Sreedhar's Journey

For some of you the new year is already here. For others, it is happening within the next 16 hours. Another year has passed and a new year is before us. What have we gained from the past year besides weight? What should we continue to do? What should we do more of? What should we start doing? What should we stop doing? Important questions that I learned from a friend. Moses was made to record Israel's journey as a form of review in this chapter. Numbers 33:2, Now Moses wrote down the starting points of their journeys at the command of the Lord. And these are their journeys according to their starting points: You can read the chapter and see how meticulous Moses was in recording their journeys. It is certainly a great way to remember all that God had done with them. There is no doubt in my mind that God had a clear plan and the people of Israel needed to reflect on this for the benefit of the next phase of their history. They were to enter the land promised to Abraham and his desc

Have you sinned in secret? Don't answer. God knows and at some point in the future it would be found out by others. Many parents say this to their children, "Don't do the wrong thing, your sin will find you out one day". The original mention of this came from Moses. Numbers 32:23, But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the Lord; and be sure your sin will find you out. It has a different meaning from what we are familiar with. The tribes of Reuben, Gad and eventually Manasseh wanted to establish their territories east of the Jordan instead of crossing over to the west. Moses reminded them of the hesitations of their fathers that caused them to lose their personal blessing. A compromise was struck and promise made. If the promise was not fulfilled their sin will yield its consequences. What promises have you made? I urge you to keep them or appeal to be relieved of them because of some extenuating circumstances. If you are about to make a p

I am sure you have watched war movies of one form or another. I have always been fascinated by the strategies employed, but this does not take away the gruesome atmosphere of death in each of the movies. Many die for the sake of a cause in these wars. But there was one war where one side had no casualties. Numbers 31:49, and they said to Moses, Your servants have taken a count of the men of war who are under our command, and not a man of us is missing. God told Moses that he was to go against the Midians and he sent a small number of 12,000 men into battle. They totally eliminated the men and captured all the women and children. Yet, none of the people of Israel were killed. Amazing story of God's strategy and protection over them. There is little said about how they did it, but I am very sure God orchestrated it. I know some of you would be saying that this is so gruesome. In fact, after they won this war, they were further instructed to kill all the male children and any women

In American culture, and I should mention traditional and conservative culture, men always opened doors for women, and they would take their hats off as they greet another lady. That is lost greatly today with the advent of technology (easier doors to open and the need to get in and out of cars quickly) and in some cases the change in culture caused by the feminists movement. In Moses' days the women were well protected. Numbers 30:16, These are the statutes which the Lord commanded Moses, between a man and his wife, and between a father and his daughter in her youth in her father's house. Women who were married or still lived their father, were protected by their "man in the house". This is again a God given ecosystem for the family. It formed a protection for them and required the father or the husband to take responsibility for their families. But in today's society this is greatly lost. Many children are growing in single parent homes, which are mainly led

Human sacrifice is driven out of fear and ignorance. Do you know that until today human sacrifice still happens? Many important structures around the world have been initiated with some kind of human sacrifice. These sacrifices are only invoking the work of demonic spirits to protect these properties. The living God is ignored. God on the other hand required animal sacrifices. Numbers 29:39, These you shall present to the Lord at your appointed feasts (besides your vowed offerings and your freewill offerings) as your burnt offerings and your grain offerings, as your drink offerings and your peace offerings. God never asked for human sacrifices. In fact He speaks against it in scripture and condemns those who practice it. Perhaps, people think it is more perfect than animal sacrifice. But what is forgotten is that every human is from the same seed. That seed is corrupted with sin and imperfect. Only God can be the perfect sacrifice, and this is foretold in a number of ancient writings

Day after Christmas. Boxing day. What is that? Most people are in the shops getting great deals or returning presents they don't need or want. It can be busier than Christmas day. How about taking a day of rest. Give me a show of hands, how many need some rest? We all do! The Sabbath was instituted by God for this. I have mentioned before that this is something I need to work on. Moses was given clear instructions on this along with all the different sacrifices. Numbers 28:25, And on the seventh day you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work. When is your time to rest? We lead busier lives today due to the advent of technology. We are always connected, and connected to more people than we have time for. What would life be without the mobile phone, no internet and no emails? Our lives have become complex and we take on more than we can chew. Time to have the "no" answer, when needed. We need to free the time to connect with people more deeply, and

Every organization should outlive its leader, especially its founder. To make this happen you need a succession plan. Without one you are planning for the organization to fail. Either there will be in fighting by those second in command, or the organization is missing crucial skills and experience to at least sustain its business. Moses was clear about this. Numbers 27:15-17, Then Moses spoke to the Lord, saying: “Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, who may go out before them and go in before them, who may lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the Lord may not be like sheep which have no shepherd.” Moses was about to be taken up into heaven by God and this was the first thing Moses said to God. We can either be selfish, or thinking about the people we lead. Some choose to control things till they expire or they have extracted all the possible benefits to themselves. The greatest leaders are those that develop the nex

God chose the people of Israel to have a blessing that would bless the nations. Based on the number of Nobel prizes given to Jewish individuals and the number of inventions we benefit from on a daily basis, this is quite clear. But because of this, I believe that God kept a high standard of purity with them. Numbers 26:64-65, But among these there was not a man of those who were numbered by Moses and Aaron the priest when they numbered the children of Israel in the Wilderness of Sinai. For the Lord had said of them, “They shall surely die in the wilderness.” So there was not left a man of them, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun. For 40 years they wondered in the desert because they did not have faith enough to believe that God would take them into the promised land. Now again they are about to cross the Jordan into Jericho. They have already gained a reputation on the plains of Moab. They are undefeated and Moses does a final census to establish how the land

Are we blinded by the need to be diplomatically correct? It is a subtle word used to deflect the need to correct someone when they are doing wrong. True friends are those who help point out that bit of food sitting in the side of your mouth in a discreet manner. We help people become better by pointing out the wrong. But Israel had a problem with the Midianites. Numbers 25:3, So Israel was joined to Baal of Peor, and the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel. Some started to worship the gods of the Midianites and one even married into the people. This was forbidden among the people Israel because God knew that it will bring in other gods into their midst. Why did they do this? Ever been invited to a religious celebration not your own? In order not to offend the host, you usually participate in the program. This is what happened here. Numbers 25:2, They invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. Why serve other gods w

Some of you may disagree with what I have said yesterday about Israel. Let me make this clear. Israel is not perfect. In fact when this encounter with Balaam and Balak was happening Israel still had tendencies to sin against God. We can only report what God was doing and what God wants to do. Even Balaam was overwhelmed by God's presence. Numbers 24:2, And Balaam raised his eyes, and saw Israel encamped according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him. God in His sovereign way preserved the people of Israel. Imperfect as they were they were to be the people that God uses to bring the Messiah of the world. For that reason God instituted both a blessing and a curse. Numbers 24:9, ‘He bows down, he lies down as a lion; And as a lion, who shall rouse him?’ “Blessed is he who blesses you, And cursed is he who curses you.” Father, help the nations see what God has preordained before creation.

