(There’s no storm in it, it’s down to the Town Hall – Not Speech Bubble)

Why did God require it?

Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised.  – GENESIS 17:9-10

Why did God require circumcision? (1) As a sign of obedience to him in all matters.  (2) As a sign of belonging to his covenant people.  Once circumcised, there was no turning back.  the man would be identified as a Jew for ever.  (3) As a symbol of “cutting off” the old life of sin, purifying one’s heart, and dedicatingoneself to God.  (4) Possibl as a health measure.

Circumcision more than any other practice separated God’s people from their pagan neighbours. In Abraham’s day, this was essential to develop the pure worship of the one true God.

At that time the LORD said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites again.” So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath Haaraloth.  – JOSHUA 5:2-3

The rite of circumcision marked Israel’s position as God’s covenant people. When God made the original covenant with Abraham, he required that each male be circumcised as a sign of cutting off the old life and beginning a new life with God (Genesis 17:13).  Other cultures at that time used circumcision as a sign of entry into adulthood, but only Israel used it as a sign of following God.  A man would only be circumcised once.  “Again” here refers to the fact that many of the young men were uncircumcised at this time (see 5:5).

Why hadn’t Moses circumcised his son?

At a lodging place on the way, the LORD met Moses and was about to kill him. But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin and touched Moses’ feet with it.  “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,” she said.  So the LORD let him alone.  (At that time she said “bridegroom of blood”, referring to circumcision.)  – EXODUS 4:24-26

God was about to kill Moses because Moses had not circumcised his son. Why hadn’t Moses done this?  Remember that Moses had spent half his life in Pharaoh’s palace and half his life in the Midianite desert.  He might not have been too familiar with God’s laws, especially since all the requirements of God’s covenant with Israel (Genesis 17) had not been actively carried out for over 400 years.  In addition, Moses’ wife, due to her Midianite background, may have opposed circumcision.  But Moses could not effectively serve as deliverer of God’s people until he had fulfilled the conditions of God’s covenant, and one of those conditions was circumcision.  Before they could go any further, Moses and his family had to follow God’s commands completely.  Under Old Testament law, failing to circumcise your son was to remove yourself and your family from God’s blessings.  Moses learned that disobeying God was even more dangerous than tangling with an Egyptian pharaoh.

Why did Moses’ wife perform the circumcision?

But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin and touched Moses’ feet with it. “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,” she said.  So the LORD let him alone.  (At that time she said “bridegroom of blood”, referring to circumcision.)  –  EXODUS 4:25-26

Why did Zipporah perform the circumcision? It may have been Zipporah who, as a Midianite unfamiliar with circumcision requirement, had persuaded Moses not to circumcise their son.  If she prevented the action, now she would have to perform it.  It is also possible that Moses became ill as a result of permitting disobedience, and so Zipporah had to perform the circumcision herself to save both her husband and son.  This would not have made her happy – hence, her unflattering comment to Moses.

Explanation of the ceremony of:

Then he gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision. And Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him eight days after his birth.  Later Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs.  – ACTS 7:8

Circumcision was a sign of the promise of covenant made between God, Abraham, and the entire nation of Israel (Genesis 17:9-13). Because Stephen’s speech summarised Israel’s history, he summarised how this covenant fared during that time.  Stephen pointed out that God had always kept his side of the promise, but Israel had failed again and again to uphold its end.  Although the Jews in Stephen’s day still circumcised their baby boys, they failed to obey God.  The people’s hearts were far from God.  Their lack of faith and lack of obedience meant that they had failed to keep their part of the covenant.

What it symbolised:

On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived.

When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons”.  – LUKE 2:21-24

Jewish families went through several ceremonies soon after a baby’s birth: (1) Circumcision.  Every boy was circumcised and named on the eighth day after birth (Leviticus 12:3; Luke 1:59, 60).  Circumcision symbolised the Jews’ separation from Gnetiles and their unique relationship with God (see the note on 1:59).  (2) Redemption of the firstborn.  A firstborn son was presented to God one month after birth (Exodus 13:2, 11-16; Numbers 18:15, 16).  The ceremony included buying back – “redeeming” – the child from God through an offering.  Thus the parents acknowledged that the child belonged to God, who alone has the power to give life.  (3) Purification of the mother.  For 40 days after the birth of a son and 80 days after the birth of a daughter, the mother was ceremonially unclean and could not enter the temple.  At the end of her time of separation, the parents were to bring a lamb for a burnt offering and a dove or pigeon for a sin offering.  The priest would sacrifice these animals and declare her to be clean.  If a lamb was too expensive, the parents could bring a second dove or pigeon instead.  This is what Mary and Joseph did.

Jesus was God’s Son, but his family carried out these ceremonies according to God’s law. Jesus was not born above the law; instead, he fulfilled it perfectly.

Debated at Jerusalem council:

Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” – ACTS 15:1ff

The delegates to the council at Jerusalem came from the churches in Jerusalem and Antioch. The conversation of Gentiles was raising an urgent question for the early church – do the Gentiles have to adhere to the laws of Moses and other Jewish traditions to be saved?  One group of Jewish Christians insisted that following the law, including submitting to the rite of circumcision, was necessary for salvation.  The Gentiles, however, did not think they needed to become Jewish first in order to become Christians.  So Paul and Barnabas discussed this problem with the leaders of the church.  The council upheld the convictions expressed by Paul and Barnabas that following the Jewish laws, including being circumcised was not essential for salvation.

