Daily Bible Devotionals

“Now the son of an Israelite mother and an Egyptian father was among the Israelites. A fight broke out in the camp between the Israelite woman’s son and an Israelite man. Her son cursed and blasphemed the Name, and they brought him to Moses. (His mother’s name was Shelomith, a daughter of Dibri of the tribe of Dan.) They put him in custody until the Lord’s decision could be made clear to them. Then the Lord spoke to Moses: Bring the one who has cursed to the outside of the camp and have all who heard him lay their hands on his head; then have the whole community stone him.” Leviticus 24:10-14 (HCSB)

The sole aim of the Book of Leviticus is to communicate the importance of being sanctified set apart. Sanctification is stressed for both the community and the individual. Therefore, when anyone presumes to desecrate the Lord’s Name, the penalty must be ruthless.

It is common knowledge that a “mixed multitude” left Egypt along with the Israelites. The mixed multitude represented two spiritual realities: 1) Many in Egypt, apart from the Hebrews, believed in God and desired to follow Him, and 2) Just because Israel left the land of Egypt doesn’t mean they left their intimacy with the ways of Egypt. This “half-breed” son was emblematic of Israel’s love affair with Egypt and foreshadowed Israel’s problems with spiritual infidelity.

To “blaspheme” the Lord’s Name meant to treat it with contempt and dishonor. Orthodox (non-Messianic) rabbinic commentators remark that this man’s genealogy is recorded to impress upon the Israelites that a man’s life is not alone to do with as he pleases. His disgrace is also that of his parents, tribe, and people. Sin bears collateral damage. We have lost much of this sense of “community” in our Christian culture. In seeking to stress the rights of the individual, our society runs the risk of sacrificing accountability, which is necessary to protect itself.

The Torah ordained, “Thou shalt not revile God” (Exodus 22:27). But no penalty had been mentioned in that connection. Now, the Lord has spoken: The offender was to be stoned.

Notice how those who were direct recipients of the blasphemy were to literally have hands-on participation in executing the Lord’s judgment. Again, people were called to be personally concerned about the offense because the blasphemous words had fallen upon their ears. They were, therefore, discharging their duty by bringing the culprit to justice.

We live in a church culture that seems preoccupied with “not offending” people. My observation is that many pulpits would rather preach on the virtues of reconciliation and ignore the fact that there are times when conflict is necessary, especially in cases where sin is so blatant that it must be confronted to protect the community of believers.

“You are to keep My commands and do them; I am the Lord. You must not profane My holy Name; I must be treated as holy among the Israelites. I am the Lord Who sets you apart, the One Who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God; I am the Lord.” Leviticus 22:31-33 (HCSB)

A few years ago, my wife and I were visiting New Orleans. I recall passing by one of the T-shirt stores and seeing a shirt with this logo: “Jesus is coming. Everybody look busy!”  It seemed funny, like the “Jesus is my homeboy” apparel. But it begged the question: How well do we rate (as both individuals and our Church culture) when it comes to revering the NAME of the Holy God of all creation?

Although spoken about the priests as the appointed guardians of the Sanctuary, this commandment (both in its positive and negative forms) was applied to the whole of Israel. We should be exceedingly guarded in our actions so that we do not tarnish or degrade in any way the Name of the Lord.

In some of the rabbinic writings of Orthodox Judaism, the faithful observer is warned against any misdeeds against a non-Jew as an unpardonable sin because it gives a false impression of the moral standard of Judaism. In short, wrongdoing against anyone tarnishes God’s Name. The idea is that every Jew holds the honor of his God, his faith, and the entire Jewish community in his own hands.

God chose to LOVE us through Messiah Jesus, even while we were yet sinners. But His affiliation with us does not make Him any less Holy. His desire to be close to His created people only heightens our understanding of an aspect of His Holiness, and it causes us to worship Him with tremendous gratitude and respect.    

Today, I don’t want to drone on & on. I simply want to ask you to consider the question:  How well are you doing in 1) Regarding the Lord as Holy, to the extent that it changes how you live according to His Word and 2) As a co-inheritor with Jesus, how well are you representing the Family, the NAME you have inherited by Messiah’s atonement?

“The Lord spoke to Moses: ‘Tell Aaron: None of your descendants throughout your generations who has a physical defect is to come near: no man who is blind, lame, facially disfigured or deformed….” Leviticus 21:16-18 (HCSB)

Jesus healed. That is a Biblical fact, accepted even by many unbelievers.

Before John the Baptist was beheaded, he sent his disciples to ask Jesus if he was the “One” or if they should look for another messiah. Jesus answered that people were healed. That was the evidence He gave of being Messiah: healing.

I never really considered much why Jesus healed people. I figured He had compassion for people, so He made them well. But could there have been other reasons Jesus healed beyond the well-being of the person needing healing?    

I have had terrible eyesight since I was in grade school. Many times, I have prayed that God would heal me. As a young man, I often wondered why Jesus would heal some people and not others. In the end, I leave healing up to His wisdom and surrender my will to His choices for me because He always chooses rightly. After all, He has given me eyeglasses that enable me to see 20/20.    

It is easy to see how healing benefits the recipient, but what does that have to do with Jesus being the Messiah? The Old Testament tells how the Messiah will heal the iniquities of His people, so I understand how Jesus’ healing fulfills prophecy.  

“‘Here is your God; vengeance is coming. God’s retribution is coming; He will save you.’ Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will sing for joy, for water will gush in the wilderness and streams in the desert; the parched ground will become a pool of water, and the thirsty land springs of water.” Isaiah 35:4b-7a (HCSB)

Considering today’s passage, for the Jewish people who were declared unworthy to serve, Jesus’ healing also allowed them to enter into corporate worship and minister to others. On the one hand, people might be offended that God would exclude people from serving simply because of physical defects. But they must consider that God can also heal, thus making it possible for anyone to serve if He so chooses.

