Tag Archives: church

Some Strive to be “Real,” but God’s Standard is Still “Holy!” (Leviticus 22)

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Scripture reading– Leviticus 22

It has been said that “familiarity breeds contempt,” which, unfortunately, is often true of religion, especially when practice is susceptible to becoming mindless rote and traditions. The same was true for the priests of Israel. Therefore, today’s Scripture reading addressed the conduct of God’s ministers (Leviticus 22:1-9) and reminds us that the LORD requires those who serve Him to be holy in person and practice (22:1-2).

Discerning Between the Clean, and the Unclean (22:1-9)

Unclean priests were not allowed to touch or eat anything dedicated to the LORD (22:3). Several concerns could render a priest unclean and, therefore, unfit for service. As such, he was prohibited from partaking in sacrifices reserved for their consumption (22:4-9). For instance, a priest with leprosy, or an open sore (“running issue”), was deemed unclean and could not “eat of the holy things, until he [became] clean” (22:4). Also, touching a dead animal, or an unclean animal, would render a priest unclean (22:5).

To be declared clean, a priest would bathe with water and then wait until “when the sun is down” (22:6-7). When pronounced clean, the priest could eat the portion “of the holy things; because it is his food” (22:7).

Once again, we are reminded that when an animal died of natural causes (whether sickness or disease) or was torn and maimed, it must not be eaten (22:8). Failure to keep God’s ordinances regarding meat to be consumed could result in sickness and even death from an acquired disease (22:9).

Eligibility to Eat the Priest’s Portion of the Sacrifices (22:10-16)

The “stranger,” one who was not of the priest’s family or household, was not to eat a portion of the sacrifice reserved for the priest and his family (22:10). Slaves and servants of priests were allowed to “eat of [the priest’s]meat” (22:11).

While the daughter of a priest could eat a portion of the sacrifice reserved for her father, a daughter married to a man who was not a priest was excluded from his table (22:12). Should the daughter of a priest return to his home, she would be allowed to partake at her father’s table (22:12-13).

In case one unknowingly ate a portion of the priest’s sacrifice, he was required to restore the portion he had taken and give an additional “fifth part” (20%) to the priest (22:14-16).

Acceptable Sacrifices (22:17-33)

Sacrifices offered to the LORD were to be of the highest standard (22:17-25). There was the temptation to offer animals for sacrifice that were deformed, ill, or injured. God’s standard for an acceptable sacrifice was “a male without blemish” (22:19-20). “Peace offerings,” whether cow, oxen, sheep, or goat, were to “be perfect to be accepted” and with “no blemish” (22:21). The LORD accepted only the best (22:22-25).

To remind us that God is compassionate, no firstborn bull, sheep, or goat was to be taken from its mother and sacrificed until it was at least eight days old (22:27). Furthermore, it was never acceptable to offer a cow or sheep on the same day her young would be sacrificed (22:28). No explanation is given for the law, but the very thought of killing two generations in one day seemed callous, and even barbaric (Exodus 23:19; Deuteronomy 22:6,7). Freewill offerings of thanksgiving were to be sacrificed and then eaten “on the same day” (22:30).

The chapter closed by reminding us that the LORD is holy and commands His people to keep His “commandments, and do them” (22:31). Because He had saved Israel from slavery, the LORD reminded them, “ I am the Lord which hallow you, ³³That brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the Lord” (22:32-33).

Closing thoughts: Believers no longer offer blood sacrifices because Christ is our sacrifice, Savior, and Redeemer (Hebrews 9:14, 28).

So, what does the LORD require of believers?

First, in light of His mercies and grace expressed through the shedding of Christ’s blood, He asks that we “present [our] bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is [our] reasonable service” (Romans 12:1). While the world demands we conform to its mold, the LORD commands that we should be “transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:1–2). Only the highest standard was acceptable to the LORD, and He will accept no less in those who serve Him.

Questions to consider:

1) What were the sons of Aaron forbidden if they were unclean? (22:3-8)

2) Who could not eat a portion of the priests’ meat? (22:10, 12)

3) What offerings did the LORD accept? (22:19)

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Abominable, Detestable Sins (Leviticus 18; Leviticus 19)

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Scripture reading – Leviticus 18-19

Our study in Leviticus moves on from clean and unclean meats (Leviticus 17), to the nation’s morality and the sanctity of the institution of marriage (Leviticus 18).

Leviticus 18

A Call to Be Holy (18:1-5)

The LORD commanded Moses, “speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am the Lord your God. ³After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances” (18:2-3).

Reminding the nation, “I am the LORD your God” (18:2, 4), He commanded Israel not to follow after the ways of the heathen, for He had chosen and called them out of Egypt. If the people would keep His commandments and walk in His precepts (18:4-5), He promised He would bless them.

