Leviticus 13 & 14: Will You Flee From The Leprosy Of Sins?
Verse of the Day: (13:9) When the plague of leprosy is in a man, then he shall be brought unto the priest;
1. The LORD (13:1-3)
And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, saying, (13:1)
Whatever the Lord’s commands, Moses and Aaron obeyed them, and God blessed them. One of God’s laws was on leprosy, the contagious and deadly disease, that when Israel obeyed, they survived. Indeed, God never fails His people, as He gives us commands so that we can fully depend on Him in everything, including death, which is but sleep for those who believe in Him, as we wake up to be present with Him. (2 Corinthians 5:1-8)
2. The Leprosy (13:4-59)
And if the priest see that, behold, the scab spreadeth in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a leprosy. (13:8)
God used the priests as the doctors of today to diagnose and treat the lepers. In fact, God gave Moses and Aaron and the priests the law of leprosy which was the full details of the diagnosis and treatment of leprosy, including quarantine and the cleanliness of the environment, that the lepers had no excuse not to obey them, and be healed. Indeed, the lepers must immediately go to the priests once they contracted leprosy, otherwise death was inevitable. Today, we must go to God, the High Priest, the Doctor, and confess and repent our spiritual leprosy, and He is faithful and just to forgive them, and make us holy before Him. God uses the Bible, His Word, just like the law of leprosy, to teach us how to believe in Him, and to live holy lives that are pleasing to Him. Beside His Word, God even sends His Holy Spirit to lead and guide us as we trust and obey Him. (John 14:26)
3. The Lamb (14:1-57)
And on the eighth day he shall take two he lambs without blemish, and one ewe lamb of the first year without blemish, and three tenth deals of fine flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, and one log of oil. (14:10)
God commanded the lepers to present two he lambs and one ewe lamb of the first year, all without blemish, and three tenth portion of fine flour for the meal offering mingled with oil, to the priest on the eight day, as the trespass, sin and burnt offerings to Him. Those lepers who were poor could offer two turtledoves or young pigeons instead of the lambs and fine flour, as God sees our hearts and not our fame or fortune. This was the prophesy that one day, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, shall be the ultimate Lamb of God, to be offered as the Sacrifice of the spiritual leprosy of the whole world. Today, Jesus Christ is our Sacrifice, Saviour, High Priest and Doctor, and only He can forgive our sins, and clean us from all unrighteousness, because He is the true and living God. (John 14:6)
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to flee from the leprosy of sins and stay close to You.
Leviticus 11 & 12: Will You Sanctify Yourself?
Verse of the Day: (11:44) For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
1. Speak (11:1-43)
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth. (11:2)
God gave Moses and Aaron the awesome responsibility of speaking and sharing to Israel all the laws concerning the clean and the unclean animals, the sea creatures, and the fowls as to what were edible and inedible. As God is the Creator, He surely knows what is best for His people so that they remain not only healthy, but happy in Him. Today, after Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came and died and shed His precious blood for the atonement of the sins of the whole world, we are no longer subjected to these laws, and whatever we eat and do, we eat and do all for the glory of God. However, there are some Christians who still keep and practise some of these laws for health reasons. (1 Corinthians 10:31) Nevertheless, the most important responsibility for the Christians is to share the gospel that Jesus came and died for our all sins, that whoever believes in Him, shall never perish in fiery hell, but have everlasting life with Him in glorious heaven. (Matthew 28:18-20)
2. Sanctify (11:44-47)
For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. (11:45)
Time and again, God through Moses reminded Israel that it was God who delivered Israel out of their bondage in Egypt, and they must be sanctified and cleaned in their hearts and minds so that God could use them as His witnesses, and they shall inherit the land of Canaan, God’s Promised Land. Let us therefore sanctified and cleaned our hearts and minds with God’s holy word so that He can mightily use us to share the gospel that Jesus saves so that all shall come to know Christ, and let Christ be known. (Ephesians 5:25-27)
3. Separation (12:1-8)
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child, then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean. (12:2)
Besides food, God through Moses commanded the women of Israel to be sanctified or separated when they were at childbirth. Again, we no longer have to follow these laws after Jesus came and died and shed His precious blood for our sins. Jesus frees us from the bondage of law as we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Indeed, we are His beloved children bound for the golden mansions in pearly heaven. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to sanctify myself and be cleaned by Your holy Word.
Leviticus 9 & 10: Are You Acceptable To God?
Verse of the Day: (10:19) And Aaron said unto Moses, Behold, this day have they offered their sin offering and their burnt offering before the LORD; and such things have fallen me: and if I have eaten the sin offering to day, should it have been accepted in the sight of the LORD?
1. Altar (9:1-24)
And Moses said unto Aaron, Go unto the altar, and offer thy sin offering, and thy burnt offering, and make an atonement for thyself, and for the people: and offer the offering of the people, and make an atonement for them; as the LORD commanded. (9:7)
God through Moses commanded Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel to offer the different types of offerings before His altar so that His glory shall appear to them. The high priest, who was none other than Aaron, was the first to offer a young calf for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering, both without blemish, before God. Then Aaron offered for Israel a young goat for a sin offering, and a calf and a lamb, both one year old, for a burnt offering, and a bullock and a ram for peace offerings, all without blemish, and a meat offering mingled with oil, before God. Indeed, God’s glory appeared before Israel after Aaron and Israel fully obeyed God in everything as He had commanded them.
2. Aaron (10:1-15)
And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. (10:1)
Sadly, Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, offered unauthorised fire that God had not commanded them, and God took their lives. Indeed, let us not only love but fear God as He shall judge and discipline us if we are His children whom He loves. (Hebrews 12:6-11)
3. Accept (10:16-20)
And Moses diligently sought the goat of the sin offering, and, behold, it was burnt: and he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, the sons of Aaron which were left alive, saying, (10:16)
Moses was angry with Aaron’s two other sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, as they had disobeyed God by not eating the sin offering at the holy place as God had commanded them. Aaron explained to Moses that they did not intentionally disobeyed God, and hence, their lives were spared. By the mercies of God, let us trust and obey Him, and be a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to Him, which is the best we can offer to Him. Indeed, God gave His best when He offered His Son to be the ultimate sacrifice by dying on the cruel cross and shedding His precious blood for the sins of the whole world. (Romans 12:1-2)
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to be acceptable to You by giving my whole life to You.
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.