Old Testament Stories | Grandma's Ramblings

Reading a friend’s blog today got my mind thinking about how fast this year has gone by. How fast my life is going by.

As I thought about the years already past (76) and wondered how many years lie ahead of me, I thought of the story in the Bible of Enoch.

In the genealogy of Adam, we are told:

Enoch lived 365 years, walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared, because God took him.

He lived to be 365 years old, but Enoch had such a close and intimate relationship with God that one day he just vanished—God took him.

The writer of the book of Hebrews explains what it meant that “God took him.”

It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—“he disappeared, because God took him.” For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God.

In my head I have this story.

Every day God and Enoch would take a walk. First, as a child Enoch no doubt had a lot of questions for God.

As their friendship grew, their walks got longer and longer. The childish questions became more difficult as Enoch became older, but God had no problem answering them. He was patient and loving. Every day Enoch would rise from his bed excited about another walk with God. He wondered what he would learn today.

Finally, after many years of shared moments with God they came to the end of their walk. God said, “Enoch, we are closer to my house than yours. Why don’t you just come on to my house with me?”

And Enoch happily said “YES!”

We have looked at the Golden Table of Shewbread and the Golden Lampstand. Today I will share about the third piece of furniture in the Holy Place – The altar of incense.

The altar was made of acacia wood covered with gold. It was about 18 inches square and three feet tall. It stood in the Holy Place just in front of the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.

A vessel with live coals was placed on the altar and the priest would enter the Most Holy Place and sprinkle incense on the coals every morning and every evening. (Exodus 30:7-8)

This incense was to be a special blend of fragrances and was to be used only on the altar. Anyone who made this fragrance for personal use was to be cut off from the community. (Exodus 34:34-38) The fire used to burn the incense was to be taken from the altar of burnt offerings that was outside the Holy Place.

Much of scripture associates incense to prayer. David wrote in Psalm 141, “May my prayer be counted as incense before You; The raising of my hands as the evening offering.”

When John wrote about his vision of heaven, he described a scene where he saw “the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.”

“Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne.”

Zechariah was offering the incense on the altar when the angel Gabriel appeared to him and told him he and his wife Elizabeth were going to have a son. The Gospel of Luke tells us that while Zechariah was offering the incense, the people were outside praying – again an association with the incense offering and prayer. “Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside,”

I find it interesting as we look at the Tabernacle we first come to the burnt altar, where sacrifice for sin took place. Then, we pass the golden laver where the priests washed their hands before entering the Holy Place.

This points, I believe, that as we approach God, we first stop at the cross and receive forgiveness of our sins by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Cleansed by the blood of Jesus, we still live in an imperfect world. As I shared in the post on the golden laver, we need to continue to take time to examine our hearts and minds and allow God’s Spirit to convict and then cleanse us again.

“In Biblical times, the priests would have washed at home. But walking through the dirty, dusty streets their feet could easily become dirty again. Perhaps this is a reminder to us that although we are saved by faith in Jesus and are clean, we are surrounded by a world that is far from God. Perhaps a reminder that while we are saved by faith in Jesus Christ, it can be easy for us to pick up pollution from the world around. Things we see, words we hear, actions we encounter with others. How do you embrace the holy and live in a polluted world? You must keep stopping the laver.”

As we continue our approach into the presence of God we enter the Holy Place. Here we see the golden lampstand and the golden table of shewbread, and we are reminded that Jesus is the light and the bread of life. Coming face to face with the veil separating us from the Most Holy Place we find the altar of incense – the place of prayer.

Some believe this represents Jesus interceding for us before the throne of God. “Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.” Hebrews 7:25

Others think this points to our need to make prayer a daily, constant part of our lives. “One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.” Luke 18:1

Either view to me is encouraging. That Jesus is actively interceding for me, that He is aware of me and my strengths and failures. It is a comfort to know that He did not just die on the cross, arise again and return to heaven waiting until He returns someday. But He is actively involved in my walk with God.

It also comforts me to know that the prayers of God’s people are shown in John’s vision of heaven to ascend before God’s throne. He hears my prayers. It is a sweet-smelling fragrance to him.

As we communicate with God at the golden altar of incense, we are getting close to actually entering the Most Holy Place – the very presence of God.