Leviticus 18:6-18 leaves no doubt that the ways of the heathen were not to be the ways of Israel. While the Egyptians and the Canaanites practiced immorality and ungodliness (18:3), the LORD would accept nothing less than the sanctity of marriage between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24; Exodus 20:14; Leviticus 18:20). (Understanding the sad state of morality in both the world and the church, we dare not take the explicit nature of this passage lightly.)

The Abominable Sin of Incest (18:6-18)

The phrase “uncover their nakedness” (18:6) references the sexual act reserved for marriage and is found throughout this passage. The LORD had no tolerance for incest, and its practice was a capital offense, and its subjects would be stoned.

The following sexual relationships were forbidden and deemed incestuous. Sex with one’s parent (18:7), stepmother (18:8), sister or half-sister (18:9), grand-daughter (18:10), daughter of a stepmother (18:11), an aunt, both fraternal and maternal (18:12-14), daughter-in-law (18:15), sister-in-law (18:16), sex with a mother and her daughter (18:17), or sisters, unless the first had died (18:18) were forbidden.

Child Sacrifice, Homosexuality, and Bestiality (18:21-23)

Child sacrifice, practiced among the heathen, was an abomination to the God of Israel (18:21). The LORD declared homosexuality an abomination (18:22), and God’s judgment fell on Sodom and Gomorrah because of that sin (Genesis 19). Bestiality, the sin of a man or woman lying with a beast, was described as “confusion” (18:23) and, therefore, a perversion of God’s natural law and order.

The Wickedness of Man Calls for God’s Judgment (18:24-30)

The LORD warned Israel that He had no tolerance should His people adopt the ways of the heathen. Man’s sins not only defile himself, but also infect the land (18:24). God warned that should His people practice the evil ways of the wicked, the land would vomit out its inhabitants (18:25-28). Any who refused to “do [His] judgments, and keep [His] ordinances” (18:4), the LORD warned those souls would be excommunicated, “cut off from among their people” (18:29).

Leviticus 19

A Brief Review of the Commandments and the Law

Leviticus 19 repeated the LORD’s call for Israel to be holy as their God (19:1). His commandments served as guiding precepts for godly living, and the people were given practical applications of God’s Law for daily life. For example, charity to the poor (19:9-10), paying an honest, fair wage (19:13), showing sympathy to those less fortunate (19:14), and loving one’s neighbor in word and deed are stressed (19:15-22) as the will of God.

Principles for horticulture were given, and the people were instructed to put off harvesting the fruit of newly planted trees for three years, dedicating the fruit of the fourth year to the LORD as first fruits, and “in the fifth year [the people were permitted to] eat of the fruit” (19:23-25).

Unlike their neighbors, Hebrew men were not to “round the corners of [their] heads, neither…mar the corners of [their] beard” (19:27). There was also the prohibition of “cuttings” and “marks” (tattoos) upon the flesh, as the people were reminded this was the commandment of “the LORD” (19:28).

Honor Your Elder (19:32)

The practice of standing when in the presence of those older than yourself is found here. The people were instructed to honor their elders, saying, “Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the Lord” (19:32).

Honesty and Integrity in Business (19:35-36)

The command to “love thy neighbor as thyself” (19:18) was also to be expressed in business. Honesty and integrity are at the heart of good business, and God’s people were commanded to be “just” in measuring items by weight and volume (19:36).

Closing thoughts and applications:

There is a crisis of integrity and morality in the 21^st century, and not even the congregations of believers are free of moral failure. There was a time when the lives of God’s people were defined by His Word, Law, and Commandments, and our lives and homes set the moral high ground for a nation. Sadly, many believers have an appetite for “Egypt” (the world) and look to society, social media, politicians, judges, and liberal media for their moral judgments and practices.

Warning: Our homes, churches, schools, and nation will not be blessed until our consciences are disciplined by God’s Word, Laws, and Commandments (18:30).

Questions to consider:

1) In the Bible, Egypt was a type or symbol of the world. What did the LORD say about the “doings” of Egypt and Canaan? (Leviticus 18:12-3)

2) Immorality defiles not only one’s life and family, but also the land and nation. What is the response of the “land” to gross immorality? (Leviticus 18:24-25)

3) Who is the believer’s standard of holiness? (Leviticus 19:2)

4) How do believers honor their elders? (Leviticus 19:32)

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The Holy Calling of the PastorShepherd (Leviticus 7; Leviticus 8)

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Scripture reading – Leviticus 7-8

Leviticus 7

Our study of the various sin offerings required by the Law continues in Leviticus 7, where we are introduced to “the law of the trespass offering,” a sacrifice identified with an individual’s sin.

The Trespass or Guilt Offerings (7:1-10)

Following similar guidelines as the “burnt offering” (Leviticus 1), the “trespass offering” (also known as the guilt or reparations offering) was sacrificed by an individual whose sins caused others to suffer harm or loss.

Unlike the “burnt offerings,” the priests were permitted to take a portion of the guilt or trespass offerings (7:5-7). Also, the skin or hide of the offering was the priest’s, as were other parts (including the meat or grain offering and oil, 7:8-10).

