What Saith the Scripture?
http://www.WhatSaithTheScripture.com/

from the series
Stories of Faith

Moses
The Servant of God
Part Two

Portions from the Pentateuch,
the King James Version by The Holy Spirit through Moses
with notes by Katie Stewart

"And they sing the Song of Moses the servant of God,
and the Song of the Lamb, saying,
Great and marvellous are Thy works, LORD God Almighty;
Just and True are Thy ways, Thou King of Saints"
(Revelation 15:3).

by Katie Stewart
6-11-2001
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PART ONE
-- http://WhatSaithTheScripture.com/Stories/Stories.of.Faith/Moses.Servant.1.text.html --

PART TWO

Exodus / Chapter 19
Preparation to Meet with the LORD

In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. 2 For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount.

3 And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; 4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto Myself. 5 Now therefore, IF ye will obey My Voice indeed, and keep My Covenant, THEN ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people: for all the Earth is Mine: 6 and ye shall be unto Me a Kingdom of priests, and an HOLY nation. These are the Words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

7 And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these Words which the LORD commanded him. 8 And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.

9 And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD.

10 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes, 11 and be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon Mount Sinai. 12 And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death: 13 there shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount."

In Exodus 32:9, the Record of these people stands forever formed in the opinion of God Himself. "The LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people." These people were much worse than just being "forgetful hearer[s]" (James 1:25), they were "forgetful seers." Having seen with their own eyes their own deliverance firsthand, and knowing Whose Hand had miraculously worked for them, to then SO SOON have bewailed their freedom by condemning Moses for their desert trials-- God righteously judged them as "stiffnecked".

"Die in the wilderness!" "Die in the wilderness!" "Die in the wilderness!" God knew these men would forever complain, and He knew that only two adult men (and possibly their wives, although not mentioned) would enter the Promised Land, along with the "then" children (who would do their growing during the time that they "wandered in the wilderness" [Joshua 14:10] for forty years). God gave them "according to [their] faith" (Matthew 9:29), "for the LORD had said of them, They shall surely die in the wilderness. And there was not left a man of them, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun" (Numbers 26:65).

It was to these people that the LORD GOD tried to impress with severity the importance of His Holy Self. He wanted them to take Him seriously-- to FEAR Him! "Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is NO iniquity with the LORD our God" (2Chronicles 19:7). Hence, the warning: "Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to DEATH: there shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it SHALL NOT LIVE."

Fear Has Its Place
by C. H. Spurgeon
"Happy is the man that feareth alway" (Proverbs 28:14).

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning and the foundation of all true religion. Without a solemn awe and reverence of God there is no foothold for the more brilliant virtues. He whose soul does not worship will never live in holiness.

He is happy who feels a jealous fear of doing wrong. Holy fear looks not only before it leaps, but even before it moves. It is afraid of error, afraid of neglecting duty, afraid of committing sin. It fears ill company, loose talk, and questionable policy. This does not make a man wretched, but it brings him happiness. The watchful sentinel is happier than the soldier who sleeps at his post. He who foreseeth evil and escapes it is happier than he who walks carelessly on and is destroyed.

Fear of God is a quiet grace which leads a man along a choice road, of which it is written, 'No lion shall be there, neither shall any ravenous beast go up thereon.' Fear of the very appearance of evil is a purifying principle, which enables a man, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to keep his garments unspotted from the world. Solomon had tried both worldliness and holy fear: in the one he found vanity, in the other happiness. Let us not repeat his trial but abide by his verdict." --from "Faith's Checkbook" -- http://WhatSaithTheScripture.com/Fellowship/Spurgeon/Faith.Checkbook/Faiths.Checkbook.Preface.html --. by C. H. Spurgeon -- http://WhatSaithTheScripture.com/Fellowship/Charles.Haddon.Spurgeon.html --.

"14 And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes. 15 And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives."

The people were to ready themselves to be presented before the LORD.

"16 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. 17 And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. 18 And Mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. 19 And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a Voice."

"20 And the LORD came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up. 21 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish... 24 And the LORD said unto him, Away, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee: but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto the LORD, lest He break forth upon them. 25 So Moses went down unto the people, and spake unto them."

Exodus / Chapter 20
The Giving of the Ten Commandments

And God spake all these words, saying, 2 I Am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

3 Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.

4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the Earth beneath, or that is in the water under the Earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a Jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me; 6 and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep My Commandments.

7 Thou shalt not take the Name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh His Name in vain.

8 Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11 for in six days the LORD made heaven and Earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath Day, and hallowed it.

12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

13 Thou shalt not kill.

14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.

15 Thou shalt not steal.

16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's."

What the LORD is simply saying to Israel, and to anyone who follows after Him, "I Am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage." Love ME. Live for ME. Obey ME. "Love the LORD thy God with ALL thy heart, and with ALL thy soul, and with ALL thy mind" (Matthew 22:37). [Please read D. L. Moody's most excellent examination of "The Ten Commandments" -- http://WhatSaithTheScripture.com/Voice/Moody.Ten.Commandments.html --.]

"18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. 19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let NOT God speak with us, lest we DIE. 20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to PROVE you, and that His fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not. 21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was. 22 And the LORD said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven. 23 Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold. 24 An altar of Earth thou shalt make unto Me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record My Name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee."