How do we do that? What does the veil separating the priest from the Most Holy Place tell us about our relationship with God today?

I’ll be addressing that next Sunday. Hope you join me then.

In the meantime, know that God loves you and wants to hear from you. Spend time in prayer with Him this week.

The Outer Court of the Tabernacle was 75 by 150 feet and was enclosed by a fence of linen curtains attached to poles made of acacia wood overlaid with gold.

We have looked at the outer court which contained the bronze altar:

and the bronze laver:

Being Cleansed by God’s Word

After passing the bronze altar and the bronze laver in the outer court you come to the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. Together these two places measured 15 feet wide and 45 feet long. The Holy Place was 15 feet wide and 30 feet long leaving the Most Holy Place to be 15 feet wide and 15 feet long.

What does the Bible mean when it uses the word “holy.” It means to be separated and consecrated for a specific purpose. It often describes God – his nature, his actions.

To demonstrate what it means to be holy, God first set apart the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to be a holy nation to demonstrate to the world what it meant to live holy and for God. He instituted the law to show what was right and wrong, as well as to institute rules to help keep people clean, saying, “For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming thing that crawls on the ground” (Leviticus 11:44). Of course, Jesus would later clarify that it is not what someone brings into their body that defiles them and makes them unrighteous, but what comes out of the mouth and the heart. Today, striving for holiness means having a relationship with God defined by obedience to His will and being shaped to have His character; “For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness” (1 Thessalonians 4:7). Being holy makes the believer set apart from the evils of the world and useful for His kingdom. (biblestudytools.com)

The Tabernacle pointed to God’s desire to be with his people. “Have the people of Israel build me a holy sanctuary so I can live among them.” Exodus 25:8

But the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place highlighted God’s holiness and that sin caused a separation from God. “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.” Isaiah 59:1-4

This was, and is, the dilemma God has faced between His desire to have a relationship with man and the holiness of his nature which cannot include sin. The Holy Place and the Most Holy Place were the first step in crossing that chasm between sinful man and a holy God.

The roof was made of four coverings: linen, goat hair, ram skin, and badger skin. There were three articles of furniture in the Holy Place: The golden lampstand, the golden table of showbread and the golden altar of incense. Next week I will take a look at those pieces of furniture and how the apply to our walk with God today.

Only the priests could enter the Holy Place. They could not just casually walk in. There were requirements for how they dressed, how they washed themselves and much more. In the Holy Place they performed duties which contributed to the people’s worship of God.

In Deuteronomy 33:10 we are told their duties included teaching the Israelites God’s commands, offering the sacrifices on the bronze altar (for forgiveness of sin) and offering incense on the golden altar (which represented their prayers to God).

The whole book of Leviticus is devoted to instructions about holiness (being set apart, separate)—both God’s holiness and the holiness required of those who would have a relationship with him.

All of the furnishings and sacrifices of the Tabernacle pointed to the coming Messiah and his work to bridge that gap between sinful man and a holy God. I will touch more on that when I write about the Most Holy Place. For now, I will just say “Thank God for the sacrifice of Jesus that allows me to enter into his presence.”

Today God has said that we are to be priests.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 1 Peter 2:9

you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5

What does it mean when the Bible calls us priests? Like the duties of the Old Testament priests, I submit that we are to teach others about God’s Word. How can we do that if we do not know God’s Word ourselves?

Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15

We also stand between others and God as we pray and intercede that they would come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. James 5:16

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 1 Timothy 2:1

Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, Ephesians 6:18

But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Matthew 5:44

As we look at all the rules and regulations contained in Leviticus and the limitations of mankind’s access to a holy God, I am so grateful for the cross and the empty tomb and what it gave to me. I also take seriously the call for me to be a priest for God, to share with others the salvation plan and to pray daily for my family, my neighbors, my enemies and my country.

Our country is in desperate need of a return to God. Will you join me in prayer each day for our nation?

Last week I looked at the bronze altar where the sacrifices were made in the tabernacle.

Today I look at the bronze laver.

After you passed the bronze altar where the sacrifices were made there was still one more piece of furniture stationed before the entrance to the Holy Place. It was the bronze laver.