The Peace Offering (7:11-27)

Leviticus 7:11-21 described the peace offering, which acknowledged God’s grace and offered thanksgiving to Him for His mercies. Because it was a free-will offering, this was the only offering the donor could partake in. Prescribed for the peace offering was the sacrifice of oxen which was accompanied by offerings of “unleavened cakes…unleavened wafers…and cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour, fired” (7:12). The portions of the peace offering not consumed by the fire were given to the priests for their consumption.

The “fat of the beast” and “blood” portions of the offerings not to be eaten were stated in Leviticus 7:22-27 (the specific parts of the “fat of the beast” that were forbidden were also described in Leviticus 3:3-4, 9). Notice as well that the blood of sacrifices was never to be consumed because it was the means of atonement (17:11). The penalty for consuming that which God had forbidden (the “fat of the beast,” or the “blood”) was egregious, for it meant to “be cut off from” the congregation (7:25, 27).

I will consider in a future study the priests’ share of the peace offering (7:28-38).

Leviticus 8 – The Consecration of the Priesthood

The Public Ordination of Priests (8:1-6)

Leviticus 8 established the Levitical priesthood and consecrated Aaron and his sons to serve before the LORD on behalf of the nation (8:1-5). Each step of the ordination was detailed, beginning with a ceremonial washing of Aaron and his sons with water (8:6).

The Dedication of the Tabernacle and the High Priest (8:7-12)

As the high priest, Aaron was distinguished by his garments (8:7-9). Exodus 28 and Exodus 39 described the high priest’s garments, including his breastplate (8:8), upon which twelve precious stones were mounted. Referred to as “the breastplate of judgment,” the names of the Twelve Tribes of Israel were engraved on those stones (Exodus 28:30).

As an act of dedication and consecration to the LORD, anointing oil was sprinkled upon the Tabernacle, its implements, the altar, and the laver (where the priests washed their hands and feet). Because he was the high priest, anointing oil was poured upon Aaron’s head and served as an outward testimony of his sanctification (meaning he was set apart for ministry, 8:10-12).

The Sin Offering and Consecration of the High Priest and His Sons (8:13-36)

Acknowledging that the high priest and his sons served as priests and yet were sinners, Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon a “bullock (or Ox) for the sin offering.” The bullock served as a symbol of sin atonement (8:14-17). A ram was also brought as a “burnt offering,” and its blood was applied to Aaron and his sons “upon the tip of their right ear, and upon the thumbs of their right hands, and upon the great toes of their right feet” (8:23-24).

Aaron and his sons remained at the tabernacle for seven days as Moses offered sacrifices and consecrated those men to the LORD as priests (8:31-36). Then, as we will see, on the eighth day, Aaron and his sons began to minister before the LORD and offered sacrifices for the people (Leviticus 9:1-24).

Closing thoughts:

As I close today’s devotion, I am reminded of the great responsibility borne by those who minister before the LORD for God’s people. Offering sacrifices is no longer necessary because Christ is our substitutionary sacrifice and high priest (Hebrews 7:25-28). Nevertheless, the LORD has called and ordained men whom He has set apart to shepherd His people spiritually (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:1:7-9).

The pastor’s work as a shepherd is described in 1 Peter 5:2-4, where we read: “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; ³ Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. ⁴ And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”

Such is the great calling of the pastor. He is to be a teacher, shepherd, and spiritual leader in word and example. (1 Timothy 5:11-12)

Questions to Consider:

1) Who could eat some of the trespass (guilt) offerings? (Leviticus 7:6)

2) Where was Moses when God gave him the law concerning the sacrifices to be offered to Him? (Leviticus 7:38)

3) Where were Aaron and his sons ordained to the priesthood? (Leviticus 8:2-4)

4) What was the consequence if Aaron or his sons disobeyed the LORD and abandoned their place of consecration? (Leviticus 8:35)

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“We the People” Must Say, ‘Never Again!’”

You are invited to join Hillsdale Baptist Church for our 10:30 AM worship service this Sunday, March 26, 2023. I am continuing my new chronological series through the Bible titled “Logos: A Journey of Faith, Hope, and Love.” I am currently focusing on the patriarchs of the Book of Genesis, with the subject this week being Jacob and the two sisters he took as his wives. This Sunday’s sermon is titled Leah and Rachel: An “Unhappily Ever After” Story of Love and is taken from Genesis 28:10-30:24.

The following is my bulletin letter for the week titled:

“We the People” Must Say, ‘Never Again!’”

Can you believe this is the last Sunday of March? I am stunned at how fast time passes. For instance, three years have passed since COVID-19 was all the rage, and the world was compelled to “shelter in place.” While “Antifa” and other left-wing groups were encouraged to rally, protest, and riot, American businesses, schools, and churches were shuttered, and many never reopened!

