Bearing Guilt of an Entire Nation of People

Today's Reading:
• Exodus 28:1 - 43
• Proverbs 8:12 - 13

Exodus 28:1 - 43
Today I read about the priestly clothing of Aaron and that of his sons.  My study bible has a drawing of what the clothing probably looked like.  It all sounds very intricate and very beautiful. 

I thought it was interesting how Aaron was charged with wearing a medallion on his turban so that he always carried the guilt of his people around with him.  I have a hard enough time carrying my own guilt, I could imagine carrying the guilt of an additional 600,000 men plus women and children.  And then there is Christ who carried the guilt of all who lived with him and since his body died on the cross.  What a tremendous burden to bear!

Proverbs 8:12 - 13
Wisdom says that she lives together with good judgement and knows where to find knowledge and discernment.  (8:12).  The next verse goes on to say that all who fear the Lord will hate evil -- pride and arrogance, corruption and perverse speech.  Apparently it's not enough to just avoid those things yourself -- being in the presence of it should upset you. 

Where does the line fall between hating that which is wrong and forgiveness and walking in love?  I know that I work really hard not to hate others and I try to ignore their actions in hopes that one day they will come around.  I try really hard not to judge others.  Of course I fail greatly, but I do try. 

I'm supposed to hate the things the Lord hates, but hate is a very strong word and it's something that I try really really hard not to do.  I don't know what to think right this moment.  I will just have to read more and self-examine myself on this topic.

Notes (this section written on 3/18/12)
I have fallen behind in managing my blog right now due to sickness and laziness, I guess.  As I have mentioned a few times now, I stay ahead on my blog posts, so a post is written anywhere from a few weeks to a month or more before it is actually published. 

Well right now I am dangerously low on my posts -- only 10 on hand as I write this.  I said a prayer before starting today that the Lord would banish the sickness that has taken over my spirit so that His will be done and shine through me again. 

It has been an entire week since I have sat down to do a study, and right now that feels like ages have gone by.  My studies, because they are so frequent, really feel intimate -- and I like the intimate relationship with God.  But right now it's been an entire week, I've been sick, I've been lazy -- and all that needs to go.  Now.  I have said my prayers and am sitting down once again in my studies.  When you read this, even if it is a month from now, please say a little prayer for me so that I can keep up with my studies and maintain the intimate relationship I am trying to create.  Thank you.

Discernment of Demons, Suffering of David

Today’s Reading:
• Matthew 17:10 - 27
• Psalm 22:1 - 18

Read Bible Passages Online
 
Matthew 17:10 - 27
Today I read about how Jesus healed a demon possessed boy.  The boy was mute and deaf and suffered from frequent violent seizures.  The disciples tried to cast out the demon but could not.  This led to Jesus rebuking the disciples for not having enough faith.

This short story leaves me with so many questions. I see reference after reference of how Jesus and his disciples cast out demons and heal sickness, all in the power of Jesus Christ over Satan.  I am beginning to understand that sickness and disease are not the will of God for his children and that, if we use the power of Jesus in true faith we have the power over such things.  Just a few days ago I read a passage from Proverbs (4:20-22) that said:

My child, pay attention to what I say.  Listen carefully to my words.  Don't lose sight of them.  Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.

My biggest question right now is how does one recognize an evil spirit/demon?  Not the commercialized, head spinning, pea soup spitting demon; but rather a demon that is harboring sickness in a person?  To Jesus, to his disciples, to the people at the time, there was no question about whether or not there was a demon in that boy's body. 

Our society places so much value into the scientific explanation of things.  I do believe that we should also use our own readily available devices before asking for divine intervention. If there is a problem that a trip to the doctor and a few antibiotics can fix, then by all means go to the doctor and take the pills.  But what if you can't afford the doctor?  What if the problem isn't something minor?  What if you're battling a condition such as seizures or a cancer?  Are all of those things evil/demonic spirits?

So if we say that yes, those things are evil spirits/demons/Satan's work, then we should very well be able to channel the power of Jesus Christ to have them cast out, right?  I wonder how one grows strong in healing.  The disciples themselves had issue having enough faith to cast the demon out so it's obviously not something so simple that you can just do it as soon as you learn that you can channel the power of Jesus to heal others.

This is certainly a topic of high interest to me.  I certainly have the faith -- of course Jesus has complete power over Satan, there's no question about that.  I guess I need to first pray for discernment so that I might better see the spiritual causes of disease and sickness.  That's not a light prayer, it's actually kind of scary to think about.  Do I even want to open that door?  I do, I don't -- but I do, because for me I can't go stick my head in the sand when I realize something is out there.  Then I must read the Word of God and pray to learn how to overcome the things I can see with my new eyes.

