Happy 14th Wedding Anniversary!

 

Happy 14th Wedding Anniversary!

I know this is a Bible study-themed page, but I want to celebrate my Biblically based marriage by saying, "Happy 14th Wedding Anniversary to my husband, Mel and me!" Our 14th Wedding Anniversary is tomorrow, June 10, but I am posting this now because we will be celebrating by packing a picnic lunch and taking it to the beach tomorrow.

God truly blessed me with my perfect match and soul mate. Thank you, Jesus for the blessing of marriage to my precious Mel!

In honor of our special day, here are two of the poems I have written for Mel:

My Knight

Surrounded by cold, grey walls,

With no window in sight,

Not seeing a way out,

And no light coming in,

Locked inside a dark, meaningless life;

Then I heard the lock clang to the ground,

The door opened,

Light flooded the room,

And Sir Melton entered;

The silver from his armor

Created an ethereal glow;

He held out his hand,

And I greedily took hold -

I knew this knight had come to rescue me;

There was strength in his grip,

Yet gentleness and love;

"I've been dreaming about you,"

He said with a melodious voice

That soaked into my soul;

I smiled with tear-filled eyes -

He had been the one from my dreams as well;

"Will you come with me?"

I nodded as we walked out the door;

All things were lovely and bright,

And as I gazed into his eyes,

My whole life became clear -

We could serve a purpose together,

I would follow my knight,

For he was a man of Godly character -

Brave, noble, decent, and loving -

Our love would be epic

As we served our Lord Jesus Christ,

Loved, adored, and cherished one another,

And strived to help others;

Ours would be a life of purity,

And I would never look back -

My knight had rescued me from despair,

Creating a life of hope and purpose,

We would live forever in each other's arms -

Happily ever after!

(Song of Solomon 3:4) I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go.

No Matter Where

There's no castle or mansion large enough,

That could hold my love for you.

There's no shack or doghouse small enough,

Where I wouldn't feel at peace with you.

There's no tropical island warm enough,

That could match the heat I feel for you,

There's no iceberg cold enough,

That could quench my fire for you.

There's no mountain high enough,

That could out-reach my love.

There's no ocean deep enough,

That could contain my love.

There's no place isolated enough,

Where I would feel lonely with you.

There's no place crowded enough,

That could keep me from feeling safe with you.

There's no place north or south enough,

No place east or west enough,

Where I would never cease to feel at home with you.

No matter where I am,

I am happy because you are by my side.

(Matthew 19:4-6) And [Jesus] answered and said unto them, "Have ye not read, that He which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, 'For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?' Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder."

Joshua 24:1-28: Choose You This Day Whom You Will Serve

 

Joshua 24:1-28: Choose You This Day Whom You Will Serve

Joshua's last speech before he dies is to first remind the people of all of God's miracles, then he instructs them to fear the Lord and put away false gods and serve the Lord.  He tells them that now is the time to make a choice whom they will serve.  They remember the Lord's goodness and choose the Lord.

Joshua then reminds them they must serve only God.  God will forgive their sins only if they refuse to follow false idols.  He then says their promise to only serve the Lord is a witness against themselves should they ever backslide.  They set up a memorial stone to show that the Lord has heard their promise and that they will not deny God.  

 

This is one of my favorite portions of scripture in the Old Testament.  It is such a profound way in which Joshua addresses his people and reminds them of all God had done for them.  He wants to convince them to give up their sinful ways and follow only God.  How much more beautiful for us who live after Jesus' death on the cross and all He sacrificed to save our souls from Hell.  Knowing the veil has been torn so we can have a personal relationship with Jesus that does not require hollow ritual or a third party to speak to God (such as a priest), how much more we should want to give up our false gods and only have a pure relationship with Him! (see Matthew 27:51)

When we agree to follow Jesus, we are saying we want to be a new person and purge our lives of sinful habits.  We want to live according to the principles of Jesus Christ and no longer cleave to worldly, ungodly ways.

Time on this earth is very short and today truly is the day to choose whom you will serve.  Don't wait until tomorrow!  As for me and my husband, we choose the Lord! 