When Jesus healed, it was as if He said, “You can’t serve because you’re blind? You can’t serve because you’re lame or deformed? Well, I can fix that!”  Our sin has separated us from God. By paying our sin debt, Jesus has made us clean. He atones for our sin as if we have never sinned. He completes what is lacking on every level and restores us to a right relationship with God, regardless of any prior limitation. And He has a plan for you, as His “priest.” (1 Peter 2:9)  He has fulfilled all your requirements and offers forgiveness, free of charge. So, do you WANT to be healed?

“You must not follow the statutes of the nations I am driving out before you, for they did all these things, and I abhorred them. And I promised you: You will inherit their land, since I will give it to you to possess, a land flowing with milk and honey. I am the Lord your God who set you apart from the peoples.” Leviticus 20:23-24 (HCSB)

Here’s a joke for you.  

Q: What did the fool say just before he died?

A: Hey, y’all! Watch this!

Q: What did his best friend say just before he died?

A:  Aww, I can do that better than he did!

It has been said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results. Doesn’t that sound like us? The Lord saves people, yet many folks turn back and begin sinning in the same ways they did before they were saved! It is as if they are repeating those sins, hoping they will somehow lead to fulfillment instead of disappointment.

God informed Israel that He would deliver them to Canaan and told them how He would drive out the Canaanites. He also told Israel WHY the Canaanites were being driven out: their sinful ways.

That information, alone, should have been enough to teach Israel to honor the Lord, ensuring their perpetual possession of the Promised Land. God went further and instructed the Israelites to separate themselves from the ways and beliefs of the Canaanites.

Why would Israel turn to the ways of Canaan’s former inhabitants? Perhaps it is because of their concept of “blessing.” Maybe they got into the land, and conditions were more challenging than Israel thought they might be. I think this may have been the case because God informed the children of Israel that the Promised Land would be “flowing with milk & honey.”

I have four children. I am aware that milk does not flow from a mother until after the painful delivery of the baby. I have also seen how honey is harvested, contending with nagging, stinging bees!

Could it be that God was telling Israel that Canaan would be fruitful but that cultivating the fruit would involve nagging, stinging, painful work? Doesn’t that remind you of the joy we receive after employing the discipline of living holy and separate lives unto God in our generation? Discipline is what being a “disciple” is all about, and it seems fruitless if we lose sight of the goal of our laboring. We are called to honor the Lord, longing to enter into the place He has prepared for us, receiving His great commendation, “Well done!”

(Moses speaking to Aaron) “‘You must remain at the entrance to the tent of meeting day and night for seven days and keep the Lord’s charge so that you will not die, for this is what I have commanded.’ So Aaron and his sons did everything the Lord commanded through Moses.” Leviticus 8:35-36 (HCSB)

After all the pomp and pageantry, the blood and sacrifice, what did the Lord tell Aaron and his sons? “Wait for seven days.” Obviously, there was something big coming on the 8th. We have the benefit of reading ahead and knowing God’s presence would fill the Tabernacle, but Aaron knew only to obey and to wait.

This is precisely the directive that Jesus gave His disciples before His ascension: “Wait for seven days.” You won’t find it written directly, but the seven-day wait is abundantly clear if you understand the Jewish calendar.

Jesus was placed in the tomb in the final hours of Passover. He rose three days later.

“After He had suffered, He also presented Himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during 40 days and speaking about the kingdom of God.” Acts 1:3 (HCSB)

After 3 days in the tomb, Jesus spent 40 days appearing to many of His followers. 3 days in the tomb, plus 40 days with His disciples = 43 days.

The festival of Shavuot (Pentecost) is 50 days after Passover. Because Jesus was entombed in the final Passover hours, the tomb’s first day does not count towards the 50-day lead-up to Pentecost.

Now, take 3 days in the tomb, add 40 days with His disciples, subtract 1 day because Jesus was entombed on Passover (Pentecost was 50 days AFTER Passover), and you end up with 8 DAYS between Jesus’ ascension and the day of Pentecost…whew!!

Jesus told His disciples to wait 7 days. On the 8th day, He filled them with His Holy Spirit, just as on the 8th day, God’s presence filled the Tabernacle.  

The account of Moses’ ordaining of Aaron and his sons as priests foreshadows Jesus’ ordaining of the Apostles as “priests” to be sent to the nations. Furthermore, Messiah has ordained ALL believers as “priests” of His gospel, per se. (1 Peter 2: 4-9, Revelation 1: 4-6, 5: 6-10) That includes you & me as well!

“And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: “You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy. Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and keep My Sabbaths: I am the Lord your God. Do not turn to idols, nor make for yourselves molded gods: I am the Lord your God.’” Leviticus 19:1-4 (NKJV)

I find it interesting how chapter 18 deals with the sinful behavior that caused the Canaanites to be expelled from the land. Chapter 19 begins as chapter 18 ends with a challenge to be holy, that is, “separate” from other nations and customs.

Also intriguing is how immediately following God’s reason for expelling the Canaanites from the land and His command of holiness, God reminds Israel of the 5th commandment.

“Honor your father and mother, so that you may LIVE LONG IN THE LAND which the Lord is giving you.” Exodus 20:12 (HCSB) (Emphasis mine)

The beautiful irony is that the 5th commandment is the only commandment with a promise directed towards longevity in the land.

So, let me clarify:  Sexual sin becomes increasingly more perverted and eventually leads to expulsion from the land. Honoring your father and mother ensures longevity in the land.

Perhaps we should look closer at what it means to “honor” your father and mother.

Honoring one’s parents means more than simply “obeying” them. You bring honor to your parents when you honor the Lord. For instance, if both your parents are unbelievers and strongly oppose your belief in Jesus, the best way to “honor” them is by disobeying their wishes and becoming a believer! Your following the Lord brings honor to your mother and father, even if it goes against their wishes.

“Sexual sin” and “honoring your parents” are diametrically opposed because God is concerned with both familial and spiritual legacies. The fruit of sexual relations is in our offspring. When we honor the Lord with our lives, we ensure that we produce not only good works unto the Lord but also that our offspring will do so, as well. Obedience to God and the continuation of a God-honoring legacy throughout the generations are inseparable.

From holy people come children who, when raised in a God-honoring environment, grow into a strong community that honors God.   Carnal people bear offspring who, outside of God’s intervention, will continue in a downward moral spiral.

