentecost, where God sent the Holy Spirit to write God’s instruction in our hearts and minds. Again, this was the exact biblical day! But that's still not all!!! Fall Festivals: There were also three Hebrew festivals in the fall, and each appears to foreshadow a part of God’s Plan of Redemption: · Day of Trumpets is a call to sacred assembly for God’s people. · The Day of Atonement is the day that God’s temple was cleansed and God’s people forgiven. · The Festival of Tabernacles commemorated Israel’s entry into the Promised Land after years of wandering. These appear to foreshadow: · The trumpet call as Jesus’ returns · The final cleansing of God’s people and the end of sin · Our entry into the final Promised Land! The Hebrew festivals are amazing!!!!
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The Greatest Man That Ever Lived
He had no servants, yet they called Him Master.
He had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher.
He had no medicines, yet they called Him Healer.
He had no army, yet kings feared Him.
He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world.
He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him.
He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today.
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The primary purpose of the Bible is to tell us who God is, who we are, how we are to live in relationship with God, and how we are to live in relationship with each other.
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In Exodus, God reintroduces Himself. In doing so, God reveals:
· His essence: self-existent, eternal, unique, omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient
· His name: YHWH
· His character: compassionate, gracious, loving, patient, forgiving, faithful, and just.
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Genesis – Review/ Overview:
In Genesis, we learn:
· that God is our Creator
· that we are made in God’s image - with a spirit that makes us rational, relational, creative, and moral
· that we were given a Free Will so that love could be authentic
· that we chose rebellion (the Fall), and have a Sinful Nature
· that our Sinful Nature is violent and destructive
· that God began a Plan of Redemption by setting apart a people - through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (whom God named Israel) – known as the Line of Promise – the lineage of Jesus.
The Plan of Redemption is to restore the relationship between God and mankind that was lost in the Fall. The Plan of Redemption leads to Jesus. Genesis tell us that through Jesus, all peoples will be blessed.
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Numbers – Joshua to Succeed Moses:
The Book of Numbers (In the Wilderness) closes with Israel camped on the east side of the Jordan River. God called Joshua to succeed Moses in leading Israel. Moses will make a final address to Israel - and that is what we find in the Book of Deuteronomy - Moses' Sermon on the Mount.
Moses serves as a “type” or foreshadow for Jesus. Moses:
· was saved as an infant from a king ordering Hebrew boys to be killed;
· was initially rejected by Israel, but accepted after a period of time;
· led God’s people out of bondage;
· spoke with the authority of God;
· ordained the priesthood;
· entered God’s presence to mediate for God’s people; and
· led God’s people to the Promised Land.
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Numbers – God Uses a False Prophet to Prophesy of Jesus:
As Israel approached the eastern border of the Promised Land, across the Jordan River, they defeated the Amorites and gained access to the land of Moab. The king of Moab was frightened of Israel, and called upon a false prophet (Balaam) to engage in divination against Israel. Instead, God used Balaam to prophesy. Balaam declared that Yahweh is King. Balaam prophesied that Jacob (Israel) would produce a King that would be exalted, but in the distant future ("I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near"). This exalted King is Jesus!
· For the curious, this is the account that includes the talking donkey.
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Numbers – Trust and Obey:
While in the wilderness, a second rebellion by the new generation of Israel was about lacking food and water as Israel moved from the southern border of the Promised Land to its eastern border, across the Jordan River. God sent venomous snakes. After Israel recognized its rebellion, God told Moses to craft a bronze serpent and place it atop a pole. Anyone who looked upon the serpent would be healed. The message was not about the bronze serpent, but about trusting God and obeying His instruction – we are healed when we trust and obey.
Everyone knows John 3:16. Can you tell us what John 3:15 says? Interestingly, nearly all of us read right by it. In John 3:15, Jesus referred to the bronze snake from this account in Numbers. Those who look upon Him (trust Him) and lift Him up (exalt Him) will receive eternal life.
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Numbers – Further Rebellion in the Wilderness:
Forty years pass with Israel in the wilderness. The Bible presents rebellions by the new generation of Israel. Israel grumbled for water. God told Moses to speak to a rock. Instead, Moses struck the rock twice. Water flowed, but this action by Moses led to he and Aaron being denied entry into the Promised Land. The key to the seriousness of this offense is probably in the language that Moses used – that he and Aaron would produce water – not crediting God.
There is also possible symbolism of Jesus in the Rock from which water flowed. Moses was instructed to strike the rock earlier at Mt. Sinai, but to speak to the rock here. Jesus, the Rock from which Living Water would flow, would only be struck once (the crucifixion).
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Numbers – Challenge to Authority:
While in the wilderness, one of Israel's rebellions against God was challenging Moses and Aaron's authority to lead Israel, and Aaron's authority to represent the tribes before God as High Priest. God instructed Moses to place a staff from each tribe (a symbol of authority) in the Tabernacle before God. The next day, Aaron's staff had budded, blossomed, and produced almonds. Aaron's line were the only people authorized to represent Israel before God. Aaron's staff was placed beside the Ark as a reminder of the rebellion.