It's not going to happen overnight, but I feel a big shift in my heart as I write these words.  I feel a heaviness and a slight dread.  I am somewhat afraid of what I am asking for, but I really can't go back now.  I must also remember that fear is not of God.  I can tell you one thing though -- when I started this project I really didn't think that I'd be praying for a spiritual discernment of spirits.  This one book has power to change your life so completely.

Psalm 22:1 - 18
This partial Psalm is a sad one because David is suffering greatly by the hands of his enemies.  It's hard for me to relate this to context without having really learned David's life story.  I think I've mentioned a few times now about how I don't know much about David aside from his conquer of Goliath and that he was the greatest king of the Jewish people.  I will certainly have to go back and read the Psalms of David after I learn all about him.

What Does it Mean to Blasphemy the Holy Spirit?

Today's Reading:
• Matthew 12:22-45
• Psalm 16:1-11

Read Bible Passages Online

Matthew 12:22-45

In this passage I read about how Jesus cast demons out of a man, demons that had prevented the man from being able to speak and to see.  I know that the bible tells us that we can utilize the power of Jesus to cast out demons, to heal the sick, and to perform many deeds.  I am hungry to learn more  about these things.  Right now I feel so naive that I wouldn't even know how to discern demons.  Jesus also says that when a demon leaves a person, that demon will come back with 7 other demons that are each stronger than the original one cast out if there is nothing there to fill the void that was left.  That's a scary and powerful thought.

Jesus also says that all sins are forgivable except for blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (12:31).  I am uncertain as to what that means so I did a little bit of research to try to determine what that would be.  I know that Jesus said you can blasphemy against him, and that is forgivable (12:32) so it is not that.

Right now what I see (based on research I've just done) is that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is when one knowingly attributes acts of the Holy Spirit to be that of the devil, or vice versa.  I believe this right now because Jesus directed this context against those who said Jesus used the power of Satan to cast out the demons, not the power of the Holy Spirit.  For now this is my understanding, but my understanding is likely to grow the more studying that I do in the bible.

Psalm 16:1-11

David sure knew how to pray, didn't he?  Here he tells the Lord how great he is, how his godly people are his greatest heroes, and how the Lord is his "cup of blessing" (16:5).  David's faith is remarkably unshakable; he trusts the Lord to keep him safe and says so many times.  To me thisp salm is a lesson in great prayer and thanks to the Lord, the Lord who watches over us and blesses us and keeps us safe.

Conclusion:

Today's reading has been an informative reading that has peaked my interest, challenged me to look more closely at myself, and has left many questions unanswered.  I can't wait to study further to learn the answers to these questions and learn more about the Lord and all that He wants to teach me.  

Rachel's Tomb

Today's Reading:
• Genesis 35:1-36:43
• Proverbs 3:21-26

Read Bible Passages Online

Genesis 35:1-36:43
Once again God appears to Jacob, this time to help Jacob flee the land his sons had just ravished.  I found something odd when reading this.  Jacob told his household to remove all idols and pagan gods and to purify themselves before the journey to Bethel.  It then says that all the household surrendered their idols and their earrings.  I am curious about the "earrings" part of this passage.  My bible (NLT) has no footnotes or anything related for me to know more about that.  Were these earrings shaped or imprinted with idols?  What was wrong with the earrings?


After the household surrendered their idols and moved on ,Jacob arrived at Bethel, where God renamed him Israel.  I'm confused more now, because didn't God already rename Jacob as Israel in Genesis 32?  What is the difference between God appearing in man form and renaming Jacob Israel, and God appearing to Jacob and renaming him Israel?

In the middle of chapter 35, Rachael dies giving birth to her son Benjamin.  It says that she was buried in a tomb that "can be seen there to this day" (35:20)  This naturally made me look it up and discover that Rachael's tomb is indeed believed to exist today.  I think it's interesting to see how the tomb has been enclosed over the years -- many times in its history, it has had various domes and buildings and walls put around it.  Today, it is surrounded by a wall, and barbed wire, and guards.  To visit Rachael's tomb these days you are required to travel by bullet proof bus since it is so near the Palestinian territories.

Chapter 36 goes into the lineage of Esau.  If I were following clans and tribes, or if I could keep any of this straight, then I'd probably be very interested in these lineages.  The truth is that these lineages are very hard for me to follow and I have no chance of recollecting any of it in the future.  But it is a nice resource to have; I just couldn't follow it very well this time around.

