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“I will grant you peace in the land, and you will lie down and no one will make you afraid.”  “I will bring upon you sudden terror, wasting diseases and fever that will destroy your sight and drain away your life.” Leviticus 26:6a and 16b (Chapters 24-27)

The Hebrew children have been stationary for some time. God has made His inhabitance among them, set up His tabernacle, instructed correct worship and religious habits, given Laws for practical living and taught them well self preservation as a nation. Soon they will be moving again toward their permanent inheritance. They MUST remain Holy, for without Holiness God’s presence will be lost.

God is not selfish. He gives. There is a simple reward for obedience! Peace and rest. Disobedience leads to suffering and eventual death.  Just as guardians perpetually teach and remind their charges that good perpetuates good and bad breeds sorrow, God will never quit teaching us His ways of abundant life. He does not quit on us in any way, shape or form!

When you mess up, don’t turn your back and give up! God is faithful and just. Mercy and grace are in abundance. God’s every endeavor is to remain constant in your life, all you have to do is obey.

Love,

Gretchen

“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.” Leviticus 19:18 (Chapters 19-23)

Chapter 19 echoes the Ten Commandments. Verse 18 is one of the highlights of Mosaic Law, quoted by Jesus Himself. () We are to reflect God’s Holiness by how we treat others.  While these laws were superseded by Jesus’ blood, we should still look upon them as a window into God’s character.  He is a concerned and loving Father who calls His children to respect life and reputation.

Holding a grudge voids joy and opens the door to selfish and sinful decisions, while turning devotion away from faithful dependence on God’s wisdom, justice and timing. Let it go! God’s got it!

Many surrounding nations had governance and laws with similarities to Israel’s, but they also centered around sensual and perverted behaviors, things strictly forbidden by God. The phrase, “I am the LORD.” repeated after each proclamation emphasizes that these are the laws of God, designed to set His people apart from all others.

God prioritizes the dignity of all people. This is not the standard of other principalities. God is good and those who believe should radiate His countenance so that the world may know.

Love,

Gretchen

But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the LORD to be used for making atonement by sending it into the desert as a scapegoat. Leviticus 16:10 (Chapters 11-18)

The Orthodox Laws of everyday Jewish life, hygienic and dietary, are somewhat confusing, but from the time man was cast from the perfect presence of God, God gave specific directions for man to remain healthy, both physically and spiritually. The ancient people lived in very primitive circumstances. There was no formal medical protocol or means of food preservation. Food poisoning and parasites were serious risks. Also, the Canaanite culture, soon to be neighbor to this new nation, practiced many abominable  behaviors. I do not care to list their perversions but their temple practices involved sensual and sexual rites. This was strictly forbidden in the worship of The One True God. Kashrut, the laws concerning kosher diets, is a weapon against assimilation with idolatress cultures. God stressed that mingling and sharing life with such people would be Israel’s down fall.

The Day of Atonement was the one day of the year Aaron entered the Holy of Holies. On this day, a scapegoat became the sacrifice for all man’s sin. Sin cuts us off from God’s presence, but forgiveness and atonement restores this relationship. The goat was led away from the people into the wilderness, bearing away the sins of the people. This ceremony is God historical pictures of the coming Christ.

I often superimpose God onto my attitude toward the children I encounter daily.  I wish I could correct their behavior once and be done with it, but the reality is I must restate reminders everyday of the school year, even after I have said, “I’m NOT telling you this again!” Well, aren’t we fortunate that I’m not God and God never says, “I’m through telling/helping you.”  There is always an atonement opportunity because Jesus was our scapegoat.  He took our sins as His own and we can be forgiven.

Love,

Gretchen

You must distinguish between the Holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean. Leviticus 10:10 (Chapters 8-10)

God has placed Himself at the very center, the heart of the Jewish nation. There is now a place of worship, forgiveness and atonement. Moses has acted as Israel’s priest, the mediator between God and man, but now God ordains a Hereditary order from the tribe of Levi. Priests will begin with Aaron and his sons. They will be supported by tithes and sacrifices.

At the center of life for this migrant nation is an unceasing fire of sacrifice. The perpetual glow is to remind people of their propensity to return to sinfulness but also, God’s gift of opportunity to seek reconciliation with Him. These blood sacrifices point to an age long picture and plan for the final, perfect, first born, The Christ. The New Testament book of Hebrews ties the priesthood and the sacrifice together clearly as, Jesus, Lamb of God.

