Exodus 31 (résumé): Bezalel & Oholiab

God appointed Bezalel and Oholiab to be the chief artisans responsible for the creation and manufacture of the entire Tabernacle and all its different elements. God especially gifted these men in design and craftmanship and filled them with his spirit to do the task.

Then the Lord strictly instructed the Israelites to observe the Sabbath as a day of rest, following the divine creation pattern, and failure to respect the Sabbath would be punishable by death. The Sabbath was to be holy to the Lord.

When God finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai he gave him the tablets of the law inscribed by his own finger and these were put in the ark of the Covenant in the Tabernacle.

Exodus 30 (résumé): The Altar of Incense & the Bronze Basin

God instructed Moses to make an altar of incense of wood covered by gold on which was to be burnt incense (representing the prayers of the people) morning and evening. This altar, 0.5 metres square and 0.9 metres high, was to be placed in the tabernacle in front of the curtain which separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. Once a year Aaron was to make atonement on this altar.

God then said that when he carried out censuses everyone from 20 years old upwards should pay half a shekel as a tabernacle tax. 

God instructed Moses to make a bronze basin with stand so that the priests could ceremonially wash themselves before ministering in the tabernacle.

Then the Lord gave recipes for the creation of exclusive sacred anointing oil (made from fine spices) and holy incense (made from fragrant spices) which nobody could copy. 

Sunday sermon

Sunday night's main service of the week in Patos was a blessing when I preached on Genesis 26. Countless people thanked me for the sermon after the service. Every Sunday in December we have a Christmas related item and this Sunday two women, Dilma and Fia, did an excellent sketch.

One thing very interesting in the Sunday night service was to see Chico who I hadn't seen for 33 years! When he appeared at the door in his wheelchair I couldn't believe my eyes. He is now 65 and he has moved back to Patos from Fortaleza. 

Last night it rained 60 mm in Patos but only rained 2 mm at Green Pastures. Nevertheless it is a start for the rainy season for which we are grateful.

Exodus 29 (résumé): Consecration of the Priests

This chapter contains detailed instructions for the consecration of Aaron and his sons as priests which was a process which lasted 7 days with a bull sacrificed every day. Initially Aaron and his sons were to wash at the entrance to the tabernacle and then put on all their priestly attire. Then they should bring a bull so that Aaron and his sons can lay their hands on it before it is sacrificed. Now put some of the blood on the altar horns and pour the rest at the base of the altar. Then burn parts of the liver and kidneys on the altar, before burning the rest of it outside the camp as a sin offering. Then bring a ram on which Aaron and his sons shall place their hands before sacrificing it and sprinkling its blood on the altar. Then cut the ram in pieces prior to burning it as an offering to God on the altar. Then take another ram, Aaron and his sons put their hands on it before slaughtering it, and then put some of its blood on their right ear lobes, on the thumbs of their right hands and on the big toes of their right feet! Then sprinkle blood and anointing oil on the priests to consecrate them. Then Aaron and his sons will wave before God as a wave offering parts of the lamb plus unleavened bread, cake and wafer, before burning it on the altar, but parts of the ram will be given to the priests, and it will be cooked for them to eat. Then from then on every day they will offer 2 lambs together with a grain offering and drink offering in the morning and late afternoon. Thus the priests will be consecrated as will be consecrated the tabernacle for regular meetings of the people with God.   

Responsible Grace

I have just received the book: "Responsible Grace - John Wesley's practical theology" by Randy L. Maddox. I look forward to reading it as I greatly appreciate Wesleyan theology. "Wesley's value as a major theologian lays in his ability to simplify, synthesize and communicate the essential teachings of the Christian gospel to laity, not in his contributions to speculative academic theology." (Albert Outler) Thank God for this!

Liz and I went for a nice long walk at Green Pastures and found a dead fox on one of the trails. We also saw the following species of birds: Chalk-browed Mocking Bird, White-tipped Dove, Great Kiskadee, Caatinga Cacholote and Rufous-bellied Thrush.

I would like to congratulate our son Philip who has just completed his degree in theology with top marks! He already had a Master's Degree in Computer Science and now he has a Bachelor's Degree in Theology in a course officially recognised by the Brazilian Ministry of Education. How he managed to do this course over the last 3 years I will never know, as it was on top of his leadership role in his company with immense responsibility. Praise the Lord for this tremendous victory!

Yesterday QPR drew 0 x 0 away to Watford and are now placed in 23rd place out of the 24 positions in the Championship. That's 3 games without losing on the run! 👍

Last night I led the weekly service at Green Pastures and I preached too. Sister Nega led the praise and there were a lot of joyful participations in the lovely service.

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