Exodus 38:8 tells us that the laver was made from the mirrors of the women. Moses was told in Exodus 30, “You are to make a bronze basin with a bronze stand for washing. Set it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water into it, with which Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet. Whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting or approach the altar to minister by presenting an offering made by fire to the LORD, they must wash with water so that they will not die. Thus they are to wash their hands and feet so that they will not die; this shall be a permanent statute for Aaron and his descendants for the generations to come.”

The Bible does not tell us the dimensions of this laver. Later, when Solomon built the Temple he made a huge laver called the Sea. It was 7 1/2 feet deep and 45 feet around. He rested it on a base 15 feet from rim to rim with figures of oxen beneath it. It could hold 16,500 gallons of water. It must have been quite impressive.

How does the laver relate to our worship today?

First, I suggest the idea since it was made from the women’s mirrors, perhaps we need to take time to reflect on our own life and our own attitudes as we approach God in worship. A time of self-examination.

“For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.” James 1: 22-25

Second, the priests were to wash their hands and feet before they approached the Holy Place or offered any sacrifices on the bronze altar.

In Biblical times, the priests would have washed at home. But walking through the dirty, dusty streets their feet could easily become dirty again. Perhaps this is a reminder to us that although we are saved by faith in Jesus and are clean, we are surrounded by a world that is far from God. Perhaps a reminder that while we are saved by faith in Jesus Christ, it can be easy for us to pick up pollution from the world around. Things we see, words we hear, actions we encounter with others.

P Douglas Small asks an important question.

“How do you clean up a polluted world and yet keep your heart pure? How do you get deeply involved with sinners who need salvation without becoming involved in their sin? How do you embrace the holy and live in a polluted world? You must keep stopping the laver.”

“For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.” Ephesians 5:25-26

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

“How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word.” Psalm 119:9

“Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11

Let us keep going back to the Word of God. “Dusty Bibles equal dirty hearts.”

Many who study the Bible never really look at the Old Testament and the truths of the Tabernacle found there. But much of the Bible is revealed in a study of the Tabernacle.

More than 50 chapters are devoted to the details of the Tabernacle.
In Exodus chapters 25-40 give guidance on the construction of the Tabernacle.
Leviticus contains 18 chapters on the function of the Tabernacle.
Deuteronomy has 2 chapters on the Tabernacle.
Hebrews shares a New Testament commentary on the Tabernacle in 4 chapters.
Revelation gives images of the Tabernacle (Temple) in heaven.

The people were told that the purpose of the Tabernacle in the Old Testament was so God could dwell with them.

“Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.” Exodus 25:8

We see in Revelation that God’s desire is still to dwell among us.

“Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.” Revelation 21:3

John tells us in his first chapter that “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” The Greek word translated “dwelt among us” literally means “tabernacled.” “sojourned” among us. Jesus was the “tabernacle” the dwelling place of God among us while He was on earth.

We know that was the point of the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus – to make us able to have a relationship with God.

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16

As we look at the Tabernacle, we notice that there was only one gate – only one way to enter.

This clearly points to Jesus:

“Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures.” John 10:9

“I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father by through me.” John 14:6

I AM – Jesus used these words several times in the Gospels. In Matthew 22:32 He basically quotes Exodus 3:6.

‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. So he is the God of the living, not the dead.” Matthew 22:32

“‘I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God.” Exodus 3:6

Later Jesus made it plan that he was calling Himself God. The people recognized His claim because they tried to stone Him for blasphemy.

“The people said, “You aren’t even fifty years old. How can you say you have seen Abraham?” Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I am! At that point they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus was hidden from them and left the Temple.” John 8:57-59

THE WAY– Jesus did not say I am “a” way. He said He was “the” way. In today’s culture, I know it is not politically correct to say there is only one way. A person can reject Christianity, but if they accept the Bible, they have to accept the claims of Jesus.

THE TRUTH – Again Jesus used the definite article to that He is the only truth. Jesus demonstrated this on HIs Sermon on the Mount. He pointed out different commandments they had and then said “but I say unto you” placing His truth above what the culture of the day said.

THE LIFE – Strange in a way that as Jesus is talking about his death, He claims to be “the” source of life. He claimed because He lived, we would too.

“Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.” John 14:19

He claimed He was giving us abundant life.