God's purpose in visually showing Himself to these obstinate people, by means of "the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking", and then "the thick darkness where God was", He performed that they might believe. "Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven." Why? "That His fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not." What does a reverential trust in God accomplish? No sinning!

Exodus / Chapter 24

And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to Me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a Law, and Commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.

13 And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God. 14 And he said unto the elders, Tarry ye here for us, until we come again unto you: and, behold, Aaron and Hur are with you: if any man have any matters to do, let him come unto them. 15 And Moses went up into the mount, and a Cloud covered the mount.

16 And the Glory of the LORD abode upon Mount Sinai, and the Cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day He called unto Moses out of the midst of the Cloud. 17 And the sight of the Glory of the LORD was like DEVOURING FIRE on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel. 18 And Moses went into the midst of the Cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights."

The LORD wanted to give the Children of Israel a test, a test which would prove openly what lay at the core of their hearts. Moses has gone away from the camp. It appears-- by sight-- that he is not coming back. What will they do?

Exodus / Chapter 25
Preparation to Build the Tabernacle of the LORD

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take My offering. 3 And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass, 4 and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair, 5 and rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood, 6 oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense, 7 onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate.

8 And let them make Me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. 9 According to all that I show thee, after the pattern of the Tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.

10 And they shall make an Ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof. 11 And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about. 12 And thou shalt cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in the four corners thereof; and two rings shall be in the one side of it, and two rings in the other side of it. 13 And thou shalt make staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold.

14 And thou shalt put the staves into the rings by the sides of the Ark, that the Ark may be borne with them. 15 The staves shall be in the rings of the Ark: they shall not be taken from it. 16 And thou shalt put into the Ark the Testimony which I shall give thee.

17 And thou shalt make a Mercy Seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof. 18 And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the Mercy Seat. 19 And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the Mercy Seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof. 20 And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the Mercy Seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the Mercy Seat shall the faces of the cherubims be.

21 And thou shalt put the Mercy Seat above upon the Ark; and in the Ark thou shalt put the Testimony that I shall give thee. 22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the Mercy Seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the Ark of the Testimony, of all things which I will give thee in Commandment unto the children of Israel."

Exodus / Chapter 31

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 13 Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily My Sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a Sign between Me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I Am the LORD that doth SANCTIFY you."

We don't keep ourselves from sinning. We recognize the LORD's Will and Power-- we FEAR Him (i.e., give Him reverential trust)-- and by our own freewill which He gave to us, we put our wills into His keeping. We leave our wills in His keeping. And for as long as we leave our wills in His keeping, we do NOT sin. "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His Good Pleasure" (Philippians 2:13).

"14 Ye shall keep the Sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. 15 Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the Sabbath Day, he shall surely be put to death. 16 Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a Perpetual Covenant. 17 It is a Sign between Me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and Earth, and on the seventh day He rested, and was refreshed.

18 And He gave unto Moses, when He had made an end of communing with him upon Mount Sinai, two tables of Testimony, tables of stone, written with the Finger of God."

Exodus / Chapter 32

And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him."

Obedience is based on love. If it's not for the love that we have for the LORD, then it's NOT obedience. These rebellious children wasted no time in showing their true colors. And Aaron seized the moment for his own aggrandizement.

"2 And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me.

3 And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron. 4 And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt."

How could Aaron, knowing God the way he did, being an instrument in God's Own Hand during the miracles performed in Egypt-- how could Aaron be so vile-- attributing divinity to an object made with his own hand as the "GOD" "which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt"? Take heed. "Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness" (2Peter 3:17). Any man can fall. And if a man who has been used so mightily by God can so quickly and easily fall-- so can you and I. "Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them" (Deuteronomy 11:16). Do a Bible study on "take heed". The sheer number of verses is a warning in itself!

"5 And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD.

6 And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.

7 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves: 8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

9 And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people: 10 Now therefore let Me alone, that My wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.

11 And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth Thy wrath wax hot against Thy people, which Thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand? 12 Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did He bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the Earth? Turn from Thy fierce wrath, and repent [not of sin, of course, but to change His mind] of this evil against Thy people."

Moses knew his people deserved God's just punishment, but it was foremost in his mind that the LORD's reputation and glory among the heathen that he interceded for Israel. Meekness defends God, and, remember, Moses was-- by God's Own Mouth-- the meekest man "above all the men which were upon the face of the Earth" (Numbers 12:3).

Moses also knew there was a Bigger Plan involved, and that there was a Covenant made with Abraham, and being the meekest of men that he was-- defending God and not SELF--, he shied away from the honour that God was ready to give him. "I will make of thee a great nation."

Pleading with God, presenting your argument or case before Him, was best described by A. T. Pierson -- http://WhatSaithTheScripture.com/Fellowship/A.T.Pierson.html --, concerning God's prayer warrior, George Mueller -- http://WhatSaithTheScripture.com/W.S.t.S.Voice.html#Mueller --

"George Müller stored up reasons for God's intervention. As he came upon promises, authorized declarations of God concerning Himself, names and titles He had chosen to express and reveal His true nature and will, injunctions and invitations which gave to the believer a right to pray and boldness in supplication-- as he saw all these, fortified and exemplified by the instances of prevailing prayer, he laid these arguments up in memory, and then on occasions of great need brought them out and spread them before a prayer-hearing God. It is pathetically [pathos, or compassionately] beautiful to follow this humble man of God into the secret place, and there hear him pouring out his soul in these argumentative pleadings, as though he would so order his cause before God as to convince Him that He must interpose to save His own name and word from dishonour!"--from "Pleading With God and Argument in Prayer" -- http://WhatSaithTheScripture.com/Promises/Pleading.and.Prayer.html -- by A. T. Pierson, taken from "George Müller of Bristol" -- http://WhatSaithTheScripture.com/Voice/George.Mueller.of.Bristol/George.Mueller.of.Bristol.html -- chapter 10: "The Word of God and Prayer" -- http://WhatSaithTheScripture.com/Voice/George.Mueller.of.Bristol/George.Mueller.Bristol.10.html --

"13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Thy servants, to whom Thou swarest by Thine Own Self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever.

14 And the LORD repented of the evil which He thought to do unto His people."

As we mentioned before, when Scripture talks about God repenting, it is not for sin, of course, but simply that God is changing His mind. "The Judge of all the Earth" (Genesis 18:25) has the right to change His Omnipotent Mind.

"Just as Jeremiah threatened God's judgment upon Jerusalem, i.e., '4 If ye will not hearken to Me, to walk in My Law, which I have set before you... 6 Then will I make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the Earth' (Jeremiah 26:4,6), Micah had previously pronounced the certainty that 'Jerusalem shall become heaps' (26:18) to Hezekiah-- who believed him and caused reformation in the land.

The point was that Micah had pronounced the certainty of judgment against the land during Hezekiah's reign in Jerusalem. Micah prophesied that the 'LORD cometh [present tense, is coming] forth out of His place, and will come down, and tread upon the high places of the Earth' (Micah 1:3). The result will be that 'Jerusalem shall become heaps' (3:12). Hezekiah led Judah in repentance before the prophecy could be fulfilled. 'Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah' (2Chronicles 32:26). But, who was complaining about the lack of fulfillment of Jerusalem's destruction, since 'the LORD repented Him of the evil which He had pronounced against them' (Jeremiah 26:19)? A situation had developed which changed God's mind... As the LORD of All the Earth (Joshua 3:13) is sovereign in His judgments, He is completely justified in holding back the fulfillment of a prophecy-- that He promised by the mouth of His prophets. 'And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that He had said that He would do unto them; and He did it not' (Jonah 3:10). God can rightly and sovereignly change His mind about the fulfillment of something He said He would do. 'And the LORD repented of the evil which He thought to do unto His people' (Exodus 32:14)."--from "How to Identify A False Prophet" -- http://WhatSaithTheScripture.com/Prophets/How.To.ID.False.Prophet.html -- by Tom Stewart.


"15 And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the two tables of the Testimony were in his hand: the tables were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written. 16 And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables.

17 And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp. 18 And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I hear.

19 And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount.

20 And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strowed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it.

21 And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them?

22 And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief. 23 For they said unto me, Make us gods, which shall go before us: for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. 24 And I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf."

Aaron spends a lot of time blaming others for his own sin. This is NOT repentance. How he makes what he did sound so simplistic. "I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf." He makes it appear that this calf just happened miraculously. "Godly sorrow" (2Corinthians 7:10) in a man is the picture of abasement, self-denunciation, and reproach. There is no excuse for sin and the man of "Godly sorrow" makes no excuse whatever for his own sin. He freely admits his hatred of God and deeply feels he is the "chief" of "sinners" (1Timothy 1:15). [Please read "How to Deal with Backsliders" -- http://WhatSaithTheScripture.com/Fellowship/How.to.Deal.with.Backslide.html --, for a picture of what Biblical sorrow demonstrates.]

The Deuteronomy Account of the Breaking of the Tables

(Deuteronomy 9:16-20) "16 And I looked, and, behold, ye had sinned against the LORD your God, and had made you a molten calf: ye had turned aside quickly out of the way which the LORD had commanded you. 17 And I took the two tables, and cast them out of my two hands, and brake them before your eyes. 18 And I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and forty nights: I did neither eat bread, nor drink water, because of all your sins which ye sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger. 19 For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure, wherewith the LORD was wroth against you to destroy you. But the LORD hearkened unto me at that time also. 20 And the LORD was very angry with Aaron to have destroyed him: and I prayed for Aaron also the same time."

"25 And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:) 26 then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD'S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him."

Separation... a fact in this world as demonstrated clearly in our next world. "There is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence [Heaven] to you [in Hell] cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence" (Luke 16:26). Only the pure in heart live with God in Heaven. "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God" (Matthew 5:8). The impure cannot enter the Gates Beautiful, for "there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie" (Revelation 21:2).Those who will not separate from this world now will be separated into Hell later. "32 And before Him shall be gathered all nations: and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33 and He shall set the sheep on His Right Hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then shall the King say unto them on His Right Hand, Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world... 41 Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from Me, ye cursed, into Everlasting Fire, prepared for the Devil and his angels... 46 And these shall go away into Everlasting Punishment: but the righteous into Life Eternal" (Matthew 25:32-34,41,46).

