The Rest Of
The Story...
SUNDAY
Precious Stones
God gave Moses specific instructions about the garments that the Priest would wear. They were designed by God and must have been beautiful.
“2 And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty.
3 And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.
4 And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.
5 And they shall take gold, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen.” (Exodus 28:2-5)
The part that I wish I could see most of all is the breastplate with precious stones and chains of pure gold.
“17 And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be the first row.
18 And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond.
19 And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst.
20 And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their inclosings.
21 And the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet; every one with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes.
22 And thou shalt make upon the breastplate chains at the ends of wreathen work of pure gold.” (Exodus 28:17-22)
I never got to see these beautiful garments, but, I will see precious stones when I get to heaven. These won’t be small stones, but the foundations in that beautiful city!
“18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.
19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.” (Revelation 21:18-22)
MONDAY
The Fall Of Jericho
In Chapter 6 of the book of Joshua we have the story of the fall of Jericho. There are many strategies of war found in the Bible given by God that you will not find in any other pages of history. We saw how Pharaoh and his entire army were drowned when they followed the Israelites across the dry ground of the Red Sea and God commanded the waters to return at full force. I have read how people tried to explain why the walls fell around the city of Jericho. I can tell you why they fell. Because God said they would fall. Can you imagine the people inside the city when they saw seven priests with trumpets of rams’ horns and the Ark of the Covenant, and the men of war marching towards them? They were probably ready to fight, but the army returned to their camp. I wonder how many Israelites marched around the city. Joshua 4:13 tells us that they had 40,000 armed men. “About forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the LORD unto battle, to the plains of Jericho.” Can you imagine if all 40,000 men marched around the city? Then, the second day, the army marched around the city again and returned to camp. Each day must have increased the fear of the people inside the city. The seventh day they marched around seven times and shouted and the walls fell. I would like to spend time with Rahab and listen to her tell me how it was inside the city walls. Then she could tell me the rest of the story of how she became a part of the Israelite people.
“10 And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout.
11 So the ark of the LORD compassed the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp.
12 And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD.
13 And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the rereward came after the ark of the LORD, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.
14 And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days.
15 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times.
16 And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city.
20 So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.” (Joshua 6:10-16 & 20)
TUESDAY
Why Wasn’t Aaron Killed With The Rest Of The People After The Golden Calf?
Sometimes I have questions when I am reading and I find the answers later on in my reading. After Aaron was left in charge while Moses was on the mount with God, he made a golden calf to be their god. Aaron had been used by God when He sent the plagues on Egypt. Aaron had been on the mount and seen God. “Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel: And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness.” (Exodus 24:9-10) How could he made a false god? That question I can’t answer. The Levites carried out the judgment of God. Aaron was a Levite, did he help or stand back and watch in his guilt? “And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.” (Exodus 32:28) The next question is one I can answer. Why weren’t all the people destroyed? Why wasn’t Aaron killed , since he was the leader in the sin? Moses gives us the answer in the book of Deuteronomy. Moses fell down before the Lord 40 days and 40 nights and prayed for the people and for Aaron.
“13 Furthermore the LORD spake unto me, saying, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people:
14 Let me alone, that I may destroy them, and blot out their name from under heaven: and I will make of thee a nation mightier and greater than they.
15 So I turned and came down from the mount, and the mount burned with fire: and the two tables of the covenant were in my two hands.
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.” (Deuteronomy 9:13-20)
WEDNESDAY
Did David Really Plan To Fight With The Philistines Against King Saul And Israel?
The question today is one that I think of every time I read the end of I Samuel. King Saul was jealous of David after he killed the giant, “And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” (I Samuel 18:7) The King tried on several occasions to kill David. David finally fled to the land of the Philistines and made a friendship with the King of Gath. “And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men. And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever.” (I Samuel 28:1-2) David and his men joined the Philistines on their way to the battle.
“3 Then said the princes of the Philistines, What do these Hebrews here? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, which hath been with me these days, or these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell unto me unto this day?
4 And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Make this fellow return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he be an adversary to us: for wherewith should he reconcile himself unto his master? should it not be with the heads of these men?
5 Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands?
6 Then Achish called David, and said unto him, Surely, as the LORD liveth, thou hast been upright, and thy going out and thy coming in with me in the host is good in my sight: for I have not found evil in thee since the day of thy coming unto me unto this day: nevertheless the lords favour thee not.