“I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10

As a follower of Jesus I believe He was promising eternal life after this life. But more than that, I believe He was promising a real life of freedom from condemnation, of joy even in difficult times. Abundant life consists of abundance of love, joy, peace, and the rest of the fruits of the Spirit found in Galatians 5.

In following Jesus I have found true joy. I love this picture of Jesus! To me, this is how I picture Him.

I started the study of the Tabernacle and how it relates to the principles of worship in 2021. Along the way I got sidetracked with other things. This week as I was praying, I came across my notes on the study I started.

I want to complete that study. So here is the first blog I posted on it. Stay tuned for more posts. (This time I must complete it. My notes I came across have me excited to return to this study. Hope you will follow me through it.

The Tabernacle of Old Testament and Our Worship Today

Recently I heard a sermon about the fourth man – from the book of Daniel. Powerful!

Chapter 3 of Daniel tells us the story of the three Hebrew children, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. When they refused to worship the image of King Nebuchadnezzar they were bound and cast into a fiery furnace.

I love their response to the king’s threat. “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

After they were thrown into the furnace, something miraculous happened. The king looked in and asked his servants: “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire? Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”

The minister sharing this story asked: Who was this fourth man?

The website, “Got Questions” tells us who this fourth man is. In every book of the Bible, he is revealed.

Genesis — Jesus is the Word of God, creating the heavens and the earth; He is the promised Seed of the woman
Exodus — Jesus is the Passover Lamb
Leviticus — Jesus is the high priest and representative of the tabernacle; He is the lampstand, He is the showbread, and He is the sacrifice on the altar
Numbers — Jesus is the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night and the smitten rock that gives living water
Deuteronomy — Jesus is the prophet greater than Moses
Joshua — Jesus is the Commander of the Army of the Lord, leading His people into the Promised Land
Judges — Jesus is the true and final judge
Ruth — Jesus is the kinsman redeemer
1 & 2 Samuel — Jesus is the anointed shepherd king who slays the giant
1 & 2 Kings — Jesus is the righteous King of Kings and Lord of Lords
1 & 2 Chronicles — Jesus is the faithful restorer of the kingdom
Ezra — Jesus is the faithful restorer of the temple
Nehemiah — Jesus is the redeeming rebuilder of the walls
Esther — Jesus is the sovereign protector of His people
Job — Jesus is the living redeemer and our true comforter
Psalms — Jesus is the Good Shepherd who hears our cries
Proverbs — Jesus is wisdom
Ecclesiastes — Jesus is the meaning of life
Song of Solomon — Jesus is the loving bridegroom coming for His bride
Isaiah — Jesus is the promised Messiah; the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace; the Suffering Servant wounded for our transgression and bruised for our iniquities
Jeremiah — Jesus is the Potter and the Righteous Branch
Lamentations — Jesus is the weeping prophet
Ezekiel — Jesus is the river of life, bringing healing to the nations
Daniel — Jesus is the fourth man in the fiery furnace
Hosea — Jesus is the ever-faithful husband pursuing His unfaithful bride
Joel — Jesus is the restorer of what the locusts have eaten and the One who will pour His Spirit on His people
Amos — Jesus is the burden-bearer and the true restoration
Obadiah — Jesus is the judge of all the earth and mighty to save
Jonah — Jesus is the salvation of all lands and the prophet cast out in the storm who spent three days in the depths
Micah — Jesus is the promised Messiah born in Bethlehem
Nahum — Jesus is the avenger of God’s elect
Habakkuk — Jesus is the reason for rejoicing and our strength even when the fields are empty
Zephaniah — Jesus is the preserver and restorer of His remnant and kingdom
Haggai — Jesus is the desire of all nations
Zechariah — Jesus is the cleansing fountain and the pierced Son whom every eye on earth will one day behold
Malachi — Jesus is the Sun of Righeousness, rising with healing in His wings; He is the refiner’s fire
Matthew — Jesus is the King of the Jews
Mark — Jesus is the Servant King
Luke — Jesus is the Son of Man
John — Jesus is the Son of God, the Word made flesh who dwelt among us, and the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world
Acts — Jesus is the risen Lord, bringing salvation to all nations
Romans — Jesus is our justification and the righteousness of God
1 Corinthians — Jesus is the Rock
2 Corinthians — Jesus is our triumph, sanctifying the church
Galatians — Jesus is the liberation that fulfills the law and sets us free
Ephesians — Jesus is the head of the church who gives us God’s armor
Philippians — Jesus is our joy
Colossians — Jesus is the firstborn of all creation and the head of the church
1 Thessalonians — Jesus is coming again with a trumpet and a shout to meet believers in the clouds
2 Thessalonians — Jesus is believers’ patience as they await His return
1 Timothy — Jesus is our mediator between God and man
2 Timothy — Jesus is the Seed of David, raised from the dead, and our salvation
Titus — Jesus is our blessed hope and our faithful pastor
Philemon — Jesus is our Redeemer, restoring us to effective service
Hebrews — Jesus is our High Priest and the author and finisher of our faith
James — Jesus is the One at work in our faith in action
1 Peter — Jesus is the Living Stone, the Chief Cornerstone, and the Rock of Offense
2 Peter — Jesus is the faithful, longsuffering Lord, not willing that any should perish but offering salvation to all
1 John — Jesus is love and the true and eternal God
2 John — Jesus is the truth by which we walk in love
3 John — Jesus is all that is good and a hospitable host
Jude — Jesus is the One who keeps us from stumbling and presents us blameless with great joy
Revelation — Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and end, the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords

Last Sunday I heard a sermon based on Ephesians 2 contrasting the difference between what we were before we accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior with what we were after that acceptance.

“And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.”

“who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”

This got me to thinking of how many times those words “but God” show that when God steps into a situation, things change.

One big example of this is in the story of Joseph. Sold by his brothers into slavery, when they finally met him as the second in command of Egypt they feared for their lives. Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Genesis 50:19-20

After Jacob sought to return to the land of his father, Isaac, his father-in-law followed him to try to bring him back. “he took his kinsmen with him and pursued him for seven days and followed close after him into the hill country of Gilead. But God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream by night and said to him, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.’” Genesis 31:23-24

Jacob spoke to his father-in-law of God’s protection. “If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, you would surely have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my hardship and the toil of my hands, and last night he rebuked you.” Genesis 31:42

When David hid from King Saul who was trying to kill him, God protected him. “David stayed in the desert strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands.” 1 Samuel 23:14

Other great verses that show how God intervenes and that changes everything.

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26

“Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’” Matthew 19:26

“You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead.” Acts 3:15

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard . . . the things which God has prepared for those who love Him . . . But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 2:10

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able . . .” 1 Corinthians 10:13

“The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all.” Psalm 34:19

These verses tell us that our circumstances DO NOT get the last word.

I think of many times in my life when death, disease, betrayal, financial difficulties, even when my faith wavered, BUT GOD intervened.

There is a song that has been going through my mind all this week. When I wake up in the middle of the night, it is there. When I put down the book I am reading to get a drink, it is there. When I take a shower, it is there.

The song is by Big Daddy Weave and is called “I am Redeemed.”

This song has me thinking about those words. What does it mean to a Christian to say I am redeemed? Why do we refer to Jesus as our Redeemer?

In the Old Testament we see a role for the next of kin to step in and help when a man could not perform a duty for his family. This nearest living blood relative became know as the “redeemer” or the “avenger” of blood.

One of the duties of the redeemer was to buy back land that his next of kin might have lost due to selling his land to pay his debts.

“‘If one of your fellow Israelites becomes poor and sells some of their property, their nearest relative is to come and redeem what they have sold.” Leviticus 25:25

The Law of Moses established the principle that God was the owner of the land and Israel was his tenant. Therefore, the land was to stay with the original tribe or family that owned it. The redeemer would be someone in the family that stepped in and restored the land back to the one who had lost it by selling it to pay a debt.

“The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine. For you are strangers and sojourners with me.” Leviticus 2:23

The kinsman-redeemer would also be responsible to help preserve the family line by stepping in and marrying his brother’s widow when there were no children to inherit the brother’s possessions.

“If brothers are living together and one of them dies without a son, his widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother shall take her and marry her and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her. The first son she bears shall carry on the name of the dead brother so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel.” Deuteronomy 25:5-6

This duty of the kinsman-redeemer is beautifully told in the story of Boaz and Ruth.

