King James Version, with Nii Okai's journal notes · 6 notes
1And it came to pass on the eighth day, that Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel;
2And he said unto Aaron, Take thee a young calf for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering, without blemish, and offer them before the LORD.
3And unto the children of Israel thou shalt speak, saying, Take ye a kid of the goats for a sin offering; and a calf and a lamb, both of the first year, without blemish, for a burnt offering;
4Also a bullock and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before the LORD; and a meat offering mingled with oil: for to day the LORD will appear unto you.
5And they brought that which Moses commanded before the tabernacle of the congregation: and all the congregation drew near and stood before the LORD.
Stood before the Lord.
Was the cloud 🌥 on the tabernacle at this time? Oh, I can imagine the feeling and the sight.
But even as I pen down these things, I am reminded that we have it more glorious.
The cloud 🌥 of glory is right here in us. In our hearts. The Lord himself lives inside of us, not outside in some building, but right in us.
Deeper than our skins. Oh God, it's awesome.
6And Moses said, This is the thing which the LORD commanded that ye should do: and the glory of the LORD shall appear unto you.
7And Moses said unto Aaron, Go unto the altar, and offer thy sin offering, and thy burnt offering, and make an atonement for thyself, and for the people: and offer the offering of the people, and make an atonement for them; as the LORD commanded.
8Aaron therefore went unto the altar, and slew the calf of the sin offering, which was for himself.
9And the sons of Aaron brought the blood unto him: and he dipped his finger in the blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar, and poured out the blood at the bottom of the altar:
10But the fat, and the kidneys, and the caul above the liver of the sin offering, he burnt upon the altar; as the LORD commanded Moses.
11And the flesh and the hide he burnt with fire without the camp.
12And he slew the burnt offering; and Aaron’s sons presented unto him the blood, which he sprinkled round about upon the altar.
I wonder if there is any particular reason the blood was sprinkled round about the altar and not anywhere else.
13And they presented the burnt offering unto him, with the pieces thereof, and the head: and he burnt them upon the altar.
14And he did wash the inwards and the legs, and burnt them upon the burnt offering on the altar.
15And he brought the people’s offering, and took the goat, which was the sin offering for the people, and slew it, and offered it for sin, as the first.
16And he brought the burnt offering, and offered it according to the manner.
17And he brought the meat offering, and took an handful thereof, and burnt it upon the altar, beside the burnt sacrifice of the morning.
18He slew also the bullock and the ram for a sacrifice of peace offerings, which was for the people: and Aaron’s sons presented unto him the blood, which he sprinkled upon the altar round about,
19And the fat of the bullock and of the ram, the rump, and that which covereth the inwards, and the kidneys, and the caul above the liver:
20And they put the fat upon the breasts, and he burnt the fat upon the altar:
21And the breasts and the right shoulder Aaron waved for a wave offering before the LORD; as Moses commanded.
22And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering of the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and peace offerings.
23And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people.
This seems to suggest that the cloud 🌥 of glory was not on the tabernacle at this time and came after the rites were completed, and even fired 🔥 up the altar.
24And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.
The people shouted for joy, some versions said.
Was it a cry of fear 😱, and they bowed down in awe, or was it a shout of joy?
Either way, from my perspective, daily seeing that cloud 🌥 of glory was more than enough to inspire awe and confidence in God.
I think it is this confidence in God always that he desires.
Come to think 🤔 of it, this daily cloud 🌥 of glory was present even on the days Israel hungered and thirsted in the wilderness.
Hmm 🤔, was this some test from God to see how far they would trust in him?
Because see, the glory never left 👈; he wanted to know for how long these people would hold on to faith.
Hmm 🤔, interesting. The ways of God.
It's easier said than done, because all of the 2 million plus people failed this test of faith save two.
Hmm 🤔... It really is easier said than done.
This was one of the challenges of God with Israel.
They saw his mighty signs and wonders... So in times of want and trials he expected them to wait on him in faith,
but rather they murmured and complained until God responded, though angry and frustrated 😤 at their murmurings.
God's nature 🏞 is to respond to faith, faithful waiting, but in Israel's case, and I guess sometimes in our Christian walk,
he, God, for his name's sake, responds to our unbelief.
Though after a while he started punishing Israel for their murmurings and killed them eventually.
Thank you Lord for your goodness and mercy. I choose the way of faith. Thank you 🙏
And they were going to betray him later in difficult times, despite having seen the Lord visibly.
Humans are just like that.