Tag: God

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Oops.

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Sven Brandsma on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Leviticus 4.

“Did you take out the trash?” “I forgot.”

“How did the dog get out?” “Oops.”

“Did you eat all of that?” “I didn’t know you wanted some.”

“Why are these cookies burnt on the bottom?” “I didn’t hear the timer go off.”

“If a person sins unintentionally” (Leviticus 4:2). This chapter covers all the “I forgot,” “Oops,” and “Was I supposed to do that?” moments in life. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a priest, the entire congregation, a leader, or anyone else, it must be dealt with. Yes, there’s a sin offering for that.

You and I would brush off the above offenses with a quick, “I’m sorry.” Most unintentional sins won’t fall into the categories of murder or theft, so how bad can they be?

Back then, such sins cost you an animal and required a meeting with the Lord through a priest. Any sin is a big deal in the presence of a holy God. Most of the sins Jesus died for unintentional sins. You and I may not have many “big” sins, but we have an extensive collection of “little,” unintentional ones that need forgiveness. And our Savior takes care of them all at the cross.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Let’s do lunch

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Anastasia Shuraeva on pexels.com

A “through the bible” devotion from Leviticus 3.

One of my favorite things to do with the church preschool was to eat lunch with the students. The table was short and the chairs were tiny but my lunch was much like theirs: a sandwich, some fruit, something sweet, and sometimes a little bag of chips. Sometimes I would wait to eat with the teachers, who had their lunch during nap time. Those were the best times to connect with everyone at the school.

The peace offering of Leviticus 3 is like having God show up for lunch. This sacrifice wasn’t about sin, but about the peace they already had with God. Paul wrote, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). People of faith, trusting God’s promises of salvation, can enjoy some food together with the Lord. As someone who enjoys eating, I like this chapter of Leviticus.

There are some important instructions to take note of. The fat around the entrails, the kidneys, and the long lobe of the liver are God’s. Apparently, those fatty parts were the best parts, and of course, God always gets our best. You like bacon, right? That’s fatty. (I know, they didn’t eat pork. But I do.) How about butter? Fatty. A ribeye steak is delicious because it’s nicely marbled with fat. Cheese? You get the idea.

Oh, and don’t eat the blood, either. Blood is about life in the bible, and life belongs to the Creator. So the blood is his, along with the fatty parts.

I wonder what God would think of school lunches?

  • Imagine the all-knowing God looking at his lunch tray and wondering, “What kind of meat is this?”
  • Do you think he would trade something in his lunch for something in yours?
  • If he brought his lunch to school, what kind of lunchbox do you think he would have? If he bought his lunch, would he be excited about pizza day?

God is great. God is good. Let’s do lunch! (I told you Leviticus would be fun!)

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Pancakes!

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Luke Pennystan on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Leviticus 2.

When the grandkids spend the night, I ask them first thing in the morning, “What do you want for breakfast?”

“Pancakes!”

I knew they would say that. That’s why I’ve already got the batter mixed up and the cast iron pan is heating up on the stove.

But a few weeks ago, I leveled up and asked, “Do you want pancakes or waffles?”

“Waffles!”

I had a feeling they would say that. So now I get to have fun with the new round non-stick waffle iron I found on eBay.

I chuckle when I read the second chapter of Leviticus. “When anyone brings a grain offering” it sounds like they’re baking a loaf of bread, making pancakes, or cooking waffles for God!

The grain offering is different than others. A person plants a field, harvests the grain, grinds and sifts it into fine flour. They mix it with oil and bake it in the over, on a griddle, or in a pan. It’s the work of your hands from cultivation to preparation. It’s not a sin offering. It’s a grateful reminder of and response to God’s provision.

Later in the chapter, we learn that no leaven or honey is to be used. Pagans used honey in their offerings. Leaven symbolizes sin. Animal offerings are to be without blemish. Grain offerings need to be pure, too.

But don’t forget to include a pinch of salt. Salt is not just for taste. Salt was not only of value, but it also represented purity and preservation. A lasting covenant with a holy God is precious!