Have you been seeking your future through fortune tellers, feng shui masters, horoscopes, tea leaf readers, or tarot card readers? These may help you in the short term but not in the long run. In fact, they put you through a lot of misery. The sure thing to pursue is the plan of God. Don't go against it. Balaam did that. Numbers 23:26, So Balaam answered and said to Balak, “Did I not tell you, saying, ‘All that the Lord speaks, that I must do’?” God will bless those He chooses to bless and curse those He chooses to curse. Balaam could not act otherwise. Balak got 2 altars made and was proceeding to a third one in this chapter, but God stands firm on His plans. Numbers 23:19, God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? The issue of Jerusalem is upon us again in this time in history. It will be interesting to see what God will do while the nations contemplate what t

A good friend of mine did ancient history in university and always has fascinating stories to tell as he "connects the dots" of ancient civilisations. I recently went to an exhibition at my son's school and they were sharing about the gods of the Egyptians and Greeks. My learned history friend will tell you that you need to go back further in time and realize that people knew the living God as Balaam did. Numbers 22:12, And God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.” Balaam was being hired by Balak, the king of the Moabites, to curse the people of Israel. Balak had great fear because of the reputation from their defeat of the Amorites. But Balaam is observed to be an obedient servant of God and he gets visitations from God, even his donkey. Balaam's donkey speaks to him and he encounters the angel. Amazing! Father, yet again there is evidence of ancient civilisations knowing God. Instead, over time, they s

Are you forgetful? I am. Now, don't blame age. We are too quick to use that lame excuse. Sometimes, it is just contributed by our carelessness or sense of what is important. We leave things out because of priorities. If you forget your wedding anniversary or family birthdays, it is best you check your priorities. The people of Israel had the same problem. Jeremiah 18:14, Will a man leave the snow water of Lebanon, Which comes from the rock of the field? Will the cold flowing waters be forsaken for strange waters? They forgot. How could they forget? The God that blessed them in the days of their forefathers starting with Abraham, through their days in Egypt, the kings to the present. They received so much but see what they have done. Jeremiah 18:15, Because My people have forgotten Me, they have burned incense to worthless idols. And they have caused themselves to stumble in their ways, from the ancient paths, to walk in pathways and not on a highway, Where are you my friend? Wh

Are you building a reputation for something? You can build a reputation for good or bad. But as I have said before, I have made mistakes and those mistakes "add" to my reputation. But I praise God that His favor has been on me and I have had many successes to build a positive reputation. But is the reputation the most important thing? Instead, I strongly believe, learning from our successes and failures to increase our capacity to act is the most important thing. Numbers 21:34, Then the Lord said to Moses, “Do not fear him, for I have delivered him into your hand, with all his people and his land; and you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon.” Yes, the people of Israel were building a reputation for successful war campaigns. In fact there is mention of a piece of documentation that captured this. Numbers 21:14, Therefore it is said in the Book of the Wars of the Lord: Waheb in Suphah, The brooks of the Arnon. But is this all it wa

Have you made mistakes in your life when you got angry for the wrong reasons? I have. I wish I could go back and correct what I did or said. One of them that I need to do with most is my darling companion of almost 26 years. Moses (the man that had one of the closest encounter with God) and Aaron also had bad tempers and this resulted in them not entering Canaan. Numbers 20:2, Now there was no water for the congregation; so they gathered together against Moses and Aaron. Yes again the people of Israel got angry with them and this caused Moses to get angry. He spoke with fierce words and hit the rock twice with his rod, instead of speaking to it. Based on God's instruction, God wanted to demonstrate the power of the spoken word. But it was not to be. Miriam is recorded as having died at the beginning of the chapter, and Aaron at the end. However, let's learn from this mistake. God wants us to speak with faith for His glory. Do not let God down by not allowing him to use the p

There are two views on the use of hand sanitizers, but the risks of contracting disease makes its use necessary. There are proponents that seek to avoid the use of hand sanitizers because it prevents your body from building natural defenses against bacteria. However, because of the prevalence of viruses and bacteria that endanger our lives, good hygiene is needed. The people of Israel had clear instructions on being clean in this chapter. Numbers 19:22, Whatever the unclean person touches shall be unclean; and the person who touches it shall be unclean until evening. God gave clear instructions on how to handle the dead. Everything had a logical quarantine instruction and a ceremony of cleansing was important to recognize that they were clean again. All these were practical efforts to contain disease and maintain good health in this large group of tent people in the wilderness. These instructions would serve the peoples of the world well. These are yet another set of wise instructio

Have you written your will? This is an important document to determine how your assets will be distributed after you have passed on. The biggest challenge, in the absence of a will, is the distribution of non - liquid assets like properties, jewelry, and other personal effects. God has also written how the people of Israel will inherit the blessings from God. However, Aaron and rest of the Levites are treated special. Numbers 18:24, For the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer up as a heave offering to the Lord, I have given to the Levites as an inheritance; therefore I have said to them, ‘Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.’ Their inheritance is based on the gifts brought by the people of Israel. They were to live throughout the land and would not be given any land. And, very specifically, Aaron and his sons are to handle the most holy things. There was no compromise as the people of Israel lived in an ecosystem of right living, honoring one an

