Who is God? And, how can we find God - Bible answers.

Who is God? And, how can we find God - Bible answers.

By Joseph MalekaniReligion & SpiritualityChristianity
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Who is God? And, how can we find God - Bible answers. episodes

  • Leviticus 11 Commentary: Israel's menu defined

    This episode is also available as a blog post: http://lovingscripture.com/2021/06/09/leviticus-11-commentary/

    Leviticus 11 Commentary

    www.lovingscripture.com

    We come to chapter 11 with the knowledge that the LORD had given man all the animals for food. Genesis is very clear on this one. As we look at the choices here, we begin to appreciate the message being communicated. The list of creatures is long: animals, fish, birds, insects and general reptiles.

    From each category above we have selected creatures that could be eaten and those that could not be eaten.

    The general observation is that animals that were dirty in nature or ate dirty things were dropped from the menu as they represented uncleanness.


    The creatures that didn't have an appealing structure or face were excluded from the menu. The birds of prey and carnivals were also dropped from the menu. You will also notice that both habitation and animal behavior became factors for this exam.

    The point seem to be this: man should distance himself from sin. The rule list should remind him of things that the LORD hates. Just like associating with a dead unclean animal makes one unclean, associating with sin makes the saint dirty.

    A bat mostly lives in darkness. Man must hate darkness and deeds that are done in darkness. A vulture is a scavenger, feeding on dead animals. They do not represent the cleanliness desired by the LORD. The eagle and the lion make a living by killing. They survive by terminating another's life. Man is to be reminded of need to preserve and respect life. These are like visual teaching aids. Very powerful teaching aids indeed. A man must not survive at the expense of someone’s life.

    We may suspect hygiene reasons in some of the rules. But the general principle is that there is a reason for these symbols which are still important today. In the New Testament, while any meat could be eaten, believers were specifically discouraged from eating meat sacrificed to idols. Again the principle is the same. We don't want to associate ourselves with sin.

    All creatures move on their bellies must not be eaten. I think we can easily understand the reason.

    More resources visit bibleproject.com

    2 min
  • Leviticus 10 Commentary: Carelessness while duty is punished.

    This episode is also available as a blog post: http://lovingscripture.com/2021/06/08/leviticus-10-commentary/

    Leviticus 10 Commentary

    www.lovingscripture.com

    Chapter 10 opens with a very sad event. Two sons of Aaron perish in the process of duty. They attempt to offer an unauthorized fire before the LORD. The result is swift and fatal. Nadab and Abihu die on the spot. Moses offers little consolation as he repeats the LORD'S uncompromising commands. Family relations are put aside. Aaron and his surviving sons are ordered to remain in the sanctuary - that's how they mourned Nadab and Abihu.


    Further instructions are given to Aaron on alcohol. No drinking. The anointing on their lives would not permit them to indulge. Verse 9 commands Aaron not to drink - of course drunkenness was not even mentioned. The issue is on drinking, whether it results in being drunk or not. Today, the saint being the priest, may stay away from alcohol because of the anointing on their lives - the Holy Spirit in them.

    Whether Nadab and Abihu were drank on duty or not is a matter we can speculate on. But we do know for sure that the instruction on alcohol is meant to prevent carelessness on duty, which may result in divine judgments like we have in the opening verses of this chapter. Sad story indeed. It does however show us the seriousness of worship. It is never to be taken lightly.

    We are off to a scary start to ministry in the sanctuary - no child-play here. The LORD gives us chance to do the right thing but not casually. The consequences can be very bad.

    More visit www.bibleproject.com

    2 min
  • Leviticus 9 Commentary: What it takes for the Glory of the LORD to appear.

    This episode is also available as a blog post: http://lovingscripture.com/2021/06/07/leviticus-9-commentary/

    Leviticus 9 Commentary: What it takes for the Glory of the LORD to appear.

    www.lovingscripture.com

    Aaron begins his ministry.

    Moses tells Aaron to perform a couple of rituals as per procedure so that the Glory of God may appear.

    1. Sin or purification offering.

    2. Burnt offering.

    3. Fellowship offering.

    4. Grain offering – which in essence was part of the fellowship offering.

    Both the community and Aaron himself were not in good shape to appear before the LORD. The rituals are symbols meant to draw them to the realities of the real requirements for a relationship with their God.


    This is interesting. The tabernacle with the revered Ark wasn't God. It was the representation of the LORD. Here the LORD commands Aaron via Moses to get ready for the physical appearance of the presence of God. Even at this stage Israel is very much aware that the tabernacle was simply a representation. The reality of the presence of God was quite different. It was something they were scared off.  

    After every instruction is executed to perfection, the LORD appears in form of a consuming fire that burns the sacrifices. The key moment is here. By this event we learn the importance of these rituals as we see them fulfilled in the LORD Jesus Christ.

    The saint is also drawn to a point of thinking of these rituals as actions. Christianity is in the actions. It is in the walk. What we think about, what we say, our feelings and our actions are all important. Like rituals, these are physical activities.

    2 min
  • Leviticus 8 Commentary: Aaron is ordained

    This episode is also available as a blog post: http://lovingscripture.com/2021/06/06/leviticus-8-commentary/

    Leviticus 8 Commentary

    www.lovingscripture.com

    Aaron is consecrated. Both the sin offering and the burnt offering are slaughtered accordingly but not before a water bath. Physical cleansing was important. It represented the desired cleanliness of heart.


    The ram was also slaughtered in a prescribed way for Aaron's ordination. The process took 7 days.

    The importance of this event points to our lives as saints today. Aaron is washed before being dressed. The dress has equipment necessary for him to function as a priest. Believers need tools to function as ministers.

    We do well to pay attention to the dress code as it detailed an important armory. This armory is comparable to Paul's dress code in Ephesians. Like we have the belt of truth and the sword of the Spirit (Word), so we have a garment representing holiness to the LORD, justice, intercession, direction and decision making. The garment had meaning in context but also for the church today. The Ephod carried symbols that still instructs the saint to stay connected to his role as an intercessor.

    The ordination process is long but it is not equivalent to becoming a Christian, rather it details the process of sanctification for the saint. It does take time. It is a process that involves killing sinful aspects of our lives as represented by the killing of animals. The fact that this process takes seven days points to a life time process for the saint.

    The other offering was a burnt offering before the LORD which now represents a continued relationship with the LORD via prayer and service to the LORD. Again it’s meant to last a life time. The seven days suggest completeness.

    But really, did it take us this long to become priests? The list of requirements is long. Firstly and importantly we have Aaron and his sons. There is no priesthood without people. There is no priest without a man offering himself and being available to become one. The garments, the animals, the anointing oil, the unleavened bread and the water were all required to be present for the ordination.

    Truth is that at salvation all the objects represented by these symbols in chapter 8 come into play. The lamb was killed. Someone was washed. The sin offering was presented. The burnt offering was presented. Blood was smeared all around. Someone was dressed for the purpose. Someone was anointed. All these? Yes. The “say after me” prayer at salvation is process made simple but in reality the saint is drawn to appreciate the processes achieved on their behalf at the cross.

    The more we read into these ancient practices the more we appreciate the happenings in the first four books of the New Testament. And you and me are very much part of the movie. It is winter here and I wouldn’t love the bathing part but you are never a priest without it. Have you been washed?

    3 min

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