Why Paul had Timothy circumcised:

The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.  – ACTS 16:2-3

Timothy and his mother, Eunice, were from Lystra, Eunice had probably heard Paul’s preaching when he was there during his first missionary journey (14:6-18). Timothy was the son of a Jewish mother and Greek father – to the Jews, a half-breed like a Samaritan.  So Paul asked Timothy to be circumcised to remove some of the stigma he may have had with Jewish believers.  Timothy was not required to be circumcised (the Jerusalem council had decided that – chapter 15), but he voluntarily did this to overcome any barriers to his witness for Christ.  Sometimes we need to go beyond the minimum in order to help our audience receive our testimony.

Why Paul didn’t circumcise Titus:

Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves.  We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you.  – GALATIANS 2:3-5

When Paul took Titus, a Greek Christian, to Jerusalem, the Judaisers (false brothers) said that Titus should be circumcised. Paul adamantly refused to give in to their demands.  The apostles agreed that circumcision was an unnecessary rite for Gentile converts.  Several years later, Paul circumcised Timothy, another Greek Christian (Acts 16:3).  Unlike Titus, however, Timothy was half Jewish.  Paul did not deny Jews the right to be circumcised; he was simply saying that Gentiles should not be asked to become Jews before becoming Christians.

Your response to:

As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the LORD.  They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die?  What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt.  – NIV Exodus 14:10-11

Trapped against the sea, the Israelites faced the Egyptian army sweeping in for the kill. The Israelites thought they were doomed.  After watching God’s powerful hand deliver them from Egypt, their only response was fear, whining, and despair.  Where was their trust in God?  Israel had to learn from repeated experience that God was able to provide for them.  God has preserved these examples in the Bible so that we can learn to trust him the first time.  By focusing on God’s faithfulness in the past we can face crises with confidence rather than with fear and complaining.

[“Consecrate to me every firstborn male. The first offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs to me, whether man or animal.” – Exodus 13:2. Consecrate means to sacrifice or to consider something as belonging to God.  This dedication practice described in 13:11-16 was to remind the people of their deliverance through God.]

[Today, in the month of Abib, you are leaving. – Exodus 13:4.  “In the month of Abib” corresponds to late March and early April on our calendar.]

[you are to give over to the LORD the first offspring of every womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to the LORD.  Redeem with a lamb every firstborn donkey, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck [film].  Redeem every firstborn among your sons.  “In days to come when your sons ask you, ‘What does this mean?’ say to him, ‘With a mighty hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.  – Exodus 13:12-14.  What did it mean to “redeem every firstborn among your sons”?  During the night the Israelites escaped from Egypt, God spared the oldest son of every house marked with blood on the door-frames.  Because God saved the lives of the firstborn, he had a rightful claim to them.  But God commanded the Israelites to buy their sons back from him.  This ritual served three main purposes: (1) it was a reminder to the people of how God had spared their sons from death and freed them all from slavery; (2) it showed God’s high respect for human life in contrast to the pagan gods who, their worshippers believed, demanded human sacrifice; (3) it looked forward to the day when Jesus Christ would buy us back by paying the price for our sin once and for all.]

[When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.”  So God led the people around by the desert road towards the Red Sea.  The Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle. – Exodus 13:17, 18.  God doesn’t always work in the way that seems best to us.  Instead of guiding the Israelites along the direct route from Egypt to the promised land, he took them by a longer route to avoid fighting with the Philistines.  If God does not lead you along the shortest path to your goal, don’t complain or resist.  Follow him willingly and trust him to lead you safely around unseen obstacles.  He can see the end of your journey from the beginning, and he knows the safest and best route.]

[When did the Hebrews leave Egypt? There are two theories.  The early theory says the exodus occurred around 1446-1445 B.C.  The late theory suggests the exodus happened between 1300 and 1200 B.C.  Those who hold to the earlier date point to 1 Kings 6:1, where the Bible clearly states that Solomon began building the temple 480 years after the Hebrews left Egypt.  Since almost all scholars agree that Solomon began building the temple in 966, this puts the exodus in the year 1446.  But those who hold to the later date suggest that the 480 years cannot be taken literally.  They point to Exodus 1:11, which says that the Hebrews built the store cities of Pithom and Rameses, named after Pharaoh Rameses II, who reigned around 1290 B.C.  Regardless of which date is correct, the fact is that God led the Hebrews out of Egypt, just as he had promised.  This showed his great power and his great love for his people.]

[By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.  – EXODUS 13:21-22. God gave the Hebrews a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire so they would know day and night that God was with them on their journey to the promised land.  What has God given us so that we can have the same assurance?  The Bible – something the Israelites did not have.  Look to God’s word for reassurance of his presence.  As the Hebrews looked to the pillars of cloud and fire, we can look to God’s word day and night to know he is with us, helping us on our journey.]

