Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been tagged as “Israelites”
The Cities of Refuge (Part 2 of 2): As we conclude our short series on the biblical cities of refuge, we learn about what happened after a person arrived in such a city. By escaping there, an accidental manslayer received protection from vengeance, but this protection was contingent upon staying in the city. The opportunity to leave and return home …
The Cities of Refuge (Part 1 of 2): In the ancient world, killing a person, even accidentally, was liable to bring the rage of an “avenger of blood.” This person, a relative or loved one of the dead, could take vengeance by killing the one who caused the death. And so, a cycle of bloodshed would begin. But in giving …
The Shema, Part 4: What does it mean to love God with all your strength? It goes far beyond physical power! The conclusion of our series on the Shema and loving God with our whole hearts brings us to the final portion of the command in Deuteronomy 6. The word we read in Scripture translated as “strength” comes from the …
The Shema, Part 3: Are we made of body and soul, or are we one holistic being? After studying the heart last week, our study of the Shema in Deuteronomy 6 brings us to Moses’ instruction to the Israelites to love the Lord with all their soul. The Hebrew word nefesh used in Deuteronomy 6 sheds light on what our …
The Shema, Part 2: Before the call to love God “with all your heart,” the well-known Shema begins with an instruction to “hear.” While this part of the Shema is easy to overlook, it sets the tone of God’s Word to the Israelites, as it invites them to know and follow Him truly, developing a heart of loving obedience. Part …
The Shema, Part 1: In Moses’ final words to the Israelites in Deuteronomy, he told them, “Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn.” The listening Israelites, already physically circumcised as a mark of the nation’s covenant with God, must have been taken aback. But what God intended for His people went far beyond the act …
The History and Heart of the Tabernacle, Part 6: Journeying through ancient Israel’s Tabernacle, we have examined the altar of sacrifice, the laver, the table of showbread, the menorah, and the altar of incense. Finally, we arrive at the inner sanctum to find the veil, the ark of the covenant, and the holy of holies. This was the Lord’s throne …
The History and Heart of the Tabernacle, Part 5: As we continue exploring ancient Israel’s Tabernacle, we pass beyond the altar of sacrifice, the laver, and the table of showbread to find the sacred furnishings in the holy place: the menorah and the altar of incense. The menorah provided light and allowed the priests to minister before the Lord. The …
The History and Heart of the Tabernacle, Part 4: After studying the altar and the laver within ancient Israel’s Tabernacle in recent weeks, we now continue into the sanctuary, the holy place, to find the table of showbread. Here 12 loaves of bread remained arranged before the Lord. The symbolism and practicality in this image is profound: God was hosting …
The History and Heart of the Tabernacle, Part 3: In Israel’s ancient Tabernacle, the Israelites immediately arrived at the altar, where they met the Lord through sacrifice. Just beyond the altar in the courtyard stood the laver, the bronze basin where the priest met God through cleansing. As the altar demonstrated God’s desire to forgive sinful man, the laver demonstrated …