So, be holy! Surrender yourself to the Lord and His ways, and let Him establish your legacy of holiness. And your first step is to surrender to Messiah Jesus.

“For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul. Therefore, I said to the children of Israel, ‘none of you shall eat blood, nor shall any stranger who dwells among you eat blood.’” Leviticus 17: 11-12 (NKJV)

If you ever travel to Israel, one thing you’ll find out quickly is how awful the beef tastes! Why? It has been drained of all its blood and stripped of most of its fat. It must be so to be certified “kosher” by the rabbis who inspect the meat processing plants and restaurants.

Unlike the laws of clean & unclean animals (Acts 10:9-15), the command to “not eat blood” has never even been suggested to have been repealed by the Lord. At least, Scripture does not indicate such. Perhaps this poses a challenge to us:  How rare can we get that steak before it’s considered “eating blood”?

As a young follower of Jesus, I wondered, “What’s the deal with all of the talk and focus on the ‘Blood’ of Jesus?” I understood suffering, and I get how He paid the penalty we deserve. I understood resurrection, proving the power and will of God to do miracles. But the blood…?

In today’s passage, we find some clarity. The practice of shedding animal blood for sin atonement was given to Israel by God. Why? Perhaps the best explanation is that “blood sacrifice” provides a vivid picture of the serious deadliness of sin observed by the individual worshipping. It lets them consider how their sin looks to God and the punishment awaiting them if their sin is not atoned for.  

Almost everyone thinks their children are saints compared to everyone else’s kids. We justify our sin to ourselves but condemn others. Sometimes, it is good to separate from ourselves and get a detached, elevated, and objective view of our lives...a view from God’s perspective of how we measure up to His standard.  

In what seems like cruel performance art, God shows Israel (and now us) that sin sheds blood. And it is OUR blood that sin sheds. By choosing to sin, we are literally killing ourselves. Apart from Messiah, we work toward sinful goals, and the wages of that labor are death.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Messiah Jesus, our Lord.” Romans 6:23 (NKJV)

In His gracious mercy, God allows us to view sin as He sees it through the commandment of the blood sacrifice. He has given life in blood. Because Jesus is eternal, through Jesus’ blood, we are offered eternal life. When we consider the Roman cross on which Jesus died, we see what WE deserved yet were spared through Jesus’ atonement. And we understand the urgency of sharing the gospel with non-believers!

“When a woman has a discharge of her blood for many days…”  Leviticus 15:25a (HCSB)

From a chapter that has made 8th-grade boys snicker throughout the ages, we find the setup for one of the most profound miracles of Jesus’ ministry on earth.

“A woman suffering from bleeding for 12 years had endured much under many doctors. She spent everything she had and was not helped at all. On the contrary, she became worse. Having heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His robe. For she said, ‘If I can just touch the hem of His garment, I’ll be made well!’  Instantly, her flow of blood ceased, and she sensed in her body that she was cured of her affliction.”  Mark 5:25-29 (HCSB)

Doctors are not healers. They are keen observers. Modern medicine is the byproduct of centuries of medical & scientific observation. Persistent observation leads to improved diagnosis and treatments, resulting in heightened probabilities of recovery. Yet, even before the insurance papers are processed, it is God Who allows the healing to happen.

None of us would willingly select civil-war-era dentistry, much less 1st-century Church-era medical practices! Can you imagine the methods of treatment this woman had undergone before she connected with Jesus?

While there is much to say about this woman’s healing (and Jesus’ response to it), I want to focus on one item:  Having reached the end of the World’s options, she had nothing to lose by reaching out to Jesus in faith.   In a word, she was “desperate.”

In this observation of her desperation, we are reminded of the great “constant” of evangelism: People do not come to faith in Jesus because of convenience but rather out of desperation. Ask yourself, what circumstances led you to reach out to Jesus in faith? (That is, given that you have reached out to Him.)

People only accept a savior when they recognize they need salvation. I go surfing quite often. Every time I walk into the surf with my surfboard, I try to make eye contact with the lifeguard. I generally wave as I walk by. I want him to know I’m in the water in case I need him later. Having identified the lifeguard (and knowing he has acknowledged me), if I were drowning in the surf, you’d better believe I would call out to that lifeguard!!! And I wouldn’t be ashamed if, while I was drowning among dozens of skilled surfers, He asked, “Which one of you guys called out to me?”  

That is how illogical our fear of reaching out to Jesus is. Why not reach out to Him today? Salvation is only a prayer away for those who are humble enough to admit they need it, for those who are faithful enough to call out. When we call to Him, we are simply asking Him to do what He came to do: save people who realize they’re drowning in sin to the point where they are willing to humble themselves and call out for Him to rescue them.

“The person afflicted with an infectious skin disease is to have his clothes and his hair hanging loose, and he must cover his mouth and cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean!’ He will remain unclean as long as he has the infection; he is unclean. He must live alone in a place outside the camp.”  Leviticus 13:45-46 (HCSB)

Sociologists have described this generation (especially the 18-25 yrs) as the “most narcissistic” in history. That is to say, everything in our culture is focused on the individual. Our “I-centered” culture is quickly losing all sense of Biblical community.

Perhaps that is why “community” ranks high on the aspirations of so many people. “Me-centric” worlds promote profound loneliness. Who can you trust to have your best interest in mind when everyone lives only for himself? Perhaps a more important question is: Does God most value the individual or the community? I say both.

Jesus prayed for all believers, “I wish that they were one, as You and I are One.” John 17:22b-21a (NKJV)

Given our breakdown of community, is it any wonder why chapters like this one in Leviticus seem so foreign? We tend to feel sorry for the individual and picture ourselves running through the streets screaming, “Unclean!”

Try taking an elevated view of what God is doing for a moment. He is protecting Israel, preserving the PEOPLE (community) of the promise. He is also showing the importance of separating sin from the community. He is teaching the importance of accountability and, perhaps more importantly, making provisions for restoration.

Jesus told His disciples, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees.” Matthew 16:6 (NKJV)

Leaven is a symbol of sin, which spreads. Perhaps Leaven is more synonymous with a philosophy than an action because it grows secretly. An excellent picture of “leaven” is mold or a virus…something you cannot see, yet grows to a point where it cannot be denied.

