Exodus 48 Part 2 - Exod. 20:18-26 - IF YOU BUILD ME AN ALTAR

LESSON 48 PART 2

In part 2 of lesson 48 we learn that the Lord implies to all Israel that they need to be in His word; they need to remember His awesomeness, His power, His absolute greatness, and that He is God and God alone, the only God who does and will judge and punish sin.  He suggests this by saying His people need to remember what the Lord showed them and what they SAW at Sinai.  God said this was to prove Himself so that Israel would remember and thus be prevented from sin and turning from the Lord.

So, for us, this seems to suggest we need to emphasize His written word.  We too need to remember His awesomeness, His power, His absolute greatness, and that He is God and God alone, the only God who does and will judge and punish sin.  We need His written word to shows us the goal, the target, the whole purpose of His written word, and that is JESUS!  

But, you are not going to understand this if you just read the Bible.  There is a Bible you can buy called the ONE YEAR BIBLE.  Link to the One Year Bible -  https://www.amazon.com/One-Year-Bible-NLT/dp/1414302045 and here's a link to the website where you can simply download the reading plan and use your own Bible - https://oneyearbibleonline.com/?version=51&startmmdd=0101 The reading schedule gives you scriptures to read daily.  If you follow the schedule you will read the entire Bible in one year.  This is an awesome tool. 

But, just reading the Bible will NOT answer the big questions.  In the Bible there is NO scripture that says Jesus is God.  You will not find it anywhere.  Also, since all they had was the Hebrew Scriptures in Jesus' day, the Old Testament, one asks what is the GOSPEL?  What is the good news?  By reading the Bible only, again which is a very good thing, it will not give you the deeper and more expanded idea of what the gospel really is. 

It is like asking where in the Bible does is say abortion is a sin?  It doesn't!  No where.  But it does!!  God said this ...

"When the LORD your God cuts off before you the nations which you are going in to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land, beware that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, 'How do these nations serve their gods, that I also may do likewise?' "You shall not behave thus toward the LORD your God, for every abominable act which the LORD hates they have done for their gods; for they even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods. "Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to nor take away from it. 
(Deu 12:29-32)

God said don't do what the pagans do!  What did the pagans do?  They practiced sex outside of marriage.  It was part of their temple rituals to their gods.  God said don't do what they do.  So, God just condemned pre-marital sex!  Also, the pagans practiced abortion.  Yes, many pagan nations did child sacrifice but I am specifically talking about abortion.  The Ancient Greeks said abortion was legal.  Rome as well.  And an ancient Egyptian papyrus was found dated to the 15th century B.C., at least 100 years before the Exodus, which was a medical book.  In that medical book it specified specific techniques for abortion.  Imagine, the Hebrews were in Egypt for all those years in a culture that practiced abortion.   And, what did God say?  He said don't do what these pagans do.  They did abortion.  So, God is saying abortion is a major sin, an abomination.  You'll only get this from Bible study and not just reading the Bible.  We need both.  But you can't have one without the other.

Here are two links to read about that Egyptian papyrus and that Egypt did practice abortion prior to Moses' day.

Link 1 - https://muvs.org/en/topics/termination-of-pregnancy/abortion-in-antiquity-en/

Link 2 - https://ancientegyptianfacts.com/ancient-egypt-abortion.html#google_vignette

Everyone in those days had gods and rituals and temples and a worldview.  Pagan religion had altars to sacrifice to their gods.  The Lord, Adonai (His name is יהוה‎ probably pronounced YAH VAY not YAH WAY since there is no "W" sound in Hebrew) probably knew that His people would want to also use altars as part of their praise and thanksgiving to Adonai.   So, the Lord gives specific directions on ho altars to be used for Him are to be built.  Amazingly archaeology gives us insights into why the Lord gave these detailed specific instructions.  Once again it has to do with all the pagan nations around the Hebrews.   Once again God is saying DON'T BE LIKE THEM and separate yourselves from them and what they do.  God's instructions for altars separates His people from the ancient pagans.  But, that is for us as well.  Paul is only being a good Torah teacher when he wrote ...

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; (Eph 5:1-7)

Just as the Lord instructed His chosen so does the Lord instruct us, His chosen in Yeshua, in Messiah, in Christ, not to do what the pagans do.  It is right there in front of us.  And you do not learn this by simply reading the Bible.  Study.  Study.  Study.  May His word be absorbed by you BODY and MIND and SPIRIT since God's word is His bread of life as we read in Deut. 8:3.

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0