Staying on the Ancient Path -Virtue- The 10 commandments

2 Peter 1:5-7 gives us some things to add to our faith so that the Lord can bless us in our lives and family.  

"...Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity."

In this video, I am focusing on the first one, virtue (a good moral character, to have excellence in all things). The best place to start is at the beginning- the 10 Commandments, given in Exodus 20.  We discuss a little on each one.  This gives us a good start and it also teaches us a little about God and what He likes and dislikes.  I pray that this will encourage you to continue to do the things that God likes and stay on that ancient path of good.

Not everyone can be a Moses...But most can be an Aaron and a Hur

Exodus 17: 11-12  And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

BFF Morning by Janis Lee Colon

Pretty soon after the Israelites had been delivered out of Egypt, a hostile nomadic desert tribe, led by their leader, Amalek, attacked them.  I guess he didn’t like all these new people invading his turf.  I’m sure he must have heard why these people were there and how God had fought for them and delivered them with a mighty hand from Egypt.  I would think he would have thought twice before confronting them and their powerful God.  

Moses was a leader. God used him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and then gave him the laws for them to follow. All the people looked to him to lead them.  But, he was a mere man, with weaknesses, like all others.  At this first battle, he needed support in order to keep holding up the rod, so that they would win.  Aaron and Hur came along side of him and set up a rock for Moses to sit on and also stood next to him and held up his arms.  They were supporters.  The fighting lasted all day.  Without their support, Moses’ arms would have dropped down and the battle would have been lost.

Not everyone can be a leader. It takes special people with outgoing personalities, who can motivate and command a crowd. Although, these people seem to do everything great in each of their areas, they all have a group of people who are behind the scenes, working on everything needed for this person to succeed.

In church ministries, just a hand full of people are the speakers, preachers, ministers and singers.  But, all of us can be supporters in one way or another.  Here are just some of the ways we can be of support:  We can pray for our leaders.  It’s always so encouraging to hear that someone has been praying for us.  Giving encouragement via a phone call, note, email or card is always good.  Financial support is always needed and appreciated.  Providing physical help with things that have to be fixed, built or maintained can be of great relief.  There are so many ways that we can find ways to be a helper. 

This is such an important principle for us to keep in mind that God told Moses to write this account as a memorial in the book.  As you read the rest of the story to verse 16, it didn’t turn out too well for Amalek.  He dared to attack the people who have an almighty God, who fights and delivers them.

Just as Aaron and Hur played an important part and shared in the victory, we can also reap the blessings as we help each other.

Day of Atonement- Yesterday and Today

For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul. Leviticus 17:11
We have been dealing with blood issues since 2006 when my husband was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma (Cancer in the Bone Marrow). We have learned a lot since then. Just recently, he has had his stem cells harvested and is getting ready for a second round since they didn’t get enough the first time. It is an eerie feeling to have your life blood go through a machine, be filtered and then returned back into your body. It certainly does drain a person of energy for a few days…but we all know what would have happened if the blood wasn’t returned back!

During the time of Moses, God instituted a solemn ceremony called the Day of Atonement to reconcile the people back to Himself. Just this one time every year, the High Priest would enter into the Holy of Holies with the shed blood to make atonement for sin. Basically, it was a day of Substitution, Sacrifice and Scapegoat, described in Leviticus 16.

Substitution – Perfect animals (bullocks and goats) were selected to die in place of the individual and the nation (verse 3-5).

Sacrifice – The animal was slain at the great altar and its blood was sprinkled on the Mercy Seat in the Holy of Holies for Atonement (Covering of Sin), (verses 6-15). Leviticus 17:11 (quoted above) states the purpose and the principle for animal sacrifice.

Scapegoat –A goat was sent away from the camp into the wilderness, symbolizing the people’s sins being taken away (verse 21-22).

Messianic Fulfillment

This ceremony was a vivid picture of what Jesus came to do in His First Coming.

He became our Substitute, just like the perfect animals, He died in our place.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

He became our Sacrifice, just like the shed blood of the animal; He shed His blood on the Cross for our sins, not just as atonement, but for eternal redemption!
In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:14

Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. Hebrews 9:12
He became our Scapegoat, just like the goat that took the sins away, Jesus, who had no sin, came specifically to take our sins away.
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29

And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. 1 John 3:5 (See Psalm 103:12)

Today, our dear Jewish friends have a Day of Atonement, but with no Atonement! Why? It is because in place of blood sacrifices there are good intentions and religious deeds which do not meet God’s requirements. But, in Messiah Jesus, Leviticus 16 has been fulfilled. Consider… would you want an atonement which cannot be obtained today and even if it was, only provided a mire covering or would you want redemption, which is obtainable now by faith to anyone and is eternal.
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

Have you received this special gift for yourself?

For an exciting re-enactment and explanation of this observance, consider purchasing the DVD, “Messiah in the Day of Atonement”, produced by The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, in which Peter portrays the High Priest. The photo, above, is a scene from this DVD.