Steve Conover: Thank you for joining us for The Friends of Israel Today. I'm Steve Conover and with me is Chris Katulka. I'd like to encourage you right up front to take note of our website foiradio.org. There you can listen to over nine years worth of content on the site. It features Chris Katulka's teaching and insightful interviews with a host of great guests. Again, that's foiradio.org.

Chris Katulka: Steve, we're starting a new three-part series today where we're going to be looking at the glory of God. Now the thing is, I'm sure a lot of our friends that listen have heard of the phrase, "The glory of God" or "The glory of the Lord." Maybe they've sung about it, worshiped the Lord through it, but what does that word actually mean in the Hebrew? What does that actually mean in the Greek?

What does it mean in the Old Testament when an Israelite would hear the kavod, the glory of God? Well, this three-part series is going to look into that and we're also going to examine what does that mean for the Israelite when they would approach God and the glory of God? We're going to dig into that and see what all that means in these next three weeks.

Steve Conover: I'm excited for this topic, but first in the news, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accepted a bipartisan invitation, this to address a joint session of Congress. Netanyahu said he was quote unquote "Excited" for the privilege to present in front of the representatives of the American people and the entire world, the truth about our just war against those who wish to kill us.

Chris Katulka: Well, Steve, here's my take. The invitation invited Netanyahu to share the Israeli government's vision for defending democracy, combating terrorism, and establishing a just and lasting peace in the region. But let me tell you something, it's really hard to do that when the world is tying their hands, Israel's hands behind their back with all their negative commentary. The Western world should let Israel finish the job of eliminating Hamas and returning the hostages. Let's stop getting in the way.

Okay. So, today we're going to start a three-part series on the glory of God. And I'm sure the glory of God is a phrase that you've heard at some point in your life, but did you ever ask yourself, "What in the world does that even mean, the glory of God?" The word glory in English can mean “high renown” or “honor won by notable achievements”. That definition definitely makes me think of Tom Brady. Tom Brady, the GOAT, the greatest of all time in football.

He glories in all of his notable achievements in sports and I have to say I've seen him play and he really is the GOAT. In English, glory can also mean “magnificence” or “great beauty” like restoring an antique car to its former glory. And yes, both of these definitions can be applied to the Lord. God can be both honored by his notable achievements as the creator and sustainer of all things, and he has great magnificence in beauty, but that's not what this glory in the Old Testament and New Testament means when we say the “glory of the Lord” or the “glory of God.”

The word glory in the Bible is used 300 times. In the Old Testament, the common word for glory in Hebrew is kavod. While in the New Testament, the Greek word is doxa. There are other Hebrew and Greek words for glory, but these are the most common in the original languages of the Bible. Plus every time the phrase “glory of God” or the “glory of the Lord” is used, the word is either kavod in Hebrew or doxa in Greek. Okay, so kavod in Hebrew or glory is extremely interesting. The word actually means “heaviness.”

Or as the Jewish scholar, Dr. Benjamin Sommers defines it, the word means “substance.” The glory of the Lord can be translated as the substance of the Lord. Do I have your attention now? See that definition of glory is much different than our English understanding of the word. So what is the substance of the Lord? Well, we have to go back to the Torah. We have to go back to the first five books of Moses to understand this word.

The glory of the Lord or the substance of the Lord is often associated with his appearance to Moses and the Israelites. It's God's physical manifestation, which is just a technical way of saying God appeared to be with his people. For instance, in Exodus chapter 16, verse 10, after the Passover and Exodus account, when God liberated his people from the bondage of Egypt, it says, "While Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community, they looked toward the desert and there was the glory of the Lord appearing in a cloud." Again in Exodus 24 verses 16 through 17 it says, "And the glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain.

And on the seventh day, the Lord called to Moses from the cloud. To the Israelites, the glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain. The substance of God, the physical presence of God came down in the form of a cloud by day and a fire by night. Scholars believed the cloud was actually like a sheath that covered the kavod, that covered the glory, the substance of God, which was a fire, and the fire could only be seen at night when shining through the cloud.