(2 Corinthians 6:2) For [God] saith, "I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured [gave assiatnce to] thee: behold, NOW is the accepted time; behold, NOW is the day of salvation."

When we make a promise to serve God and forsake the world, it is a permanent witness to our souls that we have vowed to never deny or betray God.  I pray I always take my promises to the Lord seriously with awe, fear, and humility.

(2 Corinthians 5:10, 15-17) For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

(This is a long portion of scripture, but I edited some of it out, but please read the entire thing on your own.)

(Joshua 24:1-28) And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel... and they presented themselves before God. And Joshua said unto all the people, "Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, 'Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time... and they served other gods. And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac.... sent Moses also and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, according to that which I did among them: and afterward I brought you out. And I brought your fathers out of Egypt: and ye came unto the sea; and the Egyptians pursued after your fathers with chariots and horsemen unto the Red sea... And I have given you a land for which ye did not labour, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat. Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord. '"

"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you THIS DAY whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

And the people answered and said, "God forbid that we should forsake the Lord, to serve other gods; For the Lord our God, he it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the people through whom we passed... therefore will we also serve the Lord; for He is our God."

And Joshua said unto the people, "Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the Lord, to serve Him."

 And they said, "We are witnesses."

"Now therefore put away," said he, "the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the Lord God of Israel."

And the people said unto Joshua, "The Lord our God will we serve, and His voice will we obey."

So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day... and Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the Lord.

And Joshua said unto all the people, "Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the Lord which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God."

Joshua 7:1-26: Touch Not What is Forbidden

 

Joshua 7:1-26: Touch Not What is Forbidden

After their victory in Jericho in Joshua 6, the Israelites are given permission to take silver, gold, brass, and iron but not any false idols. (Joshua 6:18 - And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.) Just as in the Garden of Eden when God tells Adam he can enjoy all except the one tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (see Genesis 2:15-17 & 3:124), but he and Eve wanted what they were told not to touch.  Just as Adam and Eve were not satisfied with all they were allowed to have but selfishly and rebelliously wanted more than God had generously blessed them with (sounds like most people today), Achan takes from the spoils exactly what has been forbidden.

Joshua is unaware of Achan's sin and takes an army to defeat Ai, but about 36 of his men are killed and the army flees.  Confused because they have been so successful until now.  When Joshua falls on his face before the Lord, God tells him they are never going to have victory again because of the "accursed thing" in their camp. God says the people must sanctify (purify or cleanse) themselves and purge the camp of the item representing false religion which must be destroyed if they ever want to win another battle.

After searching the camp, it is discovered that Achan has taken the permitted silver and gold as well as some kind of forbidden "Babylonish garment."  His disobedience has brought a curse upon their people.  He is punished and killed.   

This sounds harsh by today's standards, and such strong punishment is obviously not necessary under new covenant ways, but we can still see this as an object lesson for us today.  You can absolutely think of it as symbolic that false idols will bring about spiritual death.  

Forbidden items brought into homes can curse entire families and make it impossible for blessings, especially when these things are chosen just as rebelliously and recklessly as Achan chose his items.  Just as the army could not find victory and his family and animals had to die because of Achan, innocent people may suffer the consequences because of your sin. 

In the New Testament, 2 Corinthians 6 tells us that when we refuse to touch the things God considered unclean, we can be blessed and called His children. 

(2 Corinthians 6:14-18 & 7:1) Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?... And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God... "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate," saith the Lord, "and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters," saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

What are the accursed things today? Pornography, television/movies, ungodly music/ books, drugs/alcohol, all occultic items and practices (Ouija boards, tarot cards, yoga, etc.), and false religions that worship anyone except Jesus Christ, and bows to false idols such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Catholicism, etc.  Even being "unequally yoked," or too closely bonded with someone living in active rebellion against the things of God can cause us harm.      

Search your heart and soul and remove all accursed things from your life to find victory in Jesus!   

(Joshua 7:1-26) But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan... took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel. 

And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai... saying, "Go up and view the country..."

So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai. And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men... and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water. And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the Lord...

And Joshua said, "Alas, O Lord God, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us?..."

