Leviticus 7 & 8: Are You Thankful To God?
Verse of the Day: (7:12) If he offer it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened cakes wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour, fried.

1. Thankful (7:1-20)
Besides the cakes, he shall offer for his offering leavened bread with the sacrifice of thanksgiving of his peace offerings. (7:13)

Let us be thankful to God in everything, even bad things, as God is good to all who fully trust and obey Him. I just went through one of the hard trials in my life, if not the hardest, yet I must continue to be thankful to God, knowing that He never make a single mistake, and He knows what is best for me even though I may not fully understand His will. Indeed, God through Moses commanded Israel to be thankful as they sacrificed the different types of offerings to Him at His tabernacle, knowing that it was ultimately for the atonement of their sins, so that they shall be reconciled to Him. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)  

2. Touch (7:21-38)
Moreover the soul that shall touch any unclean thing, as the uncleanness of man, or any unclean beast, or any abominable unclean thing, and eat of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which pertain unto the LORD, even that soul shall be cut off from his people. (7:21)

Time and again, Israel was warned of God never to touch any unclean things as they would defile their bodies, and in particular, to confess and repent their sins and be holy before the holy God. The priests, especially the high priest, were to be example of holiness, and be sanctified and consecrated in their lives, as they represented Israel in offering the sacrifices for them at God’s tabernacle. Indeed, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, left the throne of heaven and became the son of a carpenter on earth so that He could be the High Priest to represent man in offering the ultimate sacrifice, which was none other than Himself, for the sins of the whole world. Whoever therefore believes in Jesus shall never perish in hell, but have everlasting life with Him in heaven! (Hebrews 5:1-10)  

3. Tabernacle (8:1-36)
Therefore shall ye abide at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation day and night seven days, and keep the charge of the LORD, that ye die not: for so I am commanded. (8:35)

God through Moses commanded Aaron, the high priest, and his sons, the priests, to obey His commandments in all their services to Him at His holy tabernacle, otherwise, they shall be judged and disciplined for their disobedience. Indeed, obedience is better than sacrifice, as ultimately God sees our hearts, and knows our motives! (1 Samuel 15:22-23)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You for everything especially my salvation and sanctification.

Leviticus 5 & 6: Will You Flee From Your Trespasses?
Verse of the Day: (5:6) And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD for his sin which he hath sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats, for a sin offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his sin.

1. Touch    (5:1-4)
Or if a soul touch any unclean thing, whether it be a carcase of an unclean beast, or a carcase of unclean cattle, or the carcase of unclean creeping things, and if it be hidden from him; he also shall be unclean, and guilty. (5:2)

God is a holy God and He creates us to be as holy as He is. In the days of Moses as well as today, the people of Israel were not only to be holy inwardly but also outwardly, as they were commanded not to touch the unclean corpses as they might contract deadly diseases from them, and it was also a reminder for them to be clean inwardly by obeying God’s commandments and fleeing from the sight of evil and lusts. (2 Timothy 2:21-22)

2. Trespass (5:5-19)
But if he be not able to bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering; he shall put no oil upon it, neither shall be put any frankincense thereon: for it is a sin offering. (5:11)

Beside the burnt, meat, peace and sin offering, the fifth offering was the trespass offering that Israel must sacrifice to plead for God’s forgiveness of their trespasses that they intentionally sinned against God. If they could not afford a lamb or a kid or even two turtledoves or two young pigeons, then they could bring tenth part of an ephah (35 litres) of fine flour as their trespass offering. God knew their poverty and hearts though blood was not shed from this trespass offering. Indeed, God’s desire is for us to confess and repent our sins, and live holy lives. Let us therefore flee from our trespasses as God is not mocked and we shall surely reap the grave consequences of our trespasses. (Galatians 6:7)
 
3. Tabernacle (6:1-30)
And the remainder thereof shall Aaron and his sons eat: with unleavened bread shall it be eaten in the holy place; in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation they shall eat it. (6:16)

God commanded Israel to erect His tabernacle to remind them of His presence with them so that they shall live holy lives before Him. The fire at the altar of the tabernacle which was ever burning as it consumed the burnt offering symbolised our lives as continual living sacrifice and service to God. Though we may not be perfect and holy yet we must strive to be perfect and holy by God’s mercies and power by continual renewing of our minds and sanctifying of our hearts until the day He calls us home. (Romans 12:1-2)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to flee from my trespasses and stay close to You.