Proverbs 3:21-26
The first half of these verses focus on having common sense and discernment.  We are reminded to hang onto those and not to lose them.  To me, those things seem hard to gain and I don't really think of anybody losing them after they are gained.  It's an interesting thought to think of someone "losing" their common sense and/or discernment.  I'll have to think on that one a bit.


The other half of these verses talk about trusting in the Lord.  On the surface it says that you don't need to be afraid of being destroyed because the Lord is your security and "he will keep your foot from being caught in a trap"(3:26).  The meaning I obtain from that is if the Lord is your security and you are one of His own, then you would naturally avoid the trap of the wicked and getting caught.  Trust in the Lord, stay by His side, and you will not succumb to these traps.

Conclusion
I especially love the days where I get to discover a part of the bible that is tangibly evident today, as is the case with Rachael's Tomb.  I would love to do a further study where I can map passages, voyages, migrations, events, etc.  I know so much of it these things are debated but I would still love to get in on that debate, mainly so that I could really learn it myself instead of relying on others. 

In the end, however, I have a very hard time keeping all these locations straight in my head and they kind of blend together so it would be quite a challenge to me.  I think after I finish the initial read through of the bible that I might do some heavy research into finding a really good study bible for my next read through the bible.  I can't believe that I've barely started my study of the bible, yet I can't wait to read the whole thing again.  I just know that this is a book that can be read over and over and over again, and you will gain new perspective each time you read it.  I look forward to the challenge.

The Death of Abraham; Do not be Impressed With Your Own Wisdom

Today’s Reading:
• Genesis 24:52-26:16
  
• Proverbs 3:7-8
  

Read Tomorrow's Passages Online  

Genesis 24:52-26:16
It’s hard for me to imagine being a woman in biblical times, or even a woman in a country where women’s rights and desires are often ignored. It’s remarkable to me that Rebekah chose to up and leave her family in such a short notice – the next day after meeting Abraham’s servant. I am heartened, however, to see that God blessed their marriage with love (24:67). It just goes to show that God blesses those who follow his will.

Abraham died at 175 years old – but not before spawning many more children. A new wife is mentioned, named Keturah, and they had 6 sons together (or at least I assume they were sons, it doesn’t specifically say the gender in 25:2). It then goes on to say that Abraham sent off the sons of his concubines – not just his new wife, and not just a single concubine, but plural (25:6). That makes me wonder how many there were, and was it only after Sarah died? You’d think it would be, because the story of Sarah and Hagar is so remarked upon, but there’s so little to go on that I really don’t have a clue. Anyway, it interests me to read about the polygamous practices in the bible, and how even Abraham himself partakes of them. I’ll have to keep an eye out for various teachings on that subject matter.

Next we meet Esau and Jacob. First, while the twins were in Rebekah’s womb, she was told by God that Esau would serve Jacob (25:23). Just a little bit later, we see Esau sell his birthright to Jacob (25:27-34). To me, the whole exchange sounds like bickering between brothers and empty promises, but I guess it was quite a serious exchange and oath. I assume we’re being set up for Rebakah’s betrayal of Isaac and Esau, so I’ll save the rest of my thoughts and comments for when we get there.

Finally, it must have been really dangerous times to live in. In 26:7-11 we see Isaac do the same thing Abraham did repeatedly: tell everyone his wife was his sister. It makes me wonder, again, what these men were afraid of – they had God on their side! I guess I’ll never understand it. 

Proverbs 3:7-8
Here we’re told not to rely on or be impressed with our own wisdom. Even if we deem ourselves wise we still need to fear the Lord, fill ourselves with His wisdom, and turn away from evil. No matter how wise we may think we are, we will have true wisdom, discernment and understanding without knowing, fearing and following the Lord.

Conclusion
I find myself so impatient! I desperately want to learn the answers to all my questions and see all the bible has to teach and offer me. But I shall take it one day at a time, one tidbit at a time, one word at a time. Hopefully this will help me to absorb and understand more.  I love how instead of growing tired of reading the bible, I want to read more and more of it.

I love the way this reading program is laid out. Before I always got bored quickly, because it seemed all I was reading about was generation lines and sacrificial rites. But reading the bible like this allows me take many angles and read so many interesting things in just a single day. My sincere thanks goes to the One Year Bible Online for creating and posting these readings lists for me. 

Finally, please not that the reading plan is a one year plan, but as I have remarked before, I have split it up into two years so that I can ensure I will be able to keep up the pace of posting a blog entry each and every day until I've read through the entire bible.  After that point hits I don't know what will happen, but I do know that it doesn't stop there!