Hillsdale missed Resurrection Sunday 2020 and “stayed in place,” only to learn the pandemic might have been a “Plandemic.” Even today, our nation and world are wrecked by government and corporate guidelines that crippled our nation. Tragically, the paranoia of 2020 lingers in our psyche, as does the growing oppression of our constitutional liberties.

Therefore, I have determined in my heart, “Never Again!” Never again will we trust or believe the messaging of government agencies, the media, corporations, or institutions (that includes schools, churches, and organizations). The radical left is antithetical to our faith and has vested power in every imaginable venue. The socialist-communist left is entrenched in government agencies. Members of the radical left sit in board rooms of medical and pharmaceutical companies and national and international corporations. They dominate the counting of votes and control the messaging of the media and educational institutions.

Lesson: As Bible believers, we should embrace the noble ways of the Berean believers of whom Paul wrote, “they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11). Let us be “Bereans” and question and research everything we are told, without and within the church.

Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Resurrection Sunday Services

Our children’s, teen’s, and adult choirs will combine next Sunday morning for an exciting choir anthem as we remember our LORD’s triumphant entrance into Jerusalem when He was hailed as King! But, of course, the Friday after, on the day of the Passover, many of those same voices cried for Jesus’ death shouting, “Crucify Him!” Hillsdale’s Fine Arts ministry will present the drama and music of “Calvary’s Mountain” at a “Good Friday Service” (April 7, 7:00 pm). Resurrection Sunday Morning (April 9) will be a triumphant day for celebrating Christ’s resurrection with the Sunrise Service at 8:00 am, followed by a Pancake Breakfast at 9:00 am. Our worship service that day will start at 10:00 am.

With the heart of a shepherd,

Travis D. Smith
Senior Pastor
www.HeartofAShepherd.com
HeartofAShepherdInc@gmail.com

Preparations for Worshipping the LORD (Exodus 27; Exodus 28)

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Scripture reading – Exodus 27-28

The LORD had commanded Moses, “Come up to me into the mount” (Exodus 24:12), and he and Joshua ascended Mount Sinai into the presence of the LORD. They remained there, on the mount, for “forty days and forty nights” (24:18). The LORD then gave Moses “tables of stone, and a law, and commandments” (24:12). He was instructed in the preparations that were necessary for the people to worship the Lord with their offerings (Exodus 25-31). Finally, the LORD, leaving nothing to chance, gave detailed designs for the sanctuary that would serve Israel as a perpetual reminder that He was in the midst of Israel (25:8).

Exodus 27

An Altar of Brass, The Outer Court of the Tabernacle, and Oil for the Lamp

The preparations for worship and sacrifices continued with a description of the altar of brass that would serve as the place of sacrifice. The altar was made of wood, covered in brass, and was seven feet square and four feet high (27:1). The four corners of the altar, described as “horns,” were made with rings and poles (staves), allowing the altar to be carried as the nation sojourned (27:4-8).

The Tabernacle was located within a courtyard that measured seventy-five feet on the west and east sides (27:12-13) and one hundred and fifty feet on the south and north sides (27:9-11). The outer court would have measured some ten thousand square feet.

Pure olive oil was required for lighting a lampstand that would give light “from evening to morning” (27:20-21) and serve as a perpetual reminder that the LORD was in the midst of His people.

Exodus 28

The Office and Garments of the High Priest and His Sons (28:1-3)

The brother of Moses, Aaron, and his sons were chosen by God and were to be sanctified (set apart) to serve as His priests on behalf of Israel (28:1). The garments that Aaron, the High Priest, would wear when ministering was described as “holy…for glory and for beauty” (28:2). They were “holy” because they were set apart, sanctified, and dedicated to ministry. The “glory” and “beauty” of the garments reflected the dignity of the high priest’s office.

The Garments of the High Priest (28:4-8)

Exodus 28:4-8 introduced the garments of the High Priest that consisted of a “breastplate” (a vest), an “ephod” (a ritual vest), a long one-piece robe, a coat described as “broidered,” a “mitre” (a cap), and a girdle (sash or belt that wrapped around the waist and held the breastplate in place).

Great detail was given of the High Priest’s garments, but I invite you to consider especially the breastplate and its significance (28:9-30).

Two precious stones, described as “onyx stones,” served as buttons for the front and back of the breastplate, and upon them were the names of the Twelve Tribes of Israel written (28:9-12). In addition, two stones rested on the shoulders of the High Priest and were a reminder that he was Israel’s mediator. Finally, twelve precious stones, each different from the other, were engraved with the names of each Tribe and were an ever-present reminder that the High Priest carried the children of Israel upon his heart (28:13-29).

The High Priest wore upon his forehead a plate of gold, and engraved upon it was “HOLINESS TO THE LORD” (28:36), a visual sign that he belonged to the LORD, and through the blood of sacrifices, he was Israel’s mediator (28:38).