Leviticus 3 & 4: Will You Live Peacefully With All Men?
Verse of the Day: (3:1) And if his oblation be a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offer it of the herd; whether it be a male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the LORD.
    
1. Peace (3:1-17)
It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood. (3:17)

Beside the burnt and meat offering, the third offering was the peace offering that Israel must sacrifice so that they shall have peace with God and one another. Though the peace offering could be a male or female, yet it must be without blemish and the blood that was shed must be sprinkled at the altar. Indeed, God’s desire is for all His people to have peace with Him and one another and that was why He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross and shed His precious blood for our sins so that man shall be reconciled to Him as well as to one another. (Colossians 1:19-20) Finally, Israel was commanded not to take the fat and blood from the sacrifices for all their generations as they belonged to God. This commandment though is not applicable today since Jesus came to die for our sins, yet it is a good advice not to take them for health reasons and for our own benefits.  

2. Priest (4:1-26)
If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering. (4:3)

Beside the burnt, meat and peace offerings, the fourth offering was the sin offering, which symbolised God’s forgiveness of man’s sins. When the priests ignorantly sinned against God, they must offer the sin offering, which was young bulls without blemish, and lay their hands on the bull’s heads signifying that these bulls were taking the penalty of their sins on their behalf, and shall then be killed in order for God to forgive their sins.  
 
3. People (4:27-35)
And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty; (4:27)

Whether it was the high priest, the priests, the ruler or the common people, every one of them who ignorantly sinned against God must offer his sacrifice and lay his hand on the sacrifice’s head, and let the priest kill the sacrifice, and dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle it seven times before God. The priest then put some blood upon the horns of the altar and pour the remainder at the bottom of the altar before taking the fat and burning it upon the altar. Indeed, all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, and only through the atonement of the blood sacrifice shall all our sins be forgiven. (Hebrews 9:22)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to live peacefully with all men for Your praise.

Leviticus 1 & 2: Are You A Sweet Savour To The LORD?
Verse of the Day: (1:9) But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
    
1. Savour (1:1-17)
If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD. (1:3)

The burnt sacrifice is the prophecy that Jesus shall be the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of the world. By faith Israel offered burnt sacrifices as they looked forward to the coming of Jesus. This was why the sacrifice must be a male without blemish as Jesus is the Man without sins. If the people could not afford the young bulls, they offered the male sheep or goats or turtledoves or pigeons. They must offer their sacrifices willingly so that they were a sweet savour to God, and this symbolised the atonement of their sins. Indeed when we believe by faith that Jesus died on the cross and shed His blood for our sins, we shall be saved from hell and be promoted to heaven when we die. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

2. Sons (2:1-11)
And he shall bring it to Aaron’s sons the priests: and he shall take thereout his handful of the flour thereof, and of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof; and the priest shall burn the memorial of it upon the altar, to be an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD: (2:2)

The meat or meal offering was made to reveal the humanity of Jesus. The meat offering was different from the burnt offering as fine flour was used for the offering, and it was to be burnt by fire that symbolised purifying of impurities or sins. All the sacrifices were made by Aaron’s sons, God’s priests, on behalf of the people. Today, when we believe in Jesus, we are not only His priests, but we are also the sacrifices because we must present our bodies to God in holiness which is our reasonable service to Him. (Romans 12:1)
 
3. Salt (2:12-16)
And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt. (2:13)

Salt is a preservative and it was used in the meat offering to symbolise the preservation of God’s promises to His people that their sins shall be forgiven if they would offer their burnt and meat sacrifices, and would repent their sins. Indeed, when we believe in Jesus, we are the salt of the earth as we preserve God’s promises by sharing the gospel and His promises of salvation and sanctification to all the people of the world. (Matthew 5:13)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to be a sweet savour and pleasing to You and You only.

Exodus 39 & 40: Will You Do For The LORD?
Verse of the Day: (39:30) And they made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote upon it a writing, like to the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD.
    