[The pillars of fire and cloud were examples of theophany – God appearing in a physical form.  In this form, God lighted Israel’s path, protected them from their enemies, provided reassurance, controlled their movements, and inspired the burning zeal that Israel should have for their God.]

[So he had his chariot made ready and took his army with him. He took six hundred of the best chariots, along with all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers over all of them.  The LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh the king of Egypt, so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out boldly.  The Egyptians – all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots, horsemen and troops – pursued the Israelites and overtook them as they camped by the sea near Pi Hahiroth, opposite Baal Zephon.  – Exodus 14:6-9.  Six hundred Egyptian war chariots were bearing down on the helpless Israelites, who were trapped between the mountains and the sea.  The war chariots each carried two people – one to drive and one to fight.  These chariots were made of a wood or leather cab placed over two wheels, and they were pulled by horses.  These were the armoured tanks of Bible times.  But even their power was no match for God, who destroyed both the chariots and their soldiers.]

[As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the LORD.  They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die?  What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?  – Exodus 14:10, 11.  Trapped against the sea, the Israelites faced the Egyptian army sweeping in for the kill.  The Israelites thought they were doomed.  After watching God’s powerful hand deliver them from Egypt, their only response was fear, whining, and despair.  Where was their trust in God?  Israel had to learn from repeated experience that God was able to provide for them.  God has preserved these examples in the Bible so that we can learn to trust him the first time.  By focusing on God’s faithfulness in the past we can face crises with confidence rather than with fear and complaining.]

[They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die?  What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’?  It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”  – Exodus 14:11, 12.  This is the first instance of grumbling and complaining by the Israelites.  Their lack of faith in God is startling.  Yet how often do we find ourselves doing the same thing – complaining over inconveniences or discomforts?  The Israelites were about to learn some tough lessons.  Had they trusted God, they would have been spared much grief.]

[Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only be still.”  – Exodus 14:13, 14.  The people were hostile and despairing, but Moses encouraged them to watch the wonderful way God would rescue them.  Moses had a positive attitude!  When it looked as if they were trapped, Moses called upon God to intervene.  We may not be chased by an army, but we may still feel trapped.  Instead of giving in to despair, we should adopt Moses’ attitude to “stand firm and… see the deliverance the Lord will bring”.] [then stops: that was it]

[Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on.  – Exodus 14:15.  The Lord told Moses to stop praying and get moving!  Prayer must have a vital place in our lives, but there is also a place for action.  Sometimes we know what to do, but we pray for more guidance as an excuse to postpone doing it.  If we know what we should do, then it is time to get moving.]

[Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided  – Exodus 14:21.  There was no apparent way of escape, but the Lord opened up a dry path through the sea.  Sometimes we find ourselves caught in a problem and see no way out.  Don’t panic; God can open up a way.]

[Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided , and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.  – Exodus 14:21, 22.  Some scholars believe the Israelites did not cross the main body of the Red Sea but one of the shallow lakes or marshes north of it that dry up at certain times of the year, or perhaps a smaller branch of the Red Sea where the water would have been shallow enough to wade across.  But the Bible clearly states that the Lord “drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land” (14:21; see also Joshua 3:15, 16; and 2 Kings 2:13, 14).  The God who created the earth and water performed a mighty miracle at exactly the right time to demonstrate his great power and love for his people.]

[Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at day break the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing towards it, and the LORD swept them into the sea.  The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen – the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea.  Not one of them survived.  – Exodus 14:27, 28.  No evidence of this great exodus has been discovered in Egyptian historical records.  This was because it was a common practice for Egyptian pharaohs not to record their defeats.  They even went so far as to take existing records and delete the names of traitors and political adversaries.  Pharaoh would have been especially anxious not to record that his great army was destroyed chasing a band of runaway slaves.  Since either the Egyptians failed to record the exodus or the record has not yet been found, it is impossible to place a precise date on the event.]

[Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: “I will sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea. – Exodus 15:1ff.  Music played an important part in Israel’s worship and celebration.  Singing was an expression of love and thanks, and it was a creative way to pass down oral traditions.  Some say this song of Moses is the oldest recorded son in the world.  It was a festive epic poem celebrating God’s victory, lifting the hearts and voices of the people outwards and upwards.  After having been delivered from great danger, they sang with joy!  Psalms and hymns can be great ways to express relief, praise, and thanks when you have been through trouble.]

Some reasons for:

“ ‘If after all this you will not listen to me, I will punish you for your sins seven times over.  – Leviticus 26:18

If the Israelites obeyed, there would be peace in the land. If they disobeyed, disaster would follow.  God used sin’s consequences to draw them to repentance, not to get back at them.  Today, sin’s consequences are not always so apparent.  When calamity strikes us we may not know the reason.  It may be (1) the result of our own disobedience, (2) the result of someone else’s sin, (3) the result of natural disaster.  Because we don’t know, we should search our hearts and be sure we are at peace with God.  His Spirit, like a great searchlight, will reveal those areas we need to deal with.  Because calamity is not always the result of wrongdoing, we must guard against assigning or accepting blame for every tragedy we encounter.  Misplaced guilt is one of Satan’s favourite weapons against believers.