Closing thoughts:

The garments of the High Priest gave specific evidence that there was meaning and purpose in every detail, from the breastplate over his heart that represented God’s judgment (28:15-30) to the bells about the hem of his robe whose sound gave witness to his movement within the Tabernacle, and the LORD’s acceptance of his offering on behalf of Israel (28:31-26).

Remember, the Tabernacle, the Ark, the Mercy Seat, and the Altar were types or pictures that Jesus Christ, our High Priest, ultimately fulfilled.

Hebrews 9:24, 28 – ²⁴For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:…²⁸So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Questions to consider:

1) What can the 21st-century church learn from the LORD’s attention to detail in the design and construction of the Tabernacle, its implements, and the High Priest’s garments?

2) Whom did God choose to serve Him as His high priest and priests to Israel? (28:1)

3) What names were engraved on the stones of the high priest’s breastplate? (28:9-12, 29)

4) What purpose did the bells on the high priest’s robe serve? (28:33-35)

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Commandments Written in Stone and a Place of Worship (Exodus 24; Exodus 25)

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Scripture reading – Exodus 24-25

Exodus 24

The Covenant Established and Sealed with the Blood of Sacrifices (24:1-8)

The LORD, having given His Law and Commandments (Exodus 20-23), summoned Moses, Aaron his brother, Nadab, and Abihu, sons of Aaron, and “seventy of the elders of Israel…to worship” (24:1). Moses was invited to come near the LORD; however, the others were instructed to “not come nigh; neither shall the people go up with him” (24:2).

When Moses told the people all the LORD had outlined in his covenant, “all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the Lord hath said will we do” (24:3). Then Moses wrote and memorialized “all the words of the LORD” and built an altar with twelve pillars representing the “twelve tribes of Israel” (24:4). Upon the altar, he “offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen unto the Lord” (24:5). After the people affirmed their commitment to God’s covenant (24:7), it was sealed with a sprinkling of blood (24:8).

Israel’s Leaders Imparted a Vision of God (24:9-11)

God then gave “Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel,” a glorious vision of Himself (24:10). We read, “they saw the God of Israel,” which I believe was a vision of His heavenly glory (24:10), for no mortal man can see God and live (Exodus 33:20). And so, the nobles of Israel “saw God, and did eat and drink” (24:11) a portion of that which had been sacrificed unto the LORD upon the altar.

A Divine Summons (24:12-18)

The LORD then commanded Moses, “Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them” (24:12). Moses, with Joshua accompanying him as his servant, “went up into the mount of God” (24:13). As he departed, Moses instructed the elders of the people to bring to Aaron and Hur, any matters that might arise in his absence (24:14)

Ascending the mountain, Moses and Joshua disappeared into the cloud that covered the mount. Six days passed, as the “glory of the Lord abode upon mount Sinai” (24:16a). On the seventh day, the LORD “called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud” (24:16b). Imagine the wonder of the “children of Israel,” as they gazed toward the mount, and saw “the glory of the Lord…like [a] devouring fire on the top of the mount” (24:17). Moses was “in the mount forty days and forty nights” (24:18).

Exodus 25 – An Earthly Sanctuary for the LORD

Materials for the Tabernacle (25:1-9)

With the Covenant established and sealed with sacrificial offerings, the Lord instructed Moses: “²Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering” (25:2). Gold, silver, and bronze were necessary for decorating the tabernacle, and fashioning instruments that would be used in worship and offerings.

Notice that the tabernacle would be constructed with materials the people freely gave (25:3-7). Gold, and silver, and brass” (25:3), along with dyed linens (25:4) and various tanned skins of animals (25:5). There was also “oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense were required, as were “onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate” for the high priest (25:4-7). The sanctuary’s construction (which was to be a holy place) and its vessels were to be according to the pattern and design of the LORD (25:8-9).

Instructions Concerning the Ark of the Covenant (25:10-22)

The construction and appearance of the Ark, essentially a chest made of shittim wood, was about 36 inches long and 18 inches tall and wide, and overlaid with gold (25:10-11). When Israel moved from one location to another, the Ark would be transported using rings and “staves” or rods (25:12-15).

Upon the top of the Ark was a cover of gold described as the Mercy Seat, where two cherubim faced one another. The space between the cherubim represented God’s presence and throne (25:17-22). The “Ark” was designated in the Scriptures by various names: The Ark of the Covenant, The Ark of the LORD, The Ark of God, and The Ark of the Testimony.

Also, to be fashioned and placed within the Tabernacle was a table, implements of gold (25:23-30), and a golden lampstand with seven lamps (25:31-40). Together,

the Tabernacle and Ark served Israel as an outward symbol of God’s presence among His people (25:8).

Closing thoughts:

Where did former slaves of Egypt acquire gold, silver, and precious stones?

The answer to that question was stated in Exodus 12:35-36, where we read: “³⁵And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed [requested] of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: ³⁶And the Lord gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians” (12:35-36).