1. LORD (39:1-43)
And Moses did look upon all the work, and, behold, they had done it as the LORD had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them. (39:43)

Moses trusted and obeyed God and His commandments and would do everything for God and God alone. This was why Moses was called God’s servant, and was one of the faithful servants mentioned time and again in the Bible. (Hebrews 11:23-29) Moses and Israel trusted and obeyed and did every single detail that God commanded them as they constructed His holy tabernacle and furnishings, as well as the holy garments for the high priest. There was nothing that they left out as they followed God’s commandments of the types of colours and accessories to be used for the holy garments, the ephod, and especially the engraving of the words, HOLINESS TO THE LORD, on the head gear of the high priest. Everything they did was to the best of their gifts and abilities as they knew that their very lives were from and of the holy God. Let us give our best to God as we are from and of Him, and everything we have truly belong to Him and Him only.      

2. Laver (40:1-16)
And thou shalt set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and shalt put water therein. (40:7)

Before Aaron, the high priest, and his sons, the priests, offer sacrifices and enter the holy tabernacle, they must first go to the laver of water to fully wash themselves so that they were physically cleaned. However, the most important thing was for them to be spiritually cleaned by God’s water, His holy Word, by confessing and repenting their sins, and trusting and obeying His Word. (Ephesians 5:25-27) Indeed, let us daily go to God, and be spiritually cleaned by trusting and obeying His Word so that every life decision we make is for His glory and praise, and according to His perfect and sovereign will.   
 
3. Lamp (40:17-38)
And he lighted the lamps before the LORD; as the LORD commanded Moses. (40:25)

Beside water, the lamp also symbolises God’s Word that shall lead and guide us to live for Him in this world of spiritual darkness as we trust and obey Him and His Word. (Psalm 119:105) Moses and Israel dismantled God’s tabernacle, and travelled to another place only when God’s cloud in the day and God’s fire in the night led them the way, otherwise they would stay put. This is a great and precious lesson for us to only follow God and His Word in our life decisions, otherwise, we should be still and wait upon Him.

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to do Your commandments and follow Your lamp.

Exodus 37 & 38: Are You Like Bezaleel?
Verse of the Day: (37:1) And Bezaleel made the ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half was the length of it, and a cubit and a half the breadth of it, and a cubit and a half the height of it:
    
1. Bezaleel (37:1-29)
And he overlaid it with pure gold within and without, and made a crown of gold to it round about. (37:2)

God blessed Bezaleel with much wisdom and talents that he was the chief architect and builder of His holy tabernacle. Not only did Bezaleel did all the big and small projects of the tabernacle that God had commanded him, but he also taught and supervise the people to assist him in the construction of the tabernacle. Bezaleel followed every detail that God commanded him such as the types of materials, the design and structure of the tabernacle and furnishings so that everything from the mercy seat, cherubims, table, vessels, dishes, spoons, bowls, candlesticks, lamps, incense altar, etc., to the location and foundation of the tabernacle were according to His instructions. Like Bezaleel, let us use our God’s given gifts in our study, career and ministry for His glory, honour and praise.

2. Burnt (38:1)
And he made the altar of burnt offering of shittim wood: five cubits was the length thereof, and five cubits the breadth thereof; it was foursquare; and three cubits the height thereof.

The burnt offering symbolised none other than the body of Jesus Christ, the Son God, who shall leave heaven to be the Son of man on earth, the Lamb of God, the final and ultimate sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. Indeed, Jesus must die and shed His blood, just like the sacrifice, at the brass altar, that must be killed and its blood be shed and then burnt to death, otherwise there is no forgiveness of our sins. (Hebrews 10:5-10)
 
3. Brass (38:2-31)
And he made the horns thereof on the four corners of it; the horns thereof were of the same: and he overlaid it with brass. (38:2)

The altar was made of brass as brass symbolised judgment, and indeed, God’s judgment was upon His Son, Jesus Christ, at the cross, when Jesus died and shed His blood for the sins of the whole world. By the way, Bezaleel was not alone when he led Israel to build God’s tabernacle, as God gave him, Aholiab, his assistant chief architect, to work along with him. Let us remember that we are not indispensable, as one day we shall be promoted to pearly heaven. Let us pray for God to provide us with faithful assistants who shall assist us to fulfil the duties of our work or ministry, and one day, if we are leaders, one of them shall be the next leader of our organisation or church. (2 Timothy 2:1-2)
 
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me, like Bezaleel, to use Your gifts to me for Your glory.