[So Moses announced to the Israelites the appointed feasts of the LORD. – Leviticus 23:44. Worship involves both celebration and confession.  But in Israel’s national holidays, the balance seems heavily tipped in favour of celebration – five joyous occasions to two solemn ones.  The God of the Bible encourages joy!  God does not intend for religion to be only meditation and introspection.  He also wants us to celebrate.  Serious reflection and immediate confession of sin is essential, of course.  But this should be balanced by celebrating who God is and what he has done for his people.]

[Then the LORD said to Moses: – Leviticus 24:13.  This punishment for blasphemy (cursing God) seems extreme by modern standards.  But it shows how seriously God expects us to take our relationship with him.  Often we use his name in swearing, or we act as though he doesn’t exist.  We should be careful how we speak and act, treating God with reverence.  Eventually, he will have the last word.]

[“ ‘If anyone takes the life of a human being, he must be put to death. Anyone who takes the life of someone’s animal must make restitution – life for life.  If anyone injures his neighbour, whatever he has done must be done to him: fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth.  As he has injured the other, so he is to be injured.  Whoever kills an animal must make restitution, but whoever kills a man must be put to death.  You are to have the same law for the alien and the native-born.  I am the LORD your God.’ “ – Leviticus 24:17-22.  This was a code for judges, not an endorsement of personal vengeance.  In effect, it was saying that the punishment should fit the crime, but it should not go beyond.]

[The LORD said to Moses on Mount Sinai, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter the land I am going to give you, the land itself must observe a Sabbath to the LORD. For six years sow your fields, and for six years prune your vineyards and gather their crops.  But in the seventh year the land is to have a Sabbath of rest, a Sabbath to the LORD.  Do not sow your fields or prune your vineyards.  Do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the grapes of your untended vines.  The land is to have a year of rest.  Whatever the land yields during the Sabbath year will be food for you – for yourself, your manservant and maidservant, and the hired worker and temporary resident who lives among you, as well as for your livestock and the wild animals in your land. Whatever the land produces may be eaten. – Leviticus 25:1-7. The Sabbath year provided one year in seven for the fields to lay fallow (unploughed).  This was good management of natural resources and reminded the people of God’s control and provision for them.]

[“ ‘Count off seven sabbaths of years – seven times seven years – so that the seven sabbaths of years among to a period of forty-nine years. Then have the trumpet sounded everywhere on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement sound the trumpet throughout your land.  Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants.  It shall be a jubilee for you; each one of you is to return to his family property and each to his own clan.  The fiftieth year shall be a jubilee for you; do not sow and do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the untended vines.  For it is a jubilee and is to be holy for you; eat only what is taken directly from the fields.  –  “ ‘In this Year of Jubilee everyone is to return to his own property.  –  “ ‘If you sell land to one of your countrymen or buy any from him, do not take advantage of each other.  You are to buy from your countryman on the basis of the number of years since the Jubilee.  And he is to sell to you on the basis of the number of years left for harvesting crops.  When the years are many, you are to increase the price, and when the years are few, you are to decrease the price, because what he is really selling you is the number of crops.  Do not take advantage of each other, but fear your God.  I am the LORD your God. – Leviticus 25:8-17.  The Year of Jubilee was meant to be celebrated every 50 years.  It included cancelling all debts, freeing all slaves, and returning to its original owners all land that had been sold.  There is no indication in the Bible that the Year of Jubilee was ever carried out.  If Israel had followed this practice faithfully, they would have been a society without permanent poverty.]

[“ ‘If one of your countrymen becomes poor and is unable to support himself among you, help him as you would an alien or a temporary resident, so that he can continue to live among you. – Leviticus 25:35. The people would one day possess land in Canaan, but in God’s plan, only God’s ownership was absolute.  He wanted his people to avoid greed and materialism.  If you have the attitude that you are taking care of the Lord’s property, you will make what you have more available to others.  This is difficult to do if you have an attitude of ownership.  Think of yourself as a manager of all that is under your care, not as an owner.]

[Lv 25:35ff.  The Bible places great emphasis on assisting the poor and helpless, especially orphans, widows, and the handicapped.  In Israelite society, no paid work was available to women; thus, a widow and her children had no livelihood.  Neither was there work available for the seriously handicapped in this nation of farmers and shepherds.  The poor were to be helped without charging any interest.  Individual and family responsibility for the poor was crucial since there was no government aid.]

[“ ‘If one of your countrymen becomes poor and is unable to support himself among you, help him as you would an alien or a temporary resident, so that he can continue to live among you. Do not take interest of any kind from him, but fear your God, so that your countryman may continue to live among you.  You must not lend him money at interest or sell him food at a profit.  – Leviticus 25:35-37.  God said that neglecting the poor was a sin.  Permanent poverty was not allowed in Israel.  Financially secure families were responsible to help and house those in need.  Many times we do nothing, not because we lack compassion, but because we are overwhelmed by the size of the problem and don’t know where to begin.  God doesn’t expect you to eliminate poverty, nor does he expect you to neglect your family while providing for others.  He does, however, expect that when you see an individual in need, you will reach out with whatever help you can offer, including hospitality.]

