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Discussions Torah

Exodus 20: Ten Commandments

Richard Agee

There are so many sermons, books and testimonies out there about practical application of the 10 Commandments. In one way, there isn’t much that hasn’t already been said, but in another way, there’s so much here that there isn’t enough time in the universe to dwell upon all the applications and ramifications of these simple commandments. This simple list of 10 basic commandments give us insight into how God views us, our political institutions and our families.

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Apostolic Writings Appointments With God Atonement Discussions Lamb Selection Day Passover Prophets and Writings Torah

Of Lamb and Goats: God’s salvation memorialized in Passover Lamb Selection Day and Day of Atonement

Newborn spring lamb (Petr Kratochvil / PublicDomainPictures.net)
Newborn spring lamb (Petr Kratochvil / PublicDomainPictures.net)

Lamb Selection Day is closely connected with Yom haKippurim (Day of Atonement). Both occur on the 10th day of their respective months: first month for Lamb selection day and seventh month of Yom Kippur.

And the words of the herald for the Mashiakh (Messiah), Yokhanan the Immerser (John the Baptist), that Yeshua was “the Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world” (Jn. 1:29) further connects these two memorials of God’s salvation plan.

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Discussions Torah

Exodus 18-19: God introduces Himself to Yisra’el

Richard Agee

When Moshe was on this mountain with the burning bush, which didn’t actually burn, he had to ask God who He was. Now he is back at this same mountain, but this time God has set the entire mountain on fire with smoke. This was not just for Moshe and Aaron, but it’s for all the people to see and respect.

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Discussions Prophets and Writings

1st Kings 21: Eliyahu’s only goal: Teach Israel who God is

Daniel Agee

It had been 70 years since Israel had any exposure to the temple in Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) and to God. Eliyahu (Elijah) is starting from scratch with them. Eliyahu’s story is God’s message to Israel. It’s all tied together. Eliyahu’s interactions with Ahab and Yezebel (Jezebel) dominate the story but the purpose of these interactions were to teach the people of Israel about God.

We can see here how Israel has progressed in their knowledge of God and His law since Eliyahu started his ministry.

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Discussions Torah

Exodus 17: Journey to the 10: Wilderness of Sin to Massah and Meribah; Amalek terrorized Israel

Richard Agee

The territory of Sin — a place name, not the term for moral malady — that Israel transversed after leaving Mitsraim (Egypt) was a very large place. It’s in the area where Mt. Sinai is located.

Yet, Yisra’el did sin at Rephadim, so it was called Massah and Meribah. But God still gave the people water from the rock — “living water” preceded law at Sinai — and defeated Amalek.

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Apostolic Writings Discussions

Luke 21:1-4: Widow’s big little Temple gift reveals major lapse in obeying God

Jeff

We only know of the poor widow in Luke 21:4, because Yeshua made note of her in a “teachable moment” with His key students. Both Mark and Luke record Yeshua’s testimony of her as an example of a faithful giver. Her faithfulness was not in the amount of her gift in terms of monetary value but in terms of the percentage she gave in proportion to what she had. She did not give just 10 percent or a portion from surplus but everything.

She may have already spent all the rest of her means just to get to Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) in the first place. But if those rich people had truly had a heart for the Torah, she would have come there in comfort, not in desperation and extreme poverty (Deut. 16:9–15; 24:19–20; 26:12–13).

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Discussions Torah

Exodus 13-15: Journey to the 10: God heals Yisra’el at Marah, battles ‘god of the north’ at Red Sea

Studies in Torah

Exodus 12–20 are the most fascinating chapters of Exodus to me — 10th plague on the first-born, Passover, departure from Mitsraim (Egypt), crossing the sea, details of the encampments, miracles of water and food, arrival at Sinai and the 10 Commandments. I hope you will see God’s pattern, the truth of this one and only “plan of salvation,” not only for the descendants of Israel but for all mankind.

Moses led Israel to the points that God, in the cloud, took them. Every location, all 40 of them, were chosen by God.