Feet Defiled

And during supper... [Jesus,] ... pours water into the washhand basin, and began to wash the feet of the disciples, and to wipe them with the linen towel with which he was girded. He comes therefore to Simon Peter; and *he* says to him, Lord, dost thou wash *my* feet? Jesus answered and said to him, What I do thou dost not know now, but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter says to him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, Unless I wash thee, thou hast not part with me. Simon Peter says to him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus says to him, He that is washed all over needs not to wash save his feet, but is wholly clean... John 13:2-10

Peter apparently took a bath (or shower) so he was already washed all over. His feet, however, were dirty. They wore open toe sandals. He walked on dirt. The dirt dust defiled his feet. His feet were dirty, but he was clean.

And this is the thing which thou shalt do to them to hallow them, that they may serve me as priests:...Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring near the entrance of the tent of meeting, and shalt bathe them with water. -- Ex. 29:1,4

Aaron and his sons, the first high priest and the first priests, had to be bathed as a part of their consecration ritual after they were selected by God but before they were to serve. At the door of the tabernacle, Moses bathed Aaron and his four sons. They were wholly clean one time.

Thou shalt also make a laver of copper, and its stand of copper, for washing; and thou shalt put it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and shalt put water in it. And Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet out of it. When they go into the tent of meeting, they shall wash with water, that they may not die; or when they come near to the altar to serve, to burn an offering by fire to Jehovah. And they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they may not die... Ex. 20:18-20

Once in service, the priests had to wash their feet that they may not die. While performing the duties of the priesthood, their feet got dirty. They wore open toe sandals. The tabernacle had no floor. The tabernacle had no chair. They walked on dirt. The dirt dust defiled their feet. Their feet were dirty, but they were wholly clean.

We believers, are now priest (1 Pet. 2:9, Rev. 1:6)

as priest, we are wholly clean: the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7

Since we are still walking in the world, we sin. Our feet get defiled by walking on the dirt of this world: If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:8

Like the ancient Israel priest, we need to wash our defiled feet. We need to wash frequently. How do we get cleansed? By confessing. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us [our] sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1 John 1:9-10

Clean Peter needed his feet washed...the consecrated priests needed their feet washed, often...the forgiven believer needs to confess sins, as often as he sins, which is often...

What is it?

And the children of Israel saw [it], and said one to another, What is it? for they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, This is the bread which Jehovah has given you to eat. Ex. 16:15

When they first saw it they did not know what it was but we are told that it was like coriander seed and taste like wafers made with honey...and honey is sweet. Ex. 16:31

For five days a week, they were to gather a certain amount each morning, but if they wanted more, they were free to gather and consume more. Or, if they wanted less, they were free to gather and consume less (Ex. 16:18) and on the sixth day, they were to gather a double portion.

In John chapter 6 Jesus tells us that the manna symbolized Himself. The day after He fed bread to the five thousand, Jesus explains the sign of the manna that was given from heaven. The manna was a type of Christ. Let's consider: Jesus is sweet. The best time to gather and consume Christ is in the morning. If you want to gather and consume more of Him, you are free to. And, conversely, if you want less, you are free to gather and consume less. Just like the wilderness wanderers, you are free to take as much or as little of the sweet stuff as you desire.

Some manna was put away and kept for future generations (Ex. 16:33). A typical person's day's portion was to be place into a golden pot. That golden pot was to be put into the ark of the testimony (which was a gold-plated wooden box). The ark of the testimony was to be covered with a slab of gold (the mercy seat). The ark was to be place in the holiest of holiest (that, incidentally, had gold-plated wooden walls). And the holiest of holiest was off limits to all but the high priest, once a year, not without blood. So, there was manna in the pot, and the pot in the ark, and the ark in the holiest of holiest, and the holiest of holiest in the sanctuary, and the sanctuary in the tabernacle, and the tabernacle in the wilderness, and the green grass grew all around and around, the green grass grew all around (sorry). Along with Aaron's rod that budded, the stone tablet and (I don't know why everyone forgets this one) a copy of the law (Deut. 31:26), this manna was hidden in the ark.

Not much more is said about this hidden manna.

Jesus tells the church at Pergamos: He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him that overcomes, to him will I give of the hidden manna... Rev. 2:17

What is it? What is this hidden manna? Could this be the same manna that was hidden in the gold pot, in the gold chest, in the gold room that was off limits? Could this be the same manna that was a type of Christ? If so, there is something really special in store for him that overcomes!

Let us love our God supremely, let us love each other, too;
Let us love and pray for sinners, till our God makes all things new.
Then He’ll call us home to Heaven, at His table we’ll sit down;
Christ will gird Himself and serve us with sweet manna all around. -- William Moore

http://theforgottenfifty.blogspot.com/

Both Feet

And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things that I say? Every one that comes to me, and hears my words and does them, I will shew you to whom he is like. He is like a man building a house, who dug and went deep, and laid a foundation on the rock; but a great rain coming, the stream broke upon that house, and could not shake it, for it had been founded on the rock. (Luke 6:46-48)

…and that Rock was Christ (1 Cor. 10:4). I know that this is a misapplication of the rockin this verse...but stay with me.

Everyone that comes...hears...and does is like a house-building man that dug...went deep...and laid the foundation on rock. A foundation on rock is built to be permanent. But what if it was to be temporary house? A house that was to be moved? A house that was at rest for a while, but then had to be picked up and moved? Is the foundation any less important? Is it necessary to dig deep?

The tabernacle in the wilderness was the dwelling place (or house) of God. The tabernacle was mobile. The tabernacle was built up when camp was made and taken down when the camp was on the move.

Most, but not all, of the materials used to build the tabernacle was collected as a part of a free will offering. The silver that was used in the tabernacle came from a tax, and, as you know, there is absolutely nothing 'free will' about a tax. Every man of fighting age, whether rich or poor, had to cough up one half silver shekel. If you take the weight of a half a shekel and multiply it by the number of fighting-aged men, you realize that literally tons of silver were collected. This tax was called a ransom for his soul to Jehovah. The ancient Israelite warrior had to pay a ransom for his soul; in other words, he redeemed himself with silver. Peter probably had this on his brain when he penned: …knowing that ye have been redeemed, not by corruptible [things, as] silver or gold, from your vain conversation handed down from [your] fathers, but by precious blood, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, [the blood] of Christ… 1Pe 1:18-9 . Then, redemption costs money; now, redemption is by the blood of Christ.

Most, but not all, of the silver were made into sockets. Each socket weighed about 100 pounds. Two silver sockets held up each board in the tabernacle. The sockets provided the foundation of the boards.

The boards were gold-plated incorruptible wood -- a type of the believer. The wood represents humanity and when one looked at the boards he saw gold...when one looks at a believer he should see Christ. The boards were 'fitly framed together' by 5 bars. Four bars going through rings on each board and the middle bar was 'shot through' all of the boards (just how they drilled so many holes so they all lined up is a mystery to me). The boards were locked in place with bars, but their foundation was the sockets that was made from the silver that was collected as the redemption tax.

Each board had two socket, each believer has two feet. Just like the boards rested on the redemption money which was a picture of Christ, each of our feet ought to be resting on the redeeming blood of Christ. Both feet grounded...not one foot on the work of Christ and one foot on our own works...not one foot on Christ's redemption and one foot in the world...not one foot on Christ, and one foot on a creed. Both feet need to be resting on the redemption provided by the blood of Christ.

Come, hear, and do by digging deep and build your foundation on the redemption provided by the blood.

The Church’s one foundation
Is Jesus Christ her Lord,
She is His new creation
By water and the Word.
From heaven He came and sought her
To be His holy bride;
With His own blood He bought her
And for her life He died. -- Samuel J. Stone

How's Your Feet?

I often wonder what was Cain's rejected offering. We are only told that it was of the "fruit of the ground". I'm sure it was a very pretty offering with all the fruit in a very attractive arrangement. I'm sure he labored laboriously to till, sow, water, weed, prune and harvest. Once harvested, I'm sure he picked the best fruits in the land, put it in a beautiful arrangement, and made his offering. I do realize that his offering represent works and that there was no remission of sin because there was no shedding of blood. But what was in the basket? Maybe a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds? I wonder what made up the "fruit of the ground".

Much has been said about Joseph being a type of Christ. Less has been said about Joseph's older brother, Judah, being a type of Christ.

In Genesis 43 we have the story of Judah offering himself as surety for Benjamin (thus, Judah was a type of Christ being a surety for us.) Judah persuaded his dad to let Benjamin travel with them and Jacob sent his sons back to Egypt with Benjamin, double money, and a gift: a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds...the best fruits in the land. Gen 43:11. I'm sure it was a very beautiful arrangement, the best he had to offer.

When they got to Joseph's house, they entered with their gift, the best fruits of the land. Joseph doesn't seem to even acknowledge the gift and he commanded his men to slaughter cattle. I wonder what was going through their minds when they heard the command to have an animal slaughtered. I wonder if they thought of an earlier day when they slaughtered an animal just to dip Joseph coat into the blood, to deceive their father.

The brothers then had their feet washed, and they sat at the table to eat in the presence of Joseph. Eat what? The animal that was slain? No. To eat bread.

What does all this have to do with the tabernacle? They entered the house, like one would enter the tabernacle. Cattle were slaughtered like  animals that were slaughtered at the door of the tabernacle, at the altar of burnt offering. The priest frequently washed their feet at the laver while in service. And once a week, in the Holy Place, the priest were to eat the bread of presence in the presence of the Lord (standing at the table of shewbread).

Shedding of blood was for the atonement of sins, foot washing was a type of sanctification, and eating bread at a table means fellowship.

Have you come to God with the best you can offer? Is it pretty? Neatly arranged? The best fruits of your labor? Or are you trusting solely in the shed blood of Jesus? If you are trusting Jesus and Jesus alone, how's your fellowship? How's your feet?

Wash me, and make me thus Thine own,

Wash me, and mine Thou art,

Wash me, but not my feet alone,

My hands, my head, my heart. -- Charles Wesley

Free to Roam

In the beginning, God created the Earth.

In the beginning, the earth had two parts: Eden and the rest of the planet.

In the beginning, in the place called Eden, God planted a garden.

So, in the beginning, the geography of the earth had 3 parts, the garden, Eden, and the rest of the the planet.

In the beginning, man was placed into the garden and was free to roam about the garden. In the beginning he was free to leave the garden and roam the rest of Eden. In the beginning, he could roam past the border of Eden and roam about the rest of the planet.

In the beginning, when man met with God, he went into the garden, the only recorded place we have, where God and man met. I venture to say that the most intimate relationship ever between man and God, was in the garden. I venture to say that the most intimate fellowship ever between man and God, was in the garden. Before sin there was no separation.

Sin changed everything. Man was no longer free to roam about the garden. Man was ejected from the garden and was prevented from ever going back in by a flipping flaming sword and Cherubim that were placed in the East of the garden, toward the rising of the sun. He could not enter the garden, where he used to meet with God. The intimate relationship was lost. The intimate fellowship was lost. In fact Adam lived to be 930 years old...and we do not have recorded any further dialog between Adam and God.

Like the geography of the earth in the beginning, the tabernacle had three areas: the court, the holy place and the 'holiest of holiest'. Like the garden, God dwelt in the Holiest of Holiest. After the sin of Adam, Cherubim separated man from God in the garden. Cherubim separated man from God in the tabernacle. Cherubim (no mention of flaming sword) were embroidered on the veil that separated the holiest of holiest from the the holy place. Like the garden, the Cherubim on veil faced east, toward the rising of the sun. Man, no longer free to roam into the presence of God, could only enter on God's terms; one man, of God's choosing, once a year, not without blood. Cherubim on the veil served as a reminder to the priests of God's judgement in the original sin.

Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom... Matt 27:50-1

The veil was rent. No more reminder of God's judgement of the original sin. No more Cherubim separating man from God. Because of the death of Jesus, we can, once again, have an intimate relationship with God. We can, once again, have intimate fellowship with God.

We are free to roam.

I am the door: if any one enter in by me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and shall go out and shall find pasture.

Da Lamb

When one opens the Old Testament and start reading, the first mention of the word lamb is in reference to a 'burnt offering'. The second mention (in the same dialog) is a prophetic statement about the Lord Jesus Christ:

And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here [am] I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where [is] the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. Gen. 22:7-8 KJV

When one opens the door of the tabernacle and enters, the first time one would see a lamb is by the time he got to the altar of burnt offering, the first piece of furniture.

And this is what thou shalt offer upon the altar -- two lambs of the first year, day by day continually. The one lamb thou shalt offer in the morning; and the other lamb thou shalt offer between the two evenings. And with the one lamb a tenth part of wheaten flour mingled with beaten oil, a fourth part of a hin; and a drink-offering, a fourth part of a hin of wine. nd the second lamb shalt thou offer between the two evenings; as the oblation in the morning, and as its drink-offering shalt thou offer with this, for a sweet odour, an offering by fire to Jehovah. It shall be a continual burnt-offering throughout your generations at the entrance of the tent of meeting before Jehovah, where I will meet with you, to speak there with thee. Exodus 29:38-42

Lamb was also use for the trespass offering, the sin offering and the peace offering. In each of these offerings, the lamb provided atonement for sins.

When one opens the New Testament and start reading, the first mention of the word lamb is the fulfilment of the prophecy in Genesis 22 as well as the anti-type of each and every lamb that was ever offered as a burnt, peace, sin, or trespass offering:

On the morrow he sees Jesus coming to him, and says, Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. John 1:36

The lamb in the offerings covered sin, with the sacrifice of Jesus, sins are actually taken away.

And every priest stands daily ministering, and offering often the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But he, having offered one sacrifice for sins, sat down in perpetuity at [the] right hand of God, waiting from henceforth until his enemies be set [for the] footstool of his feet. For by one offering he has perfected in perpetuity the sanctified. Heb. 10:11-14

The Calf Offering

The calf offering?

If you look through the list of animals that could be offered for a sin offering, you won't find a calf. In fact, if you look through the instructions for each of the other blood offerings (burnt, peace, sin and trespass) you will not find a calf list amongst the animals to be offered. Nothing. Nadda. There were absolutely no provisions in any of the offerings for a calf.

In Leviticus 8 and 9 there is the consecration of the first priests of Israel. As part of their consecration ritual, they were to be separated from the people and not leave the tabernacle for seven days. On the eighth day, the high priest had to take a young calf for a sin-offering...and present it before the Lord (along with a ram for a burnt offering). This is the only time a calf was to be used for a blood offering, specifically, a sin offering.

Well, the high priest was Aaron. The same Aaron, that while Moses was on the mountain seeing the pattern and getting the instructions for the tabernacle, took up a collection of gold and built the golden calf. The same Aaron that called the golden calf Jehovah and led worship of it. The same Aaron that, when confronted by Moses, excused by saying "I don't know what happened! The people threw their gold into the fire and poof! Out popped a golden calf! Don't really know how it happened, it just did!" The same Aaron that, after watching Moses ground up the golden calf into dust and contaminate their drinking water supply, probably drank the water.

Maybe God required the calf for an offering this one time, just to bring to mind Aaron's sin. The sin had to be atoned before Aaron could serve. I almost find it amusing that after all Aaron's sin with the golden calf, that God would have him slaughter a calf to cover (or atone for) is sin.

I am sure that it was also a stark reminder to Aaron how he failed to keep the first commandments:

I am Jehovah thy God, who have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make thyself any graven image, or any form of what is in the heavens above, or what is in the earth beneath, or what is in the waters under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them; for I, Jehovah thy God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the sons to the third and to the fourth [generation] of them that hate me, and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments. Thou shalt not idly utter the name of Jehovah thy God; for Jehovah will not hold him guiltless that idly uttereth his name.

Aaron was selected to serve as Jehovah's one and only high priest. But before he could take his position, Aaron had to deal with his sin. This was part of God's sanctification process.

Has God put anything to your mind lately?

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us [our] sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

If God has brought a sin to mind, confess it so God can use you in His service.

Afar Off

The children of Israel shall encamp every one by his standard, with the ensign of their father's house; round about the tent of meeting, afar off, opposite to it shall they encamp. Number 2:2

When the ancient Israelites pitched their tent in the wilderness, they were in groups according to family or tribe. Each had their place. But according to this verse, they could not pitch the tent anywhere near the tabernacle (or the tent of meeting). The Levites and the priest, who had to serve in the tabernacle, were permitted to pitch tents closer.

The only reason for a non-Levite/priest to come to the tabernacle was with an offering. Since his tent was pitched afar off, the offerer had to travel with his offering (or gift) to the entrance of the tabernacle. In plain sight. In the sight of everyone.

Offerings were brought for several reasons including:

• for a known sin: trespass offering
• for a sin that was not known, but brought to light later: sin offering
• for thanksgiving
• for a vow
• for praising Jehovah
• for fellowship
• and there was the offering just to please Jehovah, the continual burnt offering (as far as I can tell, there was no other reason for this offering).

The sinner had to come from afar off. I suppose that some that were more conscience of the power of the Most Holy and their own unworthiness, probably made more frequent trips.

They could approach Jehovah, but since Jehovah dwelt in the Holiest of Holiest, the offerer could not really get too close. He had no business going any further than the altar of burnt offering. There was nothing for him beyond that point.

Just like the ancient Israelite, we approach Jehovah. We approach Him in prayer. The offerer had to enter the tabernacle gate. When we enter into prayer, we are told to enter into thy chamber, and having shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in secret, shutting ourselves in separated from the cares of this world . The ancient Israelite had no reason to come without a gift, an offering. We have no reason to bring an offering. We come to God in prayer empty-handed. Each and every offering brought to the tabernacle (or later, temple) and offered on the altar of burnt offering (for whatever reason) was merely a foreshadowing looking forward to a day when Jesus Christ was to be made the offering for us. The author of the book of Hebrews spent a lot of ink to demonstrate this.

This reminds me of the parable of the lost son (you may call him a prodigal if you like). After the son spent and lost everything, he came to his father empty-handed and his father spotted him while he was yet afar off.

And he rose up and went to his own father. But while he was yet a long way off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell upon his neck, and covered him with kisses. Luke 15:2

So, when you have to confess sin, give thanks, vow a vow, offer praise, desire fellowship or just want to please God, come empty-handed in prayer. Shut the door behind you. Pray to the Father who is in secret. See if He is not moved with compassion.

And remember why your hands are empty.

What Happens at the Altar, Happens at the Cross

What perks you up? I perk up with the aroma of freshly brewed Café Bello coffee (or Café Madre Isla, when Café Bello is not available) made from Arabica beans grown in the mountains of Ajuntas, Puerto Rico, especially when it is served with the warmed frothed milk separated on top. Know what else perks me up? When I hear reference to the tabernacle in, well, anything!

Sometimes when I am doing mindless tasks at work, I plug in the Shure earphones and listen to Bible reading, SermonAudio, or music. Today, I was listening to one of my ‘contemporary’ Christian stations on Pandora and I hear lyrics referencing the brazen altar, the court, the holy place! Tabernacle worship in a contemporary song…Whoa, whoa, whoa, as my 14 month old granddaughter would say.

According to Pandora 16,398 people (besides me) listen to the artist Kutless.

Here are the lyrics their song, Take Me In.

Take me past the outer courts into the holy place
Past the brazen altar, Lord, I want to see Your face
Pass me by the crowds of people, the Priest who sing Your praise
I hunger and thirst for Your righteousness but it's only found one place

Take me in to the holy of holies
Take me in by the blood of the Lamb
Take me in to the holy of holies
Take the coal, touch my lips, here I am

That is the entire song. They just sing the same thing over and over again. What ever happened to great hymns with 19 verses? Like the one I want sung at my funeral?... http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/s/a/sandtime.htm . I digress.

Take me past… the brazen altar, Lord, I want to see Your face

I think I know what the song writer is saying. He doesn’t want to waste anytime to get to Jesus who is sitting within the veil at the right hand of Majesty on High (in the Holy of Holies). Hold on young whipper-snapper! If you really want to see Jesus, don’t rush too quickly past the brazen altar! Stop and consider what happens at that altar.

The brazen altar is better known as the altar of burnt offering. In fact, it is referred to as the altar of burnt offering about 2 dozen times in the Old Testament.

The burnt offering could be studied on different levels. The main level, perhaps, is that the offering is a type of Jesus. Let’s do a little comparison (the requirements for the burnt offering are found in Leviticus chapters 1 and 6).

The burnt offering was not compulsory like the sin and trespass offerings, but voluntary.
Jesus voluntarily went to the cross (Phil 2:8).

With some variation, depending on the animal offered, the animal was examined inside and out, it had to be blemish-free.
Jesus was examined and found to be blemish-free (1 John 1:1-2).

The offerer (the sinner) laid his hand on the animal’s (the innocent) head, actually leaned on it. The sin of the guilty was symbolically transferred to the animal that was innocent.
Jesus (the innocent) bore our sins, He actually became sin for us (2 Cor. 5:21).

The offerer slaughtered the animal (by the shedding of blood) and the priest sprinkled the blood. The slaughtered animal was accepted as an atonement for the sins of the offerer.
Jesus shed His blood (Heb. 12&13) and we believers are accepted (Eph. 1:6).

The animal was wholly consumed on the wood that was on the fire that was on the grate in the altar.
Jesus wholly did the will of His Father (Phil 2:8) even the blood-shedding death on the cross.

It was a sweet savour that burned continually before the Lord.
Jesus's sacrifice is a sweet smelling savour (Eph. 5:2).

Want to get to Jesus? Eger to get inside the veil, into the Holy of Holies? Don’t past the brazen altar in haste. Stop and take time to reflect and praise God for the cross. Because what happened at the altar, happened at the cross….

We will Jesus face to face, within the veil, soon enough….

Soon Thy saints shall all be gathered—
Inside the veil.
All with Thee—no more be scattered—
Inside the veil.
Nought from Thee, our hearts shall sever;
We shall see Thee; grieve Thee never;
"Praise the Lamb!" shall sound forever—
Inside the veil.
-- Elizabeth Dark

The Nike Golf Umbrella

After the end of the row of tents, you see a bright white rectangular structure. This must be the tabernacle in the wilderness. It is actually in the middle of the cross-shaped camp that you saw from the air. The reflection of the sun is very strong. Don’t tell me, you left your sunglasses in the DeLorean, didn’t you?

There is a column of smoke (or is it fire?) rising from inside the tabernacle. At the top of the column of smoke looks like a protective circular cloud; like a giant Nike golf umbrella, protecting the structure underneath.

Do you know what time it is? Eleazar asks.

You reach for your phone, but then remember what time period you are in. No, you reply, What time is it?

It is the time of the evening sacrifice.

Shouldn’t be the time for the evening sacrifice?

Come and see.

As you approach the tabernacle, you realize that the white curtain is just tall enough that you cannot see over it. Eleazar walks you around to the east side where you see the one and only entrance.

The tabernacle has only one entrance, Eleazar explains. Jehovah is dwelling inside; He is manifested in that cloud-column. There is only one way to Jehovah. How many ways to you have in your system of worship? How many ways can you come to Jehovah?

One, is your reply as you remember that verse that you memorized so long ago, Jesus saith unto him, I am the way… no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Abba Father

Look! A fire! Just outside the camp you spot a fire that is burning wildly with flames leaping into the air. As you approach the smoke….what is that smell? It is awful! It smells like a combination of burning carcasses and burning animal dung. An odor you won’t easily forget.

Before the smell dissipates and before you actually get to the camp, you decide to land and hide the DeLorean. After all, you don't want it to be seen. You land the craft and hide it behind some rocks. You walk away from the vehicle and gaze toward the long line of tents. You observe people going about their business. Kids playing. Men tending to animals. So many tents. You cannot help but stare. As you walk along the line of tents, you spot someone walking toward you. A young man, neatly trimmed beard dressed in a blue and white costume. He was not dressed like anyone else.

He introduces himself as Eleazar, oldest surviving son of the High Priest, Aaron. Eleazar is a priest of the Most High God. Aaron and his four sons were hand-selected by Jehovah to serve Him as priests. He explains that since the death of his older brothers, Nadab and Abihu, he is next in line to be High Priest so that makes him High Priest in Training, or H-PIT for short. He has one younger brother that also serves as a priest.

Jehovah our God is one Jehovah, Eleazar exclaims. How many gods are in your system of worship? He asks.

One, you reply.

Is it Jehovah? Is He your God also?

Yes, He is my God also, you reply. And Jesus answered him, [The] first commandment of all [is], Hear, Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord; (Mar 12:29)

What is your system of worship like?

What do you mean, what is it like?

Well, our system of worship has been dictated by Jehovah to my uncle, Moses. Uncle Moses went up on the mountain for something like 40 days. While he was there, Jehovah gave him all kinds of details, details about how we are to worship Him. Uncle was given a pattern, a pattern of a specified place of worship, the tabernacle. The tabernacle is where Jehovah dwells among us. Does Jehovah dwell with you?

You ponder without speaking… Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which [temple] ye are. 1Cr 3:16-17

Just as you finish, you hear someone call Eleazar’s name. Yes, Abba, Father, Eleazar replies. Abba, Father…that’s the term that Jesus used when talking to His father in the garden when He prayed Abba, Father, all things are possible to thee: take away this cup from me; but not what *I* will, but what *thou* [wilt].Mark 14:36. Abba Father… Doesn’t that have something to do with our relationship with God, the Father? For ye have not received a spirit of bondage again for fear, but ye have received a spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. Rom. 8:15. And …But because ye are sons, God has sent out the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Gal. 4:6.

Women Without Mirrors

The laver was the second piece of furniture in the court (the first being the altar of the burnt offering). The laver had a foot (or a stand), was filled with water and was used by the priest to wash their hands and their feet while they were in Jehovah's service (Ex. 30:19, 21, 40:31). No dimensions, shape, or details were provided for it.

We do know that the laver was metal. Depending on the version of the Bible and/or commentator, it was either brass, bronze or copper. The commentators I admire most call it copper, so will I. The copper came from mirrors. And he made the laver of copper, and its stand of copper, of the mirrors of the crowds of women who crowded before the entrance of the tent of meeting.—Ex. 38:8

A number of commentators say that priest saw their reflection, saw the dirt, and washed. But I don't get it. I just don't get it. When was the last time you washed your hands? or your feet? When was the last time you used a mirror to see how dirty your hands or feet were?

Mirrors back then were not the silver coated glass that reflects a perfect image, but flat pieces of polished metal (Copper). The flat mirrors were beaten or some how molded into some kind of basin to hold water. No longer flat, no longer casting a good reflection. Besides, the laver, and the water in it, was always dirty. Several time each day the priest had to wash the dust off their feet and the blood off their hands.

These commentators miss the point. It is not that the priest somehow sawtheir reflection, but that the women couldn't. The women were without mirrors.

Mirrors are used everyday by everyday people (not just women), to see their imperfections and to make the necessary adjustments so that others won't see them. When is a miror used? First thing in the morning (before anyone sees us) or before we leave the (house, restroom, car -- fill in the blank). We look at the image of ourselves. We wash our face, adjust our hair, shave, put on makeup, etc. We see ourselves in the mirror before anyone sees us. Then we walk away forgetting what we look like.

... like to a man considering his natural face in a mirror: for he has considered himself and is gone away, and straightway he has forgotten what he was like. But *he* that fixes his view on [the] perfect law, that of liberty, and abides in [it], being not a forgetful hearer but a doer of [the] work, *he* shall be blessed in his doing.

There will be a time when we won't need mirrors – when we are perfect (or complete) we will not need to see how we look, will not need to adjust our hair or put on make up before others see us. We will not have imperfections.

For we know in part, and we prophesy in part: but when that which is perfect has come, that which is in part shall be done away. -- 1 Cor. 13:9-10