Look, the glory or substance of God even took up residence on top of Mount Sinai in Exodus 24. And do you see what it says? It says that, "to the Israelites, it looked like a consuming fire." Do you remember another time God was like a consuming fire in the book of Exodus? If you're thinking about Moses at the burning bush, you're spot on. It says that, "The angel of the Lord appeared to Moses in a bush that was on fire and did not burn up or was it consumed?"

The same God who appeared to Moses in the burning bush is the same glory that rested on top of Mount Sinai. In fact, it's the same Hebrew word for consuming fire in Exodus chapter three and Exodus chapter 24. The only difference is that Moses was the only one to see the substance of God in the burning bush that was the consuming fire in Exodus three. And now think about it, all of Israel sees God atop Mount Sinai as a consuming fire.

In fact, to me, the climax of the book of Exodus is not the life of Moses or the story of Israel being freed from Egypt or even Mount Sinai. All those are crucial to the plot of Exodus. The real climax of the second book of the Bible is the last few verses of the last chapter when the very substance of the creator God came to dwell with his people. No longer was it just Moses who saw God's substance, AKA, glory or kavod. No longer was it the Israelites, seeing the glory or substance of God from a distance on Mount Sinai or remember again, God's glory.

Now they're witnessing right before their very eyes, God's presence with them when he came to dwell, when he came to rest, when he came to reside in the tabernacle. Just listen to the last few verses of Exodus in Exodus chapter 40, verse 34 and on. It says this, "Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting and the glory, kavod of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

The very physical presence of God came down to dwell among his people. The substance, the heaviness of God became a reality to the Israelites on a daily basis. See, God wasn't a distant God in the heavens looking down on them. No, he was physically present with them and he made his home the tabernacle. Specifically in the tabernacle, the Holy of Holies where his throne was, which we know as the Ark of the Covenant.

Listen, when God came down, when the substance of God, the kavod, the glory of God came down, the true king of Israel was present with his people, the question is what was that substance of God or what did it represent? This will be a topic of the next three weeks. Now that we have an understanding of God's physical presence, his glory, his substance dwelling with his people, what does it mean that his presence is with them? Ah, this is crucial to actually reading the Old Testament. We spend so much time dividing up the Torah, the first five books of Moses.

The reality is though that Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers all kind of flow right into one another. Really, it's kind of a continuous account of Israel's history. Think about it, now that God's substance, his glory is with the people of Israel residing in the tabernacle and the Israelites see him as a cloud by day and fire by night, now all of God is with the people. And when I say all of God, I mean all of His holiness is with the people. Yeah, that's right. All of God's holiness is dwelling alongside the 12 tribes of Israel.

And let me tell you something, they are all unholy humans. So the question becomes, how does a holy God now exist amidst the unholy people? Ta-da, that's where the book of Leviticus comes into play. Now that the substance, his glory, which is also his holiness is present with Israel, the relationship must be maintained or else it can get ugly really fast. The book of numbers actually tells us how the tribes camped around the tabernacle and it says that the tribe of Levi, the priests surrounded the tabernacle so that God's wrath would not fall on the Israelite community.

It says that in Numbers one 53. I've heard it said before that God's holiness is really, it's like an ocean. It's beautiful, it's big, it's welcoming, but if you don't understand the ocean or you disrespect it, you can get seriously injured or even consumed by it. Think of lifeguards at the beach like the Levites surrounding the tabernacle. Just as lifeguards keep watch over beach-goers' interaction with the water to make sure they can enjoy the glory of the beach, so too are the Israelites, the priests.

They were the ones who were there to explain to the Israelites how they were to approach and enjoy the presence of a holy God as an unclean or sinful person. Now listen, when we come back, we're going to see what happens when you abuse the glory of God. There's an account right away in the book of Leviticus that sets the record straight that you don't come to God however you wish. Stick around.

I was just speaking with our executive producer, Steve Conover, and he reminded me of an Israel My Glory magazine that we did all about God's holiness, all about God's presence, his kavod, his substance that came down. And so I want to introduce you if you've never heard of Israel My Glory before to our award-winning Christian magazine. That's right. We've been around since 1942 producing biblical content about Israel and the Jewish people.

Enough getting all of your information from media, it's time to understand about what God is doing in the Middle East through Israel and the Jewish people by getting our magazine, Israel My Glory. Now listen, if you have never subscribed before, this is a great opportunity for you to get our digital edition, which will give you access to the issue that I was talking about, Our Holy God. So if you get the digital edition of Israel My Glory, you will actually get 45 years of content right at your fingertips on your iPhone, your tablet, your computer.