In conclusion, I invite you to notice the spirit of giving God required of His people. The LORD commanded Moses, “Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering” (25:2). Every man (every head of a home and family), was commanded to give an offering to the LORD, not out of coercion, or strong-arm demands, but “willingly with his heart” (25:2).

Did you know that the same spirit of giving is commanded of 21st-century believers and comes with a promise?

2 Corinthians 9:6–7 – “⁶But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. ⁷Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”

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Mailing Address:
Heart of A Shepherd Inc
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#131
Tampa, FL 33626-1611

You can email HeartofAShepherdInc@gmail.com for more information on this daily devotional ministry.

Forsaken by Man, But not By God! (Genesis 45)

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(Additional languages available upon request by emailing HeartofAShepherdInc@gmail.com.)

Scripture reading – Genesis 45

Unable to contain his emotions, Joseph cried out suddenly, “Cause every man to go out from me” (45:1b). With only his brothers present, he wept so forcefully that his servants and those of Pharaoh’s household heard of it (45:2). Speaking for the first time without an interpreter, Joseph cried out in Hebrew, “I am Joseph; doth my father yet live?” (45:3)

Imagine that moment! They had betrayed and sold their brother as a slave, but now he stood before them. He was a powerful ruler in Egypt and a man to whom they bowed in fear and reverence. With the authority of a sovereign, and the compassion of a brother, Joseph stated in their tongue, “Come near to me, I pray you” (45:4a). With fear, awe, and dread, his brothers drew near, and he confessed, “I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt”(45:4b).

Then, he calmed their anxieties and consoled his brothers, saying, “be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life” (45:5).

Take a moment, and meditate on the last phrase: “God did send me before you to preserve life” (45:5).

Rather than bitterness, and vengeance, Joseph’s words conveyed a reassuring spirit of faith and forgiveness. He had come to see the hand of God’s providences in his life. He confessed his faith and said, “⁸So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler [with power and authority] throughout all the land of Egypt” (45:8).

Knowing there were yet five years of famine (45:6, 11), Joseph commanded his brothers, “Go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry not” (45:9). He then assured his brothers, “thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children’s children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast” (45:10).

When he finished speaking, Joseph “fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck. ¹⁵Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him” (45:14-15). Imagine the conversation that must have passed between Joseph and his brothers. Through tears and laughter, Joseph conveyed all that had passed in his twenty-two years apart from them.

The news of Joseph’s reunion with his brothers reached Pharaoh’s household, and the king of Egypt was pleased (45:17-18). The king decreed that wagons should be taken to Canaan, and the children, wives, and Joseph’s father conveyed to Egypt (45:19). Pharaoh promised that the “good of all the land of Egypt” would be theirs, and they would have need of nothing (45:21-25).

Stunning News: Joseph is Alive! (45:25-28)

Imagine the scene as an Egyptian caravan came within sight of Jacob’s encampment in Canaan (45:25). Jacob was told not only was Joseph alive, but he was “governor over all the land of Egypt.” We read the old man’s “heart fainted, for he believed them not” (45:26). Yet, seeing the wagons and all the provisions that were sent to him by his son, Jacob’s spirit was revived (25:27). “Israel (Jacob) said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die” (45:28).

Jacob was content. The LORD had preserved his life into old age and answered the longing of his heart: He would be reunited with Joseph.

Closing thoughts – Take a moment and reflect on God’s providences in Joseph’s life.

While there was often cause for sorrow, in looking back, Joseph saw the LORD orchestrate events that together worked for good (Romans 8:28). He was a teenager when his mother died giving birth to his brother Benjamin. His brothers resented, hated, and would have killed him had they not sold him as a slave. In Egypt, he was wrongly accused by his master’s wife. He became a prisoner until the LORD moved on Pharaoh’s heart to promote him second only to himself in Egypt. Though rejected, tried, and forsaken by man, Joseph accepted the hand of the LORD was ever upon him!

Friend, perhaps you find yourself in a place of rejection, afflictions, and sorrows. Take inspiration and hope from Joseph, and trust the LORD. God’s Word promises, “¹⁹Many are the afflictions of the righteous: But the Lord delivereth him out of them all” (Psalm 34:19).

Questions to consider:

Why did Joseph wait to identify himself to his brothers? (Genesis 42:7-8; 43:26-30; 45:1-4)

Why didn’t Joseph harbor bitterness and take the opportunity to seek revenge against his brothers? (Genesis 45:5-8)

What spiritual lessons can you take from Joseph’s response to the trials and troubles he suffered?

The Internal Revenue Service recognizes Heart of A Shepherd Inc as a 501c3 public charitable organization.

Mailing Address:
Heart of A Shepherd Inc
7853 Gunn Hwy
#131
Tampa, FL 33626-1611

You can email HeartofAShepherdInc@gmail.com for more information on this daily devotional ministry.

