1-4 - The lamp stand - made by Moses "according to the pattern"
5-26 - Consecration and Service of the Levites
- Cleansing - Levites sprinkled with water of purification, then to shave bodies and wash clothes
- Young bull and grain offering, plus second young bull for sin offering
- Israelites to lay their hands on the Levites (I'm not exactly clear on how they would do this -- all 603,550 men would shake their hands, put their hands on their heads?)
- Levites would be presented before the LORD as an elevation offering.
- God repeats his taking Levites as replacement for all Israelite firstborns
- Israelites do "just as the LORD had commanded"
- Tabernacle service for Levites ages 25-50 only. At 50, they would retire, able to assist servers, but not to serve themselves
1-14 - Passover at Sinai
- Most Israelites keep the Passover on the 1st month, 14th day, at twilight
- But some are unclean and complain about not being able to observe the feast
- God allows those who are unclean from touching a corpse or who were away during the feast to keep it on the 2nd month, 14th day
- Those who are present and clean but do not keep Passover will be cut off
- God guides the Israelites through a cloud that covers the tabernacle -- by night it looks like a fire. Up until now, I thought it was actually a fire by night, but apparently it was the same cloud that merely looked like a fire as the sky darkened.
- When it lifts, they move; if it stays, they stay
- Sometimes they stay in the same place for only one day. Are they so mobile -- all 3 million of them (counting women and children) -- that they can move that often? Amazing!
- I don't remember it saying: Did the Israelites also sleep in tents? That would certainly slow down the packing process.
1-10 - Silver Trumpets
- Moses to make two silver trumpets "for summoning the congregation, and for breaking camp"
- If both are blown, the whole congregation assembles in front of the tabernacle
- If only one is blown, only the tribal heads shall assemble
- One alarm: the east regiment sets out; 2nd alarm: the south side; and so on
- Sons of Aaron to blow the trumpets
- Trumpets also to be blown on days of rejoicing
- In 2nd year, 2nd month, 20th day of the month
- In this order (the tabernacle and holy things to be carried in the center, I'm supposing, for protection):
- East regiment: Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun
- Tabernacle, carried by Gershonites and Merarites
- South regiment: Reuben, Simeon, and Gad
- Holy things, carried by the Kohathites (the tabernacle would be set up before their arrival at the next camp)
- West regiment: Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin
- North regiment (the rear guard): Dan, Asher, and Naphtali
- Hobab, Moses' brother-in-law, declines to go, wanting to return home, but Moses persuades him to accompany them, because he knows good camping places in the wilderness
- They travel for 3 days' journey, "with the ark of the covenant of the LORD going before them." Is this literal? I thought it would be in the midst of the camp, with the other holy things.
- How's this for a pronouncement every time you continue on a journey?
"Arise, O LORD, let your enemies be scattered,
and your foes flee before you."
and your foes flee before you."
- And when you stop for the night:
"Return, O LORD of the ten thousand thousands of Israel."
Psalm 34:8-14
8 - "O taste and see that the LORD is good; happy are those who take refuge in him."
Acts 28
1-10 - On the Island of Malta
8 - "O taste and see that the LORD is good; happy are those who take refuge in him."
Acts 28
1-10 - On the Island of Malta
- Natives of island hospitable
- After incident with snake, they go from believing Paul is a murderer to thinking he is a god
- Paul prays for father of leading man of island, who is healed, and others come to him for healing as well
- By the time they leave 3 months later, they have all the provisions they need. Once again, God provides. Who would have thought a snake would supply their ship?
- Board ship (Twin Brothers) that had wintered at the island
- To Syracuse, Rheium, Puteoli (where they stay with believers), to Rome (from where believers come to meet them)
- Paul allowed to stay by himself with one guard
- 3 days later, Paul calls together Jewish leaders to tell them his story
- They have heard nothing bad about him, wish to hear more, "for with regard to this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against."
- At set day -- all day -- he tries to convince them about Jesus, using the law of Moses and the prophets
- Some are convinced, others refuse (a decision of the will)
- Paul: You are a fulfillment of the prophecy: "...they have shut their eyes..."
- Therefore, I will go to the Gentiles. "They will listen."
- Paul stays there 2 years "at his own expense" and preaches "without hindrance."
- And so ends the saga of Paul. But of course, his story nor does his influence end in Rome. Aren't we blessed, then to have his writings? And would we have had so many if he had not been imprisoned in Rome?
- An indication that we don't have to necessarily go to have an influence. Paul used his influence, even under house arrest -- by being hospitable and through his letter-writing.
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