"In January, 1834, all teachers who were not believers were dismissed from the Sunday-school; and, in the Dorcas Society, only believing sisters were accepted to make clothes for the destitute. The reason was that it had been found unwise and unwholesome to mix up or yoke together believers and unbelievers... Such association proved a barrier to spiritual converse and injurious to both classes, fostering in the unbelievers a false security, ensnaring them in a delusive hope that to help in Christian work might somehow atone for rejection of Jesus Christ as a Saviour, or secure favour from God and an open door into heaven. No doubt all this indiscriminate association of children of God with children of the world in a 'mixed multitude' is unscriptural. Unregenerate persons are tempted to think there is some merit at least in mingling with worshippers and workers, and especially in giving to the support of the gospel and its institutions. The devil seeks to persuade such that it is acceptable to God to conform externally to religious rites and forms, and take part in outward acts of service and sacrifice, and that He will deal leniently with them, despite their unbelief and disobedience. Mr. Mueller and Mr. Craik felt keenly that this danger existed and that even in minor matters there must be a line of separation, for the sake of all involved." --from "George Mueller of Bristol" -- http://WhatSaithTheScripture.com/Voice/George.Mueller.of.Bristol/George.Mueller.of.Bristol.html -- by A. T. Pierson -- http://WhatSaithTheScripture.com/Fellowship/A.T.Pierson.html --, chapter 21: "The Church Life and Growth" -- http://WhatSaithTheScripture.com/Voice/George.Mueller.of.Bristol/George.Mueller.Bristol.21.html --

"27 And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour.

28 And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men. 29 For Moses had said, Consecrate yourselves to day to the LORD, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day.

30 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the LORD; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin.

31 And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. 32 Yet now, if Thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray Thee, out of Thy Book which Thou hast written."

A meek man defends God, not himself. Moses executed judgment, in God's behalf, and slew a great number of the idolaters. "And there fell of the people that day about three thousand men." Of those remaining, Moses makes intercession for them to the LORD. "Peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin." He was hoping that the whole nation wouldn't need to die. There was still a Covenant; there was still a witness. But most of all, there was still the Glory of the LORD to be honoured. A debt for sin still needed to be met. God's Glory demanded retribution. His Law required it and it must be paid. Moses offered himself, in Christ-like fashion, as a substitute for the sin of his nation. "Blot me, I pray Thee, out of Thy Book." The Apostle Paul felt the same way when he said, "2 I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh" (Romans 9:2-3). They were willing to pay an Eternal Death for others! (What trophies are Moses and Paul as everlasting testaments to the Inner Working of God's Great Love!) A debt truly needed to be paid. "Let them be blotted out of the Book of the Living, and not be written with the Righteous" (Psalm 69:28). But Moses and Paul-- as willing to substitute themselves as they were that "God's chosen people" not be blotted out of the Book of Life forever-- had not, in themselves, that Divine Ability and Power needed to accomplish that selfless goal. That is exactly why Christ Jesus died. No one else could pay that amount! Each man is liable for his own debt, and his own Eternal Punishment could only cover his own sin. Only God Himself, the Perfect Sacrifice, Who had NO debt for personal sin Himself, Who had the Omnipotence that only The Creator has, only He could pay the debt for others. And He did! "He died for ALL, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again" (2Corinthians 5:15). "For God so Loved THE WORLD, that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have Everlasting Life" (John 3:16). [Please read, "The Heart of the Gospel" -- http://WhatSaithTheScripture.com/Voice/The.Heart.of.the.Gospel.html --, by A. T. Pierson, (1837-1911), to understand how God accomplished this amazing Gift for us. And also, see our "Jehovah Jesus" section -- http://WhatSaithTheScripture.com/WStS.Jehovah.html -- for more on THE CROSS, and our "Topical Links On Salvation" -- http://WhatSaithTheScripture.com/Jehovah/Topical.Links.Salvation.html -- for help in receiving your own Paid Gift.]

"33 And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against Me, him will I blot out of My Book. 34 Therefore now go, lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, Mine Angel shall go before thee: nevertheless in the day when I visit I will visit their sin upon them.

35 And the LORD plagued the people, because they made the calf, which Aaron made."

Exodus / Chapter 33

And the LORD said unto Moses, Depart, and go up hence, thou and the people which thou hast brought up out of the land of Egypt, unto the land which I sware unto Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, Unto thy seed will I give it: 2 and I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite: 3 unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way. 4 And when the people heard these evil tidings, they mourned: and no man did put on him his ornaments. 5 For the LORD had said unto Moses, Say unto the children of Israel, Ye are a stiffnecked people: I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment, and consume thee: therefore now put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do unto thee. 6 And the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments by the Mount Horeb. 7 And Moses took the Tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the Congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the LORD went out unto the Tabernacle of the Congregation, which was without the camp. 8 And it came to pass, when Moses went out unto the Tabernacle, that all the people rose up, and stood every man at his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he was gone into the Tabernacle.

Return to Exodus 8-- "Note" -- http://WhatSaithTheScripture.com/Stories/Stories.of.Faith/Moses.Servant.1.text.html#return to note --."9 And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the Tabernacle, the Cloudy Pillar descended, and stood at the door of the Tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses. 10 And all the people saw the Cloudy Pillar stand at the Tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door. 11 And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the Tabernacle."