“A New World Order” – This is your invitation to join Hillsdale for this Sunday’s 10:30 AM worship service.

This Sunday, you are invited to the worship services of Hillsdale Baptist Church, Tampa, FL. Our Adult Bible Study will be broadcast at 9:15 am.

At 10:30 am, Pastor Smith will continue his study in the Book of Genesis, focusing on the world after the Flood and the rise of people and nations in the post-Flood era.

The message’s title is: “A New World Order and a Tragic End.” (Genesis 9-11)

With the heart of a shepherd,

Travis D. Smith
Senior Pastor

“Here Comes the Bride” – A Wife for Isaac (Genesis 24)

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“Here Comes the Bride” – A Wife for Isaac (Genesis 24)

Scripture reading – Genesis 24

Faithful to His promises, God blessed Sarah in her old age. At 90, she gave Abraham a son when he was 100. Yet, incredibly, she lived to be a “hundred and seven and twenty years old” (Genesis 23:1), meaning Isaac was 37 at the time of his mother’s death.

An Urgency to Find a Suitable Wife for Isaac (Genesis 24:1-9)

We read, “Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things” (24:1). Three years passed since Sarah’s death (25:20). Abraham was impressed with the urgency to prepare his son to become not only the master of the household, but also the heir of God’s covenant for Abraham’s lineage. An essential part of that preparation was choosing a wife for Isaac.

Burdened that Isaac would have a fitting wife, Abraham summoned his eldest servant (24:2) and charged him that Isaac “shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites [a heathen, idolatrous people], among whom I dwell: ⁴But thou shalt go unto my country [the country out of which God had called him, Genesis 12:1-3], and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac” (24:3-4).

The servant questioned Abraham concerning the considerations for choosing Isaac’s wife and was admonished that, should a young woman be unwilling to return with him to Canaan (24:5), he must not permit Isaac to leave the land God had given him as an inheritance (24:6-9).

The Search for Isaac’s Wife (Genesis 24:10-67)

A caravan of ten camels, servants, and supplies accompanied Abraham’s trusted servant for the 500-mile journey across the desert from Canaan to the city of Nahor in Mesopotamia (24:10).

Arriving at the well in Nahor in the evening, the servant was aware that the young women of the households would come to the well for water, and there he compelled the camels to kneel (24:11-13). Abraham’s servant made a passionate plea to the LORD to guide him (24:11-14), and “before he had done speaking…Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder” (24:14).

Rebekah was God’s answer to the servant’s prayer, for she was “very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up” (24:16). Beautiful, chaste (24:16), considerate (24:18), diligent in serving (24:19-20), and of a household that called on Jehovah (24:31a), the servant lifted his voice in praise and thanksgiving, testifying, “I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master’s brethren” (24:27).

Rewarding Rebekah with “a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold” (24:22), she invited Abraham’s servant to her family’s household where he would meet Laban, Rebekah’s brother (24:23-29).

The servant refused to be comforted by food or shelter until he stated his mission and testified of God’s providence in leading him to their home (24:30-50). Upon declaring, “I am Abraham’s servant” (24:34), he shared how God had blessed his master with great wealth (24:35) and a son who would be his heir (24:36).

Hearing God had providentially led the servant to Rebekah, her brother, and her father offered their blessing for her to become Isaac’s wife (24:50-56). When Rebekah was requested to give her consent to depart with Abraham’s servant and to be the wife of Isaac, she consented and said, “I will go” (24:58). With the blessing of her family (24:59-60), Rebekah departed with her attendant. She journeyed with Abraham’s servant to Canaan (24:61).

As they neared their journey’s end, they spotted Isaac approaching them (24:62-63). Rebekah then covered herself with a veil, expressing modesty and humility (24:64). Isaac listened to the servant’s report and how the LORD led him to Rebekah (24:66). Then, “Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent… and she became his wife; and he loved her” (24:67).

Closing thoughts – Though their marriage was not always a picture of peace and happiness, Isaac and Rebekah’s union has served as an enduring testimony of God’s interest in our lives and His providential leadership in our marriages and families.

Oh, that we might choose to walk in righteousness and say with Abraham’s servant, “I being in the way, the LORD led me” (24:27).

Challenge – Do Right, and you will not only do the will of the LORD, but also be confident in it!

The Internal Revenue Service recognizes Heart of A Shepherd Inc as a 501c3 public charitable organization.

Mailing Address:
Heart of A Shepherd Inc
7853 Gunn Hwy
#131
Tampa, FL 33626-1611

You can email HeartofAShepherdInc@gmail.com for more information on this daily devotional ministry.

“Where is the Lamb?” (Genesis 22-23)

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Scripture reading – Genesis 22-23

We cannot determine how many years passed between the close of Genesis 21 and the events recorded in Genesis 22. However, it is not unreasonable to suppose that Isaac was a young man and perhaps in his early twenties at this point in his life. One thing is for sure; he was “the apple of his father’s eye” and the joy of his old age. Abraham’s task was to prepare his son to become not only the master of all he owned, but also the heir of God’s covenant that promised “in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (12:3).

