February 14 - Evening
“The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, ‘If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!’
The manna was like coriander seed and looked like resin. The people went around gathering it, and then ground it in a hand mill or crushed it in a mortar. They cooked it in a pot or made it into loaves. And it tasted like something made with olive oil. When the dew settled on the camp at night, the manna also came down.
Moses heard the people of every family wailing at the entrance to their tents. The Lord became exceedingly angry, and Moses was troubled." - Numbers 11:4-10
The manna was like coriander seed and looked like resin. The people went around gathering it, and then ground it in a hand mill or crushed it in a mortar. They cooked it in a pot or made it into loaves. And it tasted like something made with olive oil. When the dew settled on the camp at night, the manna also came down.
Moses heard the people of every family wailing at the entrance to their tents. The Lord became exceedingly angry, and Moses was troubled." - Numbers 11:4-10
When Miracles become Tedious!
As if they were not even fazed by the burning at Taberah, the “rabble” began to complain about the year’s repetitive supply of manna that had become tedious to their taste. Like pharaoh who hardened his heart after he was given relief from each plague, these people only respond to their immediate circumstances. They do not understand and they do not believe.
The word “rabble” is found only here and probably refers to the Egyptians and other non-Israelites that left Egypt (Exodus 12:38; Lev. 24:10) with the Hebrews. They began to complain at Kibroth-hattaavah (meaning “Graves of Craving”) on their journey towards the Promised Land from Mount Sinai
Their complaint was not about the lack of food, but about the lack of variety of food. The Israelites had been eating manna for over a year. It began to appear each morning before they reached Mount Sinai.
They remember the good days and the good food back in Egypt: free fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. This variety of “free” fish would have been available in the canals from the Nile and the variety of vegetables would surely have been available in the land of Goshen in the Nile delta. But, none of these are available in the wilderness. Israel must endure this journey to the Promised Land by faith. They must know that something better than some fish and vegetables is available for those who endure patiently and follow the Lord into his Promised Land.
Manna is described by its look, its texture and its taste. It looked like coriander seed which is used for flavoring like we use sesame or poppy seeds or, like bdellium which is a pale yellow translucent resin. The hardened resinous manna would be ground on a millstone or in a mortar. The ground manna would be boiled and made into cakes. Manna tasted like something made from olive oil with a rich creamy flavor. Exodus 16:31 says these manna cakes tasted like honey.
The biblical text describes Moses’ response to the complaints of the “rabble” with the phrase “Moses was troubled” which is literally, “it was evil in his sight.” Moses knew the people’s complaining about the Lord’s provision and their glorious recollection of the fish and vegetables in Egypt would not end well.
Tasso (Gr) – Ordained (Eng) - tasso is a Greek word that used in Romans 13:1 that is translated as:
“ordained” in the King James
“established” by Goodspeed and Williams
“constituted” by Moffatt, Weymouth and Berkeley
“instituted” in the RSV and NEB
“appointed under God” by Phillips
Tasso was originally a technical military term that meant “draw up in order and “arrange.” Tasso also means “assign” and “appoint.”
Tasso was originally a technical military term that meant “draw up in order and “arrange.” Tasso also means “assign” and “appoint.”
Many of the complications, challenges and conflicts of life are necessary for production, improvement and the advancement of the plan of God. Success is not always simple.
I will consider the mess and the stress as the avenues to an abundant harvest.
I will consider the mess and the stress as the avenues to an abundant harvest.
Bible Reading Descriptions Here
Narrative
(morning only)
Narrative
(morning only)
Complete Text
General Text
Personal
For peace and contentment
Church
Increase Spiritual hunger
Nation
City governments
World
Andorra
Someone to Quote
"God isn't looking for people of great faith, but for individuals ready to follow Him"
- Hudson Taylor
- Hudson Taylor
Something to Ponder
In 863 AD a monk from Thessalonica named Methodius and his brother Cyril set out to evangelize the Slavs (Indo-European ethnic-linguistic group living in Central Europe, Eastern Europe, Southeast Europe, North Asia and Central Asia on the borders of the Western and Eastern Churches). Cyril was a philosophy professor who had already evangelized the Arabs. When Methodius and Cyril went northeast of the Black Sea to teach the Slavs there was already tension between the Western Church based in Rome and the Eastern Church from Constantinople. The brothers learned the language or the Slavs and Cyril created an alphabet using Greek letters (this alphabet is still used today in Russia.) They translated the scripture s and wrote the church liturgy into the Slavonic language. But, the German archbishop complained that the Latin language was not being used. Pope Adrian II approved of Cyril and Methodius’ use of the Slavic liturgy, the German clergy countered by arresting Methodius. He was kept in prison for three years for not using Latin in the Slavic churches. Soon Latin replaced the Slavic liturgy, but the Slavic language and its strand of fiercely independent Christianity had been born.
Here’s a Fact
The remains of Hazor’s Canaanite palace that was destroyed by fire in the days of Joshua reveal that this fire became exceptionally fierce and hot, because:
- The unusual amount of lumber that was used to construct and decorate the palace.