There are times when people with persistent sinful philosophies, ideas, and willful actions MUST be put out of the church…hopefully, for just a season. It protects both the COMUNITY and the INDIVIDUAL. Individuals are then to be observed by the leaders. Unrepentant or unbelieving people will never return to a Godly community.

True believers cannot survive long-term, away from a Godly community. Eventually, they will repent. Godly church leaders should recognize true repentance and receive the returning prodigal with great joy. A repentant sinner, restored, is now a potentially productive member of the community.

“When her days of purification are complete, whether a son or a daughter, she is to bring to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting a year-old male lamb for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering.” Leviticus 12:6 (HCSB)

Chapter 11 is a reminder of our fallen World and man’s dealings with it. It describes a World of clean and unclean, a World in which many of its parts must be shunned because they are not clean. But don’t forget that it is also a World in which many of its parts are wholesome and good for men. Man can avoid the unclean and be “holy,” set apart to God. And (to some extent) men can be like Him.  Provision had been allowed by God to counter the effect of the fall, as far as mankind was concerned.

Here, in chapter 12, comes a reminder of another consequence of the fall: How the fall affected womankind. Childbirth was now inevitably connected with ‘uncleanness.’ Through the discomforts of childbirth, God chooses to remind women of Eve’s part in the fall (Genesis 3:16). It stands as a reminder that every time a child is born, another sinner is born into a sinful world.

So, in every case of childbirth, there was no avoiding uncleanness. It was not a question of choice. It was something that had to be endured. Birth inevitably involved sin because the birth process had been affected by sin, and the child born into the world was now subject to sin. Indeed, he (or she) being born is a sinner by nature. (Compare: Romans 5.14; Psalm 51.5; 58.3) Therefore, the very process of birth falls short of perfection and must be deemed ‘unclean.’ That is why the woman, being in the process of producing a sinner, was prevented from approaching the holiness of God. She had to be purified, along with the child.

Any person observing or participating in the birth of a child can see God’s point quite clearly. When a child is born, it is covered with blood and mucus. It comes out ‘unclean.’ This does not contradict the (Luke 2:23) statement that “every child who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord.” The latter verse communicates that the first newborn child is seen as set apart for Yahweh’s service, not that it is ‘ritually holy’ at the point of birth. In the grace & mercy of God, while it enters the world ‘unclean,’ the firstborn is also set apart as His.

Because of the grace of God, it was recognized that the uncleanness of a woman during childbirth would be temporary and not permanent. Therefore, by following God’s command, the woman and the child could come out of their period of uncleanness in childbearing and return to “cleanness” and the light of God’s holiness, with all traces of sin being put behind them. That is the process described in today’s passage. It is also a picture of salvation through Jesus and the necessity of being “born again.” (John 3:16)

“The Lord spoke to Moses: ‘This is the law concerning the person afflicted with a skin disease on the day of his cleansing. He is to be brought to the priest, who will go outside the camp and examine him. If the skin disease has disappeared from the afflicted person, the priest will order that two live clean birds, cedarwood, scarlet yarn, and hyssop brought for the one who is to be cleansed.’”  Leviticus 14:1-4 (HCSB)

We need to understand that the procedures outlined in today’s passage do not constitute a cure for leprosy. The verse describes a ceremony to restore a person who has already been healed. Only God can cure a person, not a ritual. That is what separates voodoo from true religion.

In what may seem like an otherwise benign ritual concerning skin disease (something we would defer to a dermatologist today), we actually have a clear picture of Jesus’ suffering on the Roman cross. Let’s examine the elements.

First off, the whole act was to take place outside of the camp:

“Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the gate, so that He might sanctify the people by His own blood.” Hebrews 13:12 (HCSB)

Next, the birds and articles (required for the ceremony) were not provided by the leper himself. The priest summoned the articles to be brought. Otherwise, the articles would be unclean for the priest to touch. Similarly, Jesus was the substitute for our sin offering. Atonement comes completely from His gracious provision and not from our good works, what we “bring to the table,” so to speak.

The scarlet wool and hyssop are symbols of the Passover lamb, which was sacrificed, and its blood “painted” on the Israelites’ doorposts with the hyssop branches. It is also a picture of Jesus, our Passover lamb. (1 Corinthians 5:7)

The cedar wood evokes the image of the cross.

In verse 5, one of the two birds is to be killed. Then, the living bird (along with the other articles) was to be “washed” in the blood of the sacrificed bird. This is meant to show a contrast to the other bird, which was allowed to live, thus representing the state of death from which the leper had escaped. This reminds us of how we are “washed in the blood” of Jesus, who atoned for our sin so that we may live. (Revelation 7:14)

Running water (literally: living water) in verse 5 symbolizes mikveh (baptism), being washed clean. Jesus said to the woman at the well, “If you knew to Whom you are speaking, you would ask, and He would have given you living water.” John 4:10

Finally, in verse 7, the leper is pronounced clean, and the living bird is let go. So, too, are we free, indeed, through Messiah Jesus! (John 8:36)

“Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu each took his own firepan, put fire in it, placed incense on it, and presented unauthorized fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them to do. Then flames leaped from the Lord’s presence and burned them to death before the Lord. So Moses said to Aaron, ‘This is what the Lord meant when He said: “I will show My holiness to those who are near me, and I will reveal My glory before all the people.’ But Aaron remained silent.” Leviticus 10:1- 3 (HCSB)

“Don’t boast about tomorrow, for you don’t know what a day might bring.” Proverbs 27:1 (HCSB)

Several summers ago, my son Wyatt and I went surfing in Newport Beach, CA. I had tagged along on his Christian school’s 6th-grade beach trip. There was a bunch of us! I recall over 60 kids and several adult/parent chaperones.   An African family was next to us, camped out on the beach. They were missionaries to the US from Kenya, and because they were also believers in Jesus, we hung out with them all day. Our kids played on the beach with their kids—one in Messiah.

