Deuteronomy

The word Deuteronomy derived from Greek and Latin. It is "Devarim" in Hebrew and it means "words."

I see in this book that people's hearts are so stubborn. Mine is like that, too.

God "Go and conquer the land I am giving you."
People "Let us send spies and study the land first."

After the spies came back they didn't want to go.


God "Turn around and go back."
People  "We repent. Let us go forward to the land."

God "Stop."
People went any way.

They cried after they were defeated but it was too late, but God is still gracious and compassionate. He loves them anyway.

Many situations like this happen in our lives, I think. Then we cry and think to ourselves (or to the Christians) "where is God when we need him?"

Please forgive me for being selfish and self-centered...

misunderstood words in the Old Testament

The word satan.
I am reviewing one of Kay Arthur's "Lord..." series and got curious about the original word for Satan.
The word "satan" is a Hebrew word and that means "adversary."  The one who opposes is "an adversary" and the word for that is "satan." It is not his name. Then I googled. See 

http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H7854&t=NLT

and

http://www.bibletopics.com/biblestudy/164.htm

The word Lucifer
A couple months ago I learned that the infamous name "Lucifer" is not in the original text when I was curious to see this part in the original language. Did anyone know that? We just assume that one of the fallen angels or the demon's name is Lucifer, but it is not true.See this.

http://www.echoofeden.com/bias/lucifer/

She conceives (Tazria)

(This is not according to the reading schedule.)

Leviticus 12:1-13:59

The instruction regarding a woman who conceives and gives birth to a child. The Scriptures say that the woman is unclean for certain days. I didn't know what to think of this. She becomes a mom and is 'unclean'. But the "Walk! Leviticus" commentary says something interesting. It gave me a different point of view.

"Women do not sin by giving birth to children (Gen. 1:28). Nor do their subsequent rites of purification require laying on of hands, confession, an asham, or a different offering for the birth of a boy or a girl. But the loss of blood diminishes a mother's wholeness, rendering her incomplete and thus tam'ah (cf. Lev. 12:4, 5, 7). Only the passage of time restores her wholeness."

(Walk! Leviticus)

(The word "tam'ah" means defiled.)

I feel God's thoughtfulness towards our wholeness.

Mr. Shigehara

This youtube is about Mr. Shigehara who wrote many visas to the Jewish people during the WW ll.
I was very touched by his life. I saw a movie based on his life, too. I believe he was a Christian.

In Jairus' case

A ruler of the synagogue, Jairus (meaning, whom God enlightens) came to see Jesus, he fell at his feet and asked Jesus to come to his house to pray for his daughter.

Then the woman who was suffering from bleeding for 12 years came up to Jesus to touch his fringe. Jesus was on his way to Jairus' house. The crowd was around him. The disciples were with him. Jesus stopped, looked around, and took time talking to this woman! What if I were Jairus? Ahhhh... "Excuse me, but my daughter is dying, we don't have much time. Jesus needs to be there now, please..." Then, humanly speaking, I am not sure if I could be happy for this woman who was healed. Couldn't she wait until after Jesus comes to his house? Someone from the house came and reported that Jairus' daughter died... while he was spending some time with this woman. Jesus was on his way to his house. He was almost there. I would have cried with such a disappointment. I don't know how Jairus reacted. A woman who suffered for 12 years was healed. But Jairus' 12 year old daughter died.

But Jesus is not restricted by the time frame. He was not too late.

Ms. Beth Moore said this in her "Beloved Disciple."

"A loved one's death is not a time to quit bothering Jesus." "He doesn't have our limitations or rationalizations. Has a death left you with unfinished business? Finish it with Jesus."

When I was doing the study last year my aunt passed away. These words from Beth Moore in the textbook was very encouraging to me. We don't know what happened to the loved ones who passed away without Jesus but we can bother Jesus about it until He gives us peace. I don't have the answer, but I pray until I have peace with Jesus. Beth's words gave me renewed confidence in Jesus.

Sometimes we think we were pushed aside and fell behind, but Jesus never forgets about us. He is never too late. He makes a way where there seems to be no way... Jesus raised the girl from the dead.