- Large amount of oil was stored in pithoi (huge storage jars) in the palace.
- The western breeze blowing into the city late each afternoon fanned the flames
- A 2350 degree Fahrenheit inferno that consumed the palace.
- Vitrified (glazed) mud brick walls
- Slabs of basalt stones that served as corner stones and foundations stones cracked in the heat.
- Melted clay vessels.
(details)
Proverb
"Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest."
- Proverbs 14:4
- Proverbs 14:4
Coach’s Corner
Help people smile. Make them feel good. Refresh them with laughter.
Exodus 25:1-9
New International Version (NIV)
Offerings for the Tabernacle
25 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from everyone whose heart prompts them to give. 3 These are the offerings you are to receive from them: gold, silver and bronze; 4 blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; 5 ram skins dyed red and another type of durable leather; acacia wood; 6 olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; 7 and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece.
8 “Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. 9 Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.
New International Version (NIV)
Offerings for the Tabernacle
25 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from everyone whose heart prompts them to give. 3 These are the offerings you are to receive from them: gold, silver and bronze; 4 blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; 5 ram skins dyed red and another type of durable leather; acacia wood; 6 olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; 7 and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece.
8 “Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. 9 Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.
Leviticus 7
New International Version (NIV)
The Guilt Offering
7 “‘These are the regulations for the guilt offering, which is most holy: 2 The guilt offering is to be slaughtered in the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered, and its blood is to be splashed against the sides of the altar. 3 All its fat shall be offered: the fat tail and the fat that covers the internal organs, 4 both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which is to be removed with the kidneys. 5 The priest shall burn them on the altar as a food offering presented to the Lord. It is a guilt offering. 6 Any male in a priest’s family may eat it, but it must be eaten in the sanctuary area; it is most holy.
7 “‘The same law applies to both the sin offering and the guilt offering: They belong to the priest who makes atonement with them. 8 The priest who offers a burnt offering for anyone may keep its hide for himself. 9 Every grain offering baked in an oven or cooked in a pan or on a griddle belongs to the priest who offers it, 10 and every grain offering, whether mixed with olive oil or dry, belongs equally to all the sons of Aaron.
The Fellowship Offering
11 “‘These are the regulations for the fellowship offering anyone may present to the Lord:
12 “‘If they offer it as an expression of thankfulness, then along with this thank offering they are to offer thick loaves made without yeast and with olive oil mixed in, thin loaves made without yeast and brushed with oil, and thick loaves of the finest flour well-kneaded and with oil mixed in. 13 Along with their fellowship offering of thanksgiving they are to present an offering with thick loaves of bread made with yeast. 14 They are to bring one of each kind as an offering, a contribution to the Lord; it belongs to the priest who splashes the blood of the fellowship offering against the altar. 15 The meat of their fellowship offering of thanksgiving must be eaten on the day it is offered; they must leave none of it till morning.
16 “‘If, however, their offering is the result of a vow or is a freewill offering, the sacrifice shall be eaten on the day they offer it, but anything left over may be eaten on the next day. 17 Any meat of the sacrifice left over till the third day must be burned up. 18 If any meat of the fellowship offering is eaten on the third day, the one who offered it will not be accepted. It will not be reckoned to their credit, for it has become impure; the person who eats any of it will be held responsible.
19 “‘Meat that touches anything ceremonially unclean must not be eaten; it must be burned up. As for other meat, anyone ceremonially clean may eat it. 20 But if anyone who is unclean eats any meat of the fellowship offering belonging to the Lord, they must be cut off from their people. 21 Anyone who touches something unclean—whether human uncleanness or an unclean animal or any unclean creature that moves along the ground—and then eats any of the meat of the fellowship offering belonging to the Lord must be cut off from their people.’”
Eating Fat and Blood Forbidden
22 The Lord said to Moses, 23 “Say to the Israelites: ‘Do not eat any of the fat of cattle, sheep or goats. 24 The fat of an animal found dead or torn by wild animals may be used for any other purpose, but you must not eat it. 25 Anyone who eats the fat of an animal from which a food offering may be presented to the Lord must be cut off from their people. 26 And wherever you live, you must not eat the blood of any bird or animal. 27 Anyone who eats blood must be cut off from their people.’”
The Priests’ Share
28 The Lord said to Moses, 29 “Say to the Israelites: ‘Anyone who brings a fellowship offering to the Lord is to bring part of it as their sacrifice to the Lord. 30 With their own hands they are to present the food offering to the Lord; they are to bring the fat, together with the breast, and wave the breast before the Lord as a wave offering. 31 The priest shall burn the fat on the altar, but the breast belongs to Aaron and his sons. 32 You are to give the right thigh of your fellowship offerings to the priest as a contribution. 33 The son of Aaron who offers the blood and the fat of the fellowship offering shall have the right thigh as his share. 34 From the fellowship offerings of the Israelites, I have taken the breast that is waved and the thigh that is presented and have given them to Aaron the priest and his sons as their perpetual share from the Israelites.’”