Toward the end of the day, there was a commotion. Everyone was cleared from the water. Someone was in trouble. I ran towards the water’s edge and arrived at the shoreline just as two lifeguards dragged the African father onto the beach. After a frantic fight for the man’s life, it became apparent that he could not be revived. One moment, he was playing on the beach with his family and our students. The next moment, he was lying on that same beach, lifeless. Life can change abruptly for us all.

This was Aaron’s experience. As he, the High Priest, was moving about in his magnificent robes and performing the solemn duties of his exalted office, how elated he must have been! But what began as Aaron’s greatest day ended tragically. On the very day of the Tabernacle’s consecration, Aaron’s sons traded God’s calling for a momentary whim. Scripture does not indicate whether Nadab and Abihu consulted Moses or Aaron, so some scholars believe the boys disregarded their elders out of jealousy. They didn’t trust that God was speaking to Israel directly through Moses. Perhaps they asked themselves, “When will these men die? How long must we wait before we get to lead the congregation on our terms?” Who knows? The end came so quickly that they could not testify their motives.

One thing is sure: impious ambition led them to depart from God’s Word and commit an unhallowed action. This departure called down terrible retribution in a lightning flash!

It is incumbent upon us to seek God’s Word and not turn from it to the right or the left. We should take Scripture as it is and not live our lives more conservatively or liberally than the Lord requires.

“For I am Yahweh your God, so you must consecrate yourselves and be holy because I am holy. You must not defile yourselves by any swarming creature that crawls on the ground. For I am Yahweh, who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God, so you must be holy because I am holy.”  Leviticus 11:44-45 (HCSB)

The first ten chapters of Leviticus contain “The Law of the Sanctuary” in the stricter sense of the term. Except for some paragraphs here and there, the remainder of the book deals with what might be described as “The Law of Daily Life.”

For the past couple of decades, the Church has had an ongoing debate over Sacred vs. Secular. As a recording artist, I am weary of discussions over whether an artist should pursue the “Christian” market or the general market with their music.

The Torah (first five books of the Old Testament) views the whole of human life as its province; in the eyes of the Torah, nothing human is secular. It penetrates the home of the Israelite and aims at controlling even the most intimate relations of his domestic existence.

As the Bible directs us, what does it mean to be “in but not of” the world? How do these concepts of “clean and unclean” agree with the belief in Jesus? How can modern-day believers be separate from the world and yet go into it with the gospel?

Jesus prayed to the Father, “I have given them Your word. The world hated them because they are not of the world, as I am not of the world. I am not praying that You take them out of the world, but that You protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is the truth.”  John 17:14-17 (HCSB)

As God called Noah, Abraham, and Israel out from the nations…to be “consecrated” (set apart), so He calls us to come forth and be separate from the world. We are to present ourselves as “living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.” (Romans 12:1-5)  

The whole “in-but-not-of” directive is impossible for us apart from the Holy Spirit, Who guides us through God’s Word. The Bible divides soul and spirit and washes our minds clean with the truth. It directs us on how to be set apart from the world, not to be affected by its philosophy, and yet completely saturated in the culture, to impact it with the gospel.

“If his offering is….”  Leviticus 3:1 (HCSB)

A friend of mine tells the story of a woman trying to decide how she should confess her sins. She asked, “Shall I ’fess ’em as I does ’em, or shall I bunch ’em?”

The problem of “bunching” is very much related to our study of the offerings. The offerings of the Torah are something like the tools in a workman’s shop: There is a particular tool for each task, and you never use the wrong tool for the job.

The Torah seems to have more offerings than we can count. That can lead to a fair bit of frustration on the part of the modern-day Christian, but there is a vital lesson to be learned here, which may help to motivate us in our study of these offerings.

There is no specific Torah-commanded offering that sums up the entirety of Jesus’ atonement. Thus, we must see that the Messiah’s death, burial, and resurrection accomplished many different functions, not just ONE. Basically, through His death and resurrection, Jesus fulfilled ALL the requirements of the law, which had been parsed out as several individual offerings.

That being said, we also tend to “bunch” the benefits of the work of the Messiah rather than considering them one at a time. In so doing, we risk not recognizing the enormity of the blessing of Grace offered to mankind. One significant contribution the Book of Leviticus makes is that it names each specific sin…along with the way to be restored to God. Through His suffering, we gain greater insight into the intricacy of the atonement that the death of Messiah, the Lamb of God, provides.

The pre-Messianic Jewish worshipper would sacrifice the various offerings at prescribed times, and he would grasp, to some degree, the blessings God had given. A particular blessing was attached to each offering but was not all-encompassing and comprehensive atonement. For us modern believers, ALL the blessings of God are realized by ONE offering, made once and for all by the death of Messiah at Golgotha.  

In considering the Torah offerings, we are given the privilege to pause and focus on the PARTICULAR benefits and blessings we have received in Jesus’ death & resurrection. And we can thank Him (in our hearts and prayers) for each facet of His atonement, as He reveals them to us when we read His Word.

“This is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings which shall be offered to the Lord: If he offers it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer, with the sacrifice of thanksgiving, unleavened cakes mixed with oil or cakes of blended flour mixed with oil.” Leviticus 7:11-12 (NKJV)

Peace offerings, or “thank offerings” (Heb: zebach shelmim/zebachim), are sacrifices made when a person seeks to obtain peace with the Lord. The occasion for making a peace offering is any time one’s heart is filled with joyfulness unto the Lord, either celebrating a happy occasion in life or some important event in connection with one’s family or individual. It is the sacrifice that will endure forever (Revelation 21:24-26), now that we are in the Messianic era because Jesus has atoned for ALL sin and guilt. All we have left to offer is ourselves, to live our lives in thanksgiving to Him!

Here are some examples from the Psalms:

THANKSGIVING for deliverance from sickness and danger: “Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.” Psalm 107:8-9 (NKJV)

THANKSGIVING from the fulfillment of a vow made in times of distress: “I will pay my vows to the Lord, now in the presence of the people, in the courts of the Lord’s house, in the midst of you, O Jerusalem. Praise the Lord!”  Psalm 116:18-19 (NKJV)

FREEWILL offering, whenever a heart is moved at the remembrance of God’s mercies: “Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy Name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”  Psalm 103:1-5 (NKJV)

Unlike the burnt offering, a peace offering could be either a male or female animal, and only a small part of the peace offering was burnt on the altar. The rest (except for the portions received for the priests) was to be eaten by the person (who offered the sacrifice) and his family guests. It promoted the feeling of solidarity in the nation and strengthened families. It also pointed to dependence upon God for protection and for all the blessings of life.