And the Lord said unto Joshua, "Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff. Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you. Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the Lord God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you... And it shall be, that he that is taken with the accursed thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he hath: because he hath transgressed the covenant of the Lord, and because he hath wrought folly in Israel."

So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes... and he brought his household man by man; and Achan...

And Joshua said unto Achan, "My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the Lord God of Israel, and make confession unto Him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me."

And Achan answered Joshua, and said, "Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done: When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it."

So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it. And they took them out of the midst of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the Lord. And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and... all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor.

And Joshua said, "Why hast thou troubled us? the Lord shall trouble thee this day..."  So the Lord turned from the fierceness of his anger. 

Joshua 16:1-27: Tearing Down Strongholds, Written by my Husband & Let the Strongholds Fall (Song), Written by Me

Joshua 16:1-27: Tearing Down Strongholds

Written by my Husband (Mel)

When Joshua led the armies of Israel into the promised land, they were instructed by the Lord to drive out the inhabitants of the land. When the Israelites saw Jericho, it must have seemed intimidating, the walls surrounding the city were so wide that chariots rode on top. But Joshua trusted in the Lord, and he knew that his God was much bigger than those walls. God instructed the Israelites to have seven priests carry trumpets in front of the ark. The armies of Israel would follow the ark of the Lord, and they would circle the city once for six days, and on the seventh day they would circle the city seven times. When the priests would do a long blast on the trumpets, the armies of Israel would give a loud shout, and the walls would collapse, and the armies would go in. In the same way that Joshua trusted in the Lord for victory over his enemies, we should also have faith that our God is bigger than the walls of fear, doubt, or sin, in our lives. Let us also shout in faith and bring those strongholds down!  

Many Christians feel unworthy or incapable of ministering for Christ, therefore they limit their spiritual potential. Satan's desire is to establish walls or mountains of fear or doubt in our minds to render us useless for the kingdom of God. Quite often people that we know will discourage us from pursuing a ministry that God desires to use us in. The key to being effective for God is to conquer our fears with faith, as well as to bring every thought captive into the obedience of Christ. The entire world is a mission field, and a person does not need a degree in theology in order to share their faith. The other day, I was going for a walk with our dog, and I stopped to visit with a man on the trail. I used the opportunity to share my faith. My wife and I have also witnessed to people in Wal-Mart, grocery stores and elsewhere. I always pray that the Lord will bring divine appointments my way. If you are willing to be used by the Lord, he will use you according to your level of faith.

(2 Corinthians 10: 3) For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.  For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. 

Not only are there spiritual strongholds within our minds, but there are also strongholds of sin that will jeopardize our relationship with God. Many people within the churches struggle with addictions to alcohol, pornography, cigarettes etc. and deliverance seems impossible to them. But with God all things are possible, and by relying on the power of God's Holy Spirit accompanied with faith, a person can be set free from all types of bondages. Fasting, accompanied with prayer, is a powerful weapon against sinful bondages. When a person goes on a fast, they are giving something up to show God how serious they are about their prayers. Fasting is normally the giving up of food for a period of time, but it may also include giving up anything that you enjoy, in order to seek God for a breakthrough. When Christ's disciples could not cast out demons they asked Christ, why.  He replied, "This kind only comes out with prayer and fasting."(see Matthew 17:14-21) Fasting is a time-honored principle that will bring results to seemingly impossible situations. 
 

(Joshua 6:1-27) Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.

And the Lord said unto Joshua, "See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valor. And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days. And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets. And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him...

And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns passed on before the Lord, and blew with the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of the Lord followed them... 

And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, "Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout."

And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times. And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, "Shout; for the Lord hath given you the city..."

So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city... So the Lord was with Joshua; and his fame was noised throughout all the country.

Let the Strongholds Fall (Song)

Written by Me

This is a song I wrote when Mel and I were praying about the strongholds in our lives. It goes well with the above article on Joshua written by my husband.

Although I have written many poems, I have not put actual music to them in about 21 years. However, when I was praying alone, the words and music just poured out of me, and I wrote this in about five minutes. When I say, "wrote a song", that is quite an understatement; I do NOT mean I composed a piece of music, just a basic tune in my head.

Let the Strongholds Fall

Let the strongholds fall,

Let the storm be still,

Let the heavens call,

Lord, we’ll do Your will.