[“ ‘Your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves. – Leviticus 25:44.  Why did God allow the Israelites to purchase slaves?  Under Hebrew laws, slaves were treated differently from slaves in other nations.  They were seen as human beings with dignity, and not as animals.  Hebrew slaves, for example, took part in the religious festivals and rested on the Sabbath.  Nowhere does the Bible condone slavery, but it recognises its existence.  God’s laws offered many guidelines for treating slaves properly.]

[“ ‘Do not make idols or set up an image or a sacred stone for yourselves, and do not place a carved stone in your land to bow down before it. I am the LORD your God. – Leviticus 26:1ff. This chapter presents the two paths of obedience and disobedience that God set before the people (see also Deuteronomy 28).  The people of the Old Testament were warned over and over against worshipping idols.  We wonder how they could deceive themselves with these objects of wood and stone.  Yet God could well give us the same warning, for we are prone to put idols before him.  Idolatry is making anything more important than God, and our lives are full of that temptation.  Money, looks, success, reputation, security – these are today’s idols.  As you look at these false gods that promise everything you want but nothing you need, does idolatry seem so far removed from your experience?]

[I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians; I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high. – Leviticus 26:13.  Imagine the joy of a slave set free.  God took the children of Israel out of bitter slavery and gave them freedom and dignity.  We too are set free when we accept Christ’s payment that redeems us from sin’s slavery.  We no longer need to be bogged down in shame over our past sins; we can walk with dignity because God has forgiven us and forgotten them.  But just as the Israelites were still in danger of returning to a slave mentality, we need to beware of the temptation to return to our former sinful patterns.]

[“ ‘If after all this you will not listen to me, I will punish you for your sins seven times over. – Leviticus 26:18.  If the Israelites obeyed, there would be peace in the land.  If they obeyed, disaster would follow.  God used sin’s consequences to draw them to repentance, not to get back at them.  Today, sin’s consequences are not always so apparent.  When calamity strikes us we may not know the reason.  It may be (1) the result of our own disobedience, (2) the result of someone else’s sin, (3) the result of natural disaster.  Because we don’t know, we should search our hearts and be sure we are at peace with God.  His Spirit, like a great searchlight, will reveal those areas we need to deal with.  Because calamity is not always the result of wrongdoing, we must guard against assigning or accepting blame for every tragedy we encounter.  Misplaced guilt is one of Satan’s favourite weapons against believers.

[I will scatter you among the nations and will draw out my sword and pursue you. Your land will be laid waste, and your cities will lie in ruins.  Then the land will enjoy its sabbath years all the time that it lies desolate and you are in the country of your enemies; then the land will rest and enjoy its sabbaths. All the time that it lies desolate, the land will have the rest it did not have during the sabbaths you lived in it. – Leviticus 26:33-35.  In 2 Kings 17 and 25 the warning pronounced in these verses came true.  The people persistently disobeyed, and eventually they were conquered and carried off to the lands of Assyria and Babylonia.  The nation was held in captivity for 70 years, making up for all of the years that the Israelites did not observe the law of the sabbath year (2 Chronicles 36:21).]

[“ ‘But if they will confess their sins and the sins of their fathers – their treachery against me and their hostility towards me, which made me hostile towards them so that I sent them into the land of their enemies – then when their uncircumcised hearts are humbled and they pay for their sin, I will remember my covenant with Jacob and my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land. For the land will be deserted by them all and will enjoy its sabbaths while it lies desolate without them.  They will pay for their sins because they rejected my laws and abhorred my decrees.  Yet in spite of this, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them or abhor them so as to destroy them completely, breaking my covenant with them.  I am the LORD their God.  But for their sake I will remember the covenant with their ancestors whom I brought out of Egypt in the sight of the nations to be their God.  I am the LORD.’ “ – Leviticus 26:40-25.  These verses show what God meant when he said he is slow to anger (Exodus 34:6).  Even if the Israelites chose to disobey and were scattered among their enemies, God would still give them the opportunity to repent and return to him.  His purpose was not to destroy them, but to help them grow.  Our day-to-day experiences and hardships are sometimes overwhelming; unless we can see that God’s purpose is to bring about continual growth in us, we may despair.  The hope we need is well expressed in Jeremiah 29:11, 12.  “ ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.’ “  To retain hope while we suffer shows we understand God’s merciful ways of relating to his people.]

[The LORD said to Moses – Leviticus 27:1ff. The Israelites were required to give or dedicate certain things to the Lord and to his service: the firstfruits of their harvests, firstborn animals, their firstborn sons, a tithe of their increase.  Many wished to go beyond this and dedicate themselves or another family member, additional animals, a house, or a field to God.  In these cases, it was possible to donate money instead of the actual person, animal, or property.  Some people made rash or unrealistic vows.  To urge them to think about it first, a 20 per cent penalty was put on those items purchased back by money.  This chapter explains how valuations were to be made and what to do if a donor later wished to buy back what had been donated to God.]