Samuel’s mother, Hannah, was barren for many years. It was after such a “freewill” offering, while the rest of the family was eating & drinking before the Lord (as God commanded should be done), Hannah, “in the bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish” (1 Samuel 1:9). Eli, the priest, accused her of being drunk, but she replied, “I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord” (1 Samuel 1:15b). God answered her prayer and gave her Samuel. After Hannah had weaned the boy, she dedicated him to God and His service! No doubt she ate & drank in thanksgiving at that time…and every year after for the rest of her life!

“The Lord spoke to Moses, ‘Tell Aaron and his sons: This is the law of the sin offering. The sin offering is most holy and must be slaughtered before the Lord at the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered. The priest who offers it as a sin offering is to eat it. It must be eaten in a holy place, in the courtyard of the tent of meeting.” Leviticus 6:24-26 (HCSB)

“Substitutionary atonement” is when God allows His wrath to be displayed on some equitable third party…as our substitute.

While God is loving, patient, and longsuffering, He is also just. He will by no means clear the guilty.

“Now go lead these people to the place I told you about; see, my angel will go before you. But on the day I settle accounts, I will hold them accountable for their sin.” Exodus 32:34 (HCSB)

But God loves His children, and He remembers they are only human, so He allowed for Israel’s sin to be atoned for a season by slaughtering specific animals. The whole process was intended to communicate the gravity of sin and solicit the response of repentance.

After slaughtering the animal, its flesh underwent the flames of the altar. This signified the judgment of God. It is intriguing how the flesh that once personified sin became useful, even to the point of consuming it as food. It showed how God’s intent has always been to redeem the flesh as something valuable.

The blood of animals was unable to provide long-term atonement because it could never be equitable or valuable enough for such a great atonement. After all, animals have no imputable righteousness.  

Today, our atoning substitute is Jesus. He made permanent atonement for the World by the shedding of His blood; the virtue/value of His sacrifice, in that it pleased God, was made known by the power of His resurrection. Salvation is available for all who would accept it: exclusively through Jesus, yet offered liberally to anyone who would receive it.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God. They are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God presented Him as a propitiation through faith in His blood, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. He presented Him to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be righteous and declare righteous the one who has faith in Messiah Jesus.”  Romans 3:23-26 (HCSB)

“When someone sins in any of these ways: If he has seen, heard, or known about something he has witnessed, and did not respond to a public call to testify, he is responsible for his sins.” Leviticus 5:1 (HCSB)

A Sunday school teacher asked her class, “Does anyone here know what we mean by sins of ‘omission’?”

A young girl replied, “Aren’t those the sins we should have committed but didn’t?”

Not exactly. We often think of “sin” as something bad that we do. Because we are committing an act of sin, that is called “sin of commission.” Today’s passage tells us that “sin” extends to a broader context. What it means to “sin” also includes the act of “not doing.” I know that sounds like an oxymoron: the ACT of NOT DOING, but the things we omit but should have done are called “sins of OMISSION.”

Sins of omission are generally more difficult for a second party to notice, for they take humility and disclosure on the sinner’s behalf. They run deep into the hidden INNER character of a person, whereas sins of commission affect the OUTER, the reputation.

In Matthew chapter 5, Jesus addressed both the outer and inner man. He chose Murder, Adultery, Divorce, Oaths, Vengeance, and Loving our enemies as His topics.

Make no doubt about it: God is greatly concerned with our outward acts of sin!

“He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished!” Exodus 34:7b (NASB)

“The Lord is longsuffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He by no means clears the guilty…” Numbers 14:18 (NKJV)

But we are fooling ourselves when we limit our sin to things we “do.” Our thoughts, attitudes, and acts of omission also testify to our guilt.

It helps to remember that your reputation (what you do) is based on the part of you that people can see. Your character (your inner self) is the part of you that only God sees.

“Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to the children of Israel, saying: If a person sins unintentionally against any of the commandments of the Lord in anything which ought not be done, and does any of them, if the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, then let him offer to the Lord for his sin which he has sinned a young bull without blemish as a sin offering.’” Leviticus 4:1-3 (NKJV)

There is a breakdown, a significant dilemma with which mankind is faced. Here is the dilemma: Everyone sins, yet we are called to be “holy” (set apart) by a Holy God whose standard is “perfection.” Furthermore, a sinful man has the job of atoning for the sin of a sinful nation; a sinful “high priest” has the unfortunate duty of interceding on behalf of that sinful nation before the presence of perfect holiness. Long before the Mosaic law, a man named Job articulated his personal need for an intercessor:  

“For He (God) is not a man like me, that I can answer Him, that we can take each other to court. There is no one to judge between us, to lay his hand on both of us. Let Him take His rod away from me so His terror will no longer frighten me. Then I would speak and not fear Him.  But that is not the case; I am on my own.” Job 9:32-35 (HCSB)

Isaiah also spoke of a need for a go-between between man & God:

“Jacob, why do you say, and Israel, why do you assert: ‘My way is hidden from the Lord, and my claim is ignored by my God’”? Isaiah 40:27 (HCSB)

“He saw that there was no man – He was amazed that there was no one interceding; so His own arm brought salvation, and His own righteousness supported Him.” Isaiah 59:16 (HCSB)

What makes Jesus so much more superior (than any human high priest) is that, by His atoning work on the cross, He alone has satisfied God’s requirements for mankind. He has reckoned both God’s gracious mercy with His righteous judgment. Consider these verses:

“Jesus has also become the guarantee of a better covenant.” Hebrews 7:22 (HCSB)

“This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.” 1 Timothy 2:3-6 (NASB)

“For this is the kind of high priest we need: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He doesn’t need to offer sacrifices every day, as high priests do – first for their own sins, then for those of the people. He did this once for all when He offered Himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak, but the promise of the oath, which came after the law, appoints a Son, who has been perfected forever.” Hebrews 7:26-28 (HCSB)

“Now the Lord called to Moses, and spoke to him from the tabernacle of meeting, saying, ‘Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: “When any one of you brings an offering to the Lord, you shall bring your offering of the livestock—of the herd and of the flock.’” Leviticus 1:1-2 (NKJV)

The oldest name for the book of Leviticus is: “The Law of the Priests.”  Today, it is known in Judaism as the book of “Vayikra.”  In modern Judaism, the names of the books of the Bible are taken from their opening Hebrew words. Vayikra means: “and He called” (commanded).