A third responsibility of the kinsman-redeemer was to see that justice was served if a member of his family was killed. He was to bring the charges of murder before the elders in a city of refuge. (The cities of refuge were places set apart where someone who had killed someone could flee to until a trial determined if the death was accidental manslaughter or murder.) If the elders of a city refuge decided the person was guilty of murder the kinsman-redeemer would execute judgment on the man. This is explained fully in Deuteronomy 19.

So Jesus is our kinsman-redeemer.

He meets the requirement of being a close relative.

“Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.” Hebrews 2:11

“Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” Mark 3:34-35

He took on Himself our sins and paid the debt we could not pay

“When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.” Colossians 2:13-14.

He has granted us the right to an inheritance with Him. Through Him the inheritance we lost when Adam and Eve sinned and death came into the world, has been restored to us.

“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ…”

Finally, He sees that justice is done. First, by taking on Himself the penalty of sin and declaring us righteous. We do not have to find a city of refuge to hid in but can walk freely knowing we are made worthy by Him.

“Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:4-6

Finally, we know some day total and complete justice will prevail.

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.” Matthew 25:31

While reading through Genesis this year with my husband, I again questioned the story of Abraham.

Abraham is honored and recognized as an important part of three religions: Jewish, Christian and Islam.

James in the New Testament tells us he was “the friend of God.” His story is told in Hebrews 11 – the Faith Chapter – where we are told it is by faith that he left his homeland and journeyed to an unknown land. Over and over the Bible points to Abraham as an example of great faith.

Yet as I read the story of Abraham, I find a couple of times when I question “where was his faith” and ask myself “how could he do that?”

Twice in the story of Abraham we are told that he asked his wife to tell everyone she was his sister. There was some truth to that as it appears he was his half-sister.

“She is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife” Genesis 20:12

But the reason he wanted her to tell people this “half-truth” was to protect himself and was therefore deceitful.

“As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, ‘I know what a beautiful woman you are. When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you’”. Genesis 12:11-13

Genesis 20 tells us of a second time he asked Sarah to basically lie to protect his life. This time the ruler actually sent for Sarah and had her taken to his palace where he would make her his wife.

While protecting himself, what kind of protection was he giving Sarah? She could have been forced into having a sexual relationship with the ruler over her own objections.

In both of these situations God was merciful to Abraham and Sarah. In spite of their weakness, He miraculously protected both of them and allowed them to return to Canaan.

Clearly Abraham was not showing much faith in God’s ability to keep them safe. I wondered what Sarah felt in these situations.

As I read these stories my first reaction was “How could he be called a man of faith, a friend of God when he showed such lack of faith. How could he treat his wife this way?”

The more I thought about it, the more I realized Abraham’s story is a source of hope for me. Here is a man who had moments of doubt. A man who sometimes made wrong decisions. A man who sometimes was selfish. Yet here was a man who over all did trust God and seek to obey him.

In Abraham I see remarkable faith and incredible doubt. His story actually encourages me. Perhaps I can see myself. His story reminds me that even when I fail in my walk with God, God does not desert me. He does not cast me aside as totally worthless for His kingdom. It shows me that God uses imperfect people.

I began to think of others in the Bible who, like me, sometimes failed to live up to God’s standards, yet was still used of God.

“Jacob was a cheater, Peter had a temper, David had an affair, Noah got drunk, Jonah ran from God, Paul was a murderer, Gideon was insecure, Miriam was a gossiper, Martha was a worrier, Thomas was a doubter, Sarah was impatient, Elijah was depressed, Moses stuttered, Zaccheus was short, Abraham was old, and Lazarus was dead…God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualified the Called!”….Vetus Ordo

His story reminds me no matter how long I may walk with God, how “spiritual” I am become, I am not perfect. I can make poor decisions. I can disobey. It reminds me to continually check my relationship with Jesus.

“Therefore let the one who thinks he stands watch out that he does not fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:12

The King James version of the Bible says “Take heed that you do not fall.” ”Take heed” means “to watch carefully, be careful, be vigilant, or be on the lookout.”

Thank you, Abraham, for encouraging me that God can and will use me in spite of my failures. Thank you for reminding me to watch carefully and be vigilant that I do not drift in my relationship with God.