You can read all these amazing articles from Israel My Glory, and let me say this, for those subscribers out there who listen to our program, if you don't get the digital edition, you can upgrade as well by going to our website. So in a moment, Steve's going to share with you how you can get your hands on this one year free subscription of Israel My Glory, and how you can access 45 years of content right at your fingertips.

Steve Conover: It's a great resource, Chris. I know I'm there all the time with a search. If I have a topic or a scripture reference, israelmyglory.org is the place to go first. And we'll make it easy for you so you don't have to jump around different websites. Just go to foiradio.org, foiradio.org and we'll make sure you have a link to our Israel My Glory digital website.

Chris Katulka: Welcome back, everyone. We're discussing the glory of God. And in the previous segment we went deep into the meaning of the Hebrew word for glory, kavod, and we saw how it literally means the substance of God, the heaviness of God. So whenever you see the “glory of the Lord” or the “glory of God”, you know it's not some spiritually distant God. It's a God very present and physically near to his people Israel.

Well, we all know that God's kavod, his substance and presence came down to dwell among the Israelites, which also means his holiness came with this presence. And since God is holy and man is sinful and dirty, God constructs a way to have a relationship with him, and that's where we get the book of Leviticus. In the book of Leviticus, we actually have a story of what happens when you take advantage of the glory of God or you abuse the glory of God, the very presence, the substance, the kavod.

First, let's start with the end of Leviticus chapter nine and verse 23, after the priests of Israel, Aaron and his sons begin their ministry. It says, "Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting and when they came out, they blessed the people and the glory, the kavod of the Lord appeared to all the people and fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar.

And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell face down." Okay. So everything was done according to God's holy standard. But the next verse, which starts chapter 10, shows an interesting turn of events. By the way, this all happens on the same day. Now you get to Leviticus chapter 10 verse one, and it says this, "Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu took their censors, put fire on them and added incense, and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord contrary to his command."

So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them and they died before the Lord. Look, there's endless debate on what actually happened here. Did Nadab and Abihu use their own sensor or pan which was not deemed holy for use? Did Nadab and Abihu use their own version of coals adding incense to it that shouldn't have been there? As one commentary put it, "This can only mean that instead of deriving from the outer altar, the coals or source of fire came from a source that was profane."

That's what Moses in his frustration says to his brother, Aaron, after the incident when he said, "Among those who approach me the Lord, I will be proved holy. In the sight of all the people I will be honored." See, now that the kavod, the substance of God, the holiness of God is with Israel, there must be a distinguishing factor between the things that are holy and common or holy and profane and clean and unclean.

Look, if you just go down a few verses in Leviticus chapter 10, Moses is telling Aaron that his sons have done wrong and that their job as priests is to teach the Israelites the difference between the things that are holy and common or profane and clean and unclean. Nadab and Abihu exposed the common secular, profane, unauthorized coals into the presence of the kavod, the substance of God, and God purified it immediately. His consuming fire cleansed not only the unauthorized fire but the perpetrators who brought it.

God's kavod, his substance is nothing to be messed with. He is holy. You don't come to the substance, the heaviness of God, the presence of God, however you wish. There's only one way. And I'll end with this. Jesus understood this in his life in ministry when he says this in John 14:6, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." See, you can't approach the substance and holiness of God, the kavod of God, however you want. Jesus is the one through his shed blood and sacrifice, who provides the way for us to approach the kavod, the presence, the substance, the glory of the Lord.

Steve Conover: Chris, I look forward to hearing the next two messages because whenever you teach Leviticus, I'm always reminded of the battle I had as a kid about the Old Testament, just having this confusion that the God of the Old Testament is ready to put his wrath and pin me under his thumb, and then the God of the New Testament is full of grace and ready to forgive. And I think whenever you teach from Leviticus or other parts from the Pentateuch, I'm reminded of how loving and great our God is.