The fundamental concepts of the book are pretty straightforward. Half of the book deals with sacrifice and the laws that safeguard the priestly character of Israel, and the other half with Holiness and the sanctification (setting apart) of human life unto the Lord.

In ancient times, every Jewish boy began his study of Scripture in Leviticus. The idea put forth by the rabbis was, “Because children are ‘pure’ and the sacrifices are pure, let those who are pure come and occupy themselves with pure things.” (midrash)

Now, we all know nobody is born “pure,” for we are all born into sin through Adam. It may take a few months to realize it, but all babies are born sinners who need atonement. Otherwise, why else would we need a book about how to sacrifice and atone for sin properly? Why else would it be so important for this particular book to be the first one taught to children?  

But there is One who knew no sin, original or otherwise. (2 Corinthians 5:21). And He, the Word made flesh (John 1:140, also would have been taught from the Torah as a young boy. Interestingly, the One who would grow up, and Himself be the sacrifice for all sin, would have been taught “how to sacrifice” as His first Biblical lesson.  

Chapters 1-7 define the laws of sacrifice for the individual, the congregation, and the priests. Chapters 8-10 describe the inauguration of worship in the completed Tabernacle. Chapters 11-17 deal with the laws of clean and unclean, purity, and purification, culminating in the institution of the Day of Atonement. (It also explains why you can’t order a cheeseburger or shrimp and lobster at most restaurants in Israel!) Chapters 18-26 legislate marriage, personal and social ethics (Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself), the Sacred Festivals, and land tenure. It concludes with a solemn exhortation on the connection between religion and national welfare, a subject that is probably on every believer’s mind at this season of American history!!

If you have never read Leviticus, you probably have an “Oy vey!” (Woe is me!) attitude about the endeavor. Stick with it because Leviticus is quite dynamic, and it is so easy that even a Jewish child could grasp it! Are you smarter than a Jewish 5th grader?

“Moses did everything just as the Lord commanded him. The Tabernacle was set up in the first month of the second year, on the first day of the month. Moses set up the Tabernacle: he laid its bases, positioned its planks, inserted its crossbars, and set up its posts. Then he spread the tent over the Tabernacle and put the covering of the tent on top of it, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.” Exodus 40:16-19 (HCSB)

In most Christian circles, “tent-making” is synonymous with “not charging a fee for preaching the gospel.” This saying is because the apostle Paul chose to support himself by making tents. (Acts 18:2)  He didn’t want anyone to accuse him of preaching for profit.

“In everything I kept myself from being a burden to you. . . But what I am doing I will also continue to do, so that I may eliminate the opportunity from those who want an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the matter about which they are boasting.” 2 Corinthians 11:7-12 (NASB)

We also know that Paul was a highly trained and qualified Bible teacher.

“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated under Gamaliel, strictly according to the law of our fathers, being zealous for God just as you all are today.” Acts 22:3 (NASB)

“I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees….” Acts 23:6 (NASB)

Of all occupations to support his ministry, why would Paul choose “tent-making”? For that matter, why would God call a “tentmaker” to expand His Church, preaching salvation to the Gentiles, alongside his ministry to the Jewish community? I don’t believe Paul’s occupation was an arbitrary coincidence. It seems similar to how God chose shepherds (Joseph, Moses, and David) to “shepherd” the children of Israel. Could it be that God also chose a tentmaker to “canvas” the known civilized world of the early church era with the Gospel’s influence, establishing churches as one drives tent pegs deep into the ground so that they would act as foundational supports of the greater Church-at-Large, hoisted in later generations?

A map of Paul’s missionary journeys shows how Paul was planting congregations, radiating in a circle from Jerusalem up into Eastern Europe and back to Jerusalem. By design or default, Paul laid out churches in a similar way as Moses laid out the tent panels of the Tabernacle and tied them together to form a single unit. Today, millions of congregations have been built by missionary “tent makers” throughout the generations. These churches are furthering Paul’s foundational teaching of the Gospel and fit together as a single unit, forming the greater Church-at-large, stretching out the “Tabernacle” of Messiah to the most remote parts of the earth…just as the Lord commanded.

“The Israelites had done everything the Lord had commanded Moses. Moses inspected all the work they had accomplished. They had done just as the Lord commanded. Then Moses blessed them.” Exodus 39:42-43

My wife and I built our first house in Franklin, Tennessee. You learn a lot when you build a house. Fortunately, we had a good experience. When the work was completed, we walked through and inspected everything. Then, we said, “Well done!” and wrote the builder a final check.

I call it “beginner’s luck” because almost every other home contracting experience has been nightmarish. All I can say is no matter how much a contractor begs, don’t pay them until ALL the work is done. Remember the old saying, “If you want a friend to leave you alone, give him a loan?” Sadly, the same could be said of some building contractors. Give them their money up-front, and you may never see them again!

It is safe to say that Moses was God’s “general contractor.” He was given a job and the task to bring it in on time, on budget, and with a zero-tolerance for shoddy craftsmanship.

I am amazed at how our culture is losing its work ethic. That is, we would rather play first and work later. That attitude has led to our generation being the most indebted generation in history. During the Great Depression, people may have been flat broke, but they were not as “in debt” as we are today. Consider these statistics.

* There are roughly 1.2 billion credit cards in use in the U.S.

* More than 1.5 million people file for bankruptcy every year.

* The average per-household consumer debt in the U.S. is $16,720.