Exodus 35 & 36: Are You Giving Too Much To God’s Work?
Verse of the Day: (36:7) For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much.
    
1. Willing  (35:1-9)
Take ye from among you an offering unto the LORD: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the LORD; gold, and silver, and brass, (35:5)

Do we willingly believe in God? Do we willingly give to God? Indeed, let us willingly believe in and give to God, and let no man force or compel us. When we truly believe in God that He is our Creator and Saviour, we must willingly believe in and give our lives to Him, because God Himself willingly gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cruel cross for the sins of the whole world. (John 3:16) During Moses’ time, God commanded Israel to willingly give from their hearts all the precious materials such as gold, silver and brass, etc., for the construction of His holy tabernacle and furnishings. However, God also commanded them to work only six days, and that they must rest on the sabbath day so as to renew and refresh themselves for He loved and cared for them.

2. Wise (35:10-35)
And every wise hearted among you shall come, and make all that the LORD hath commanded; (35:10)

All our wisdom and talents are from and of God, and without God we are nothing and we have nothing. Therefore, let us use our wisdom and talents for God and His work of sharing the Gospel that Jesus saves so that all shall come to know Him. God commanded Bezaleel and Aholiab, who were blessed with wisdom and talents, to lead and teach Israel in the construction of His tabernacle and furnishings. Though the construction of God’s tabernacle and furnishings were highly sophisticated, yet God had blessed Bezaleel and Aholiab with the wisdom and talents to lead and teach Israel to complete its construction.  
 
3. Work (36:1-38)
And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing. (36:6)

Are you giving too much to God and His work of sharing the Gospel? It is sad that there are Christians who believe in God and yet they do not give to Him, and even if they give, they only give their remainders. Israel willingly gave to God’s work until it was too much, and God had to restrain them from giving. Israel’s generous giving demonstrated their great love for God. Today, how is our giving to God? Are we giving to God and His church too much that God commands us to restrain from giving, or have we stop giving to God, and hence rob God? Let us willingly give to God and His church so that He shall open the windows of heaven and pour out His overflowing blessings to us! (Malachi 3:10)      

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to be generous, and even to give my whole life to You.

Exodus 33 & 34: Will God Be Gracious To You?
Verse of the Day: (33:19) And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.
    
1. Gracious (33:1-23)
And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses. (33:9)

It is God’s grace and goodness that we wake up every day and be up and running, yet many still do not acknowledge that there is a God who is our Creator and Maker of our lives. During Moses’ time, many people also did not acknowledge God, and God showed His wrath and judgment upon them. However God was gracious and merciful to Moses and those who trusted and obeyed Him. In fact, God talked to Moses face to face when he was inside His tabernacle, and told him that He shall send an angel before him and the people of Israel to drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusite so that they shall occupy their land which was filled with milk and honey. Indeed, God is gracious and merciful only to all who fully trust and obey Him.

2. Goodness (34:1-9)
And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, (34:6)

Let us remember that God is merciful, gracious, longsuffering and abundant in goodness and truth, and He desires to bless us only when we believe that He is the true and living God. Though the people of Israel time and again rebelled and sinned against God, yet God was full of grace and goodness toward them, and forgave their sins. However, God eventually judged and punished them as they took His grace and goodness for granted.  
 
3. God (34:10-35)
For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God: (34:14)

God is a jealous God, and His jealousy is different from man’s jealousy. Man’s jealousy is selfish and possessive, while God’s jealousy is grace and goodness, as He desires that all His people created in His image to acknowledge and believe in and seek Him first before everyone and everything else. However, during the time of Moses, just like today, the people failed God as they sought the lust of their eyes, the lust of their flesh, and the pride of their life, instead of seeking God and His righteousness. Let us choose to seek God and His righteousness first, so that His grace and goodness be upon us and our families, because our lives truly belonged to Him and Him alone. (Matthew 6:33-34)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I am saved by Your amazing grace and goodness.

