This daily blog has proven much more difficult than I had imagined. I failed to realize that there would be days when people, responsibilities, illness, or just no time left at the end of the day (when exhaustion has already set in) would be real hindrances to getting it done.

I feel like I am apologizing a lot.
But; here we go again. I'm so sorry, I have missed several days. I will not offer up excuses...but, I do have a prayer request for you all to remember. We were in Birmingham, Alabama with my husband's parents for a few days and his dad isn't doing very well. God has been gracious to our family and preserved him for several years longer than many of his doctor's expected. But at this point his heart is only functioning at about 20%. Please be in prayer for Don's mom, that God would strengthen her for the tasks at hand and the heartache that could be coming soon. We all know that God's timing is perfect and His will, will be accomplished.

We left off at Exodus chapters 18-20

Jethro's Advice-18:1-27
Jethro was the priest of Midian, and Moses' father-in-law.
Jethro went to meet Moses with his wife Zepora and their two sons.
Moses and Jethro discussed how God had delivered them from Egypt.
Jethro rejoiced because of what God had done. But Jethro, through the wisdom of God, also realized that there was a problem.
Moses had all the people come before him to settle disputes and resolve the issues that came about through daily living. Jethro advised Moses that this was not good. That not only were the people being worn out by standing and listening to all the judgements "from day until night" (Ex.18:14) but also Moses was forced to bear the burden of all the people's problems by himself and would surely be worn out himself (Ex. 18:13-14). So Jethro advised Moses to choose some God fearing men to help (Ex.18:17-23).
Moses handled the hard cases, but the rest of the appointed men handled the smaller matters (Ex.18:24-26).
Sounds like the first court system was established right here.

Israel at the Mountain-19:1-25
The Israelites arrived at Mount Sinai in the 3rd month following their exodus from Egypt (Ex. 19:1). Here they would remain for several months while God's glory rested on the mountain. They completed work on the tabernacle in the 1st month of the 2nd year after leaving Egypt (Ex. 12:2,3). That's pretty amazing considering the intricate detail with which they were commanded by God to construct the tabernacle. If you've never done a study on the tabernacle, you should. Beth Moore has a wonderful (10 week) Bible study on the tabernacle
which is really great.

The Ten Commandments-20:1-17
In chapter 19, God spoke to Moses and warned him that the people should not come near the mountain, even the priest were in danger of death unless they were consecrated and ceremonially clean. God covered the mountain with a cloud so that His glory could not be seen, this allowed Moses and Aaron to go near enough to hear God speak to them.

The People Afraid of God's Presence-20:18-21
The people heard the loud trumpet of warning, the thundering and the lightening and feared God. God used these things to cause the people to remember that He wanted them to be holy. Doesn't He always know what it will take to persuade us to become more like him? I know in my case sometimes I have to learn the hard way. But, other times, when I think of how powerful God is, the fear created by that knowledge causes me to think twice before sinning. I'm "Scared straight" I guess you could say.

As part of my Bible study this week I was learning about the priesthood. In Hebrews chapter 7, we are reminded that we have "a high priest that has been touched by our infirmities and was tempted as we are, but without sin" this is the power that makes it possible for his perfect sacrifice to cleanse us from sin and cause us to be adopted into the family of God. What a wonderful thought.

The priests were responsible for honoring the old covenant that God had given through Abraham, which was obviously external. But the new covenant which was given through Jesus Christ and His finished work on Calvary is given as an internal (mind & heart changing) covenant. God allows us to internalize the new covenant through his perfect promises to us, whereas, the old covenant was dependant on the word of man and ceremony. Aaron and his sons could fulfill their duty to the letter of the law. They could work their hands to the bone and never miss a sacrifice, but they could not truly meet the people's need. They were powerless to make unrighteous persons righteous. How could they, they could not even make himself righteous. But (Hebrews 8:1) says, "We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in Heaven, and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man."

Jesus Christ is the only high priest with the power to cleanse us from our sin.

The Law of the Altar-20:22-26

I want to leave you with a final wonderful thought.

Christ had to be made flesh before he could completely fulfill His role as Great High Priest. Do you realize what it means to us that Christ was willing to become a man and be tempted as we are tempted?

Based on the Scriptures (Hebrews 2:17-18; 4:15) look at the impact this one element of His priesthood has on you.
1.God became flesh so that He could dwell among us.
2.Jesus faced every temptation known to humanity so He could identify with us.
3.God the Father provided a door of escape for every temptation.
4.Only Christ was in a position to unlock the door of escape by facing every temptation as a man without sin.
5.Christ not only unlocked the door of escape from every temptation but also became the Door: "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved" (John 10:9).
6.Any who have walked through the door of salvation from the sin of unbelief are also invited to walk through the door of salvation from daily temptation.
7.Because Christ has faced our every temptation without sin, we never face a temptation that has no door of escape.
8.Any door Christ has opened cannot be closed: "I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut" (Rev. 3:8).
9.Although the door is open for our victory over sin and God's blessing flows only from our willingness to walk through it, a provision is already in place for the sin of failing to choose it. The consequences of our lack of obedience are left to help train us to walk through the door next time.
10.He who walked through the door of escape, thus becoming our means of escape as well, leads us through every door of escape and prays for us (as intercessor to the Father) as we follow Him.

My friend, every provision has been made for us to be victorious over temptation! This will not be the one day, or the one moment, or the one circumstance from which there is no way out. Every door of escape has been unlocked. Christ himself made absolutely sure of it by unlocking it personally.
Our High Priest, touched by our infirmities, and tempted, yet without sin, stands with arms open wide. Run into His arms the next time you are tempted and He will provide you a door already unlocked, to allow your escape.
God Bless...