Just as the Egyptians sold themselves into slavery in the days of Joseph (Genesis 47:19), so has our nation has sold itself into bondage to credit companies. In effect, we have rejected the Lord’s provision, considering it inadequate, choosing instead to indenture ourselves so we can obtain the objects of our idolatry.

Let’s take today’s passage as a challenge to 1) Ask the Lord where He wants us to labor in his Kingdom, 2) Work as unto the Lord, 3) Rest in His blessing & provision, 4) Seek His mercy in releasing us from the bonds of debt we have sold ourselves into. Do the work He has chosen and equipped you to complete. Then, seek His blessing. Not the other way around.

“He made the bronze basin and its stand from the bronze mirrors of the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.” Exodus 38:8 (HCSB)

There is a notion among certain groups that Christianity discriminates against women in ministry. However, just because the Lord has chosen men to serve in certain ministry roles doesn’t mean He has judged that women cannot minister. By no means should His character be brought on trial just because we cannot fathom His wisdom!

In addition, there is no language anywhere in Scripture indicating that women are inferior in any way intellectually or spiritually to men. “Roles of service in the congregation” is simply one of those cases in life where God has made a judgment, and we are called to honor it, regardless of feelings or cultural/social customs.

A few chapters ago, it was pointed out that women played an important role in constructing the Tabernacle.

“Every skilled woman spun yarn with her hands and brought it: blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and fine linen. And all the women whose hearts were moved spun the goat hair by their skill.” Exodus 35:25-26 (HCSB)

In addition, women contributed what must have been the bulk of the gold and fine metals. I say this because it was mostly jewelry that was melted down to make the tabernacle articles.  

“Both men and women came; all who had willing hearts brought brooches, earrings, rings, necklaces, and all kinds of gold jewelry – everyone who waved a presentation offering of gold to the Lord….” Exodus 35:22 (HCSB)

An interesting thing about the women (who served at the Tent of Meeting’s entrance) donating mirrors is the profound message it sends:  The closer a woman gets to the Lord, the less concerned she is with her outer appearance.

“Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised. Give her the reward of her labor, and let her works praise her at the city gates.”  Proverbs 31:30-31 (HCSB)

While the Lord has prescribed specific roles for people in His Kingdom, try not to concentrate on someone else’s role. Focus instead on the fact that the God of all creation has designed a role specifically for YOU. Now, go put your whole self into fulfilling that role!

“Bezalel made the ark….” Exodus 37:1

“Bezalel made the mercy seat….”  Exodus 37:6

“He made the two cherubim….”  Exodus 37:7

“He constructed the table….”  Exodus 37:10

“Then he made the lampstand….”  Exodus 37:17

“Bezalel made the altar of incense….”  Exodus 37:25 (ALL HCSB)

As in many cases for Biblical names, Bezalel’s name matches his character/calling.  Although there are four possibilities of interpretation, the commonly held meaning of “Bezalel” is “In the shadow of God.”  This is then explained as “In the protection of God.”

This explanation coincides marvelously with the name of Bezalel’s colleague Oholiab.  His name means “Father’s shrine/temple.”

When you put the two together, you get “The protection of God in our Father’s temple.”  Pretty cool…as long as you are near the temple!

The Bible can be summed up as the story of man’s desire to separate from God and God’s deliberate strides to commune with mankind.  Each God-stride established a more permanent presence with His people.  Beginning with the Tabernacle, God commissioned a portable house of presence.  Wherever He led, Israel was to follow.  God stopped, and they set up the tent.  If you wanted to dwell with God, you had to literally follow Him around.

The temple was a more permanent house for God’s presence, laid in a foundation.  A problem arose when God’s people turned their hearts from Him.  As a result, God drove Israel from His temple.  The temple may have been a permanent structure, but men could be separated from it…through exile or ceremonial uncleanness.

With the giving of the Holy Spirit, Jesus consecrated the bodies of His followers as worthy to receive His presence.  In essence, wherever the believer goes, they are under “the protection of God in our Father’s Temple.”

“I will never leave or forsake you.”  Hebrews 13:5 (NKJV)

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?”  1 Corinthians 6:19 (NKJV)

Ultimately, all followers of the Messiah will permanently dwell with God in Heaven.

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” John 14:3 (NKJV)

“So Moses summoned Bezalel, Oholiab, and every skilled person in whose heart the Lord had places wisdom, everyone whose heart moved him, to come to the work and to do it.” Exodus 36:2 (HCSB)

There are differing views on Judaism and its relation to art. We are well aware of modern Jewish visual artists, such as Chagall. One would be hard-pressed to examine film or television credits without noticing a strong Jewish creative presence. But what of ancient Judaism?

Often, the opinion is held that there is no significant visual art in Biblical Judaism and that the Jews lacked the aesthetic sense. This is mainly due to the influence of the Second Commandment, which prohibited idolatrous sculpture and other three-dimensional art.

Defenders of the Jewish artistic mindset could say that Judaism was determined to lift the God idea above the sensual and represent the Divine as Spirit only. It could also be said that art was not Israel’s calling. Whereas Greece’s legacy was Beauty, Israel’s mission was Righteousness.  

But when it came to building His tabernacle and temple, God didn’t call the Greeks. He enlisted, of all the nations at His disposal, the Hebrew artists.

It is reminiscent of what the Lord told Zerubbabel through the prophet Zechariah concerning rebuilding the temple.  

“This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by strength or by might, but by my Spirit’ says the Lord of Hosts.” Zechariah 4:6 (HCSB)

In addition, Zechariah tells Zerubbabel:  

“For who scorns the day of small things? These seven eyes of the Lord, which scan throughout the whole earth, will rejoice when they see a plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.” Zechariah 4:10 (HCSB)

What is the lesson? God has “equipped & called” YOU to work in His Kingdom. Tasks have been designed for you specifically. Furthermore, the Lord’s delight is when you respond with faith and enthusiasm. We must all work, but completion is not determined by our strength, might, or creativity. God’s guidance and favor towards His “faithful” ensures our success.

The highest artist is not the greatest master in self-expression but in self-control: The one who forsakes all & everything to follow the Lord.