· In its symbolism of Jesus, the staff came back to life in God's presence (Jesus' resurrection), evidenced in the morning (empty tomb), was publicly revealed and then taken back into the presence of God (seated at God's right hand).
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Numbers – First Arrival at the Promised Land:
When Israel arrived at the southern border of the Promised Land, God allowed 12 scouts to be sent out - one from each tribe. After 40 days scouting, 10 of the 12 scouts that returned were fearful. 2 of the 12 scouts argued that God should be trusted (Joshua and Caleb). Israel sided with the 10 fearful scouts. For this rebellion, refusing to trust God to deliver them the land, God appeared to all Israel and told them that they would instead spend 40 years in the wilderness. All adults except Joshua and Caleb would lose the privilege of entering the Promised Land.
· In the Bible, the number 40 reflects a period of testing, trial, or probation, and ends with a period of restoration, revival or renewal.
o 40 days of rain in the Flood
o 40 days on Mt. Sinai for Moses (twice)
o 40 years in the desert for Israel
o 40 days of fasting in the wilderness for Elijah
o 40 days of fasting in the wilderness for Jesus
o 40 days between the resurrection and ascension of Jesus
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Numbers – Rebellion
Shortly after Israel left Mt Sinai, the Bible presents stories of rebellion against God. Moses asked for help in leading Israel, and God placed His Spirit on 70 elders to help. God began to deal more harshly with Israel for its continued rebellion. Israel was still a spiritual infant, but God expected them to grow in trust.
· Moses and the 70 elders were used as a pattern when the Jewish Sanhedrin was formed. The Sanhedrin was made up of the High Priest and 70 Jewish leaders.
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Numbers – Departing Mt. Sinai:
At Mt. Sinai, the first commemorative Passover celebration was held and the Wilderness Tabernacle was dedicated for operation. God then called Israel to head to the Promised Land – 600 years after God's promise to Abraham. 600 years!
As Israel set out from Mt Sinai, God instructed them in how to organize as they travel. At the center was the Wilderness Tabernacle surrounded by Levites. 3 tribes were on the east, headed by Judah (symbol a lion). 3 tribes were on the west, headed by Ephraim (symbol an ox). 3 tribes were on the north, headed by Dan (symbol an eagle). 3 tribes were on the south, headed by Reuben (symbol a man).
· Interestingly these tribal symbols match the pattern seen in heaven by Ezekiel and John (in Revelation) - creatures that protect God's throne.
· Given the counts in the tribal census, this formation formed a cross.
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Numbers – God Adopted the Levites:
In Numbers, we are told that God adopted the Levites away from Israel for service to Him. Recall that Jacob adopted Joseph's two sons, so there were 13 tribes of Israel. God adopting the Levites returns Israel to 12 tribes that inherit land. Levites were ordained for service to the Tabernacle, and Aaron's sons were further ordained to serve as priests.
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Numbers – In the Wilderness:
The Book of Numbers is named that because of the census data at the beginning, but it is better understood by its Hebrew name, B'midbar, which means "in the wilderness." Numbers will take us from Mt Sinai to Israel's eventual entry point into the Promised Land - a period God intended to be about 3 weeks, but that turned into 40 years because of Israel's rebellion.
· Census data was taken for battle and for taxation. This census data was taken as God intended the battle for the Promised Land to soon begin.
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Exodus – God’s Judgement / Consequences:
Through instruction of the Torah, we learned that God expects obedience from redeemed people. As we walk through the Old Testament, we will see what is often referred to as God's judgment, but is better referred to as consequences - consequences designed to draw His people back to Him. God's acts of judgment are largely designed to drive us back into relationship with Him. When we see this, we see God and the Bible in the context of God's character - compassionate, gracious, loving, faithful, forgiving, patient, and just (Exodus 34:6-7).
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Exodus – Israel at Mt. Sinai for a year:
Israel remained at Mt. Sinai for nearly a year. They were fed by daily manna. Their water came from a rock. A pillar of cloud and fire remained with them for protection. They had heard God speak audibly. The wilderness Tabernacle was constructed, and God's glory visibly descended on the newly consecrated place of God's presence. Israel was in an amazing period of learning who God is and that He is the only God.
· The Bible says that God's glory descended on the Tabernacle. The word for descend is Hebrew shakan, and this is the basis for the term you may hear - Shekinah Glory.
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Exodus – God’s Character Revealed:
After the golden calf incident, Moses reascended Mt. Sinai. Moses confessed to God the sin of the people and asked for God's forgiveness. Moses also asked God "show me your glory", and God said that His goodness would pass before Moses.
Earlier on Mt. Sinai, God gave Moses his essence, "I AM that I AM" (unique, eternal, self-existent, omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient). Then God gave Moses his name, YHWH (Yahweh).
God passed by Moses, repeated His name, Yahweh, and revealed His character - compassionate, gracious, patient, loving, faithful, forgiving and just (Exodus 34:6-7).
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