In Chapter 10 there is an accounting of two of Aaron’s sons who were highhanded with God’s ordinances and decided to do things their way. They were swiftly put to death by the same fire that led the Hebrew children, the fire of God’s presence. God’s holiness demands respect from those who believe. His commands and gospels are meant to be obeyed, not tailored or distorted to fit man’s fancy or convenience. We are called to be uncommon, Holy. It is possible, because what God demands, He provides.

Love,

Gretchen

My world is full of billboards, memes and catchphrases. Even in the room where I sleep there are inspirational quotes, beautifully etched, framed and hung, by me!  I awake each morning and see the words, “It is well with my soul.” I have to admit, sometimes I wonder if it really is.

The things I surround myself with, people, music, work, travel, the aesthetics of my home, are purposeful.  I avoid conflict, (really mom, I promise I do!) so I detour around toxic relationships. My personal world reflects my search for rest and peace, but it is my mind that is the intermittent enemy. I cannot stow it away for the period of time it haunts me with negativity and tells me I am not good enough and that I fail in every aspect of my best efforts.  Where and when did my consciousness become a traitor? I do not know, but I do know some other stuff, so keep reading.

Depression, occasional or chronic, is ugly.  It doesn’t eat away healthy tissue or shut down organs, but it wears and tears away the soul, the most intimate part of life, until there is nothing left. Then…….… 

‘When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”  “Peace Out.” “Get your big girl panties on!” “Chill!” “Too blessed to be stressed.” And so it goes, on and on and on……find your superhuman power, you can do it! I’m guilty of quoting, and wearing, these phrases. They are not septic to our society, except that we have never, EVER, been asked to strong. WE ARE CALLED TO BE FAITHFUL. Strong and faithful are not the same, one is born of the other.

Following the feeding of the 5000, Jesus sent the disciples to Gennesarat, across the Sea of Galilee, while he gave Himself some prayer time. During the night a storm stirred up waves and Jesus saw the vessel struggling to make headway against the wind. He went out to them, but they mistook Him for a ghost. Jesus spoke, “Take courage, it is I.” In a moment of great terror, not strength, the disciple Peter asked for proof and stepped into the turbulent water. Upon realizing his predicament, he began to sink. Peter immediately cried out to Jesus and he was saved. He walked across water…..only because Jesus held his hand. (Matthew 14:22-33) Jesus’ supreme and divine power were demonstrated this night so the disciples would believe. God wants you to believe also, and He wants you to know that your need is His concern.

Strength is found in faithfulness, a steadfast determination to know that The Almighty God is at work in your life. The world teaches the opposite, so we refuse to cry out because we must be strong. God longs for you to call to Him so He can answer back. When you are not capable, remember, God alone spoke the world into order. When you cannot make peace, get some rest and allow God’s perfect justice and timing to be enough. Jesus thought you worth saving, so He died to prove it. God is faithful and will take care of your defeats with His strength.

You are more that a cute phrase on a t-shirt or fancy font in neon. Jesus came across the lake because He saw man’s need. Step out of the boat and let the victor over sin and death take your hand….every time…..all day, every day……do not quit calling, asking, crying out and stepping out to the divine strength awaiting.

Love,

Gretchen

He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him. Leviticus 1:4 (Chapter 1-7)

The opposite of ‘Holy’ is ‘common’.  The characteristics of Holiness are revealed in Leviticus.  God promised to dwell in the midst of the Israelites, but there are conditions to existing in close proximity to God.  In Exodus, God set boundaries for His ‘set apart people.’ This close relationship means a life of obedience and faith and sin must be dealt with. God gives detailed instructions on these procedures.

The burnt offering symbolized the total dedication of the offerer.  By laying a hand on the sacrifice, the animals blood becomes ‘substitutionary’ for the worshipper. A grain offering is made for renewal and rededication to the Lord.  Peace offerings were made when reconciliation occurred with the Lord and communion resumed. In Love, God provided protections from our negligence with sin/purification offerings and finally, the guilt offering allowed compensation for damages to be made between men, neighbor to neighbor. 

Some things change. The ‘new covenant’ through the blood of Jesus supersedes this Old Testament Law. Yet, God is Holy and requires Holiness from those who follow Him. This is constant throughout time. Jesus quoted from this book, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (19:18) Holiness is found in justice and love.  We have all sinned, but God doesn’t leave us there.  He didn’t then, He doesn’t now.