Genesis 22 – Faith Tested: Abraham Commanded to Sacrifice Isaac

Genesis 22 puts Abraham to the test, and God determined to prove his faith by commanding him to take Isaac (22:1-2), “and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of” (22:2).

With a spirit of submission, Abraham obeyed God. Early the next day, he set out on the journey with his son, bearing the wood he would use for “the burnt offering” (22:3). The trip from Beersheba (21:33) to the place where God commanded him to sacrifice Isaac was a three-day journey (22:2). Arriving at Moriah, Abraham instructed his servants to stay at the foot of the mountain. At the same time, he and Isaac went up the mount to worship, promising they would “come again” (22:5).

Placing the wood on his son, much like Jesus carried the beam of His cross, Abraham “took the fire in his hand, and a knife [symbols of judgment]; and they went both of them together” (22:6). Isaac questioned his father, “Where is the Lamb?” (22:7), and Abraham assured him, “My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together” (22:8). Two thousand years later, John the Baptist would answer Isaac’s question, pointing to Jesus Christ and saying, “Behold the Lamb” (John 1:29, 36).

We might wonder what emotions stirred in Abraham’s heart as he climbed the mountain, knowing he had been commanded to “take now thy son…whom thou lovest” (22:2) and sacrifice him (22:8-9). Arriving at “the place which God had told him,” Abraham built the altar, laid the wood in place, and “bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood” (22:9).

Faith, trust, and hope are readily identified in that event on Moriah. Abraham’s faith went beyond himself and focused on God to “provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering” (22:8). Isaac’s trust was evidenced in his submission to his father’s will, who placed him on the altar (22:9). Both Abraham and Isaac hoped (and believed) God would be faithful to His covenant promises and Isaac would be his father’s heir (Hebrews 11:17-19).

When “Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son…the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. ¹²And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me” (22:11-12).

When Abraham looked up, he spied a ram “caught in a thicket by his horns,” and he took it and “offered him up for a burnt offering” in Isaac’s stead (22:13). Abraham “called the name of the place Jehovah-jireh,” meaning the LORD will provide (22:14).

What spiritual lessons did Abraham and Isaac take from this trial of faith?

Abraham learned how far he was willing to trust God and walk by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7), even at the sacrifice of the one he loved. He and Isaac learned that God is there and will provide in the moment of trial and testing.

The LORD renewed His covenant with Abraham and said, “for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son…[therefore] I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven…¹⁸And in thy seed [Isaac, and his lineage] shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice” (22:16-18).

Genesis 23 – The Death of a Mother

“Sarah Died in Kirjatharba” (23:2)

Reminding us we are all sojourners in this world, we read, “Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old: these were the years of the life of Sarah. ²And Sarah died in Kirjatharba; the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her” (Genesis 23:1-2).

To my knowledge, Sarah is the only woman in the Bible whose age was given at her death. She has also been a model for godly women of all ages (1 Peter 3:1-6). Furthermore, spiritually she is the mother of all believers. Her loving submission to Abraham as the head of her household demonstrated her enduring love and commitment to him and her God.

To honor his wife with a proper burial, Abraham purchased land on which there was a cave (23:3-20). That cave in Macpelah would be a tomb for Sarah, Abraham, Isaac, and his wife, Rebekah. Also, Abraham’s grandson Jacob and his wife Leah would be buried there.

Hebrews 11:11–12 – ¹¹Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. ¹²Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

Closing thoughts – Today’s Scripture reading was pivotal in the history of Israel as a people and nation. God had established his covenant with Abraham, the father of two sons. The LORD rejected Ishmael, the son of Hagar, and chose Issac, the son of Sarah and heir to God’s covenant promises. Yet, it was that son whom God commanded to be sacrificed and thus proving Abraham’s love and faith in the LORD. Isaac asked, “Where is the Lamb?”(Genesis 22:7), and he learned he was to be sacrificed.

Abraham passed the test of his faith, for he believed “God was able to raise him [Isaac] up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure” (Hebrews 11:19). What was the meaning of that last statement? It is summed up in this: When Abraham raised the knife to sacrifice Isaac, he was already offered in his heart.

As God provided a substitute for Isaac, He has provided a sacrifice for us…Jesus Christ. Isaac was a type or picture of Jesus Christ. John the Baptist answered Isaac’s question two thousand years later and said, “Behold the Lamb” (Matthew 3:17).

The Internal Revenue Service recognizes Heart of A Shepherd Inc as a 501c3 public charitable organization.

Mailing Address:
Heart of A Shepherd Inc
7853 Gunn Hwy
#131
Tampa, FL 33626-1611

You can email HeartofAShepherdInc@gmail.com for more information on this daily devotional ministry.