[“ ‘If what he vowed is an animal that is acceptable as an offering to the LORD, such an animal given to the LORD becomes holy. He must not exchange it or substitute a good one for a bad one, or a bad one for a good one; if he should substitute one animal for another, both it and the substitute become holy.  –  Leviticus 27:9, 10.  God taught the Israelites that when they made a vow to him, they must not go back on their promise even if it turned out to cost more than expected.  (This applied to animals; humans could be redeemed or purchased back.)  God takes our promises seriously.  If you vow to give 10 per cent of your income and suddenly some unexpected bills come along, your faithful stewardship will be costly.  God, however, expects you to fulfil your vow even if it is difficult to do so.]

[“ ‘If a man dedicates his house as something holy to the LORD, the priest will judge its quality as good or bad. Whatever value the priest then sets, so it will remain.  If the man who dedicates his house redeems it, he must add a fifth to its value, and the house will again become his.  –  “ ‘If a man dedicates to the LORD part of his family land, its value is to be set according to the amount of seed required for it – fifty shekels of silver to a homer of barley seed.  If he dedicates his field during the Year of Jubilee, the value that has been set remains.  But if he dedicates his field after the Jubilee, the priest will determine the value according to the number of years that remain until the next Year of Jubilee, and its set value will be reduced.  If the man who dedicates the field wishes to redeem it, he must add a fifth to its value, and the field will again become his.  If, however, he does not redeem the field, of if he has sold it to someone else, it can never be redeemed.  When the field is released in the Jubilee, it will become holy, like a field devoted to the LORD; it will become the property of the priests.  –  “ ‘If a man dedicates to the LORD a field he has bought, which is not part of his family land, the priest will determine its value up to the Year of Jubilee, and the man must pay its value on that day as something holy to the LORD.  In the Year of Jubilee the field will revert to the person from whom he bought it, the one whose land it was.  Every value is to be set according to the sanctuary shekel, twenty gerahs to the shekel.  – Leviticus 27:14-25.  Property could be given as a voluntary offering in much the same way that today people give property through a will or donate the proceeds from the sale of property to the church or Christian organisations.]

Jesus heals broken lives:

Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down. Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them.  The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing.  And they praised the God of Israel.  – Matthew 15:29-31

A great crowd was brought to Jesus to be healed, and he healed them all. Jesus is still able to heal broken lives, and we can be the ones who bring suffering people to him.  Who do you know that needs Christ’s healing touch?  You can bring them to Jesus through prayer or through explaining to them the reason for the hole that you have (1 Peter 3:15).  Then let Christ do the healing.

[“ ‘What goes into a man’s mouth does not make him ‘unclean’, but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him ‘unclean’.” – Matthew 15:11.  Jesus was referring to the Jewish regulations concerning food and drink.  This verse could be paraphrased: “You’re not made unclean by eating non-kosher food!  It is what you say and think that makes you unclean!”  This statement offended the Pharisees who were very concerned about what people ate and drank.]

[He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Leave them; they are blind guides.  If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.” – Matthew 15:13, 14.  Jesus told his disciples to leave the Pharisees alone because the Pharisees were blind to God’s truth.  Anyone who listened to their teaching would risk spiritual blindness as well.  Not all religious leaders clearly see God’s truth.  Make sure that those you listen to and learn from are those with good spiritual eyesight – they teach and follow the principles of Scripture.]

[Peter said, “Explain the parable to us.” – Matthew 15:15.  Later Peter would be faced with the issue of clean and unclean food (see the notes on 15:11 and Acts 10:12).  Then he would learn that nothing should be a barrier to proclaiming the gospel to the Gentiles (non-Jews).]

[“Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked them.  “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body?  But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man ‘unclean’.  For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.  These are what make a man ‘unclean’; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him ‘unclean’.” – Matthew 15:16-20.  We work hard to keep our outward appearance attractive, but what is in our hearts is even more important.  The way we are deep down (where others can’t see) matters much to God.  What are you like inside?  When people become Christians, God makes them different on the inside.  He will continue the process of change inside them if they only ask.  God wants us to seek healthy thoughts and motives, not just healthy food and exercise.]

[A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.”  – Matthew 15:22.  This woman is called a “Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia” in Mark’s Gospel (7:26), indicating that she was from the territory northwest of Galilee where the cities of Tyre and Sidon were located.  Matthew calls her a Canaanite, naming her ancient ancestors who were enemies of Israel.  Matthew’s Jewish audience would have immediately understood the significance of Jesus helping this woman.]

[Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” – Matthew 15:23.  The disciples asked Jesus to get rid of the woman because she was bothering them with her nagging persistence.  They showed no compassion for her or sensitivity to her need.  It is possible to become so occupied with spiritual matters that we miss real needs around us.  This is especially likely if we are prejudiced against needy people or if they cause us inconvenience.  Instead of being bothered, be aware of the opportunities that surround you.  Be open to the beauty of God’s message for all people, and make an effort not to shut out those who are different from you.]

[He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” – Matthew 15:24.  Jesus’ words do not contradict the truth that God’s message is for all people (Psalm 22:27; Isaiah 56:7; Matthew 28:19; Romans 15:9-12).  After all, when Jesus said these words, he was in Gentile territory on a mission to Gentile people.  He ministered to Gentiles on many other occasions too.  Jesus was simply telling the woman that Jews were to have the first opportunity to accept him as the Messiah because God wanted them to present the message of salvation to the rest of the world (see Genesis 12:3).  Jesus was not rejecting the Canaanite woman.  He may have wanted to test her faith, or he may have wanted to use the situation as another opportunity to teach that faith is available to all people.]