Have you ever planted something before and see them grow? My only experience is seeing the seeds in a science experiment germinating and growing into tall plants in a jar. I suppose I need to invest time to see this happen. God did a great miracle when He budded a rod. That's right, not planted, a cut rod, and probably used for walking and other utility needs. Numbers 17:8, Now it came to pass on the next day that Moses went into the tabernacle of witness, and behold, the rod of Aaron, of the house of Levi, had sprouted and put forth buds, had produced blossoms and yielded ripe almonds. This is a miracle! It was done for the purpose of demonstrating God's choice with Aaron. It also showed God's great power. He controls the living and the dead. He can make the dead alive. He is omnipotent. As we submit to the Lord be ready to see the supernatural working out before you. Are you believing for a miracle? Let's cry out to God together. Father, you are the Almighty God. N

Did you ever experience a leadership crisis where the people you are leading revolt against you. I have seen this happen in at least two occasions. They were truly great learning experiences. Both crisis ended positively. Moses had similar challenges. Numbers 16:3, They gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?” As you read the chapter you will realize that it was 2 very eventful days where many died for their rebellion. About 15,000 people died in those 2 days. Moses was always seeking for God to act mercifully, but justice was demonstrated to show the consequences of moving against God's ways. People may fill it is harsh to do this, but on the contrary God is constantly looking to bless those who walk in His ways. Step out of His ways and you open yourself to the consequences of

I have had the privilege of living in 4 cultures over the years, not to mention the multicultural environment of Malaysia. I thank God for the ability to adapt and make great friendships in each of these cultures. I have always felt accepted and so were the "strangers" among the people of Israel. Numbers 15:26, It shall be forgiven the whole congregation of the children of Israel and the stranger who dwells among them, because all the people did it unintentionally. This verse shows the inclusive nature of God and His clear instruction for right living. In today's world, inclusiveness means very different things. We are accepting of each other's practices, even if it violates the ways of God. God is ready to a accept all peoples but He has given a big responsibility to the people of Israel that comes with great blessing if they follow God's ways. Be inclusive but not pluralistic. Father, help me to show the blessing of being single minded in my pursuit of You. A

I have been in leadership long enough to tell you that you can be both loved and hated while in leadership. You cannot make everybody happy. As long as they are human, they will have a tendency to pick on things to express dissatisfaction. Moses and Aaron faced the same and they were about to be stoned. God intervenes and was about to wipe out the people of Israel, because through these actions they were rejecting God. Numbers 14:11, Then the Lord said to Moses: “How long will these people reject Me? And how long will they not believe Me, with all the signs which I have performed among them? Moses intercedes but the consequences of their disobedience caused them to stay wondering in the wilderness for 40 years and those who gave a bad report died in a plague. They disobeyed God and suffered the consequences. After that they tried to claim the promised land early but they got defeated in a big way by the Caananites and Amalekites. The lesson here is simple. We must understand God'

Are you ready for a good spy story? No, this is not something from the Majesty's service, meaning a James Bond movie. It involves a group of amateur people called out to see their future through a 40 day adventure. Numbers 13: 27 , Then they told him, and said: “We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. The people of Israel sent out 12 leaders on an important tramping (Kiwi word for hiking) trip to check out their future home. God in His sovereign way was about to displace a number of inhabitants of the land of Canaan and give the land to the people of Israel. They were losing it because of their sinful nature and God was fulfilling His promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But the people of Israel got cold feet. Numbers 13:28, Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there. Sometimes we forget who is with us and going before u

Have you met God face to face? It would be an incredible encounter. Over the centuries God has met with different ones, but the most spectacular record is with Moses. Numbers 12:6-8, Then He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream. Not so with My servant Moses; He is faithful in all My house. I speak with him face to face, Even plainly, and not in dark sayings; And he sees the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid To speak against My servant Moses?" As present in many institutions and organizations, Aaron and Miriam (Moses' siblings) started to undermine Moses. God intervened and caused Miriam to have leprosy for 7 days. What an eye opener. Moses was recorded as being the most humble person on the face of the earth and his siblings were ready to usurp his God given authority. Are you in a human organization where there seems to be strife and conflicts? Don't get enga

My first job and career was in management consulting. I could not have asked for a better job. Most people make comments that they never get to even use half of what they studied. I used most everything and was learning more. This was a great blessing from God. I sensed that God was with me through those years. The people of Israel experienced the same thing. Numbers 11:17, Then I will come down and talk with you there. I will take of the Spirit that is upon you and will put the same upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you may not bear it yourself alone. The leaders of Israel received the Spirit and they prophesied. Even those that did not come to the tabernacle did the same. If you engaged in God's work, there is need for the Spirit to be upon us. For the scripture is clear about this. Zechariah 4:6, So he answered and said to me: This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts.

I was 15 years old once and came up with a bright idea of hiking deeper into the jungle from where we usually camped in Templar's Park (a popular campsite in Malaysia). I convinced about 3 or 4 others to join me in this adventure. On the first day we made the biggest discovery. The biggest waterfall of the park. As we still had time, we continued hiking but the jungle grew thicker and impassable. We returned to the waterfall and enjoyed this place all to ourselves for the next 4 days. Moses also started his adventure in this chapter. Numbers 10:33, So they departed from the mountain of the Lord on a journey of three days; and the ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them for the three days’ journey, to search out a resting place for them. They left the mountain of the Lord after staying there for little over a year. This was probably more organized than when they left Egypt. The silver trumpet sounded and the tribe of Judah led out first and the tribe of Naphtali was in t

Do you remember the days of the standalone GPS from Garmin, and other similar manufacturers? A paradigm shift happened and now most people use their smartphones for this purpose. Why? Because everything is real time. Traffic conditions. Points of interest. Pictures of each location etc. What is better than this? God's GPS. Numbers 9:17, Whenever the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle, after that the children of Israel would journey; and in the place where the cloud settled, there the children of Israel would pitch their tents. All the people of Israel needed to follow was God's cloud by day and fire by night. They did that while having all the other activities for 40 years. This included the Passover meal from the first anniversary of leaving Egypt. Numbers 9:5, And they kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month, at twilight, in the Wilderness of Sinai; according to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did. No one wanted to

I may have said it before. In God's economy there is no retirement. You may move to a new season of your life where you do new things, but there is no retirement. The Levites were called by God to serve in the tabernacle. But they had an age bracket within which to serve. Numbers 8:24-26, “This is what pertains to the Levites: From twenty-five years old and above one may enter to perform service in the work of the tabernacle of meeting; and at the age of fifty years they must cease performing this work, and shall work no more. They may minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of meeting, to attend to needs, but they themselves shall do no work. Thus you shall do to the Levites regarding their duties.” So what do you after 50? You cannot remain serving in this high profile role. You move on. The scripture says to minister in the tabernacle of meeting and attend to needs. I am not suggesting that anyone gives up their place at 50, but we need to be mindful that nothing is per

Growing up I hardly spoke to my father. I would only do so when it was really important. One of those times was when I had an opportunity to further my studies in Canada. It was something I greatly wanted to do and miraculously my father agreed. But, while I was in Canada I discovered there is another father that would like to have frequent conversations with us. Moses experienced the same thing. Numbers 7:89, Now when Moses went into the tabernacle of meeting to speak with Him, he heard the voice of One speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the Testimony, from between the two cherubim; thus He spoke to him. Or Heavenly Father wants to speak with us frequently. When was the last time you spared time to do this? Many don't know how to start. I am reminded of Jesus' disciples asking Jesus how they should pray. They observed Him getting away frequently to spend time with the Heavenly Father. Jesus responded in this manner. Matthew 6:9-13, In this mann

I will always remember my days going to a Thaipusam celebration and watching people in a state that is not humanly normal. They have spent time separating themselves and finally they come to this state. Their bodies are taken over by their Hindu gods. But God does not do those kind of expressions when someone consecrates himself to Him. It is a process of cleansing that allows for someone to return to God's ways. Numbers 6:2, Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: When either a man or woman consecrates an offering to take the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself to the Lord. As you read the chapter you will see how important it is for the people of Israel to follow the steps so that they are completely correct in their walk with God. But praise God that this is no longer needed given that God has forgiven us through the final act of sacrifice on the cross. For this reason we receive this blessing even more significantly at the end of the chapter. Numbers 6: 24-26 ,

If someone wants to do wrong and wants to conceal it, they will use great creativity to hide it. This includes committing adultery. Some reading this may feel what is a little flirt here and there. It has major repercussions for anyone that wants to build a Godly relationship. God took this seriously with the people of Israel while they were in the wilderness. Numbers 5:27, When he has made her drink the water, then it shall be, if she has defiled herself and behaved unfaithfully toward her husband, that the water that brings a curse will enter her and become bitter, and her belly will swell, her thigh will rot, and the woman will become a curse among her people. If a man suspects his wife to be unfaithful or jealous of her he can bring her to the priest and this process will allow the question marks to go away rather than be allowed to linger. God will make the water have an effect that only can come from Him after the woman had sworn her faithfulness to her husband. This showed God

By God's anointing I moved very quickly into senior level responsibilities in both my corporate and ministry life. I was 23 when I met one of only 2 opposition members of parliament of Singapore. I was 26 when I was cleared to review Malaysian government confidential documents for a project I was doing for the Prime Minister's Department. I was 27 when I joined the board of my home church. By the age of 30 I had done presentations to 3 cabinet ministers of my country, including the present Prime Minister. All for the glory of the Lord. But for the people of Israel, the minimum age to serve in the tabernacle was 30. Numbers 4:3, from thirty years old and above, even to fifty years old, all who enter the service to do the work in the tabernacle of meeting. The Levites were given serious responsibilities to take care of the different elements of the Tabernacle. They were not to look at the most holy items. The priests would cover the items before they could carry them. All this

Are you the oldest child in the family? You probably became the learning child for your parents. Parenting is not easy and it is learnt mostly on the job. My wife and I are both first born. In the Jewish tradition the first born is dedicated to the Lord because the firstborns were saved when the plague of death came in Egypt. Numbers 3:13, because all the firstborn are Mine. On the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I sanctified to Myself all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast. They shall be Mine: I am the Lord.” God is looking for firstborns in every family in the spiritual sense as well. When you come to discover the saving grace of God through Jesus Christ, you become born again. You are reborn in the spirit. In the process you may be first of your entire family to come to the Lord. Then you are the firstborn. God is looking for firstborns in every family. Would you be the one? Father, help us to bless every family on earth. None missed out. Let th

My first visit to New York City was in 1990. It was quite an eye opener. A Brazilian colleague followed me for the trip. One of the things I discovered was how organized the streets were. There were avenues and streets. They were all numbered. Streets run east west and avenues go north south. The people of Israel were also well organized. Numbers 2:34, Thus the children of Israel did according to all that the Lord commanded Moses; so they camped by their standards and so they broke camp, each one by his family, according to their fathers’ houses. The Levites dwelt around the tabernacle, while the rest of the tribes were on different sides of the tabernacle. Just like New York City, you can figure out where you are in relation to the tabernacle based on which tribe you are with. And just like a street sign, each tribe had a standard, a flag or banner. Are you lost in the crowd? Just check who you are with and check the flag. But one thing is constant. The tabernacle is in the center.

I have fond memories of my days in management consulting. One of the things I remember was dealing with the Statistics Department and the Government agencies like the Economic Planning Unit that rely on them to plan for the country. I was privileged as a young man to deal with some very senior government people in the 80's and 90's in this regard. One of the things they did was run a periodic census of the country. The people of Israel did the same in the desert. Numbers 1:46, all who were numbered were six hundred and three thousand five hundred and fifty. Moses led 603,550 men of fighting age (20 years and older) not including the Levites, women and the younger people. The largest tribe was Judah, from which comes the lineage for King David and Jesus. This is no small number to be moving in the wilderness. The logistics involved is no small thing. Only God could keep them together. He also gave detailed instructions on the matter of the tabernacle. Numbers 1:50, but you sh

Since I started blogging my journals publicly I have mentioned the term counter culture a number of times. Yesterday, at church while talking about giving I used the same term. Jesus, as He preached the sermon on the mount, He shared on some counter culture stuff. Love your enemies. Go the extra mile. Do not resist an evil person. Moses got some tough instructions as well. Leviticus 27:32, And concerning the tithe of the herd or the flock, of whatever passes under the rod, the tenth one shall be holy to the Lord. Everything you have you can decide what you want to do as a good steward of what God has given you, but the tenth is without question, God's. This is what we call the tithe. The Lord has clear plans for what we own and how we manage it. Our role as His children is to submit these to the Lord and allow Him to bless us exceedingly abundantly above all we can ask or think. God's economy is different. This is not zakat. This is the ten percent. The tithe. It is counted

