I keep wondering just how busy were the priests. Seems to me with all the offerings and sacrifices they must have been working 24/7. Unless the people didn't sin that much back then.

I find it interesting that even though Nadab and Abihu were burned up they were still picked up and carried away by their garments. Why weren't their garments burned up?

Well, I kept wondering why yeast and honey were not allowed in the grain offerings. I thought it was something I should know, but I couldn't remember exactly what it was that I was suppose to know. So, I looked it up.

In case you all need a refresher. Yeast represents bitterness and evil. Honey represents corruption. The sacrifice represents the worshiper. A sacrifice would not be pleasing to the Lord if it was full of bitterness, evil and corruption.

This was an ah ha moment because I realized that when we spend time in prayer before we take the Lord's Supper, and any other time that we are offering up ourselves to Him, we are doing the exact thing that God told the Israelites to do some 3000 plus years ago. Getting rid of the bitterness, evil and corruption.

I also like the phrase "a pleasing aroma to the Lord." I guess because I want to be a pleasing aroma to Him, I don't want to stink!

Usually when something is repeated 12 times I have to figure that it must be really important. But, I can't figure out why Moses had to repeat the 12 offerings from the leaders over and over. I can think of several ways to make this section not so wordy. Am I missing something of great importance here?

Our church is starting it's first every building campaign. We are having a commitment day on Feb 28 and every family and individual will be asked to make a cash gift. We are asking God for at least $45,000. Then we will be asked to make a three year giving commitment to pay off our existing loan and have in the bank an additional $220,000 to build a new multi-purpose building. For a total of $500,000. Would it not be awesome if in Feb 2013 we heard...

"Men and women, don't prepare any more gifts for the sanctuary. We have enough! Our contributions are more than enough."

Here I am!!! And I will confess I am a day behind in the reading. But, I am catching up today.

And since you called me up from the depths of AOL I can't help but wonder what great biblical theology you each have on your minds today. Please jump right in and share your thoughts, questions or observations for today while I go finish building the tabernacle and clothing Aaron and the other priest.

I'm sorry that I haven't blogged lately. I don't really have an excuse. Just always seem to be running late this week.

Anyway, I got to back up and make a couple of comments about what we read this week.

Starting with February 2, Exodus 4:24-26 - What is this about? God was going to kill Moses? After He given Moses his instruction to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. What is up with that? My NIV study bible says that apparently God was mad because Moses had not circumcised his son. What would have happened if Zipporah hadn't been so quick with the knife and circumcised the son?

And I can't help but wonder - Why didn't the magicians try to get rid of the frogs instead of making more frogs?

And did you notice that on several occasions Pharaoh asked Moses to take the plague away "tomorrow". Why not 'today, right now, please".

January 5 - Exodus 14:13-14 Rule to live by - Don't be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today...Just stay calm. But like the Israelites, so many times we stay calm and trust God for three days and then we start our complaining again.

Wonder why in Exodus 2:1 it it sounds like a man and a woman just got married then had a son. When they obviously already had a daughter old enough to take care of the baby boy. (just kid of strange to me.)

I love Exodus 3:14 "God replied to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM."