Thoughts from Leviticus 14.21-16

The Lord sees man as unclean and therefore needs to be cleansed. Everything that I read this morning from being cleansed from leprosy, to the laws regarding bodily admissions shows man's uncleanness and need for cleaning. If you are to come before the Lord you must be made clean and if not you are separated and considered by all to be unclean.

The law of Atonement is huge. This is everything that Jesus did on the cross. The English word propitiation in Romans 3.25 is translated into English from the Greek word Helasterion, which means mercy seat.  The mercy seat is the place of God on top of the Ark of the Covenant. The high priest comes before the Lord one day each year, in the seventh month on the 10th day. He offers a bull as sacrifice for his own sins. Jesus is our High Priest, He need not offer sacrifice for Himself because He is sinless. Then the priest offers two male goats, one as a sin sacrifice and the other is a scapegoat. Lots are cast between the two goats, one goat sacrificed the other the priest confesses the sins of the people on and releases it into the wilderness. The sacrificial goat represents Jesus Christ on the cross. The other represents faith in Jesus taking our sins away.

Bibliography
New American Standard Bible. (1995). The Lockman Foundation.

My Thoughts from Reading Leviticus 12-14.20 this Morning

The law was used to protect people from infection. I don't fully understand a woman being considered unclean after childbirth. Also her uncleanness is doubled for a female child over a male child. She also must have a time of purification which is also doubled for a female child. After this time of purification she must bring to the priest a lamb as a burnt offering and a turtledove or a pigeon as a sin offering. I don't understand what is going on here, but I suspect it has something to do with creation. Man created in the image of God and woman being created from man. Also suspected it has something to do with original sin and the curse.

The laws regarding leprosy and skin infections were to protect the people. They lived in a camp, and tents at close quarters. This was to prevent infection from spreading through the camp. The law also was given for someone who had been healed of leprosy. There were many healed of leprosy by Jesus. Once clean a very detailed process takes place to allow the person to come back into the camp. Several animals are are killed to make the person ceremonially clean. This constantly shows are filthy state before the Lord and our need to be cleansed. We all are lepers in the sight of God without the life and blood of Jesus Christ.

Bibliography
New American Standard Bible. (1995). The Lockman Foundation.

My Thoughts/Comments from Leviticus 8-11 This Morning

Aaron and his sons were consecrated to the Lord. They then made sacrifices on behalf of the people as directed by the Lord's statutes. After making the sin offering and the burnt offering and the peace offering, Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people and blessed them and stepped down. The glory of the Lord appeared to all the people when Moses and Aaron came out of the tent of meeting. Then fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering, this caused the people to shout and fall on their faces before the Lord.

When we come to realize what Jesus did on the cross, should we not shout and fall down and worship of Him? By faith we see that Christ came in human flesh and lived a righteous life, perfect before God. By faith we see the Christ offered Himself up to God as payment in full for our sins. By faith we see that God was pleased with His sacrifice, because he walked out of the grave alive. By faith we see Him seated at the right hand of God the Father. By faith we see that He will return at a time of Fathers choosing to take us home. When we see by faith should we not shout and fall on her faces before the Lord?

Bibliography
New American Standard Bible. (1995). The Lockman Foundation.

My Thoughts/Comments After Reading Leviticus 5-7

The law involving guilt offerings is very interesting. If a person hears or knows about a crime he is to report it and if he doesn't he is guilty. Also you may say something in your own speech and not realize what you're saying. Once you realize it you need to make a guilt offering, because you are guilty.

"The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart." (Luke.6.45). Jesus taught that sin goes so much deeper than what we do or even what we say, it is what we think. Why does a person say something evil, because he thought it before he even said it. This shows are total depravity. You can often control your behavior and maybe even your tongue, but the mind, you can do nothing about that.


These three chapter show that man is sinful, God hates sin, therefore sin has to be atoned for. Blood has to be shed because you sinned. If a person takes what belongs to someone else, he is to pay it back in full plus add one fifth more, then blood is shed. This is a picture of repentance, Jesus Christ died for our sins, he is our guilt offering, but you must repent. You cannot steal from someone and keep what you have stolen, if you are truly repentant you will return it in full.

Bibliography
New American Standard Bible. (1995). The Lockman Foundation.

Leviticus 1-4

This is what the gospel is all about. There are several offerings in this passage all of which show man's sinful state before the Lord. There are peace offerings, grain offerings, and sin offerings. All of these were given as a type/picture of Jesus Christ. Is God really pleased with the blood of bulls, goats, and lambs as propitiation for Sin?


What is the purpose of a peace offering? You know that you are a sinner before God. Things of late have not gone as well as you would like. You know that the Lord is sovereign over all created things, therefore you offer a peace offering so that the Lord may be pleased with you, that He may bless you. The same goes for the grain offering, it is to please the Lord that he may bless you. How is the Lord pleased with us? Through faith in his son Jesus Christ.


Sin offerings are offered when one knows that he is guilty of sin; whether that be the priest, the entire congregation, a leader, or anyone. Something has to die. Paul explains that there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles, all are under sin. Then in Romans 3:1 he asks a rhetorical question. "Then what advantage has that you?" The answer; "they were entrusted with the oracles of God." The Jews in the past, understood that without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin (Heb.9.22). They knew and understand that ssin equals death, but God will expect a sacrifice of blood in place of the guilty criminal. This was intended to be a type and picture of the shed blood of the only guiltless man to ever live. Jesus offering of his own blood in our place.

Bibliography
NASB Strongs Dictionary. (1998). The Lockman Foundation.

Hebrews 11-13

Faith what is it? Everyone has a measure of faith. This passage offers a definition. "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (11.1).  Jesus has promised eternal life with Him in His Father's house to all who trust in Him. He has promised to return and take us home. We have the assurance that this will be, because we have faith. John the Baptist said; "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life, and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life but the wrath of God abides on him." (Jo.3.36)

 He is talking about faith, trusting in the promises of Jesus Christ. Many people believe that Jesus is the Christ, but do you trust Him? Jesus said; "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life." (Jo.6.47).  If you believe in Him why do you labor? Why do you seek favor from God by the things that you do?

Do you want approval from God? Trust Him, that is the only way to gain approval from God. All our good works are but filthy rags to God without trusting Him. He has promised eternal life to everyone who trust him. He allowed his son to be publicly executed and His blood spilled for us. He defeated death and rose from the grave.

Bibliography

Holy Bible, New King James Version. (1982).  Thomas Nelson, Inc.
New American Standard Bible. (1995). The Lockman Foundation.

Hebrews 8-10

Jesus is our high priest seated at the right hand of the majesty in heaven, a minister in the tabernacle.  The blood of bulls, goats, and sheep never cleansed the conscience, but Jesus offered up Himself once for all time for the forgiveness of sins so that we can serve the living God.

Everything in the earthly tabernacle was representative of Jesus Christ in the heavenly tabernacle.  All men die because of the sin of our father Adam, but after death comes judgment.  Jesus died once, not having the sin of Adam, He died to bear our sins and He will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.  Do you get what that means?  When Jesus comes again, if you are eager for His arrival He will not even consider your sin.  He is coming to take you home.

The law can never cleanse your conscience.  We have a new living Way in Jesus Christ.  We can boldly enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus.  hold on to this hope because it is true, and await His arrival.  While awaiting His arrival let us encourage one another; stimulating one another to love and good deeds.  That is the purpose of the assembling together, to stimulate and encourage one another.

Bibliography
New American Standard Bible. (1995). The Lockman Foundation.

Hebrews 1-7

Jesus is the final word from God. He spoke through the patriarchs, He spoke through the prophets, and in these last days He has spoken through His Son. This reminds me of the parable of the Vine-growers from Mark 12.1-12. Jesus is a Man, but He is not just a man like us, He is the Son of God. Jesus is sent from God, but not sent like an angel, Jesus is God.

Jesus made all things and has inherited all things. HE has made pure a people by His own blood and sat down at the Right Hand of the Father, the Majesty on high. All belongs to Jesus, to those who come to Him by faith He will deal well with. Jesus was briefly humbled, He tasted death as a Man so that we do not taste death. He rendered the devil powerless by defeating sin and death. We can live without fear of death because of what Jesus did.

Jesus is our High Priest forever, because He lives forever to make intercession for us. The Law was just a picture of things to come. The priests under the Law had to make sacrifices for themselves and the people. Jesus did not make sacrifice for Himself, He being perfect sacrificed Himself for us once for all time.

Bibliography
NASB Strongs Dictionary. (1998). The Lockman Foundation.

Exodus 39-40

The priestly garments were made for Aaron and his sons, that they may minister to the Lord in the tabernacle. Part of the clothing was a breast plate of gold with blue, purple, and scarlet material. On the breast plate were stones representing the twelve tribes of Israel. So Aaron represented the twelve tribes as he wore this clothing. He also wore a plate of pure gold inscribed "Holy to the Lord". All a representation of greater things in heaven. Aaron is mediator in this representation, Jesus is the true in heaven, He is Holy to the Lord.

All the parts and pieces for the tabernacle were brought to Moses. Moses erected the tabernacle. He placed the Ark in the tent of meeting with its poles in place. He placed the testimony, the two stone tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments of God in the Ark, then placed the Mercy Seat on top of the Ark. He placed the veil in front of the Ark to conceal it. Then a table with the show bread on the north side, the lamp stand on the south side and let the lamps. He placed the gold altar in front of the veil, and burned fragrant incense on the gold altar. Then he set up another veil for the doorway of the tabernacle.

All of these things represent Jesus Christ. He is the door (John.10.9). He is the bread of life (John.6.35). He is the light of the world (John.8.12). He is the altar and through faith in Him the saints offer prayers to God (John.15.7, Rev.5.8). Behind the veil concealed at that point in time Jesus is the Mercy Seat (Rom.3.25).

Note: In Romans 3.25 the English word propitiation is translated in scripture into English from the Greek word hilasterion; the literal translation is mercy seat.

Bibliography
NASB Strongs Dictionary. (1998). The Lockman Foundation.
New American Standard Bible. (1995). The Lockman Foundation.

Exodus 36-38

Bezalel from the tribe of Judah and Oholiab from Dan had been given the Spirit of the lord for the purpose of building the Tabernacle.  Not only were they given the skills for building and art, they were also given the ability to teach those whose heart stirred him to come to the work to perform it.

So they made the Tabernacle from the materials given each morning by the people of Israel.  Bezalel and Oholiab told Moses that more than enough had been given.  This passage is often used by those coercing the members of a church on a building project.  It was the Lord's will that this Tabernacle be built for His glory, therefore He put it into the heart of the people to provide the materials, they did not need to be coerced.  This Tabernacle was built to represent the greater things in heaven, nothing that we build in a church today fits that purpose.

The court, the tent of the meeting with the holy place and the holiest of holies was built.  The Ark of the covenant was built with the Mercy seat which is the place for God.  At each end of the Mercy Seat were cherubim with their wings up and covering the Mercy Seat.

At the resurrection of the Lord in John.20.11,12 Mary Magdalene, "she stooped and looked into the tomb; and she saw to angels in white sitting one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying."  The high priest and only the high priest could go into the holiest of holies one day each year where the Mercy Seat was. That Mercy seat was a copy of greater things.  A woman who was probably a harlot saw the greater things.

Bibliography
New American Standard Bible. (1995). The Lockman Foundation.

Exodus 31.11-35.35

So the Lord was angered by the people sinning against Him and told Moses that He desired to destroy them and make a nation from him.  Moses reminded that Lord of His promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  Moses descended the mountain and with anger he throw down the stone tablets breaking them.  Then with the help of the Levites 3000 were killed in the camp.

Moses went up on the mountain to give himself to God as surety for the people.  The Lord said, "I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion." ((33.19).  Moses was not acceptable as surety, but this is a for telling of the One who is, Jesus Christ.

 Moses asks to see the Lord and He told Him that He would proclaim His name and that Moses could see His back, for no one sees His face and lives.  "Then the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”(34.6-7).  This brings up the greatest question in all of scripture.  How can God forgive the sins of unrighteous men and yet not leave the guilty unpunished?  The only answer is the cross of Jesus Christ.

So Moses writes the covenant, the Ten commandments on two stone tablets.  He tells the people to give gifts for making all the things that the Lord God had instructed Moses to build.

Bibliography
New American Standard Bible. (1995). The Lockman Foundation.

Exodus 29:1-32:10

So Moses continues to remain on the mountain with the Lord God. God is giving him instructions on service and worship, all of which demonstrates the separation between God and man. The sovereignty of God is demonstrated here, God has put His Spirit in men skilled to do this work.

While up on the mountain for forty days the people begin to tell Aaron to make them a god. Moses did not appear to be coming back to them. So they made a golden calf from their wives earrings and Aaron formed it with tools. Then they said, "This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt." (32:4).

They had created an idol. What is an idol? An idol is something created by man to represent God. God is Spirit, therefore He is unseen, men make idols to bow down to them because they cannot see God. What is wrong with this? " You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments." (Exodus 20.4-6).

These people saw the cloud descend on Mt. Sinai, they heard God speak this Law with a voice of thunder and shake in fear because of it, so why would they then do this? Why would they make an idol after all that they had seen and heard? Jesus said, "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. But there are some of you who do not believe..."For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father." (John 6.63-65).

Bibliography
New American Standard Bible. (1995). The Lockman Foundation.

Exodus 25-28

Moses was on Mt. Sinai with the Lord. The Lord began giving him instructions to build things that represent things in heaven. The Lord God gave Moses specifics and those specifics had to be followed exactly in order to not misrepresent the greater things in heaven.

The Ark of the Covenant; the table of showbread; the golden lamp stand; curtains of linen; curtains of goats hair; boards and sockets; the veil and screen for the holiest of holies; the bronze altar; the court of the tabernacle; and garments for the priest. All of these things show that the Lord is holy and that sinful man cannot come into His presence in their present sinful state.

One thing I notice about religions that claim the name of Jesus but do not either confess Him as Lord or trust in His promise of eternal life and sacrificial death as payment in full for sins, they will adopt some form of these things not understanding their purpose. Specifically with regards to priestly garments and priest being both ministers to the Lord and intercessors on behalf of the people.

Jesus sacrificed His body once for all time, His blood is covering for the sins of all who believe in Him. The veil was torn in two, the holiest of holies is open to all who trust in Him. He is our Priest forever, He makes intercession on behalf of everyone who comes to God through faith in Him alone. (Heb.7.25&10.19-22).

Bibliography
New American Standard Bible. (1995). The Lockman Foundation.

Exodus 20-24

God spoke to the people from Mt. Sinai with a voice like thunder the Law of the Covenant, the Ten Commandments. Ten Laws from God from which all other laws come. The people feared God and pleaded with Moses to speak to God on their behalf.

So Moses came near to God, then God gives him laws, civil laws by which the people are to live. One thing becomes obvious to me. The Law, the Ten Commandments are perfect, therefore these additional laws are given to cause the people to keep the Ten Commandments, because the Lord knows the people could not.

One particular civil law stuck out to me that shines a light on the Deity of Jesus Christ. 22:20 " He who sacrifices to any god, other than to the Lord alone, shall be utterly destroyed." Jesus while talking about His equality with the Father said; "21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. 22 For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, 23 so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him." (John.5). You must worship Jesus, if you do not worship Jesus you do not worship the Father. "15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation." (Col.1).

So Moses writes down these laws and reads them to the people and they affirm that they will do these words. Then Moses went up on the mountain with Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy elders of Israel, and they saw God. In John 6:46 Jesus says that no one has seen the Father, and the Author says in John 1:18 "No one has seen God at any time." Is this a contradiction or does it point to Jesus as being the Lord. Every single manifestation of God in the Old Testament is Jesus.

For the full Bible text use this link: Exodus

Exodus 16-19

The people grumbled to Moses who is the Lord's representative and the Lord provides them with manna (bread) from heaven.  Jesus said, "Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.  This is the bread which comes down out of heaven so that one may eat of it and not die." (John.6.49,50).  Bread means life, the body must have food to live. This manna according to Jesus is a type/picture of Jesus Whom the father gave to the world.  "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John.3.16).  The Lord also provided them with meat in the evening.

The Sabbath rest was observed here. The people would work for six days and the seventh was to be a day of rest to the Lord. This is in honor to the Lord who crated all things in six days and on the seventh He rested. Jesus said "For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath." (Mat12.8).  Jesus is our Sabbath rest, we are to rest from all are striving in Him.  

The people complained again at Rephifim because here was no water to drink.   The Lord allowed himself to be put on trial by sinful man and struck. The Lord said to Moses, "Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink." (19.6).  Jesus was tried by sinful man and was struck, His blood was poured out.  Jesus said "He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day." (John 6.54).  The manna and the rock are a type and picture of the body and blood of Jesus Christ. 

Jethro Moses father in-law counsels Moses to appoint judges. The Lord then descends on Mount Sinai and is about to give the people a covenant.  The covenantal promise is that if they obey the Lord's voice and keep His covenant they shall be His treasured possession among all people.  They would soon fail that covenant as we all do, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom.3.23).  I believe the Lord's intent was to show man's need for redemption, man's total dependency and need for a Savior. 

For the bible text use this link: http://olivetree.com/read/nasb/Exodus/16

Exodus 13-15

The firstborn belongs to the Lord. The first born of all the herds belongs to the Lord, they either need to be redeemed or killed, but cannot be used by the people without redemption because they are the Lords. The firstborn male child in every family must be redeemed. Why does the Lord require this in Israel? People soon forget, but because this is required it will be asked why we are doing this? Then the Lord is exulted when the Israelites tell their sons how the Lord took them out of Egypt with power, killing the firstborn of the beasts and the Egyptians. It is for the glory of the Lord alone.

The Lord led the Israelites with a cloud by day and with a pillar of fire by night.  He led them to where they thought that they would trapped. The Lord did I mighty miracle. Parting the sea, a wall of water on each side, they walked through it's mets on dry ground. The Egyptians that followed drowned as the water returned.  The Lord is continually fighting our battles. Israel praised the Lord in song and dance because of what He had done.  Should we not praise Him too for sending His Son Jesus who paid the price for our sins?

They then went three days journey from the Red Sea and could not find water. They came to water at Marah. The water there was bitter, so the people grumbled to Moses. Moses cried out to the Lord and He had him throw a tree into the water and the water became sweet. This was to show that the Lord provides, never leaving or forsaking. But here at Marah (bitter) the Israelites were put under stipulation. That if they do right in the sight of the Lord God He will not do to them as he did to the Egyptians, something for which they would soon fail at.  The Christian's only stipulation is faith in Jesus Christ and that faith is a gift from God.

For the Bible text use this link: http://olivetree.com/read/nasb/Exodus/13

Exodus 10-12

The Lord performed two more miraculous signs that were plagues in the land of Egypt; a plague of locust that ate the remaining crops and then darkness over the land for three days. Just as before the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart and he did not let the people go.

One more miraculous sign, the Passover and Pharaoh under compulsion would let the people go. Both the Passover feast and the feast of unleavened bread were instituted by this sign. Both of these are a type and picture of Jesus Christ and His church.

On the 10th day of the month a perfect lamb (could be a sheep or a goat) was selected out of the herd for each household. The lamb was to live with them for four days. Jesus walked amongst us for approximately 33 years, most of us would consider that to be a young man. At twilight on the evening of the 14th day (the Sabbath begins at twilight) the lamb was sacrificed and its blood was spread on the lintel and door post. Jesus was sacrificed for our sins, His blood must be on your heart and mind. The Lord past over all who had the blood of the lamb on the lintel and door post, the Lord will pass over all who have the blood of Jesus on their heart and mind. They ate the lamb quickly, devouring it, with nothing left over. Christ is to be totally consumed, He is not consumed in part, you cannot be a partial Christian.

The feast of unleavened bread was instituted to remember how the Israelites departed quickly from Egypt. They did not have time to allow the dough to rise. The Christian is to depart from this world and make haste to the door which is faith in Jesus Christ the Lord.

For the Bible text click on this link: Exodus

Exodus 6-9

God told Moses " I am the Lord" and I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name LORD (YHWH in Hebrew), I did not make myself known to them." (6:2,3) A name is familiar, it is personable, God was coming to Moses in a personal way. The Lord by this let Moses know that He was a God that could be related to personally.

God sent Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh to demand on His behalf that Pharaoh let His people go. Pharaoh refused and each time they told Pharaoh what the Lord would then do. Then a series of miraculous signs were performed; Aarons staff changed into a serpent, the Nile and all the water in Egypt turned into blood, then a pestilence of frogs, then gnats, then flies, then the Egyptians cattle die, then boils on the Egyptians skin, the hail that destroyed all the crops except for the wheat, with more plagues yet to come.

Each time Pharaoh's heart was hardened because he and his servants did not fear the Lord. Jesus said to the Jews; "But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe." (John.6.36). Seeing is not believing, God is spirit and men are spiritually dead in their trespasses and sins, therefore the fear of the Lord can only come by the Holy Spirit, you must be born again.

God did all of these things in Egypt to demonstrate his power. This reminds me of the gospel. Why the gospel? So that God could demonstrate both his righteousness and His love. "So that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." (Rom.3.26).

For the Bible text click on this link: Exodus

Exodus 1-5

Israel had multiplied greatly in Egypt and a new king arose in Egypt, who did not know Joseph. This would also indicate that he did not know the Lord. The Egyptians treated Israel badly.

The Lord God appears to Moses from a burning bush on Mt. Horeb. He tells Moses that He has remembered His promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He has also heard the cries of His people. God intends to rescue His people from Egypt and use Moses in the process. Moses is to go to Pharaoh on behalf of God. Moses fears this and God said that Aaron his brother would speak for him. God gives Moses miraculous powers to perform. When he throws down his staff it becomes a serpent, when he picks it up it again becomes a staff. His hand becomes leprous when he puts it into his garment and takes it out, then when he repeats the process it returns to normal. When he pours out water from the Nile on to the ground it turns to blood.

Moses and Aaron go to Pharaoh and of course he refuses to let the people go and make sacrifice to God. Pharaoh compounds their labors at the request. Moses by himself is such an imperfect Christ type that Aaron is need to get the full picture. God tells Moses to tell Pharaoh, "Israel is My son, My first born." I believe this to be a for telling about Jesus the Son of God.

For the Bible text click on this link: Exodus

Philemon

 This is a letter written by Paul to a brother in Christ named Philemon.  This is a letter about forgiveness.  It seems that Philemon had a slave named Onesimus.  The name Onesimus means useful, but it seems that Onesimus was not very useful.  It also seems that Onesimus left Philemon and likely with some of his goods.  Paul met Onesimus in his imprisonment, perhaps Onesimus was imprisoned as well for stealing or as a runaway slave.  It seems while with Paul in his imprisonment Onesimus came to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.  

Paul writes this letter as an older brother pleading on behalf of a younger brother to a brother for forgiveness.  Paul asks Philemon to except Onesimus as he would Paul himself.  Paul is surety for his brother; he tells Philemon that if Onesimus owes him anything charge it to my account.  He makes mention to Philemon that he owes him his own life as well.  

The is the picture, God has forgiven us and we owe Him our very lives. If someone comes to you for forgiveness no matter how badly they have hurt you they are to be forgiven.  Truly forgive as God has forgiven us in Jesus Christ.  

For the Bible text use this link: http://olivetree.com/read/nasb/Philemon/1

Titus

Faith and good works, I think would be a good title for the letter Paul wrote to Titus. Paul has directed Titus to appoint elders in every city on Crete; a man above reproach. Paul immediately begins to talk about those who are not like this, he calls them the circumcision. These men teach the law for sordid gain. These men testify to know God, but deny Him by their deeds. They pay attention to Jewish myths and commandments of men. In today's terms they would be called legalist. 

Just as elders should be above reproach he tells Titus how older men in the church should act as well as older women, teaching younger women. Young men are to be sensible.  Bond slaves are not to be argumentative but well pleasing. I take this to equate to anyone who has an employer. We should live our lives looking for the blessed hope found solely in God our Savior Christ Jesus. We in this life having been purified by His blood should live zealous for good works. 

Paul begins to talk about what this looks like in everyday life. He reminds Titus that we do this remembering how we were before being saved; that is before the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit. We were not saved on the bases of deeds done in righteousness, but by the kindness, mercy, and grace of God our Savior.  

For the bible text use this link: http://olivetree.com/read/nasb/Titus/1

2 Timothy

Paul from prison writes a letter to the young man Timothy. He reminds him not to be timid. He tells him not to be ashamed of the gospel but to speak. The Lord at His appearing brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. The gospel being true why would anyone be afraid? All who have faith in Jesus Christ are immortal you cannot die.

Timothy faced more than being laughed at, he faced imprisonment like Paul and possible execution, but Paul says don't fear these things. Paul encourages young Timothy to teach other men what he has taught him so that they could teach others also. This is the service of equipping the saints and is the great commission. "And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Mat.28.18-20).

Paul tells Timothy to remember Jesus a descendant of David is risen from the dead. This is all the proof anyone needs to know that Jesus is the Christ the promised Messiah of Israel. Paul tells Timothy to avoid empty chatter, because it leads to further ungodliness. He tells him to flee men like this and to also flee from youthful lust.

Paul also tells Timothy to avoid ignorant speculations because they cause quarrels. "The Lord's bond- servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. (2:24-26). Many will be led astray. Paul concludes by reminding Timothy to "preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction." (3:2)

To go to the bible text use this link: 2 Timothy

Genesis 47-50

Israel settled in the land of Goshen in Egypt. A place that they could tend their flocks and herds. They also kept and tended Pharaoh's flocks and herds.

The land was devastated by the famine. The people spent all that they had to by food from Joseph making Pharaoh very wealthy. Pharaoh wound up owning all the livestock and land in Egypt, except from a group called priests. The people vowed to be Pharaoh's slaves for saving their lives from the famine.

I find this very interesting. Jesus saved our lives, should we not vow to Him as His slaves. When you read the epistles you get an understanding that these men considered themselves to be just that, slaves of Jesus Christ.

Israel's sojourning on the earth had come to an end. Joseph presented his two son's to him, Ephraim and Manasseh. Israel claimed these two sons of Joseph as being his sons, and therefore, counted them among the tribes of Israel. There is no tribe of Joseph but his two sons Ephraim and Manasseh have that distinction, they also had brothers who were counted among these two. Manasseh is the older, but Israel blessed Ephraim above Manasseh and said that Ephraim will become a multitude of nations. I believe these two sons of Joseph are a type and picture of the church.

Israel died and was buried by his sons at the burial site of Abraham and Isaac. After Jacob died and was buried Joseph's brothers asked for forgiveness for their sins against him, and proclaimed themselves as his servants. Joseph wept when they spoke to him. Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Do not be afraid, for am I in God's place? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones." So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them." (19-21).

Is that not an incredible type and picture of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Joseph is not named among the tribes of Israel, I believe this is because he is a type and picture of Jesus Christ. However, his sons Manasseh and Ephraim are, I believe this is because they are a type and picture of the church; both Jew and gentile. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." (Rom.1.16)

To read the bible text yourself use this link: http://www.olivetree.com/read/NASB/Genesis/47

Genesis 43-46

The men of Jacob were to return to Egypt and go before Joseph for food.  But they had to take Benjamin with them.  Judah pledged himself to be surety for his bother.

So when they came into Joseph's home they had a meal.  They departed, then came back because a silver cup had been placed into Benjamin's bag.  When Joseph said that he was going to take Benjamin as a slave Judah spoke up and said take me.  He told him that he had pledged to his father to be surety for his brother. 

It was then that Joseph could not withhold his emotion any longer and told his brothers who he was.  Joseph told his bothers not to be grieved or angry with themselves because they sold him into slavery.  God allowed this to preserve life.  God made Joseph like a father to Pharaoh and lord of his household and ruler over all Egypt for the purpose of preserving life.  "God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance." (45:7)

What an incredible type and picture of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ this is.  Jesus came to save, to preserve life, that there might be a remnant in the earth, to keep men alive by a great deliverance.  All the known world at the time was blessed by what Joseph had done in Egypt.  All the world is blessed by what Jesus did on the cross.  Joseph's bothers meant it for evil, the Jews also meant it for evil with Jesus, but God meant it for good.

To go to the bible text use this link: http://www.olivetree.com/read/NASB/Genesis/43

Genesis 40-42

To Joseph things had really gone bad for him. He was rejected and hated by his brothers. They had sold him into slavery. He had been falsely accused and imprisoned. But all of this was used by the Lord for good. Two men from the household of Pharaoh were put in his care in prison. He by the Lord answered them interpreting their dreams.  One man restored as the cup barrier and the other hung, as had been prophesied by Joseph.  

Then the Lord gave Pharaoh a dream that no one could interpret.  Pharaoh's cup bearer having remembered that Joseph could interpret dreams. Joseph is released  from prison and interprets Pharaoh's dream from the Lord; seven prosperous years followed by seven years of famine.  Pharaoh makes him essentially king of the land, everyone must come to Joseph alone.

Joseph made a plan to store up 1/5 of all the grain from the years of plenty to be used in the coming lean years.  Joseph's brothers come to him and he hides who he is.  Simeon is kept in prison and the brothers cannot return and unless they bring the youngest Benjamin.  

All orchestrated by the Lord to have Israel go to Egypt.  This is such a type of Christ it is just incredible. Jesus was rejected and sold at the price of a slave.  He was falsely accused and suffered. He was a prophet mighty in word and deed.  All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him.  He sat down at the right and of the Father.  He is our intercessor, no one can come to the Father except through Him.  Jesus is Lord. 

To go to the bible text use this link: http://www.olivetree.com/read/NASB/Genesis/40

Genesis 36-39

Esau's sons intermarried with the Canaanites and became a nation in the mountains of Seir southwest of the dead sea.

Of all the individuals in the Old Testament that are a type of Christ, Joseph screams it. Joseph had a dream that he would rule over his brothers, that they would bow down to him. He told them about his dream, so his brothers hated him for it. He was sent by his father to his brothers, his brothers captured him and wanted to kill him. They didn't want to shed his blood themselves so they sold him to a band of Ismaelites on their way to trade in Egypt.

Jesus was hated by the Jews, He was sent by His Father to His own and they rejected Him. He was sold for a slaves price and was put into the hands of gentiles who mistreated Him.

Joseph was sold into slavery where he prospered in Potiphar's home. He had difficulties with Potiphar's wife who kept trying to get him to lay down with her, she had him imprisoned. While in prison he prospered and found favor with the jailor. All of this was done by the Lord to eventually have him rule in Egypt.

Meanwhile Judah had relations with his daughter in-law Tamar who he thought was a harlot and begot Perez through whom the Lord Jesus Christ would come. It is so amazing to see these types and pictures of Christ and how God uses the wicked plans of men to carry out His good will.

Genesis 36-39

Genesis 32-35

As Jacob journeyed he was coming to his brother Esau. Jacob feared Esau, after all he had fled from him 20 years prior. As he prepared to meet Esau Jacob was left alone by night and a man wrestled with him throughout the night. This man dislocated Jacob's thigh causing him to walk with a limp. The man that he struggled with was the Lord Himself. So Jacob named the place Peniel (The Face of God) because he saw the face of God and lived. All goes well with Jacob's meeting with Esau.

After this a man forcibly laid down with Dinah one of Jacob's daughters. Jacob's sons wanted to avenge their sister, so they killed all the men of the city by deceit and took all of their positions, including the women and children. This made Jacob angry at them, not for avenging their sister, but for killing all the men of the city. He feared that this would cause others in the land to attack them.

Jacob was told by the Lord to go to Bethel, this was the place where Jacob had previously dreamed about a ladder ascending and descending from heaven to earth. That vision was a prophecy about the Lord, because Jesus said, "Most assuredly, I say to you here after you shall see heaven open and the angles of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man." (John.1.51).

God made their Journey to Bethel safe by causing terror to fall upon the cities around them. Jacob built a pillar at Bethel and worshiped God. God gave him the name Israel and promised him a nation and a land, the land that He had promised to Abraham and Isaac. Jacob named the place Bethel (The house of God). God also told him that kings shall come forth from you. A King did come forth from him, in fact He is the King of kings; Jesus Christ the Lord.

Genesis 32-35




Bibliography
Holy Bible, New King James Version. (1982). Thomas Nelson, Inc.
New American Standard Bible. (1995). The Lockman Foundation.