No earthbound man, not even Moses, has ever seen the face of God the Father. Who's face "no man can approach unto; Whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to Whom be honour and Power everlasting" (1Timothy 6:16), but Who is seen ONLY with the heart, this is "FAITH IN GOD" (Mark 11:22).

And yet... "the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend." The Father in Heaven spoke to Moses as "face to face" as any earthbound man can. And the Father spoke as warmly and intimately as the Best Friend of any friends any man has ever had

"12 And Moses said unto the LORD, See, Thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and Thou hast not let me know whom Thou wilt send with me. Yet Thou hast said, 'I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in My sight.' 13 Now therefore, I pray Thee, if I have found grace in Thy sight, show me now Thy way, that I may know Thee, that I may find grace in Thy sight: and consider that this nation is Thy people.

14 And He said, My Presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.

15 And he said unto Him, If Thy Presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. 16 For wherein shall it be known here that I and Thy people have found grace in Thy sight? is it not in that Thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and Thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the Earth.

17 And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in My sight, and I know thee by name."

What makes God's people different from all other people in the world? He goes WITH us! "Behold, a virgin shall be with Child, and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call His Name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us" (Matthew 1:23).

"18 And he said, I beseech Thee, show me Thy Glory.

19 And He said, I will make ALL My GOODNESS pass before thee, and I will proclaim the Name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. 20 And he said, Thou canst NOT see My face: for there shall no man see Me, and live. 21 And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by Me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: 22 and it shall come to pass, while My Glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with My hand while I pass by: 23 And I will take away Mine hand, and thou shalt see My back parts: but My face shall not be seen."

So it was that Moses, while on this Earth, did NOT see the Father's face, even though, as Scripture tells us, Moses did speak with the LORD (i.e., "the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend") on the friendliest terms that man can possibly be with Almighty God. Moses did not see the Father's face, yet I will ask, "What man in the flesh has ever seen any part of the Heavenly Father's spiritual body?" What human, while in the flesh of this life, has ever been as honoured by the Father, in this manner, as Moses was that day in the "clift of the rock"? "Canst thou by searching find out God?" (Job 11:7). "Who only hath Immortality, dwelling in the Light which no man can approach unto; Whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to Whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen" (1Timothy 6:16).

"And the LORD said unto Moses,
I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken:
for thou hast found grace in My sight, and I know thee by name."

Exodus / Chapter 34

And the LORD said unto Moses, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first: and I will write upon these tables the Words that were in the first tables, which thou brakest. 2 And be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning unto Mount Sinai, and present thyself there to Me in the top of the mount. 3 And no man shall come up with thee, neither let any man be seen throughout all the mount; neither let the flocks nor herds feed before that mount.

4 And he hewed two tables of stone like unto the first; and Moses rose up early in the morning, and went up unto Mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him, and took in his hand the two tables of stone.

5 And the LORD descended in the Cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the Name of the LORD. 6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and Truth, 7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

8 And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the Earth, and worshipped. 9 And he said, If now I have found grace in Thy sight, O LORD, let my LORD, I pray Thee, go among us; for it is a stiffnecked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for Thine inheritance.

10 And He said, Behold, I make a Covenant: before all thy people I will do marvels, such as have not been done in all the Earth, nor in any nation: and all the people among which thou art shall see the Work of the LORD: for it is a terrible thing that I will do with thee. 11 Observe thou that which I command thee this day: behold, I drive out before thee the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite. 12 Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee: 13 but ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves: 14 for thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose Name is Jealous, is a jealous God: 15 lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go a whoring after their gods, and do sacrifice unto their gods, and one call thee, and thou eat of his sacrifice; 16 and thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go a whoring after their gods, and make thy sons go a whoring after their gods. 17 Thou shalt make thee no molten gods. 18 The feast of unleavened bread shalt thou keep. Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, as I commanded thee, in the time of the month Abib: for in the month Abib thou camest out from Egypt. 19 All that openeth the matrix is Mine; and every firstling among thy cattle, whether ox or sheep, that is male. 20 But the firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb: and if thou redeem him not, then shalt thou break his neck. All the firstborn of thy sons thou shalt redeem. And none shall appear before Me empty. 21 Six days thou shalt work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest: in earing time and in harvest thou shalt rest. 22 And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year's end. 23 Thrice in the year shall all your menchildren appear before the LORD GOD, the God of Israel. 24 For I will cast out the nations before thee, and enlarge thy borders: neither shall any man desire thy land, when thou shalt go up to appear before the LORD thy God thrice in the year. 25 Thou shalt not offer the blood of My sacrifice with leaven [Biblically symbolic of sin]; neither shall the sacrifice of the feast of the Passover be left unto the morning. 26 The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring unto the house of the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk. 27 And the LORD said unto Moses, Write thou these Words: for after the tenor of these Words I have made a Covenant with thee and with Israel.

28 And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the Words of the Covenant, the Ten Commandments.

29 And it came to pass, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tables of Testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him. 30 And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him. 31 And Moses called unto them; and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned unto him: and Moses talked with them. 32 And afterward all the children of Israel came nigh: and he gave them in Commandment all that the LORD had spoken with him in Mount Sinai. 33 And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a veil on his face. 34 But when Moses went in before the LORD to speak with Him, he took the veil off, until he came out. And he came out, and spake unto the children of Israel that which he was commanded. 35 And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone: and Moses put the veil upon his face again, until he went in to speak with Him."