No more insecurity

Last week I went to a local church to participate in Ms. Beth Moore's simultaneous telecast. I had been stressed and feeling worn out, so I really, really looked forward to it. I needed something liberating and fun, and that was just what I did. I prayed, worshiped and my spirit was satisfied. I relaxed and listened, too. I was singing in the car again on my way home. Beth said that there were 300,000 women participating that morning! I was so glad to be a part of it. All these women's lives were changed by God through Beth's study. I know I am one of them. The topic was "So long, insecurity." Each of us matters Him. Sometimes we think God forgets us but that is not true. Beth's message is always encouraging.

I understood what she said. I am a changed person compared to several years ago because I separated myself from my insecurity. That happened when I felt alone and away from God. When I made a choice to do one thing, one Godly person was offended (because my choice of one thing automatically denied another thing even though I didn't mean to reject the other thing). I was devastated because I offended one Godly person and I felt like I was suddenly the enemy of her and her Godly friends. I felt like I was cut off from the Godly people I love. I didn't know where God stood in the situation at that time. I tend to hide and shy away and stand in distance to begin with and it is hard for me to claim to God that I don't have his support, but I desperately claimed that I was a child of God, too. I said that I knew God loved the person and her friends, but I am also God's child. As soon as I said that to God, I suddenly saw a picture in my mind. In my mind I stood up suddenly out of a wheelchair. The name of the wheelchair was "insecurity." I stood up out of a wheelchair called insecurity that day. I was not bound with insecurity any more because I was now sure that I was loved also. It was a very interesting experience.

I am still standing.

Urim and Thummim

Leviticus 6:8-8:36 ...."Command!" is what the LORD told Moses.

Chapter 6 is more detail about the sacrifices we read in Chapters 1 - 5.
Chapter 6 is where we read about Urim and Thummim...something I have been wondering about for a long time. What are they? I read that they meant 'light and perfections'.
Some commentaries I read don't mention Urim and Thummim so much. Mysterious...

The sacrifices that pleases God

Leviticus
Chapter 1 Burnt offering
Chapter 2 Grain offering
Chapter 3 Peace offering
Chapter 4 Sin offering
Chapter 5 Guilt offering

Studying the Old Testament is very fascinating, but sometimes I dwell in it too much. The Messianic reading schedule has the New Testament portion to go with the books of Moses and I am glad!!

Hebrew 13:16 (New Living Translation)

¹⁶ And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.

Moses led the chosen people out of Egypt. It is celebrated as the Passover. The Jews count the days after that for 49 days. Then they celebrate Shovuot = "weeks" = Pentecost. They celebrate the receiving of the ten commandments. The law was given to the people through Moses. In Acts, we read that the Jews were gathering on that day. They were celebrating Shovuot. We call it the Day of Pentecost.

Jesus was crucified during the week of the Passover. After he was resurrected, he spent time with the disciples and others for 40 days before he ascended. Then the Day of Pentecost = Shovuot came, and they received the Holy Spirit! The day of Pentecost was 49 days after Passover. The Day of Pentecost came right after Jesus ascended.

Just like God's presence never left the Jewish people in the desert (by the pillar of fire and the cloud in Exodus, and by the fire and the smoke in Leviticus), Jesus never left the disciples! Even after the resurrection Jesus was with his people, and right after he ascended, the Holy Spirit was sent down, and he has been within us since then.

I had never thought of the time frame until today. It is awesome.

The Day of Pentecost

As I was looking at different websites, I learned that there was no special portion of the Scriptures that the Jewish people read on the day of Shovuot. They usually have special scriptures for certain festivals for all other festivals and they skip the regular reading, but none for this day! When I read that, it made me love the day of Pentecost even more. The Lord chose to send the Holy Spirit upon the people on the celebration day that is not as significant ( in people's eyes) as other festivals! Just as Jesus was born in an insignificant place quietly, He sent the Holy Spirit on the day of Shovuot. It is so God. The Lord certainly loves us all but I am grateful that He loves insignificant people (like me!).