7 Wherefore now return, and go in peace, that thou displease not the lords of the Philistines.
8 And David said unto Achish, But what have I done? and what hast thou found in thy servant so long as I have been with thee unto this day, that I may not go fight against the enemies of my lord the king?” (I Samuel 29:3-8)
So David and his men returned to Ziklag and found that the Amalekites had taken their women captive and burned the city. David and his men went and recovered all. “And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor any thing that they had taken to them: David recovered all. And David took all the flocks and the herds, which they drave before those other cattle, and said, This is David's spoil.” (I Samuel 30:19-20) King Saul and his three sons were killed in the battle against the Philistines. And my question arises, “Did David really plan to fight with the Philistines against King Saul and Israel? Maybe David was planning to rescue King Saul and his good friend Jonathan.
THURSDAY
Elijah And Elisha
Won’t it be wonderful to sit down and talk with the great prophets, Elijah and Elisha! Elijah who told King Ahab that it would not rain, and it didn’t rain for three and a half years. God provided him food from a raven and a poor widow. Elijah, who withstood all the false prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. The same Elijah who heard God speak in a still small voice and went to heaven in a chariot of fire with horses of fire. Yes, it will be great to talk with Elijah. And I also want to talk with Elisha, the prophet who followed after him. Not only to them, but to the widow that Elisha made her oil to keep flowing into various vessels, and to the little maid of Naaman’s wife who told of the great prophet. I want to meet the woman of Shunem that Elisha promised a son, and then brought him back to life after he died. After I talk with them I want to find Daniel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Jonah, and so many more. We have the words of the prophets in our Bible, but it will be great to talk with them and hear more of the rest of their stories.
“7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.
8 And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.
9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.
10 And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.
11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.
13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;
14 And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.” (II Kings 2:7-14)
FRIDAY
Is Esther The Queen Mentioned In Nehemiah 2:6?
I enjoy the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther. We often think of Esther as being the queen who was in the palace “for such a time as this” to save the lives of the Jews. (Esther 4:14) Have you ever really thought of what these young women did? After King Ahasuerus banished Queen Vashti, all the beautiful young women of his kingdom were gathered so that he could choose a new queen. This was more than a beauty pageant. After waiting a year, each young lady spent the night with the king and if she was not chosen and called by name, then she became a concubine of the king. She lost her freedom to get married and have a family. Esther was chosen to be the queen.
“12 Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;)
13 Then thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king's house.
14 In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name.” (Esther 2:12-14)
The book of Nehemiah takes place after the book of Esther. Both books take place in Shushan the palace. Nehemiah was the king’s cupbearer and he was sad over the condition of Jerusalem. He went before the king and Nehemiah 2:6 says, “(the queen also sitting by him,)”. We are not told the queen’s name, but I believe this is Queen Esther. What other reason would there be for telling us the queen was present? And if it was Queen Esther then she may have been an influence to the king in favor of the Jews. Nehemiah goes back to Jerusalem and rebuilds the walls, in spite of all the opposition he faces. If you have not read the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther recently I encourage you to read them.
“1 And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence.
2 Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid,
3 And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?
4 Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.
5 And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it.
6 And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.” (Nehemiah 2:1-6)
SATURDAY
Were There Dinosaurs In The Bible?
Little girls like unicorns. They look like ponies with a shimmery, glittery horn on their head. They are pink and purple or other colors of the rainbow and we often tell them that there is no such thing as a unicorn. Oh, but there once were unicorns. They were not as we see them today. Unicorns were strong and fierce.
“9 Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib?
10 Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee?
11 Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? or wilt thou leave thy labour to him?” (Job 39:9-11)
God’s Word also tells us of dragons and leviathan, a creature of old. “In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea.” (Isaiah 27:1)
Leviathan was a mighty, terrible, fire breathing creature.
“14 Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about.
15 His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal.
16 One is so near to another, that no air can come between them.
17 They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered.
18 By his neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
19 Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out.
20 Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron.
21 His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.
22 In his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before him.
23 The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm in themselves; they cannot be moved.
24 His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether millstone.” (Job 41:14-24)
God also tells us of behemoth in Job 40.
“15 Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox.
16 Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly.
17 He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together.
18 His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron.” (Job 40:15-18)
Could these mighty animals have been dinosaurs?