Let the trumpet sound,

Let the angels sing,

Let the enemy be bound,

Let Your fire rain.

Lord, we hear Your voice,

We will worship You,

And with all our hearts,

Let our praise be true.

Let Your Spirit come

Purify our hearts,

May our hands be clean

As we bow our knees.

Lord, we seek Your face,

Lord we humbly pray,

May You send us out,

Let us work Your fields

Let the strongholds fall,

Let the storm be still,

Let the heavens call,

Lord, we’ll do Your will.

Let the trumpet sound,

Let the angels sing,

Let the enemy be bound,

Let Your fire rain.

-Julie 11/22/17

Joshua 5:11-12: New Food in a New Land

 

Joshua 5:11-12: New Food in a New Land

In Joshua 5:11-12, it mentions that the Israelites are no longer eating the old corn of Egypt or the heavenly manna, but were now eating the fruit of their new land in Canaan. 

In spite of all their grumblings, God had been faithful by providing the supernatural manna for them for the 40 years they spent in the desert.  In addition, God was faithful to keep His promise to bring them to a new land.  

(Joshua 5:9, 11-12) And the Lord said unto Joshua, "This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt..."

And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the Passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day. And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.

I see a strong parallel to when we are brought to a new place in our lives, and in this case, I am referring to a new birth in Jesus Christ, we are to give up the old sinful spiritual food and pursue the new Fruits of the Holy Spirit.

When we walk in Christ and grow in Him, we must yearn to grow past the basics of the Salvation message (milk) and seek out the richer spiritual food to help us thrive and grow in Jesus (meat).    

(Hebrews 5:12-14, AMP) For though by this time you ought to be teachers [because of the time you have had to learn these truths], you actually need someone to teach you again the elementary principles of God’s word [from the beginning], and you have come to be continually in need of milk, not solid food. For everyone who lives on milk is [doctrinally inexperienced and] unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a spiritual infant.But solid food is for the [spiritually] mature, whose senses are trained by practice to distinguish between what is morally good and what is evil.

God's Holy Spirit will provide us with the desire and strength to give up sinful patterns and to grow in Him so we can produce good fruit.

(Galatians 5:16-25) This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Numbers 22:20-35: Balaam's Donkey Sees an Angel

 

Numbers 22:20-35: Balaam's Donkey Sees an Angel

(NOTE: This is half of the article in part 3 of a series I wrote titled "Exploring the Angels of the Bible."  I will post the links to all 9 of the writings at the end of this post.)

Throughout the rest of the Old Testament, we read about angels bringing God's messages of warnings of what will happen if those listening refuse to obey God.  One such instance is when an angel is not sent to a group of people, but to one individual, Balaam.

In Numbers 22, Balaam is commissioned by King Balak to curse the Israelites because Balak is afraid of the large number of Israelites.  Balaam is involved in the evil sin of enchantments. Make no mistake, the entire Bible repeatedly says God HATES witchcraft and those who practice it will not inherit the Kingdom of God (see Galatians 5:20-21 & Revelation 21:8).  There is NOTHING innocent about Harry Potter, Frozen, The Wizard Oz, etc.  Christians, please quit watching theses movies and confusing your children that God is okay with it (1 Corinthians 10:21 - Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.)!  

But I digress, now back to the story. The king of the Moabites says to Balaam, "he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed." (Numbers 22:6). King Balak promises Balaam he "will promote [Balaam] unto very great honour, and will do whatsoever thou sayest." (verse 17). 

Balaam agrees to curse the Israelites.  However, God is very angry with Balaam and sends an angel to fight against him.  The interesting twist in this true story is that Balaam cannot see the angel when it appears in verse 23, but his donkey can! Three different times, the donkey sees the angel armed with a drawn sword standing in the pathway.  The donkey is so afraid she first turns off the path into a field, then crushes Balaam's foot into the wall, and the third time, falls down.  Each time, Balaam strikes the poor animal.  

