Grains of Sand

Google Images There appears to be no gap (except a humanly created one) between Leviticus 9 and Leviticus 10. If that is the case, then the actions of Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, are all the more inexplicable. The now official priesthood has been solemnly consecrated. Sacrifices have been made and specific instructions given. The glory of the Lord has descended on the Tent of Meeting and the people have responded with joy and worship. And the two men enter the Tent of Meeting and offer “ unauthorized fire ” on the altar in direct and willful disobedience to the Lord’s command (Leviticus 10:1). The result was swift and devastating (10:2). They died. As I read this story my mind went back to the beginning of the church, as we have it recorded in Acts. The foundation of the church was being laid so it was very important that, as the saying goes, they begin as they expected to continue. When Ananias and Sapphira lied to the church leaders about the disposition of their property, the...

Google Images Most of us would choose to cross the street and walk on the other side of the road just to avoid him. They called him “John” which was common enough. But when people mentioned that this John was “the baptizer” the curious drew near and the cautious moved away. “ In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea ” (Matthew 3:1). He was a weird bird, dressed in camel’s hair and eating locusts and honey (3:4) and preaching, not from behind a pulpit, but from alongside the Jordan River. His message was probably no more popular in that period than it is today: “ Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near ” (Matthew 3:2). In a world where the religious establishment was more concerned with peripheral and superficial, John cut right to the heart of the matter—sin. The curious drew near, the convicted stayed to listen, the callous of heart walked away. John was the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth, kinfolk of Mary, the mother of Jesus (Luke 1), a mi...

The last book of the Bible, Revelation, describes in part at least, future things. Much of that prophecy shows us a redeemed people worshiping Almighty God. They do and will continue to recognize His holiness and do as is announced in Revelation 4:8, 9 (NIV): “ Day and night they never stop saying: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come. Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne… ” Then, as I look back at Exodus 19, I see a similar scene. A holy God has made His throne the top of Mount Sinai. The people are instructed to approach Him in a way that recognizes His holiness. “ And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes and be ready by the third day, becau...