Exodus 31 & 32: Will God blot You Out?
Verse of the Day: (32:33) And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.
    
1. Bezaleel (31:1-18)
See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: (31:2)

God calls and man obeys and God bless man. This was exactly what Bezaleel did when God called him and he obeyed Him and was filled with God’s spirit, wisdom and knowledge and did exactly what God commanded him in building God’s holy tabernacle.

2. Break (32:1-14)
And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me. (32:2)

God has never called us to break anything but to build things for His glory. Aaron commanded the people of Israel to break their golden earrings to make a golden calf so that they could worship it as they were upset that Moses took too long to be with God at the mountain. When Moses returned to the people, he was shocked and saddened that Aaron had led the people to sin against God by making them worshipped the golden calf instead of the true God. God told Moses that He shall severely judge Aaron and the people. Moses then prayed and pleaded with God to spare them for their great sins. Though God did eventually judge and took three thousands lives, yet He spared the rest of them. Indeed, our God is a longsuffering God, and He desires that all should repent of their sins, and believe and receive Him as their personal Saviour and Lord. (2 Peter 3:9)  
 
3. Blot (32:15-35)
Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin-; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. (32:32)

Moses loved the people so much that he was willing to be blotted out of glorious heaven and to be condemned to fiery hell, but God refused to grant him his prayer, as God loved Moses very much. God explained to Moses that every man shall account for their sins, and there was no way that Moses could account for the sins of the people. God loves all and this is why all our names are written in His book of life. However, at a certain age, we begin to sin and this is when we are accountable for our sins, and we must confess and repent of sins, and believe and receive Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour and Lord. This is the reason why when babies die, they shall go to glorious heaven, and this was why King David said that he shall go to his child of seven days who died, but the child shall not return to him. Indeed, King David was a man of God and when he died, he was reunited with his child and above all, with his great and mighty God! (2 Samuel 12:23)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I am not blot out but my name is written in Your book.

Exodus 27 & 28: Are You Holy?
Verse of the Day: (28:36) And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD.
    
1. Horn (27:1-21)
And thou shalt make the horns of it upon the four corners thereof: his horns shall be of the same: and thou shalt overlay it with brass. (27:2)

Inside the holy place of the tabernacle, most items were made of pure gold that symbolised the holiness of God. Outside the tabernacle, most items were made of brass that symbolised God’s judgement upon man’s sins. The horns at the four corners of the altar symbolised the power of God to forgive man’s sins only when he offered burnt offerings at the brass altar. Indeed, this burnt offering at the altar was the great prophecy that one day, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Lamb of God, shall be the ultimate sacrifice at the cruel cross shedding His precious blood for the sins of the whole world.
 
2. Heart (28:1-35)
And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office. (28:3)

God commanded Israel to choose wise hearted men to make holy garments from the best materials that were for Aaron, the high priest, chosen by God, to offer daily sacrifice for his own sins as well as the sins of Israel. Indeed, God expects nothing but the best from His people to do His work and according to His way and holy Word. (Hebrews 7:26-28)
   
3. Holiness (28:36-43)
And they shall be upon Aaron, and upon his sons, when they come in unto the tabernacle of the congregation, or when they come near unto the altar to minister in the holy place; that they bear not iniquity, and die: it shall be a statute for ever unto him and his seed after him. (28:43)

God commanded Israel to make a plate of pure gold with the words, HOLINESSS TO THE LORD, engraved on the head gear of Aaron, the high priest, who shall confess his sins as well as the sins of Israel, so that they be holy before a holy God. However, Aaron shall die in his sins if he would not confess and repent his sins before entering the holy place of God’s tabernacle. The appointment of the high priest was of utmost importance and it was only entrusted to Aaron and his descendants. The only time that the service of the high priest as well as the sacrifices at the altar ceased was the day when Jesus Christ offered His life once and for all, for the sins of the whole world. Whosoever therefore confess and repent his sins, and believes and trusts in Jesus, shall never perish in fiery hell, but shall have everlasting life with Him in glorious heaven. (Hebrews 10:10-13)   

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to be holy and wise hearted as You are holy and wise.