After the third instance, God opens the mouth of the donkey.  In verse 28, she asks "What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?"  Strange enough, the Bible never says that Balaam was shocked that his donkey spoke to him.  He simply tells the donkey he would kill her if he had a sword. After the donkey reminds Balaam that she has always been a faithful animal, God then allows Balaam to see the angel. Balaam is wise enough to show awe and humility at the sight and falls on his face.

The angel also asks Balaam why he beat the donkey and tells him that if not for her, Balaam would have been killed by the angel, and the donkey spared.  The angel then tells Balaam he must not curse the Israelites but can only say what the Lord has instructed Balaam to say. 

Of course, King Balak is furious and tries very hard to convince Balaam to still say his curses, but in Numbers 23:8 Balaam says, "How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the Lord hath not defied?"  We see signs of a changed man.

The king continues on in trying to coerce Balaam, but he continues to refuse. I love what he says in Numbers 23:19-20, "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it." 

Those few words in verse 19 should be remembered by us every day. When we are discouraged, remember God will never lie. When we are confused or angry with God, remember God never has need to repent, we are the ones who should be repenting of our callus and rebellious actions.

When we get to chapter 24, we see that indeed Balaam has changed and even given up his evil witchcraft. "And when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he went NOT... to seek for enchantments..." (Numbers 24:1). Only then did "the spirit of God [come] upon him." (verse 2). Repentance and giving up our habitual sins are the keys for all of us.

Balaam then issues a blessing for the people of Israel, and King Balak reminds him that had he cursed the people, he would have been rich and powerful.  But Balaam replies with, "If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the Lord, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the Lord saith, that will I speak." (verse 13).  May we always be so bold in our convictions to do the Lord's will and not be tempted by worldly treasures. 

The angel was used by God to protect the Israelites from a Satanic curse. He could have killed Balaam, but due to the donkey seeing the angel, Balaam was allowed to live.  I truly believe that on occasion some (not all) animals see angels and demons. God most likely will not use an animal to speak to us, but animals can still be used in either supernatural ways or simply from the natural instincts God gave them to protect us.  We need to pay attention to all warning signs around us, and as said above, stay within the will of God and obey the Bible if we are to stay within His protection.  

"Exploring the Angels of the Bible" Series Links

1: https://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2025/10/exploring-angels-of-bible-part-1.html

2: https://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2025/10/exploring-angels-of-bible-part-2.html

3: https://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2025/10/exploring-angels-of-bible-part-3.html

4: https://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2025/10/exploring-angels-of-bible-part-4.html

5: https://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2025/10/exploring-angels-of-bible-part-5.html

6: https://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2025/10/exploring-angels-of-bible-part-6.html

7: https://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2025/10/exploring-angels-of-bible-part-7.html

8: https://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2025/10/exploring-angels-of-bible-part-8.html

9: https://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2025/10/exploring-angels-of-bible-part-9.html

Leviticus, Numbers, & Deuteronomy: Jesus Made a Surety of a Better Testament

 

Leviticus, Numbers, & Deuteronomy:  Jesus Made a Surety of a Better Testament

Leviticus, Numbers, & Deuteronomy are all difficult books to write article about.  I had planned on writing on every book of the Bible.  However, these next three Old Testament books will be lacking.  

I have either read or had read to me every single word of the Bible many times in my 52 years (probably even before I was born), and I can say with confidence, based on scripture not my theory, that these books are full of unnecessary ritual as Jesus Christ is the only sacrifice worth honoring and High Priest worth following.  He is the New Covenant in the New Testament. (For more writings about the new covenant, I have included links at the end of this blog.)

(Hebrews 8:6-7 & 12-13) But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.

"For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." In that he saith. A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

(Hebrews 12:24) And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant.

In the New Testament, Jesus continually tells His listeners that he has come to teach them a new way to live. Following the ways of Jesus Christ is the True way to live.  

We do not need to slaughter animals to show we are sorry for our sins, but we do still need to repent of our sins and strive for holiness.  (Luke 12:25 - Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.) Jesus' death on the cross made the way for us to live eternally with the Holy Trinity as they bridged the gap for us.  But it does not end there.  We must accept Jesus as our Savior by accepting His free gift of salvation and make certain we do not abuse the gift of grace lest we lose it. (Revelation 2:5 - Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.)  We can enjoy eternal life in heaven when we live a clean life, and repent when we make mistakes, because we will make them.