I love to hear the words, “I made you some cookies!” I’ll stop whatever I’m doing to eat one. I like knowing that God feels the same way.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Roadtrip

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Carolina Rincon on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Exodus 40.

Where do you feel closest to God? It could be a church building. But would that be an empty sanctuary, or one filled with people?

I’ve experienced both. Sometimes it was an early Sunday morning before anyone else arrived for worship. Just me and God. Other times, God was there in a room full of people gathered for worship.

Some feel close to God on a clear, starry night. Or on a path through the woods where there’s little to hear other than their own footsteps.

I’ve felt close to the Creator holding a newborn in my arms. Or sitting next to someone taking their last few breaths on earth.

When Moses set up the tabernacle, “the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle” (Exodus 40:34). God was as close as he could get, day and night, living in a tent set up in the center of all the other tents of the nation of Israel.

Can you imagine God living in an RV? He’d be hooked up for the night just like everyone else. All those sacrifices being burnt on the altar? It’s the aroma of meat on his grill wafting through the campground. The lampstands are his camping string lights. You might run into him at the camp store or in the laundry room.

I love picturing God on the road with his people.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Good job!

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com

A “through the bible devotion” from Exodus 36-39.

“I bought a table (chair, shelf, credenza, or other piece of furniture). It’s arriving tomorrow.”

I know what that means. It means a box full of furniture parts packed in cardboard and styrofoam that I will be putting together.

I make these moments into a game. I know how most of the boards and hardware fit together. But how quickly can I complete the project?

Bezalel and Oholiab and a team of craftsmen have projects to assemble in Exodus 36-39. Reading these chapters is like watching them assemble tables and altars, curtains and garments, poles and bases, and incense and oil.

When they were finished, we read, “According to all that the Lord had commanded Moses, so the people of Israel had done all the work” (Exodus 39:42).

What? They followed God’s instructions? They were obedient? That doesn’t happen very often. Moses even says, “Good job!” (He blessed them for it in verse 43.) I’ll bet he was relieved after the whole golden calf thing a few chapters before.

Do you think you’ll ever get a “Well done, good and faithful servant?” Only by the grace of God.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Wow, that’s bright!

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by asim alnamat on pexels.com

A “through the bible” devotion from Exodus 34.

In an episode of Friends, Ross decides to whiten his teeth to look his best for a date. But he leaves the whitening substances on for a whole day, and his teeth turn unnaturally white. No matter what color shirt he tries, none of them distract from the brightness of his teeth. Somehow he makes it through dinner without opening his mouth. But when his date turns off the lights, the black lights in the room make his teeth glow insanely white! (Check out the clip here.)

Just like Moses’ face after he’s been speaking with God.

“Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because of his speaking with [God]. So when Aaron and all the sons of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to approach him (Exodus 34:29-30). Moses had to put a veil over his face after he had been talking with God, so people could look at him.

We know Moses had a unique relationship with God. “Since that time no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face” (Deuteronomy 34:10). But do you think someone can tell that I’ve spent time with God? I think so.

The prophet Isaiah said, “Arise, shine; for your light has come, And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you” (Isaiah 60:1). When Jesus, the “light of the world” comes, he’s not the only one who shines. Our lives reflect his brightness, in the positive, merciful, and helpful things we do.

Wouldn’t it be something if suddenly a whole lot of people needed sunglasses because God’s people reflected so much of his light?

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

What’s your backup plan?

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Changbok Ko on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Exodus 32.

The room was filled with random conversations as students continued to shuffle into the lecture hall and find a seat. Most were looking at their phones, a few unfolded laptops, and others pulled lunch sandwiches from takeout boxes. Some were laughing. One had his hood-covered head down on the desk, eyes closed. Many scrolled through emails and social media.

After about ten minutes, when no professor or teaching assistant had arrived, each student packed up their stuff and left. No one was upset or concerned as they wandered off to do something else.

Not long into the exodus from Egypt, the question on everyone’s mind is, “Where’s Moses?” He went up the mountain to talk to God in the cloud, but “we don’t know what has become of him” (Exodus 32:1). The people quickly assume, “I guess we’re going to need some new gods.” Everyone pitches in some jewelry, Aaron makes a calf of gold, similar to a Canaanite god, and they create their own religious ritual and festivities.

