Exodus chapters 37-39

God’s message to me: God has a perfect and precise plan for everything. Following that plan brings blessing.

Promises: Difficult to find one here other than God’s plan is perfect so stick with it.

Commands: When God gives you specific instructions it is best to follow them exactly.

Timeless principles: Again this is difficult. We are seeing people fulfill God’s design to the letter. God’s plan is perfect

How can I apply what I’ve learned: God is the master and creator of the universe. His plan and will are perfect. Following that plan to the letter will keep you from going wrong.

more to learn for in-depth study: The gemstones in the bible are often a source of confusion because, either the name used is uncommon or people are unfamiliar with the gems. For clarification I am adding the information on the Gems used in these passages.

Sardius sometimes translated as ruby this is a deep red stone sometimes with deep purple mixed in

Topaz Greenish-yellow The gem can be found in many colors but is basically yellow in pure form with flashes of green from it’s facets.

Emerald Green(think Wizard of Oz) This crystal is fragile and pale in it’s natural formwith better color found in purer stones.

Turquoise this blue green stone is a favorite in native American Jewelry from the southwest US.

Sapphire Blue these deep blue stones are beautiful when polished or faceted.

Diamond (are forever) Pure diamonds are clear and flash brilliantly from every facet.

Jacinth sometimes translated as Amber Jacinth is a reddish to orange stone. Amber is the petrified tree sap that you see mentioned in Jurassic Park. Amber is also valued as a gem and is orange to yellow.

Agate tends to have bands of many colors. I have seen it used beautifully in belt buckles and Bolo ties. as well as broaches.

Amethyst a gorgeous purple crystal

Beryl tends to be yellow with hints of Green within

Onyx is typically seen as black with banded colors being common

Jasper is reddish with some yellow and rather opaque. It reminds me of a reddish version of Turquoise.

Chalcedony is a milky crystal leaning towards pale purple in color also found in other colors due to impurities it maintains that milky quality.

Sardonyx alternate red and orange layers

Chrysolite is a fabulous pale green. I know pale green is normally seen as sickly but, do a yahoo image search on the name and you will see what I mean by fabulous.

Chrysoprase a creamy green similar in looks to jade.

We will be entering a difficult phase of our study as we dig into the law. Leviticus is the source of the name Levitical law and is also known as the law of Moses because Moses brought these laws down from the mountain to the children of Israel carved into stone tablets. The book recounts the laws mentioned in Exodus and goes into much more detail on a lot more laws. It is critical to understand that these laws still stand, inasmuch as, God abhors the activities He outlawed in these passages. While many churches prefer to avoid this book and concentrate on stories as the basis of our views, Leviticus gives the authority for Christian teaching against bestiality, witchcraft, homosexuality and many other things which people want to debate endlessly from a philosophical or political view. Philosophy is the refuge for that which is unclear and God is extremely clear in spelling out his view of what is sin. Your next assignment is:
Exodus chapter 40-Leviticus chapter 3

Genesis Chapters 43-46

God’s message to me: God prepares the way to preserve us in disaster

Promises: All things work together for the good to those who serve God

Commands: Forgiveness is a virtue. Be virtuous.

Timeless principles: If God brings you to it He will also bring you through it. Josephs service provided a safe home for his family in the time of need.

more to learn for in-depth study: Joseph played a few tricks on his brothers but when Judah offered himself in place of his younger brother Joseph could no longer hide himself. He forgave his brothers and explained their action was used by God to ensure the family would survive the drought.

God placed Joseph in the right place at the right time so that the Children of Israel would have a place to grow into a nation. He gave Joseph such favor in the eyes of Pharaoh that the ruler of Egypt ordered Josephs family be treated as the family of royalty.


It seems I need to fall behind to get ahead. I had an early morning planning music with the pastor. He is also working on a funeral for a family member of one of our members. Being late today I started the studies for the next couple of posts. I'm Sorry for the late post today.

Genesis Chapters 24-25

I have to admit, this passage leaves you hanging. I got my answers to the questions because I know what happens next. What did you get as answers to the questions?

God's message to me: God has His plan. Yours only matters if it matches.

Promises: What God says will happen is going to happen.

Commands: Ask and you will receive. Issac asked for his wife to be blessed with a child as she had been barren. She had twins.

Timeless principles: Test the spirits. If you need to know something from God set a test of the question and accept the answer. If the answer doesn't match the test you got it wrong. More below...

How can I apply what I've learned: Ask God for answers. Most of the answers of life can be found in the pages of the bible but, what if I need to decide which job to take, even if one is service in the church and the other isn't the bible is unclear as to personal choice. Test the Lord. Set a test to answer the question and obey the answer when you get it.

If I'm supposed to take the ministry job then my windshield won't get frosted for the next 3 days. An OK test if you are near winter and frost is expected for the next 3 days but not really useful in Florida during early July. Just one example. God will help you find a viable test if you ask.

More to learn: This is leading to the story of how Jacob got the birthright and what happened as a result. Keep reading to see the details, and after that the birth of a nation.

Testing the spirits: Some pastors call this placing a fleece before God because of a later story in the book of Judges. If you need to know something from God you set a reasonable test. The basic is a yes and no question.

You set a condition for God to meet in a short time. Ex. put a sock on the lawn and tell God that a wet sock on a dry lawn means yes and a dry sock on a wet lawn means no and you will check the sock at dawn. Get up early and check the sock.

Second is the example here. The servant needed to choose a wife for his master's son. He set a test to show which person should be the choice. I don't know the exact figures but I've heard a description of what camels drink. For Rachel to offer to water the camels for a stranger was incredible. She committed herself to hours of hard work drawing water for the camels until they drank their fill and she followed through. It wasn't difficult to know God's decision.

The fleece test is a bit less precise which is probably why it was repeated with varying conditions a couple times before it was believed.

Regardless of the test stick to it. Even if you don't like the answer you can depend on God to give you the answer He wants. If you don't get a clear answer consider whether you asked an appropriate question. Better yet consider whether he has already answered it in the bible. God never commands something he previously outlawed so if the bible condemns a course of action you don't need to ask.

What's an unclear answer? Dry sock and dry grass, wet sock and wet grass, Ask for wet sock 2 days in a row and you get a dry sock one day. Whatever the problem, consider the question. If the question is sound God will give an answer clearly.

Finally, always question the source of answers, especially if their so clear that it's practically hearing voices. Satan cannot accept that Jesus is God. He will never admit that fact. Ask God to block all answers but His and He will.