Chris Katulka: Yeah. Especially when you read through these segments, you can think, "Man, God seems like a pretty angry God. These guys just made a mistake, Nadab and Abihu. Cut them some slack." But the reality is that God's holiness is nothing to be messed with in the Old Testament, and God's holiness is nothing to be messed with in the New Testament. Jesus talks about that. But through the Old Testament and New Testament, you constantly see God's hesed love.

That's the other side. We saw the kavod of God, the glory of God, but from the very character and nature of God, we see that he is also a God who wants to forgive, who wants to give grace, who wants to give mercy. That comes from the Torah as well, and you see it all throughout the Bible. So God doesn't compromise his holiness. That's very important to see with Nadab and Abihu. He doesn't compromise his holiness, but he does give grace upon grace over and over again, not only in the Old Testament, but in the New Testament as well.

Steve Conover: Really helpful. Thank you, Chris. Now, Apples of Gold, a dramatic reading from the life and ministry of Holocaust survivor, Zvi Kalisher.

Mike Kellogg: On my visit to North America, I met a very orthodox Jewish man. We spoke for only a few minutes, but we quickly became friends. When I returned home one day from work, I saw an ultra-orthodox man whom I had never met before sitting at our table. He introduced himself as a good friend of the man whom I had met in North America. He said, "I had promised to give my friend something and my friend sent him to collect it."

"I want to give you something you do not have," I said, "Joy." "Are you normal?" He asked. "Yes," I replied. "When I met your friend, he was unhappy like you. He was curious to know how I had found joy so I explained just like someone who has walked in darkness and finally sees the light, thanks the Lord for that light. So it is with you." I explained how I came to know the Lord and how I first received joy and happiness. "I am so afraid."

"To be afraid is good," I said. It is written in Psalm 112 verse one, "Praise the Lord. Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who delights greatly in his commandments." Believe me, I also fear the Lord, but I am unhappy because I am sure that what the Lord has given me, he will not take away from me. "And what is this?" He asked. "Salvation," I replied, "Forgiveness of sin and everlasting life." My new friend was surprised to see me without a hat.

This was hard for him to understand. I questioned, "You say what I'm telling you is very interesting, but why can we not be good believers and serve the Lord without a hat?" Then I quoted Ezekiel 18:31, "Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die O, house of Israel?” “Think about that," I said. "What is more important, a new hat or a new heart and a new spirit?

Now you have the choice. Receive the Lord as your personal savior and come out from the darkness and false teaching." "I've been here a long time. What is it that you want to give me?" He asked. "I will give you what the Lord has given to me," I replied. I read Psalm 144 verse 15, "Word is written, happy are the people whose God is the Lord," I told him. I said, "We are sinners, but because of his suffering we can be saved." "What? Can God suffer?" I then read Isaiah 53.

His face changed because he knew it referred to Jesus Christ. And then I quoted Zechariah 12 verse 10, "And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and supplication. Then they will look on me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for him as one mourns for his only son and grieve for a firstborn." Please pray for the salvation of this ultra-orthodox man. He has been exposed to the truth of the gospel. May the Lord open his eyes and convict his heart.

Steve Conover: Thank you so much for joining us for today's episode of The Friends of Israel Today. We'll look  again at the glory of God next week. Chris, where are we headed?

Chris Katulka: Yeah. So this week we looked at Nadab and Abihu and we saw what happened when you abuse the glory of God or you don't take it seriously. Well, next week we're going to look at what it means to take the glory of God seriously, and actually we're going to look specifically at King David. He is definitely somebody who revered the very presence, the substance of God. So we'll look at King David next week.

Steve Conover: Thank you, Chris. Today's program was produced by Tom Gallione, engineered by Bob Beebe. Sitting in is our intern, Ben Sutter. This program was edited by Jeremy Strong, who also composed and performs our theme music. Mike Kellogg read Apples of Gold, and I'm Steve Conover, executive producer. Our mailing address is FOI Radio, PO Box 914, Bellmawr, New Jersey, 08099. Again, that's FOI Radio, PO Box 914, Bellmawr, New Jersey, 08099. Our web address is foiradio.org. Again, that's foiradio.org. Or you can call our listener line. That number is 888-343-6940. Again, that's 888-343-6940. The Friends of Israel Today is a production of The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry. We are a worldwide evangelical ministry, proclaiming biblical truth about Israel and the Messiah, while bringing physical and spiritual comfort to the Jewish people.