When I was growing up there were many things we were told to do and others that we were to refrain from. Because I grew up in a Hindu home, much superstition was used to scare us into compliance. It was simple things like don't swing the door, and don't cut your nails after dark. Moses got clear instructions from the Lord for the people of Israel on how they were to maintain a right relationship with God. Leviticus 26:1, You shall not make idols for yourselves; neither a carved image nor a sacred pillar shall you rear up for yourselves; nor shall you set up an engraved stone in your land, to bow down to it; for I am the Lord your God. This was first thing repeated for the people of Israel. The peoples all around them and even their forefather Abraham's relatives worshiped idols. But here clear instruction is given. The blessings for obedience is great. You can read it in the chapter. But, disobedience will yield dire consequences. Leviticus 26:25, And I will bring a swor

In my undergraduate and graduate study years I did some economics and finance subjects. Much of what is studied are various theories based on historical observations. This influences most government policy makers around the world for the economic well-being of their country. However, it would be interesting to see how the economic plan given by God to the people of Israel would work today. Leviticus 25:2, Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you come into the land which I give you, then the land shall keep a sabbath to the Lord. The starting point is understanding the Sabbath rest for the land every 7 years. Which means every land in Israel stops producing crop for sale. The fruit of the land is only gathered for the landowner's, his family and servants' consumption. And every 50th year there is an extra Sabbath year where everything is automatically redeemed without any payment. Land and slaves or servants. Leviticus 25:28, But if he is not able to have i

Many cultures have a deep reverence for Godly things. This is only natural since this involves worship of a being that has authority over your life and well-being. People of Israel were no different and they had to seek God to understand what they should do when someone shows irreverence to God. Leviticus 24:12, Then they put him in custody, that the mind of the Lord might be shown to them. They did the right thing since they have never been told what to do under such circumstances. They sought the Lord. I need to do the same when I am faced with a new situation. The wisdom of God needs to be sought. James 1:5, If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. This is no simple matter. We need to pray that we are always guided by His wisdom. Father, guide me each day with your wisdom. I need Godly wisdom, not human.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends and those who celebrate it worldwide. The event that Americans commonly call the "First Thanksgiving" was celebrated by the Pilgrims after their first harvest in the New World in October 1621. Today, I am sure, it has taken on a bigger definition of thanksgiving. We are thankful for many things in our lives that God has blessed us with. The people of Israel were likewise told to remember certain feasts. Leviticus 23:4, These are the feasts of the Lord, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times. Reading through the chapter you realize that they are all meant to remind the people of their deliverance from captivity and their need for atonement. It is amazing that every little detail was meant to be a signpost for God's plans for the future. You need to read the chapter and see how the "God instituted" feasts are reflections of God's plans for mankind. My son Shane pointed me to this vid

Have you used a curse phrase that included God or some reference to Him? You may have said it in anger, or as part of a joke to solicit laughter. Whatever the reason, God heard it. If you don't believe that God exists, then why use any reference to Him. If you do believe God exists, you are damned. The people of Israel were told not to profane God's name. Leviticus 22:32-33, You shall not profane My holy name, but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel. I am the Lord who sanctifies you, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the Lord.” Much of our speech today is rather loose. Our human mind can be very manipulative and reactive. In anger, or at the spur of the moment, we jump in and say something we regret. If not outwardly, then in our God given conscience. I need to recognize that He is my God, and He is Lord. When you say something in public or private, God hears every word. He is omnipresent. There is nothing private with God. Watch your

My son was working on homework till past 11pm and I was getting a little upset to know that he waited till late to finish. So I asked him when the homework is due. He said not for another day. And I asked why he wanted to stay up so late to do it now. He replied, "I want to push myself". Whoa! Not many children I know say that at his age. The Jewish children are generally the same. It comes from a heritage of being set apart. Leviticus 21:10, He who is the high priest among his brethren, on whose head the anointing oil was poured and who is consecrated to wear the garments, shall not uncover his head nor tear his clothes. The Jews knew what it meant to be consecrated, or set apart. They were counter culture in their lifestyles. They ate kosher food, they did not have an idol to worship, and they had odd economic practices. In this chapter the priests had to follow strict guidelines if they were going to serve as priests. Today, by our redemption on the cross we are all pri

In one of my previous entries I mentioned that stress is the biggest contributor to ill health. What causes it? Stress is an indicator that all is not well in your mind, body and soul. There is a struggle going on within. Your God given conscience is not allowing you to rest until you remove the thing that is wrong. God told the people of Israel that they are to be separated to Him. Leviticus 20:26, And you shall be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine. When we reject God and do our own things, it is like having moved out of our earthly father's house and being in an unprotected environment, vulnerable to the many things that can harm us. The world is full of harm because of sin. But, God loves us. He also loved the people of Israel and made this promise. Leviticus 20:24, But I have said to you, “You shall inherit their land, and I will give it to you to possess, a land flowing with milk and honey.” I am the Lord yo

Have you ever been to a medium? This is someone who is filled with a spirit or spirits, and can perform miraculous things like making your business successful, casting a spell on someone, or making someone like you. I have been to mediums when I was young. This was when my mother was still a Hindu. But praise God my first and last encounter after I became Christian was incredible. I only understood it years later. As was the practice at that time, I was brought to the medium just before an important government examination at the age of 15 (I became a follower of Jesus at the age of 14). We were in a line waiting our turn. I could hear the lady medium speaking in a man's voice to the people in front of us. However, when it came to our turn, the lady moved to her regular voice and simply said, "Obey your parents" and the session was over. Now I understand what happened. The spirit that possessed her came out out because the Jesus in me was greater than her spirit. She coul

Australia just voted yes. It is sad when man does not understand the God given ecosystem. We have made great efforts to preserve the environment and promotion of healthy living and lifestyles, but we ignore the basic part of the human ecosystem, Family. The people of Israel were given a clear moral code when it came to human relationships. Leviticus 18:3, According to the doings of the land of Egypt, where you dwelt, you shall not do; and according to the doings of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you, you shall not do; nor shall you walk in their ordinances. It is clear that the Egyptians and the people of Canaan practiced things that were immoral in God's economy and human ecosystem. These are the very things being promoted in today's culture. Leviticus 18:20-23, Moreover you shall not lie carnally with your neighbor's wife, to defile yourself with her. And you shall not let any of your descendants pass through the fire to Molech, nor shall you profane the name

At an early age I knew I will have a problem becoming a doctor. I could not stand the sight and smell of blood. Blood is such an important medium to carry our sustenance all the way to our extremities. Any part of the body that does not receive this for an extended time will die. The worst being the brain. Blood is important for life. The devil also recognized it and influenced blood sacrifice. Leviticus 17:7, They shall no more offer their sacrifices to demons, after whom they have played the harlot. This shall be a statute forever for them throughout their generations. Demons, why them? In many "developed" countries demon worship is coming in ways beyond our own understanding and imagination. It is happening everywhere. Why worship demons? Perhaps it is easier to fulfill the desires of the sinful flesh through demons than to follow God's ways. I know people talk about how construction of buildings, bridges and other major structures are preceded by some kind of blood

People have asked me numerous times what time I get up in the morning. Usually about 4am, including Saturday and Sunday. Today it was before 4am. Why do I do this? I count it a privilege to meet with God each morning before anybody else rises, including my darling wife. I clean myself up and get into the Word, journal and go for my prayer walk. The children of Israel did not have the same privilege. The priest needed to do it and he must do it in a prescribed manner. Leviticus 16:2, and the Lord said to Moses: “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at just any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, lest he die; for I will appear in the cloud above the mercy seat. The Jewish priest can only come in to the Holy of Holies at an appointed time, with the right sacrifices, and alone. Once a year he had to go in to seek atonement for himself, his family and the people of Israel. Leviticus 16:34, This shall be an everlasting statute for you, to m

I said you not not alone, but God is with you. Every move you make is observed by the Heavenly Father. His intention is clear. He is concerned for your wellbeing. I saw some information about how Iceland reduced their teenage problems by involving the parents in their wellbeing. The parents volunteer to patrol the streets to check on these young people after the curfew time of 10pm. Likewise, our Heavenly Father intimately intervened in the lives of the people of Israel in their personal hygiene. Leviticus 15:31, Thus you shall separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness, lest they die in their uncleanness when they defile My tabernacle that is among them. It taught the people that God takes seriously your hygiene, and your disorderly approach to Him will not be acceptable. We need to honor God with our bodies. The act of getting clean has great benefits in preventing the spread of bacteria and viruses. It also gets our attitudes right when we approach the throne room of

Ever had a red color smear appear on the thumb of your right hand. Well one person that is a seeker (someone who is not following Jesus) who was being prayed to have a personal relationship with God received this smear rather miraculously. She washed and washed but could not get it off. Finally when she recognized that Jesus is God and He died for her sins, the smear disappeared. Some time later she saw this verse and understood the reason for the smear. Leviticus 14:25, Then he shall kill the lamb of the trespass offering, and the priest shall take some of the blood of the trespass offering and put it on the tip of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot. She needed the imperfect sacrifice until she received Jesus as her personal Lord and Saviour. The Jews were clear about the instructions for cleansing. But this was a precursor for the perfect sacrifice. Father, may many understand that the perfect has come.

Ever had a contagious disease? I have not, but it must be totally disrupting for a person to go through quarantine, especially if it is for an extended period. Leprosy is one of the diseases that is treated with great care. People who contract it have no choice but to live lonely lives for a time. Such was the case with the lepers in the Old Testament days. Leviticus 13:46, He shall be unclean. All the days he has the sore he shall be unclean. He is unclean, and he shall dwell alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp. Are you feeling lonely? You can be surrounded by many friends but still feel lonely. You have no one to share your challenges and questions. You are brewing these things on your own. It is times like this you need a personal confidante. Someone you can trust. Someone who is prepared to give time to empathize with you. Unfortunately, in this fast paced world there are not many who can do that, other than God. God is ever ready to hear us, but it starts with a relat

Lee Yen and I have 4 children. By the time Shane came along (number 4) we were experienced at the whole process. To the point that we could afford to do everything ourselves without the need for a live in helper. We were very blessed to have Rev Luis Cabral come pray for Shane while Lee Yen was home with him during the first 30 days of confinement. We were blessed. This tradition of confinement was also there with the Jewish people. Leviticus 12:2, Speak to the children of Israel, saying: If a woman has conceived, and borne a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days; as in the days of her customary impurity she shall be unclean. 40 days for a male child and 80 days for a female child and a sacrifice is made after that. There is wisdom in this and as I reflect on this there is tremendous benefit from following the process both physically and emotionally. Procreation is a beautiful thing and looking back and seeing what God has developed in our 4 children, we would have done i

I have high regard for people who can maintain strict dietary restrictions for whatever reason. It takes discipline and creativity. Discipline, because it requires great self control not to consume foods outside your permitted domain, though they may look great, and even smell wonderful. Creativity, because you need to think outside the box to find ways to eat the permitted foods. In some geographical areas it may be next to impossible. The Jews were no different. Leviticus 11:46-47, ‘This is the law of the animals and the birds and every living creature that moves in the waters, and of every creature that creeps on the earth, to distinguish between the unclean and the clean, and between the animal that may be eaten and the animal that may not be eaten.’ I learnt the word Kosher when I went to Canada to study. I met a number of Jews while I was there but I wish I had stayed in touch with them. They were brilliant. Whether it was Math or computer logic. God had a reason for them to f

The Hindu rites for various events is quite elaborate. Includes events around the birth of a child, then puberty, marriage and death. Everything requires consultation with the Hindu priest who is very knowledgeable about the acceptable steps. Moses and Aaron were given steps as well, and there was some contention on whether these were followed correctly. Leviticus 10:19, And Aaron said to Moses, “Look, this day they have offered their sin offering and their burnt offering before the Lord, and such things have befallen me! If I had eaten the sin offering today, would it have been accepted in the sight of the Lord?” Both the Hindu and Jewish steps for different things seem to indicate that people took seriously their approach to God. But God used Jesus to show us that the heart was more important. Are you right with God? There was a second lightning that killed two people. Leviticus 10:2, So fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. We can go about

When was the last time you saw fire come down from the sky? If you live in a lightning prone area or region, you may have had lightning strikes on your property or even on people you know. Is it possible? Yes. But the probability that lightning strikes the same place is very low, let alone knowing where it will strike next. But Moses knew that God was going to send one, and also exactly where. Leviticus 9:23-24, And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of meeting, and came out and blessed the people. Then the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people, and fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. When all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces. This was no ordinary lightning strike. God appeared first and the altar was the exact spot where God intended for the fire to come. The sacrifice was not consumed by human fire, but God's. This was repeated with the prophet Elijah before King Ahab and his Baal pries