"One result of communion with God is to make us tender of all that respects God's honor. Moses forgot himself; he had no room for thought of self; hence God was able to clothe him with a halo of glory. An earthly king likes to clothe his servants in fine robes, and God is pleased when we enable him to bless us. -- ANDREW A. BONAR." --from "For Each New Day"

Moses' face shone with the Glory of the LORD as a visible warning to the people that Moses had truly been with the LORD. Therefore, the Words which Moses gave the people, were God's Words, commanded by God, and were to be obeyed.

"20 The Redeemer shall come to Zion,
and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.

21 As for Me, this is My Covenant with them, saith the LORD;
My Spirit that is upon thee, and My Words which I have put in thy mouth,
shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed,
nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD,
from henceforth and for ever.

1 Arise, shine; for thy Light is come, and the Glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.
2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the Earth, and gross darkness the people:
but the LORD shall arise upon thee,
and His Glory shall be seen upon thee"
(Isaiah 59:20-60:2).

"For God, Who commanded the Light to shine out of darkness,
hath shined in our hearts,
to give the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God
in the face of Jesus Christ"
(2Corinthians 4:6).

Exodus / Chapter 40

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the Tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. 3 And thou shalt put therein the Ark of the Testimony, and cover the Ark with the veil. 4 And thou shalt bring in the table, and set in order the things that are to be set in order upon it; and thou shalt bring in the candlestick, and light the lamps thereof. 5 And thou shalt set the altar of gold for the incense before the Ark of the Testimony, and put the hanging of the door to the Tabernacle. 6 And thou shalt set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of the Tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. 7 And thou shalt set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and shalt put water therein. 8 And thou shalt set up the court round about, and hang up the hanging at the court gate. 9 And thou shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint the Tabernacle, and all that is therein, and shalt hallow it, and all the vessels thereof: and it shall be holy."

With all the ceremony, the impression that the LORD intended to make upon His people was, "Be ye holy; for I Am Holy" (1Peter 1:16). Don't take the LORD for granted! He is God Almighty and DESERVES to be obeyed. "Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I Am the LORD your God" (Leviticus 20:7). Treat the LORD God with an especial respect. Go the extra mile for Him. No one justifies more of your attention nor is more worthy of your resources. "Neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing" (2Samuel 24:24).

"13 And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto Me in the priest's office. 14 And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats: 15 and thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto Me in the priest's office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.

16 Thus did Moses: according to ALL that the LORD commanded him, so did he...

"18 And Moses reared up the Tabernacle, and fastened his sockets, and set up the boards thereof, and put in the bars thereof, and reared up his pillars. 19 And he spread abroad the tent over the Tabernacle, and put the covering of the tent above upon it; as the LORD commanded Moses. 20 And he took and put the Testimony into the Ark, and set the staves on the Ark, and put the Mercy Seat above upon the Ark: 21 and he brought the Ark into the Tabernacle, and set up the veil of the covering, and covered the Ark of the Testimony; as the LORD commanded Moses... 25 And he lighted the lamps before the LORD; as the LORD commanded Moses... 27 as the LORD commanded Moses. 29 ...as the LORD commanded Moses. 31 as the LORD commanded Moses. 33 ...So Moses finished the work."

There is no replacement for obedience before the LORD. "as the LORD commanded Moses... So Moses finished the work." His Word is His Command, and as God, obedience is due service. "Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams" (1Samuel 15:22).

"34 Then a Cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the Glory of the LORD filled the Tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the Cloud abode thereon, and the Glory of the LORD filled the Tabernacle. 36 And when the Cloud was taken up from over the Tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: 37 But if the Cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. 38 For the Cloud of the LORD was upon the Tabernacle by day, and Fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys."


LEVITICUS
Chapter 1

And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock. 3 If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation before the LORD. 4 And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him."

The "atonement", that is, the shedding of blood for the forgiveness of sins, was instituted by the LORD to fulfill the Law. For God's Righteous Law demanded that "every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward" (Hebrews 2:2). The offering had to be "male", and had to be "without blemish" (i.e., perfect). And the moral giving of the sacrifice had to be "voluntary". The New Testament Book of Hebrews, of which the Apostle Paul is commonly thought to have authored, gives the account of this establishing as instituted by the LORD's Own servant, Moses. "19 For when Moses had spoken every Precept to all the people according to the Law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the Book, and all the people, 20 saying,

This is the blood of the Testament which God hath enjoined unto you.

21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the Tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. 22 And almost all things are by the Law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. 23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the Heavens should be purified with these; but the Heavenly Things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the True; but into Heaven itself, now to appear in the Presence of God for us: 25 nor yet that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; 26 for then must He often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now ONCE in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the Sacrifice of Himself" (Hebrews 9:19-26).

"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God" (1Peter 3:18). The "Atonement" is "at-one-ment" with God through the unselfish Sacrifice made by Jesus Christ. "We also JOY in God through our LORD Jesus Christ, by Whom we have now received The Atonement" (Romans 5:11).The fact that the word "atonement" is used only once in the New Testament testifies to the completeness of the act. "10 We are sanctified through the offering of the Body of Jesus Christ once for all... 12 But this Man, after He had offered One Sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the Right Hand of God... 14 for by One Offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified" (Hebrews 10:10,12,14).

