| Choose a translation |
I wondered last week about yeast, and decided to look it up. As it turns out, yeast is a fungus, but I'm not sure how it's gathered or where we get it. More information on Passover regulations is found at infoplease.com.
I also wanted to bring to your attention again my friend Scott. His website is at http://gsterry13.tripod.com/. He is a Palestinian who has come to the US and turned to Christianity while in college. Since then, he has been ordained as a Baptist minister. He and his family are currently trying to remain in the US, but their ancestry is difficult to overcome in these times and he needs our prayers. In case you'd like to send him a word of comfort, I've included a quote from his site:
Since becoming His follower, I have found that meaningful relationships start with Him. He has given and continues to give me forgiveness, acceptance, and love. Has anything like this ever happened to you? If so, I'd like to hear about it; if not, I'd love to share more with you. Feel free to email me at scoterry31684@bigfoot.com
Links to an online Bible for these passages are here, here and here.
God showed His pleasure for Aaron's sacrifices by providing the holy fire that consumed them, then consumed two of Aaron's sons who decided to go out on their own and make up their own offering. He definitely had specific ways this was to be done. Speaking of being specific, there were set rules for which kinds of food could and could not be eaten. Personally, I'd miss the pork. I've had rabbit before (thanks, Dad) but wonder who would want to eat a bat or lizard. For the most part, bacon would be my biggest difficulty. That and pork chops. And sausage, can't forget sausage! Ohhh, honey ham. That would be tough. Hmm, I guess it's a good thing I wasn't there at that time!
Links to an online Bible for these passages are here, here and here.
I wonder why a woman would be considered unclean after childbirth and during her period? I know these things were changed a bit after the sins of Adam and Eve. Could they have changed to the point where they become detestable? Mildew and skin diseases are discussed also. This is some pretty deep reading, indeed!
Links to an online Bible for these passages are here, here and here.
Bodily discharges are on the itinerary for this day. I do recommend reading this day before eating, as you may lose your appetite. The atonement law is interesting, though. Notice that Aaron acts on behalf of the people and himself separately. He may be the priest of the Israelites, but that doesn't make him any better than them.
Links to an online Bible for these passages are here, here and here.
God lays down the law about blood and how it is to be handled. Certainly it is not to be eaten, but I couldn't imagine anyone wanting to eat it, unless their steak was red in the middle. Somehow, I don't think this counts, but I don't know how much blood was drained from my meat when I buy it.
Next comes sexual relations. The part about avoiding family members for relations makes perfect sense to me. It's sad that these acts had to be laid out so completely. Any rule God makes is for a reason, and if this reason is that it has been done, I find that to be rather sad. The relations with someone of the same gender is a proof of the immorality of homosexuality. People often have a "live and let live" attitude toward this, but God doesn't. And that's what truly matters.
Links to an online Bible for these passages are here, here and here.
God gives us more rules from yesterday's reading. Many of these are repeats, but a few are new, such as the acceptable manner of a priest's marriage. It is made clear that many of these rules are orchestrated from the detestable practices of the people in the land they were marching to. God wanted to separate His people from them so they would not take up their practices. Of course, they were supposed to kill all of the current inhabitants rather than have a chance to fall into their evil ways, but that's another story.
Links to an online Bible for these passages are here, here and here.
The feasts are put into more detail. Obviously, God wanted to take this time to instruct the Israelites in the proper ways of living at this point. With the building of the Tabernacle and all the raiments that were included, then the instructions given, I wonder just how long they stayed there?
Once again, God promises to provide. The fields are to be worked six years and laid to rest for the seventh. During this time, the Israelites may eat anything the fields give them, and this amount would be abundant enough to feed them for three years. I suppose a promise like this would have to be made for people who would doubt the return of manna from Heaven, though.
Links to an online Bible for these passages are here and here.
Wow. God is making it plainly clear that he means to take the Covenant seriously. If the Israelites, after all He has already done for them, decide to reject his rules, they will be punished so harshly that any other scourge would seem to be a discomfort. If you don't believe me, read the passage again!
Weekly LinkInfoplease is a site with all kinds of knowledge galore! There are sections suitable for all ages and it's laid out to be not only informative, but entertaining as well. Does the term "infoplease" ring a bell? There are reference books of the same name. The books evolved from a popular quiz show program, Information Please, which ran on NBC from 1938 to 1952 and was the most literate, long-running radio show of its day. The show turned traditional quiz programs on their heads by allowing the public to ask questions of a panel of experts, who would then provide the answers, or at least a reply that was entertaining, if not plausible. Combining the contents of an encyclopedia, a dictionary, an atlas and several up-to-the minute almanacs loaded with statistics, facts, and historical records, Infoplease places the resources of an entire reference information center at your fingertips. |
I hope you enjoyed this e-zine. If you know anyone else who would enjoy this newsletter, please forward this e-mail to them or direct them to http://www.coffeeswirls.com/weeklybible/
Thanks for sharing my goal of reading the Bible in its entirety this year!