Wednesday, January 4, 2023

MORE BLESSINGS

Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 33-34

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion on the right-hand side).

 

Here you can see what the breastplate would have looked like on the High Priest in Moses’ time. Each of the twelve tribes is represented before God by a precious stone. The Thummin and the Urim mentioned in today’s reading were there somewhere, but they remain mysterious objects of which we know very little. Perhaps they were instruments for testing God’s will such as casting lots (Deuteronomy 33:8).

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

 

Key Verse: Deuteronomy 33:27a

The eternal God is your refuge,
And underneath are the everlasting arms…

 

Our reading begins with praise to God and then blessings on all the tribes except one, Simeon. In Genesis 49:5-7 both Simeon and Levi are cursed by their father, Jacob. All the other brothers are blessed. Moses and Aaron came from Levi, the tribe that became Israel’s priests. It remains a mystery why Levi was chosen for special service and Simeon was not. Perhaps Levi repented of the sins Jacob mentioned and Simeon did not. God always responds to a godly sorrow for sin, followed by a turning away from sin. Restoring our relationship with God is absolutely essential to experiencing the powerful promise found in our key verse. God blessed Moses. Jesus, Peter, James and John would later meet him on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-8).

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I search my heart, confess my sin, and trust You for the gift of genuine repentance. Levi became the recipient of Your blessings, and his brother, Simeon, did not. I’m desperate for Your everlasting arms under me. I lean on Your arms today and every day. Thank You for Your promise of strong support. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

Often over the years I have visited the modern expression of “The Promised Land”…Israel. Bible prophecy indicates the establishment of a nation state in the end times called “Israel.” The olive tree symbolizes the spiritual life of Israel; the fig tree symbolizes political Israel (Luke 21:29-31). I, as a Gentile believer in the King of the Jews, Jesus, have been grafted into the olive tree. Jews who believe in Jesus as Messiah, Saviour and Lord (there are thousands in Israel in many congregations) continue an expression of the original olive tree. Following the birth of Jesus’ Church (Acts 2), many thousands of Jews formed the first congregations of believers in Jesus. A non-Jew, Cornelius, was the first Gentile grafted into the olive tree (Acts 10). While modern Israel has come into being, let’s not forget that the modern state of Israel is not gathered in righteousness. For example, I’m told that in Israel abortion is legal and huge numbers of little ones are being torn apart in the wombs of Jewish mothers. Jesus’ last prophecy was about this (check out Luke 23:27-31). Let us never forget that God loves all people equally; Arabs and Jews all need to receive Jesus in order to be saved. We all need to come to Him and trust His promises (e.g. John 6:37). Tomorrow, God willing, I’ll do my blog from the book of Romans. I’ve just had a head-start by reading about the “olive tree.” It’s found in Romans 11:17-24 (click here to read with me).

Yours for God at work today with Jews, Arabs, and all the rest of us…and for the growth of the “olive tree” and its grafted-in branches, of which I believe I’m a little twig,

David

P.S. Yesterday I linked you to my Uncle’s book, Pebbles From The Brink, which gives the last words of the dying at a time before modern sedatives (If you missed it, here is the link again). Most people today are not conscious when they pass away. Many of the last sayings were from a time when believers, both Roman Catholic and Protestant, were persecuted and martyred by wicked leaders from both sides (e.g. Henry VIII). My Uncle featured Heaven and Hell statements from both sides of that great divide.  I hope we don’t automatically presume we are reading of only one side or the other. Below is a picture of my uncle, Rev. Manley C. Pritchard. He edited a weekly and also a monthly publication beginning approximately in 1910.

7 thoughts on “Wednesday, January 4, 2023

  1. Pritchards were our neighbours in Kenmore, ON when i was a youngster. Maybe no relation.
    So sad Moses didn’t get to go into the promised land. He’s in a way better land now though.
    Found this grand quote:

    Billy Graham observed, “This is the greatest discovery you will ever make: You were created to know God and to be his friend forever.”

    May God shower believers with a joyous New Year.

  2. Yes, it is sad when you think that Moses would not experience the Promised Land. I believe he will receive great reward in heaven for his leadership and faithfulness in much of his life aside from this moment of anger striking the rock rather than speaking to it. Blessings all this New Year.

  3. How did Moses feel with a diagnoses of imminent death?Probably not like most people since God,Himself,spoke to him.
    More than one poem comes to mind in today’s reading.I believe God likes us to talk ‘to’ him (almost like talking to one’s self) as any other friend in an informal mode.FYI:I did not date nor sign my poems for just over a year until I was made aware of another ‘Bill Marshall’ who is an ‘author/poet’ in Connecticut.
    These relate to today’s blog:
    Abide In Me

    Abide in Me and I will give you life,
    For if you first seek Me out sincerely
    Then you will share what grows rife,
    In My grace where you are held dearly.

    You are a branch and I am the tree,
    With Me you will know life eternal,
    But if cut off from your life with Me,
    You are doomed to a life infernal.

    So into my open arms you must flee,
    For I love all who seek out my trust,
    To accept the love,abundant and free,
    Instead of greed that turns all to dust.
    G W (Bill) Marshall/ Feb 20, 2013

    WHY Mommy?

    Why did you kill me mommy?
    Why do you seek to be defiled?
    Why was I killed inside your tummy?
    Why could I not be your child?

    Why do you call sex ‘making love’?
    Why is that lie portrayed to be true?
    Why do you hate gifts from above?
    Why do you freely do what you do?

    Why is sex like shaking hands?
    Why can’t you control your lust?
    Why do devils from foreign lands
    Give us laws while stealing our trust?
    G W (Bill) Marshall / 31 July, 2014
    Proabortionists from the US came to help
    PEI proabortionists change the law and
    legalize the murder of unborn children
    instead of teaching women not to use
    their bodies as amusements parks.
    No copyright intended​

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