"Who needeth NOT DAILY,
as those high priests,
to offer up sacrifice, first for His Own sins, and then for the people's:
for this He did once, when He offered up Himself"
(Hebrews 7:27).

"So Christ was once offered
to bear the sins of many;
and unto them that look for Him
shall He appear the Second Time without sin unto Salvation"
(Hebrews 9:28).

"Neither by the blood of goats and calves,
but by His Own Blood
He entered in once into the Holy Place,
having obtained Eternal Redemption for us"
(Hebrews 9:12).

If the Old Testament "patterns" and "figures" (Hebrews 9:23-24) instituted by Moses and repeated often by the priests by the offering up of the blood of animals, could work sanctification in God's people, then for us now, "how much MORE shall the BLOOD OF CHRIST, Who through the Eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, PURGE your conscience from dead works to SERVE the living God?" (Hebrews 9:14).

SIDE NOTE: A Plea to the Professing Christian Who Continues in Sin. Beloved reader, "whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him" (1John 3:6). Your assurance in Christ is only as solid as your conscience will allow. "Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, THEN have we confidence toward God" (1John 3:21). It's easy to claim Christ Jesus as your own, thereby thinking to escape the Eternal Punishment of Hell. But, "he that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked" (1John 2:6). God's Word says that the PROOF of your claim is seen in the life that you live. "He that saith, I know Him, and KEEPETH NOT His Commandments, is a liar, and the Truth is NOT in him" (1John 2:4). "But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?... For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also" (James 2:20,26). Your "knowing"-- your "assurance"-- that you are a Christian is only a product of the Holy Spirit's testimony. "And hereby we do KNOW that we know Him, IF we keep His Commandments" (1John 2:3). And the Holy Spirit is given ONLY to those who obey Him. "The Holy Ghost, Whom God hath given to them that obey Him" (Acts 5:32). Yes, Christ died that you might live-- and yes, live now in Christ as well as eternally in Heaven-- but Christ also died that you would quit sin-- the present tense committing of it! "He that committeth sin is of the Devil; for the Devil sinneth from The Beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the Devil" (1John 3:8).

That a Christian is able to sin and can fall away, yes, that shamefully happens. But he cannot sin at the same time that the Word abides in him. "We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not" (1John 5:18). The backslider has no right to the Name of Christ while in that sin. "Of how much SORER punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the Blood of the Covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?" (Hebrews 10:29). But that a Christian continues in sin-- what right has he to even call himself a Christian? It's NOT a matter of losing your Salvation. Scripture is clear that no one can lose Life that is Eternal. "My Father, which gave them Me, is Greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father's Hand" (John 10:29). But what present tense evidence is there that you EVER were a Christian? The following verses all demonstrate present tense obedience or disobedience-- and as far as man's eternal condition and knowledge are concerned, present tense defines the future.

Even in hoping what is yet to be, the present tense determines the future.

"Brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye DO these things, ye shall never fall" (2Peter 1:10).

FAITH is alive. FAITH is present tense. "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in Truth. And hereby we KNOW that we are of the Truth, and shall ASSURE our hearts before Him" (1John 3:18). What excuse can there possibly be for professing Christians to continue in sin? "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the Living God" (Hebrews 3:12). With The Gift that Christ Jesus paid for, there is NO excuse for sin. "Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with HIS OWN BLOOD" (Hebrews 13:12). Therefore, beloved, "let us draw near with a TRUE heart in FULL ASSURANCE of FAITH, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience" (Hebrews 10:22). And "keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the Mercy of our LORD Jesus Christ unto Eternal Life" (Jude 1:21).

"And we know that the Son of God is come,
and hath given us an understanding,
that we may KNOW Him that is True, and we ARE IN Him that is True,
even in His Son Jesus Christ.
This is the True God, and Eternal Life"
(1John 5:20).

NUMBERS

Numbers / Chapter 11

And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and His anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp. 2 And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the LORD, the fire was quenched. 3 And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the LORD burnt among them. 4 And the mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? 5 We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic: 6 but now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes."

"7 And the manna was as coriander seed, and the colour thereof as the colour of bdellium. 8 And the people went about, and gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in a mortar, and baked it in pans, and made cakes of it: and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil."

In the Scriptures, oil is often identified with the Holy Spirit.

"9 And when the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it. 10 Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent: and the anger of the LORD was kindled greatly; Moses also was displeased.

11 And Moses said unto the LORD, Wherefore hast Thou afflicted Thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in Thy sight, that Thou layest the burden of all this people upon me? 12 Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them, that Thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers? 13 Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat. 14 I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me. 15 And if Thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray Thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in Thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.

16 And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto Me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the Tabernacle of the Congregation, that they may stand there with thee. 17 And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the Spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone.

18 And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the LORD, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore the LORD will give you flesh, and ye shall eat. 19 Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days; 20 but even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the LORD which is among you, and have wept before Him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?

21 And Moses said, The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen; and Thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month. 22 Shall the flocks and the herds be slain for them, to suffice them? or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to suffice them?