Love,

Gretchen

So the cloud of the LORD was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the could by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel during all their travels. Exodus 40:38 (Chapters 35-40)

A nation has been born. Now it is time to build God’s home in their midst.  These final chapters of the Exodus narrative tell the detailed labor of building God’s tabernacle, or God’s dwelling place at the center of everyday life. 

This primitive, yet elaborate, home for Israel’s Lord, had purpose and still has relevant meaning to Christians today. The Tent faced the east. The Holy of Holies was the sacred place of the Ark.  The Ark held the Tablets of Testimony, a jar of manna and Aaron’s staff. The Israelites knew this Ark was the place where Law and Mercy came together. The Holy place contained a table of gratitude for God’s provision, a candlestick representing the community, and the Altar of incense signifying perpetual prayer. A veil separated the Holy of Holies, God’s Throne, and the Holy place, man’s waiting room.  At the crucifixion this veil was torn and the door to God’s presence was finally, freely open to man. There was a basin for washing, the foreshadowing of Baptism and an altar for burnt offerings. Man’s access to God is through the shed BLOOD of atonement.

God is not haphazard, wasteful of our time and energy, or trite and small of heart.  He intends for His people to worship Him alone and He will be their government, Provider, Protector, Judge, Justice, source of Hope and eternal existence.

The determination of God to dwell with us is His love manifested in action. We can not ask for more than this.  He is worthy of Praise.

Love,

Gretchen

The Lord said to Moses, “Chisel out two stone tablets like the first ones, and I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke. Exodus 34:1 (Chapter 34 with a few references to 33)

Moses spent forty days on Mount Sinai with God.  During this time God laid out the architecture for His covenant nation. But then there was the issue of a stiff necked people, some fear and impatience and a party to celebrate a little, inanimate object.  In anger, the work of God’s hand was destroyed.

The offensive idol was melted down, crushed into powder and cast upon water. Moses told the people to drink the gold dust sprinkled aqua.  Once that precious metal entered their digestive systems there was only one exit.  Yes, indeed, that little cow became glittering poop (something to consider when you put worldly things above God). Now, God called Moses to chisel out two more tablets and return to the mountain. Once again, the Law was inscribed on stone, along with specifications for worship, but there is a new dynamic.  God’s radiance is seen in Moses.

God didn’t make Moses, or anyone else, piece His broken work together again. Much commentary and historical artwork depicts a distraught Moses, but that is not the point of this story. God makes all things NEW! Not broken then fixed like a holy Humpty Dumpty. Tomorrow is a NEW day because God specializes in NEW things. You are a NEW creature in Christ, (II Corinthians 5:17) not ‘new and improved with a little wear and tear’. Finally, the presence of God leaves one better for the experience.  There is a standing invitation, just turn and face the Son.

Love,

Gretchen

    

“If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.” The Lord replied, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”  Exodus 33:13-14 (Chapter 33)

This chapter gets personal. Moses reaches out to God, not just on behalf of the people he leads, but for the wellbeing of his own strength and soul. Exhausted from the drama of discontent, fear and restless sinfulness, Moses wants more than the skills needed to guide these people in covenant keeping. He longs to be a man, in the likeness of God, who can lead a Holy nation. 

There is a profound difference in knowing who God is and acknowledging His mind boggling character, that loves with out reservation, defines justice and forgives and forgets because He wants to, and choosing to be molded in His images once again.  It was freewill that brought man down, and freewill that brings us back to the creation God made and said was good.

Seek God’s favor and you will find rest.

Love,

Gretchen

And he took the calf they had made and burned it in the fire; then he ground it to powder, scattered it on the water and made the Israelites drink it.  Exodus 32:20 (Chapter 32)

The Hebrew children were very quick to return to the past when they felt they had been abandoned.  It was only six weeks since they made a pledge to be God’s people when they begged to replicate an idol, the bull, a principal god of Egypt. They broke the very first commandment.

Moses, gravely aware of the catastrophe before him, threw down the tablets written by the hand of God.  Knowing the end was near if he did not intervene, he stood before God, brave and heroic, and volunteered to give his life if forgiveness wasn’t an option. He is becoming like the God He trusts and worships with His whole being.

There were swift and severe consequences for the sin of these people. Death and eternal separation from God came immediately to those who refused to repent. However, God is long suffering and He never turns down an opportunity to forgive. Some things, such as man’s stiff necked evil, never change. Thank God! He never changes either!

Never Give Up,

Gretchen