35 This is the portion of the food offerings presented to the Lord that were allotted to Aaron and his sons on the day they were presented to serve the Lord as priests. 36 On the day they were anointed, the Lord commanded that the Israelites give this to them as their perpetual share for the generations to come.
37 These, then, are the regulations for the burnt offering, the grain offering, the sin offering, the guilt offering, the ordination offering and the fellowship offering, 38 which the Lord gave Moses at Mount Sinai in the Desert of Sinai on the day he commanded the Israelites to bring their offerings to the Lord.
New International Version (NIV)
The Guilt Offering
7 “‘These are the regulations for the guilt offering, which is most holy: 2 The guilt offering is to be slaughtered in the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered, and its blood is to be splashed against the sides of the altar. 3 All its fat shall be offered: the fat tail and the fat that covers the internal organs, 4 both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which is to be removed with the kidneys. 5 The priest shall burn them on the altar as a food offering presented to the Lord. It is a guilt offering. 6 Any male in a priest’s family may eat it, but it must be eaten in the sanctuary area; it is most holy.
7 “‘The same law applies to both the sin offering and the guilt offering: They belong to the priest who makes atonement with them. 8 The priest who offers a burnt offering for anyone may keep its hide for himself. 9 Every grain offering baked in an oven or cooked in a pan or on a griddle belongs to the priest who offers it, 10 and every grain offering, whether mixed with olive oil or dry, belongs equally to all the sons of Aaron.
The Fellowship Offering
11 “‘These are the regulations for the fellowship offering anyone may present to the Lord:
12 “‘If they offer it as an expression of thankfulness, then along with this thank offering they are to offer thick loaves made without yeast and with olive oil mixed in, thin loaves made without yeast and brushed with oil, and thick loaves of the finest flour well-kneaded and with oil mixed in. 13 Along with their fellowship offering of thanksgiving they are to present an offering with thick loaves of bread made with yeast. 14 They are to bring one of each kind as an offering, a contribution to the Lord; it belongs to the priest who splashes the blood of the fellowship offering against the altar. 15 The meat of their fellowship offering of thanksgiving must be eaten on the day it is offered; they must leave none of it till morning.
16 “‘If, however, their offering is the result of a vow or is a freewill offering, the sacrifice shall be eaten on the day they offer it, but anything left over may be eaten on the next day. 17 Any meat of the sacrifice left over till the third day must be burned up. 18 If any meat of the fellowship offering is eaten on the third day, the one who offered it will not be accepted. It will not be reckoned to their credit, for it has become impure; the person who eats any of it will be held responsible.
19 “‘Meat that touches anything ceremonially unclean must not be eaten; it must be burned up. As for other meat, anyone ceremonially clean may eat it. 20 But if anyone who is unclean eats any meat of the fellowship offering belonging to the Lord, they must be cut off from their people. 21 Anyone who touches something unclean—whether human uncleanness or an unclean animal or any unclean creature that moves along the ground—and then eats any of the meat of the fellowship offering belonging to the Lord must be cut off from their people.’”
Eating Fat and Blood Forbidden
22 The Lord said to Moses, 23 “Say to the Israelites: ‘Do not eat any of the fat of cattle, sheep or goats. 24 The fat of an animal found dead or torn by wild animals may be used for any other purpose, but you must not eat it. 25 Anyone who eats the fat of an animal from which a food offering may be presented to the Lord must be cut off from their people. 26 And wherever you live, you must not eat the blood of any bird or animal. 27 Anyone who eats blood must be cut off from their people.’”
The Priests’ Share
28 The Lord said to Moses, 29 “Say to the Israelites: ‘Anyone who brings a fellowship offering to the Lord is to bring part of it as their sacrifice to the Lord. 30 With their own hands they are to present the food offering to the Lord; they are to bring the fat, together with the breast, and wave the breast before the Lord as a wave offering. 31 The priest shall burn the fat on the altar, but the breast belongs to Aaron and his sons. 32 You are to give the right thigh of your fellowship offerings to the priest as a contribution. 33 The son of Aaron who offers the blood and the fat of the fellowship offering shall have the right thigh as his share. 34 From the fellowship offerings of the Israelites, I have taken the breast that is waved and the thigh that is presented and have given them to Aaron the priest and his sons as their perpetual share from the Israelites.’”
35 This is the portion of the food offerings presented to the Lord that were allotted to Aaron and his sons on the day they were presented to serve the Lord as priests. 36 On the day they were anointed, the Lord commanded that the Israelites give this to them as their perpetual share for the generations to come.
37 These, then, are the regulations for the burnt offering, the grain offering, the sin offering, the guilt offering, the ordination offering and the fellowship offering, 38 which the Lord gave Moses at Mount Sinai in the Desert of Sinai on the day he commanded the Israelites to bring their offerings to the Lord.