[He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.” “Yes, Lord,” she said, “but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith!  Your request is granted.”  And her daughter was healed from that very hour.  –   Matthew 15:26-28. Dog was a term the Jews commonly applied to Gentiles because the Jews considered these pagan people no more likely than dogs to receive God’s blessing.  Jesus was not degrading the woman by using this term, he was reflecting the Jews’ attitude so as to contrast it with his own.  The woman did not argue.  Instead, using Jesus’ choice words, she agreed to be considered a dog as long as she could receive God’s blessing for her daughter.  Ironically, many Jews would lose God’s blessing and salvation because they rejected Jesus, and many Gentiles would find salvation because they recognised and accepted him.]

[Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.”  – Matthew 15:32ff. This feeding of 4,000 is a separate event from the feeding of the 5,000 (14:13-21), confirmed by Mark 8:19, 20.  This was the beginning of Jesus’ expanded ministry to the Gentiles.]

[His disciples answered, “Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?” – Matthew 15:33.  Jesus had already fed more than 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish.  Here, in a similar situation, the disciples were again perplexed.  How easily we throw up our hands in despair when faced with difficult situations.  Like the disciples, we often forget that if God has cared for us in the past, he will do the same now.  When facing a difficult situation, remember how God cared for you and trust him to work faithfully again.

Your reaction to it reflects what you believe:

Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.  Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.  – Philippians 1:12-14

Being imprisoned would cause many people to become bitter or to give up, but Paul saw it as one more opportunity to spread the Good News of Christ. Paul realised that his current circumstances weren’t as important as what he did with them.  Turning a bad situation into a good one, he reached out to the Roman soldiers who made up the palace guard and encouraged those Christians who were afraid of persecution.  We may not be in prison, but we still have plenty of opportunities to be discouraged – times of indecision, financial burdens, family conflict, church conflict, or the loss of our jobs.  How we act in such situations will reflect what we believe.  Like Paul, look for ways to demonstrate your faith even in bad situations.  Whether or not the situation improves, your faith will grow stronger.

[Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons – Philippians 1:1.  Overseers (bishops or pastors) and deacons led the early Christian churches.  The qualifications and duties of the overseers are explained in detail in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9.  The qualifications and duties of deacons are spelled out in 1 Timothy 3:8-13.  The saints are all those who believe in Christ.]

[In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now – Philippians 1:4.  This is the first of many times Paul used the word joy [“Lisa and Louise Burn” in The Shining, and is in Barbados] in his letter.  The Philippians were remembered with joy and thanksgiving whenever Paul prayed.  By helping Paul, they were helping Christ’s cause.  The Philippians were willing to be used by God for whatever he wanted them to do.  When others think about you, what comes to their minds?  Are you remembered with joy by them?  Do your acts of kindness lift up others?]

[In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now because of your partnership in the gospel from the firs today until now – Philippians 1:4, 5. The Philippians first heard the gospel about ten years earlier when Paul and his companions visited Philippi (during Paul’s second missionary journey) and founded the church there.]

[When Paul said that the Philippians were partners in the gospel, he was pointing out their valuable contribution in spreading God’s message. They contributed through their practical help when Paul was in Philippi, and through their financial support when he was in prison.  As we help our ministers, missionaries, and evangelists through prayer, hospitality, and financial donations, we become partners with them.]

[being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. – Philippians 1:6.  The God who began a good work in us continues it throughout our lifetime and will finish it when we meet him face to face.  God’s work for us began when Christ died on the cross in our place.  His work in us began when we first believed.  Now the Holy Spirit lives in us, enabling us to be more like Christ every day.  Paul is describing the process of Christian growth and maturity that began when we accepted Jesus and continues until Christ returns.]

[Do you sometimes feel as though you’re not making progress in your spiritual life? When God starts a project, he completes it!  As with the Philippians, God will help you grow in grace until he has completed his work in your life.  When you are discouraged, remember that God won’t give up on you.  He promises to finish he work he has begun.  When you feel incomplete, unfinished, or distressed by your shortcomings, remember God’s promise and provision.  Don’t let your present condition rob you of the joy of knowing Christ or keep you from growing closer to him.]

[It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me.  – Philippians 1:7.  When he said, “in chains”, Paul was probably referring to his imprisonment in Philippi, recorded in Acts 16:22-36.  In verses 13 and 14, Paul speaks of his Roman imprisonment.  Wherever Paul was, even in prison, he faithfully preached the Good News.  Remember Paul’s inspiring example when hindrances, small or large, slow down your work for God.]

[It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. – Philippians 1:7, 8.  Have you ever longed to see a friend with whom you share fond memories?  Paul had such a longing to see the Christians at Philippi.  His love and affection for them was based not merely on past experiences, but also on the unity that comes when believers draw upon Christ’s love.  All Christians are part of God’s family and thus share equally in the transforming power of his love.  Do you feel a deep love for fellow Christians, friends and strangers alike?  Let Christ’s love motivate you to love other Christians and to express that love in your actions towards them.]