It’s hard to believe the nation of Israel so quickly goes off the rails. But not if you ask yourself, “What’s my backup plan” when God takes too long to answer prayer? Or when I lose confidence in his presence, provision, or protection? What cultural gods take his place?

Everyone’s got a golden calf of some kind. We all hedge our bets. Work harder. Get a second opinion. Eat comfort food. Go shopping. Ask for a prescription. Quit.

And that’s after about forty minutes. Moses was up on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

None of those things are necessarily bad. But why not, as Air1 Radio puts it, “Worship through it?”

After Aaron makes the golden calf, the people “got up early and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings;” and the people “sat down to eat and to drink, and got up to engage in lewd behavior” (Exodus 32:6).

Why not enter his gates with thanksgiving, offer up a sacrifice of praise, and wait to see what God’s going to do next? Why not approach his throne of grace, where we find grace? Why not keep our eyes on Jesus?

Having a rough day? Bored? Stressed? Restless? Sounds like an opportunity for worship.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Oil and incense

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Stéfano Girardelli on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Exodus 29.

It’s possible to find a copycat recipe for just about anything. I’ve made a lemon loaf just like the ones at Starbucks, Italian salad dressing just like Good Seasons, and Olive Garden’s chicken marsala.

However, you didn’t want to mix up a batch of anointing oil or incense like the blends used for the tabernacle. If you got caught, you’d be in big trouble.

“This shall be a holy anointing oil to me throughout your generations. It shall not be poured on anyone’s body, nor shall you make any like it in the same proportions; it is holy, and it shall be holy to you. Whoever mixes any like it or whoever puts any of it on a layman shall be cut off from his people” (Exodus 29:31,32).

“And the incense which you shall make, you shall not make in the same proportions for yourselves; it shall be holy to you for the Lord. Whoever makes any like it, to use as perfume, shall be cut off from his people” (Exodus 29:37,38).

Worship wasn’t a do-it-yourself endeavor. It was set up to be done a specific way at a specific time in a specific place. Unlike pagan rituals done on any and every high place to any number of different gods, there’s only one true God. We relate to him on his terms, not ours.

God is holy. Nothing about him is ordinary. So it is fitting to have oil and incense only used for worship. The fragrance of each would remind you of the uniqueness of God. Is anyone or any thing like him? Nope. Nothing even comes close.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Dress code

Posted on by William Douthwaite

A “through the bible” devotion from Exodus 28.

As I sit in the waiting area, a service representative steps over to let me know what repairs my car needs. He or she is well dressed in a polo shirt and khakis. Their hands are clean unlike the mechanics who are working with tools, parts, and fluids underneath my car. That’s the one I pay. That’s the one who hands me my keys and sends me on my way. I never get to meet the actual technicians, only the rep.

That scenario reminds me of the Old Testament priests who served at the tabernacle and later, the temple in Jerusalem. God established a dress code for Aaron and the priests who go before the Lord on behalf of the people. Why? There are two reasons: “For glory and for beauty” (Exodus 28:2). The garments will glorify God. But they will also reflect a relationship with the Lord.

As you read through it, it’s complicated. There is a “breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a tunic of checkered work, a turban, and a sash.” These all work together as a reminder that when the priest goes before the Lord, it is on behalf of all the people. The priest represents a nation, but also every individual in that nation. That includes the good and the bad, the rich and the poor, and the sick and the healthy.

As the gold plate on the high priest’s turban states, the people are “holy to the Lord.” They have been chosen. They have been set free. Their sin has been atoned for, that is covered. It’s easy to forget these truths. This was a great reminder.

In the very first chapter of Revelation, John catches a glimpse of Jesus in glowing, glorious, and beautiful priestly attire. He’s also the mechanic who did all the work of salvation. Not only does he clean up nicely, but he’s give me garments of salvation and robes of righteousness, too.

Israel may not have put all these pieces together in the Sinai desert. But now, in the last days, it’s good news!