I believe the Bible is a great history book, and I accept it as a book of fact.  The chapters of history that involve God's people before the time of Christ's redemption are still meant for us to read and learn from.  We see the powerful and miraculous power of God many times over and it is a great reminder of such.  

Reading the Old Testament also gives us another reason to appreciate the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross.  Many animals had to die, and endless rituals were performed because they did not yet know God's Son or His Holy Spirit.  They still thought they had to earn their way to Heaven.  They believed that breaking even one of the more than 600 laws would send them to Hell. 

Even Samuel on the Old Testament somehow understood God wants our sincere obedience, not empty ritual:

(1 Samuel 15:22) "Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams."  

King David recognized this as well and added that God wants us to instead sacrifice our pride.

(Psalm 40:6) Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.

(Pslam 51:16-17) For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Rituals are spiritual death.  Solomon, and Hosea also understood this. 

(Proverbs 15:8) The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

(Proverbs 21:3) To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.).

(Hosea 6:6) For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. 

All these verses show God wants our sincere love for Him more than anything.

Romans 12:1 says we are to make our "bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God."  Our actions of self-denial to sin and pure lives are the sacrifices God requires.  Giving up all forms of ungodly entertainment, staying sexually pure, not getting drunk, treating each other with love and kindness, etc.,  (see Galatians 5 below), these are the ways to please the Lord!

(Hebrews 10:1-20) For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered?... For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when He cometh into the world, He saith, "Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure..." 

He taketh away the first, that He may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God... For by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified...

Saith the Lord, "I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh."

(Hebrews 7:11-28) If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise... For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. 

And it is yet far more evident... Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. 

For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. And inasmuch as not without an oath He was made priest... By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament... But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 

Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for His own sins, and then for the people's: for this He did once, when he offered up Himself. For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore

These powerful portions in Hebrews remind us that Jesus' amazing act of love with His death on the cross is the only sacrifice that ever mattered, and no more blood needs to be shed.  I especially love this phrase in Hebrews 7:22 (here is the Amplified version), "And so [because of the oath’s greater strength and force] Jesus has become the certain guarantee of a better covenant [a more excellent and more advantageous agreement; one that will never be replaced or annulled].  In Hebrews 7:22 the KJV the word surety is used. The dictionary definition of surety explains Jesus' death on the cross beautifully: "a formal engagement (such as a pledge) given for the fulfillment of an undertaking: one who has become legally liable for the debt, default, or failure in duty of another."  Jesus paid our debts for our sins!  

Jesus Christ's own words sum up what I am trying to say.  It is not manmade laws or rituals that please God, but we still need to follow the laws of God to stay pure. Remember, religion is dead ritual, but a relationship with Jesus Christ, son of the Living God, is life!

(Matthew 15:7-11 & 16-20) "Ye hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, 'This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.'"

And He called the multitude, and said unto them, "Hear, and understand: Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man."

And Jesus said, "Are ye also yet without understanding? Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man."

For more on understanding what rules we should follow:

(Matthew 19:16-21) And, behold, one came and said unto [Jesus], "Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?"

And He said unto him, "Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments."

He saith unto Him, "Which?"

Jesus said, "Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

The young man saith unto Him, "All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?"

Jesus said unto him, "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me."

(Galatians 5:18-25) But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

(Revelation 21:7-8) He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

For more writings about the new covenant, feel free to read these other blogs:

Matthew 5: Jesus Teaches us a Better Way: https://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2026/01/matthew-5-jesus-teaches-us-better-way.html

The Parallel Between the New Covenant and Being a New Creation in Christ: https://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2025/12/the-parallel-between-new-covenant-and.html

True Grace, False Grace, and Legalism, Written by my Husband: https://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2024/09/true-grace-false-grace-and-legalism.html

Understanding  The New Covenant, Written by my Husband: https://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2015/12/understanding-new-covenant-written-by.html

Justification by Faith Alone, Written by my Husband: https://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2020/08/justification-by-faith-alone-written-by.html

Full Assurance of Salvation, Written by my Husband: https://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2025/10/full-assurance-of-salvation-written-by.html