23 And the LORD said unto Moses, Is the LORD'S hand waxed short? thou shalt see now whether My Word shall come to pass unto thee or not.

24 And Moses went out, and told the people the Words of the LORD, and gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them round about the Tabernacle. 25 And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the Spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.

"31 And there went forth a Wind from the LORD, and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp, as it were a day's journey on this side, and as it were a day's journey on the other side, round about the camp, and as it were two cubits high upon the face of the Earth. 32 And the people stood up all that day, and all that night, and all the next day, and they gathered the quails: he that gathered least gathered ten homers: and they spread them all abroad for themselves round about the camp. 33 And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague. 34 And He called the name of that place Kibrothhattaavah: because there they buried the people that lusted."

Numbers / Chapter 12
Return to Exodus 3 -- http://WhatSaithTheScripture.com/Stories/Stories.of.Faith/Moses.Servant.1.text.html#return to Exodus 3 --.

And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. 2 And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath He not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it."

When we commit sin, as Miriam and Aaron so arrogantly did here, it should cause us to tremble and quake to the point of repentance, that "the LORD heard it."

"3 (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the Earth.) 4 And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the Tabernacle of the Congregation. And they three came out."

True meekness defends God-- not self. And being the meekest man "above all the men which were upon the face of the Earth", as credited by God, Himself, Moses certainly didn't defend himself. He also didn't need to-- for the Meekest Being in Existence was about to defend him, and as none else could. "Come out ye three", "suddenly" determines the LORD, preparing the way, as Defense Attorney in the case of His servant, Moses. And then, acting also as "the Judge of all the Earth" (Genesis 18:25), He calls the two offenders to stand before Him.

"5 And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the Tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth. 6 And He said, Hear now MY Words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make Myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream."

To any "ordinary" prophet of the LORD, Divine communication comes "unto him in a vision" or "in a dream". Not so with Moses. He was NOT your "ordinary" prophet!

"7 My servant Moses is NOT so, who is FAITHFUL in all Mine house. 8 With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and NOT in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: WHEREFORE THEN were ye not afraid to speak against My servant Moses?"

With great restraint, the LORD presides over the offenders, not allowing them the freedom of opening "excuses" nor closing "arguments." His anger kindles, and He leaves them with the Judgment already executed.

"9 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and He departed. 10 And the cloud departed from off the Tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous."

"11 And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned. 12 Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother's womb."

What does the meekest man on Earth do?

"13 And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech Thee."

He intercedes to the LORD for the person who offended him. And the LORD hears a meek man, for "the meek shall inherit the Earth" (Psalm 37:11).

"14 And the LORD said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again. 15 And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again."

Numbers / Chapter 20
Return to Exodus 5 -- http://WhatSaithTheScripture.com/Stories/Stories.of.Faith/Moses.Servant.1.text.html#return to Exodus 5 --.

Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there."

We have reached the point in this recounting of Moses where the great servant of the LORD, and his siblings, are ending their sojourning on this Earth.

"2 And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.

3 And the people chided with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD! 4 And why have ye brought up the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there? 5 And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.

6 And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and the Glory of the LORD appeared unto them.

7 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 8 Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.

9 And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as He commanded him. 10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? 11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also."

Moses disobeyed the LORD. God told him to speak to the rock, not to hit it twice. It would have been more glorifying to the LORD, and had a more sanctifying effect on the people, if Moses had obeyed the LORD and brought forth the water from the rock by merely speaking the words. The LORD knew what effect He wanted. If He had wanted His servant to strike the rock, He would have told him so. But the children of Israel had provoked Moses to wrath and disobedience.

"12 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me NOT, to SANCTIFY Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them. 13 This is the water of Meribah, because the children of Israel strove with the LORD...

23 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in Mount Hor, by the coast of the land of Edom, saying, 24 Aaron shall be gathered unto his people: for he shall NOT enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against My Word at the water of Meribah... 28 And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there in the top of the mount: and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mount. 29 And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel."

More will be said of Moses' punishment and death subsequently.

Numbers / Chapter 25
Return to Exodus 3 -- http://WhatSaithTheScripture.com/Stories/Stories.of.Faith/Moses.Servant.1.text.html#return Exodus 3 --.

And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. 2 And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods. 3 And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel. 4 And the LORD said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel. 5 And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baalpeor. 6 And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a MIDIANITISH woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation."

The insult of this man "of Israel", in his bold impudence and disrespect of God's Law, to shamelessly and intentionally affront God Almighty was more than Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron, was willing to endure. His outrage at the disgrace and insolence of a fellow Hebrew against their Most Patient and Compassionate God, burned in his breast and impelled him to immediate judgment.

"7 And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand; 8 and he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel. 9 And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand. 10 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 11 Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned My wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for My sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in My jealousy. 12 Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him My Covenant of Peace: 13 and he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the Covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel."

Numbers / Chapter 27

Return to Exodus 5 -- http://WhatSaithTheScripture.com/Stories/Stories.of.Faith/Moses.Servant.1.text.html#return Exodus 5 --.
And the LORD said unto Moses, Get thee up into this Mount Abarim, and see the land which I have given unto the children of Israel. 13 And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered. 14 For ye rebelled against My Commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congre