[And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight. – Philippians 1:9.  Often the best way to influence someone is to pray for him or her.  Paul’s prayer for the Philippians was that they would be unified in love.  Their love was to result in greater knowledge of Christ and deeper insight (moral discernment).  Their love was not based on feelings but on what Christ had done for them.  As you grow in Christ’s love, your heart and mind must grow together.  Are your love and insight growing?]

[so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ. – Philippians 1:10.  Paul prayed that the Philippian believers would “discern what is best” – in other words, that they would have the ability to differentiate between right and wrong, good and bad, vital and trivial.  We ought to pray for moral discernment so we can maintain our Christian morals and values.  Hebrews 5:14 emphasises the need for discernment.]

[The “day of Christ” refers to the time when God will judge the world through Jesus Christ. We should live each day as though he could return at any moment.]

[filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God. – Philippians 1:11.  The “fruit of righteousness” includes all of the character traits flowing from a right relationship with God.  There is no other way for us to gain this fruit of righteousness than through Christ.  See Galatians 5:22, 23 for the “fruit of the Spirit”.]

[Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.  Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.  – Philippians 1:12-14.  Being imprisoned would cause many people to become bitter or to give up, but Paul saw it as one more opportunity to spread the Good News of Christ.  Paul realised that his current circumstances weren’t as important as what he did with them.  Turning a bad situation into a good one, he reached out to the Roman soldiers who made up the palace guard and encouraged those Christians who were afraid of persecution.  We may not be in prison, but we still have plenty of opportunities to be discouraged – times of indecision, financial burdens, family conflict, church conflict, or the loss of our jobs.  How we act in such situations will reflect what we believe.  Like Paul, look for ways to demonstrate your faith even in bad situations.  Whether or not the situation improves, your faith will grow stronger.]

What marks you as a follower of God?

For seven days eat bread made without yeast and on the seventh day hold a festival to the LORD. Eat unleavened bread during those seven days; nothing with yeast in it is to be seen among you, nor shall any yeast be seen anywhere within your borders.  On that day tell your son, I do this because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.  This observance will be for you like a sign on your hand and a reminder of your forehead that the law of the LORD is to be on your lips.  For the LORD brought you out of Egypt with his mighty hand. – – Exodus 13:6-9

The Feast of Unleavened Bread marked the Hebrews as a unique people – – as though they were branded on their hands and foreheads. What do you do that marks you as a follower of God?  The way you raise your children, demonstrate love for others, show concern for the poor, and live in devotion to God – – These actions will leave visible marks for all to see.  While national groups are marked by customs and traditions.  Christians are marked by loving one another (John 13:34, 35).

Establish reminders of God’s work in your life:

When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua, – Joshua 4.1ff

After the people safely crossed the river, what would be next? Conquering the land?  Not yet.  First, God directed them to build a memorial and 12 stones drawn from the river by 12 men, one from each tribe.  This may seem like an insignificant step in their mission of conquering the land, but God did not want his people to plunge into their task unprepared.  They were to focus on him and remember who was guiding them.  As you are busy doing your God-given tasks, set aside quiet moments, times to build your own memorial to God’s power.  Too much activity may shift your focus away from God.

EXTRA:

(Now the Jordan is in flood all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing.  It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water was flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea) was completely cut off.  So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. – Joshua 3.15, 16. The Israelites crossed the Jordan River in the spring, when it was overflowing its banks.  God [Wall] chose the time when the river was at its highest to demonstrate his power – parting the waters so that the entire nation could cross on dry ground.  Some say that God [Wall] used a natural occurrence (such as a landslide) to stop the waters of the Jordan; others say he did it by a direct miracle.  In either case, God [Wall] showed his great power by working a miracle of timing and location to allow his people to cross the river on dry ground.  This testimony of God’s [Wall’s] supernatural power served to build the Israelites’ hope in God [Wall] and to give them a great reputation with their enemies, who greatly outnumbered them.)

(That day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they revered him all the days of his life, just as they had revered Moses. – Joshua 4.14. The Israelites revered Joshua for his role in leading them across the Jordan River.  He, like Moses, would receive Israel’s praises generation after generation.  Although Israel was not a world power at that time, Joshua’s reputation for handling his responsibilities God’s [Wall’s] way brought him greater glory than if he had been a hero in a “superpower” nation.  Doing right is more important than doing well.)

(Should Christians take each other to court?: ‘   If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints?  Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?  And if you are to judge the world,, are you not competent to judge trivial cases?  Do you not know that we will judge angels?  How much more the things of this life!  Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even men of little account in the church!  I say this to shame you.  Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers?  But instead, one brother goes to law against another – and this in front of unbelievers!  – 1 Corinthians 6.1-6   Why did Paul say that Christians should not take their disagreement to unbelievers in secular courts?  (1) If the judge and jury are not Christians, they are not likely to be sensitive to Christian values.  (2) The basis for going to court is often revenge; this should never  be a Christian’s motive.  (3) Lawsuits make the church look bad, causing unbelievers to focus on its problems rather than on its purpose.)