Last week we began a 3 month journey through God's Word and were provided an overview message of Genesis and Exodus.
They are the first two of the five books of Moses.
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy are often times referred to as "The Pentateuch", "The Books of the Law", "the Law", and "the Torah".

In 2023 we want to BE a better student of the Bible and grow to both appreciate and apply God's Word in our life.

How many of you own a "How To" Manual?
Today's message will deal with the next two books of the Pentateuch. The first of which is Leviticus, which serves as a "How to" Manual on the subject of worship for Israel. It still has lots of meaning for us today.

Jews long ago called this book the Priest's Manual.
The name Leviticus can be seen in the first phrase in the book (Leviticus 1:1) which carries the idea of "a person or group called for a special purpose."
The English word used for the name Leviticus means "about the Levites" - those who were Israel's worship leaders. Within it are detailed instructions about routine sacrifices, religious holidays, and ritual cleanness.
It tells us how God really feels about sin, how He made a way for people to have their sins forgiven, and how God expects us to respond appropriately.

When we come to the book of Leviticus, the Israelites have been delivered from Egypt, crossed the Red Sea, and are now camped at the foot of Mt. Sinai.
God has used brothers Moses and Aaron to lead the Jewish people out of Egypt where they have been captive for 400 years. The Israelites didn't have any real concept of who God was, let alone what His expectations were for their life. So it's fitting that this book of worship is given to them at that moment in time.
The book contains some very specific instructions on how the Jews are to approach God and maintain a right relationship, or fellowship, with Him.
The key term in the book is the word "holiness" or "to be set aside for God and His use;" which is used more than 150 times.
Leviticus 11:44a
Israel was to be set apart for God's use and to reflect Him to the rest of the world.
1 Peter 2:9-10

Leviticus can be outlined in the following manner:

1. Sacrifices and OFFERINGS.
Leviticus 1-7
Hebrews 10:10

2. PRIESTS and Prohibitions.
Leviticus 8-10
Hebrews 4:14-16 [MSG]

3. Rules and REGULATIONS.
Leviticus 11-15, 17-22

4. FEASTS and Sabbaths.
Leviticus 16, 23, 25

5. Reminders and REPRIMANDS.
Leviticus 24, 26-27

Lessons from Leviticus:
God expects those whom He has saved to worship Him!
Worship must be wholehearted, the best we can give at any moment, and stem from a right relationship with God.

The fourth book of the Pentateuch is Numbers. This book covers the events from Sinai to the border of Canaan - The Promised Land.
This book gets its English name from the numbering or census of Israel's fighting men. It covers a 40 year period of time in which the Jews wandered in the wilderness after they stubbornly rebelled against God.
The old generation that rebelled against God had to die off before Israel could enter the land and the new generation had to be prepared.

The outline of this book would be three-fold and based on the stage of journey in which you would find Israel.
There are simple lessons in each stage:

1. From Egypt to Sinai to Kadesh-barnea
Numbers 1-12

God often moves a little slower than we desire because He wants to develop our faith as He follows His plan and not our passions.
Numbers 11:1, 4

2. From Kadesh-barnea to Kadesh-barnea
Numbers 13-19
Numbers 14:31-34

3. From Kadesh-barnea to The Promised Land
Numbers 20-36

Some pretty painful lessons are learned here in the book of Numbers:

a. The lesson of LIFE.
Numbers 20:1

b. The lesson of LEADERSHIP.
Numbers 20:26

c. The lesson of LEADING.
Numbers 21:1-3

d. The lesson of LISTENING.
Numbers 22-25

e. The lesson of LEADERSHIP TRANSITIONS.
Numbers 27

f. The lesson of the LAND.
Numbers 36

Birthdays and Anniversaries We're Celebrating This Week!

Saturday, January 7th - Jenny Krauss
Sunday, January 8th - Gabriella Sivyer
Tuesday, January 10th - Belinda Harwood
Wednesday, January 11th - Holly Carpenter
Friday, January 13th - Charlie Mater, Erik Godbey