Most cultures have a form of head covering for men and women. I just visited a friend who designs and makes caps. You can almost have any design and embroidery done for a price. In the Asian culture, Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus, including Chinese have their traditional head coverings. It is part of their complete traditional attire and is worn at all times when in an official gathering. This included the Jews. Leviticus 8:9, And he put the turban on his head. Also on the turban, on its front, he put the golden plate, the holy crown, as the Lord had commanded Moses. Aaron and his sons had to wear a head covering when they approached the God of the Universe. It is seen as very honoring of God to have your head covered. There are some church cultures where they do the same. Attire aside, God is looking for men and women that would honor Him by coming consecrated into His presence. Leviticus 8:33, And you shall not go outside the door of the tabernacle of meeting for seven days, until the da

Did you wake up on the right side of the bed this morning? What did your spouse say? What did your boss or coworker say? What did your friends say? If you woke up with God first, I guarantee you your countenance would be very different. That is what most faiths do. They recognize the greatness of God and the need to meet with Him first in the morning. The sacrifices that Moses was instructed to share with the people of Israel was a reminder of the greatness of God. To further remind them of this, they are told not to eat the fat and the blood of the sacrifice. Leviticus 7:25, For whoever eats the fat of the animal of which men offer an offering made by fire to the Lord, the person who eats it shall be cut off from his people. The person who founded the Muslim faith found the practices of the Jews and the Christians fascinating and brought them to his own idol worshipping people. He refers to the Jews and Christians as the people of the book, because there was much focus on what the

Accountants have a big role to play in any organization. I have been privileged to work with some great accountants during my days in an accounting firm. They help keep track of everything and a job well done means everyone of the stakeholders of an organization are happy. But there have been cases funds are misused and it is a sin. Moses was given clear instructions when things get stolen or extorted. Leviticus 6:5, or all that about which he has sworn falsely. He shall restore its full value, add one-fifth more to it, and give it to whomever it belongs, on the day of his trespass offering. Add 20% more and return everything. And a sacrifice is needed. Is there a future for one who has done wrong? Yes, there is and God makes a way. Jesus met Zacchaeus the tax collector and his relationship with God was restored through the forgiving grace of Jesus Christ. Zacchaeus pursued Jesus by climbing a tree. His sins were forgiven. Father, thank you for your forgiving grace.

Do you know that you did something wrong today? Firstly you need to know that what you did was wrong. Many people walk around feeling right. But in actual fact there are many things wrong about them. The Bible is clear that you are still accountable for things you did know about. Leviticus 5:18 - 19, And he shall bring to the priest a ram without blemish from the flock, with your valuation, as a trespass offering. So the priest shall make atonement for him regarding his ignorance in which he erred and did not know it, and it shall be forgiven him. It is a trespass offering; he has certainly trespassed against the Lord.” Are you ready for this? You are responsible for everything you do. Why? Because you have a God given conscience that tells you right and wrong. You have no excuse. This is the message for all of us. You may justify your ignorance but remember that many in prison today are doing the same. There are many reasons to reject the wrong. The biggest reason is because God l

Have you done wrong before? Don't kid me. Everyone has something wrong in the past. Majority of our wrong actions go unnoticed, including ourselves. When someone did something wrong did you get agitated and become angry? Your blood pressure must have hit a high. This pulls us away from enjoying a stress free life that God intended for us. Hence, the sin offering. Leviticus 4:35, He shall remove all its fat, as the fat of the lamb is removed from the sacrifice of the peace offering. Then the priest shall burn it on the altar, according to the offerings made by fire to the Lord. So the priest shall make atonement for his sin that he has committed, and it shall be forgiven him. The entire chapter is devoted to an offering done for unintentionally sinning. Did you intend to get angry? No. But, you did, and that is a sin. Now imagine having to make the sacrifice all the time. Impossible! Father, thank you for Jesus who died and rose again for the perfect sacrifice for all our sins.

I have been to the Philippines quite a number of times to support efforts of bringing the gospel message into the interiors and mountain areas. Those times brings back great memories. One of the things I will never forget are pigs butchered for sacrifice and for celebrations. Their shaman priests always get offered the fatty portions of the sacrifice. When we go it is usually for a wedding feast or some other celebration. As ministers of the gospel we get the fatty portions. In this chapter it clearly shows that the Lord gets fatty portions of the sacrifice. Leviticus 3:14, Then he shall offer from it his offering, as an offering made by fire to the Lord. The fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails. Leviticus 3:17, This shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwellings: you shall eat neither fat nor blood. Where did the Filipinos learn this act of bringing the fat out for special presentment? It is unhealthy for a person to c

I love bread. Don't you? Whether it is made as a Western loaf, or an Eastern flat bread, I enjoy them. It is a staple in many countries along with rice, potatoes and maize. It has a long history in the world. From the days of Joseph when the world was starving and came to Egypt to be fed, to today's world when grain is shipped to famine stricken regions. Now here in this chapter Moses gets instruction to use it as an offering to the Lord. Leviticus 2:11, No grain offering which you bring to the Lord shall be made with leaven, for you shall burn no leaven nor any honey in any offering to the Lord made by fire. It is be offered pure. Nothing that would cause it to have impurities or things that could contaminate and attract bugs. In fact it was to be preserved as a long lasting covenant. So salt was added. Leviticus 2:13, And every offering of your grain offering you shall season with salt; you shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your grain

Ever watched a sacrifice at a Eid al-Adha? It is remembering the event of Abraham taking up his son to be sacrificed. This act is an ancient understanding that your relationship with God can only be maintained through blood sacrifice. It started with the first known blood sacrifice by Abel. The biggest living ethnic groups today, the Chinese and the Indians have similar understandings. Moses is clearly told the same. Leviticus 1:11, He shall kill it on the north side of the altar before the Lord; and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall sprinkle its blood all around on the altar. Jesus became the perfect sacrifice for us thereby not requiring any more of these blood sacrifices. We are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. The Lamb is Jesus Christ as prophesied by the prophets in the Old Testament. No one can ignore it because everything that happened leading to Jesus' death on the cross was foretold and had to happen. If you are unsure of life after death, come to Jesus. He conquer

Water is such an important part of our existence. Every planet that we are exploring we always look for traces of water. There is great fascination with Mars because it is the closest planet to earth and with the greatest possibility of life. But there is no water there. Among others, water is used as a cleaning agent. Exodus 40:31, and Moses, Aaron, and his sons would wash their hands and their feet with water from it. This act of using water reminds me of the days when I used to go to the Hindu temple. We washed before we entered the temple. As I mentioned before, the Hindu temple is designed very much the way Moses' tabernacle was designed by God and eventually the temple in Jerusalem. The exception would be the presence of the Ark of the Covenant. Coming back to water, it is used to clean our outward dirt so that we show reverence for the presence of God. But I am reminded of Jesus' saying that what is more important is what comes out. How are you on the inside? What are

What is the most expensive clothing that you have ever bought? Don't tell me. I have known of people who purposely fly somewhere, or fly the tailor in to have their garments made or fit. They spend tons of money for this in order to look good for people . The people of Israel made a very expensive garment for the priest to look good for God . Exodus 39:8, And he made the breastplate, artistically woven like the workmanship of the ephod, of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and of fine woven linen. The part of the garment that I am fascinated by is the breastplate. It has 12 precious stones mounted on it close to the heart of the priest representing the 12 tribes of Israel. The way this is designed was instructed by God. Obviously, the priest's main role was to intercede for the people of Israel with God. These 12 different stones were placed close to the priest's heart for intercession. As followers of Jesus Christ we have direct access to God without the need for

Are you an accountant? You have an important role. You help us keep track of everything, both the financial and non-financial assets of an organization. It helps in accountability and sustains the integrity of both the organization and the individuals involved in running it. It was no different in Moses' time. Exodus 38:21, This is the inventory of the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the Testimony, which was counted according to the commandment of Moses, for the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, son of Aaron the priest. As you know the people gave generously to the point that it was too much and they had to stop the people from giving anymore. This would mean the inventory of bronze, silver, the various threads and wood were great. Want to learn more about giving and accounting? Check out the bible. It should not surprise us since it is the textbook of life. There is so much to learn from the Bible for everyday living. The principles given are timeless. I have said t

Do you love perfumes? I do but I am not one who puts them on much since I got to watch my budget after leaving the corporate world. Perfumes usually create a pleasing and attractive environment. Here in this chapter we see it being used in the tabernacle that God has designed. Exodus 37:29, He also made the holy anointing oil and the pure incense of sweet spices, according to the work of the perfumer. In this chapter there is detailed description of how the Ark of the Covenant and the various utensils to be used are made. It was using acacia wood and gold. Then comes the anointing oil and the incense of sweet spices. This can only be a small emulation of the sensation of being in God's presence. Have you entered God's presence? It is pleasing and attractive. I just love it. It is worth all the time in the world. It is more beautiful than being with your spouse or best friend. You want to hug Him and be completely immersed in His love for you. Have you experienced it? Father

Heard this saying before? "We hire for skills but fire for character". We most often get impressed with a person's skills and experience, but we don't know the "devil" lurking in that person. You could be hiring a scoundrel for all you care and negatively impact the whole organization as a result. I apologize if I am talking about someone you know. The making of the tabernacle needed more than skills. Exodus 36:2, Then Moses called Bezalel and Aholiab, and every gifted artisan in whose heart the Lord had put wisdom, everyone whose heart was stirred, to come and do the work. Is your heart stirred? The character of a person comes from the heart. You cannot see it except through the person's behavior. That is his or her attitude, words and actions. Our God given conscience keeps us reminded about what is right and wrong. But if our heart is not "stirred", then we will choose what is wrong. Skills are not enough. We need character that comes fro

Are you gifted with the ability to do something special? Yes, there is a lot of mention that your skills are developed with time and effort. However, the speed of development and quality of your skills is a gift that is unique to each one. Moses recognized this as God shown him how to pick the right talents. Exodus 35:31, and He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom and understanding, in knowledge and all manner of workmanship, The best have been prepared for the important job of preparing the tabernacle of the Lord in the desert. People gave generously and the gifted artisans worked with the God ordained materials. Not only did the artisans do the skilled work but they also were skilled in teaching others. Exodus 35:34, And He has put in his heart the ability to teach, in him and Aholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. If we are going to do the work of the Great Commission well, we must be skilled in making disciples and teaching others to do the same. Effort

When you meet a lady or man and start courting, you cannot get enough of each other. You spend hours meeting face to face, or on the phone. In the old days we used to write more. Ultimately, it results in a covenant relationship called "marriage". God is seeking the same with us. Exodus 34:10, And He said: Behold, I make a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation; and all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the Lord. For it is an awesome thing that I will do with you. God told Moses many things but this jumped out to me. Exodus 34:23, Three times in the year all your men shall appear before the Lord, the Lord God of Israel. All men are to appear before God 3 times in a year. Each time people will need to set aside time to travel and be at the appointed place to meet with God. If we have truly intimate relationship with God, our faces should shine like Moses. Exodus 34:29, Now it was

Are you at peace with yourself? When I meet a doctor, I would ask what is the biggest contributor to ill health and they would usually say, stress. What causes stress? They will usually say emotional challenges. Would pursuit of God help overcome these challenges? The response could be, yes, perhaps. Most doctors tend to use use chemicals (drugs) to help with the emotions. But the real answer is a personal and loving relationship with God. Exodus 33:11, So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle. Everyone in the camp was afraid. But, Moses had an intimate relationship with God. Joshua could not get enough of Him. Moses showed the way when it came to a personal relationship with God. Exodus 33:13, Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight.

Is smoking good for you? There has been much research done on the effects of smoking. Much education has been given on what this means to an individual that smokes. In the process, governments around the world have raised taxes on tobacco and cigarettes, and highly restricted locations where smoking is allowed. With all this, people still smoke. The same thing happened at the foot of Mount Sinai. Exodus 32:4, And he received the gold from their hand, and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf. Then they said, “This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!” They have just watched Egypt face plague after plague, and crossed the mighty Red Sea. They saw the pillar of cloud and fire. Still they are unclear of who God is. Moses brought down the tablets and broke them in anger. He stopped God from wiping out Israel, but he proceeded to have the instigators of idol worship killed. It is clear that the people of Israel, while in Egypt, were id