Heavenhigh

Hezekiah’s Folly and God’s Grace!

# 12 2026 Dev. Isa.39-40. Hezekiah’s Folly and God’s Grace! Read all of chapter thirty-nine and forty first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Isaiah 39: Envoys from Babylon: “Hezekiah received the envoys gladly and showed them what was in his storehouses—the silver, the gold, the spices, the fine olive oil—his entire armory and everything found among his treasures.”

Vs.1-2 At that time Marduk-Baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon sent Hezekiah letters and a gift, because he had heard of his illness and recovery. The visit of the Babylonians seems innocent enough, but Hezekiah went out of his way to show them his treasures. Pride goes before a fall. This we must take to heart, Satan knows how to tempt us.

Vs. 3-7 God sent the prophet to ask Hezekiah about the visit of the Babylonians. Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord Almighty: The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your predecessors have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the Lord.”

V.8 “The word of the Lord you have spoken is good,” Hezekiah replied. For he thought, “There will be peace and security in my lifetime.” Instead of repenting as he did before, he was completely short sighted and thought only for his time, even though his own offspring will suffer.

Isaiah 40: After the prophecy of captivity in Ch 39 this chapter is the precursor of the coming and the work of Jesus. “Comfort for God’s People” freedom from the tyranny of sin.

Vs.1-2 “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her
that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for…”

Vs.3-5 “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” This is a direct reference to John the Baptist, the last Old Testament Prophet.

Vs.6-9 A voice says, “Cry out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?” The next verses, are a comparison of the human race and the voice of God. “All people are like grass,” temporary, “but the word of the Lord our God endures forever.” Yes, there is no comparison.

Vs.10-11 “He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart…” This is Jesus’ intention for all of us, he wants to gather us into his arms and carry us through this life and carry us to heaven.

Vs.12-14 “Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?” Who is able to understand the ways of the Lord, His mercy, His grace, His love, and His intention for us?

Vs.15-17 “Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.” Nations and people are of no account, even so the Lord is our Savior.

Vs.18-20 “With whom, then, will you compare God? To what image will you liken him?” That is the question, what is God compared to, is there anything on this earth or even in our minds? No, there is no comprehension!

Vs.21-24 “Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded?” God is in control, He orchestrates all events on the earth and in our lives. Amen!

Vs.25-31 “To whom will you compare me?” There is no comparison to God. “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God the Creator of the ends of the earth.” What does this mean for us, the followers of Jesus? God promises “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Thanks be to God!

The First Born!

# 11 2026 Dev. Numbers 3-4. The First Born! Read all of chapter thee and four first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Nu.3. “This is the account of the family of Aaron and Moses at the time the Lord spoke to Moses at Mount Sinai.”

Nu. 4. “In this chapter we have an account of those of the tribe of Levi who were in the prime of their time for service, between thirty and fifty years old.”

Vs.1-13 The tribe of Levi is designated to assist Aron and his sons in the work, the maintenance and the transportation of the sanctuary. The tribe was taken by God to replace the first born of the Israelites. Why? “When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set apart for myself every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal. They are to be mine. I am the Lord.” Yet, during the time of the Patriarchs, God did not choose the first born, also at the time of King David. Today, we have the freedom to choose what one does for a living and also how we want to serve the Lord. Today, the Holy Spirit guides us, Amen!

Vs.14-39 This is basically the division of labor, who was to do what and where they would be allowed to pitch their tents. The total of the males six months and above was 22,000.

Vs.40-51 Moses was told to count all the first born of all the Israelites, and they counted 22,273. But this exceeded the Levites by 273, so, God wanted to redeem them as well. God told Moses to collect five shekels per person to redeem them as the first born. The redemption of the first-born points us to Jesus; “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. Colossians 1:15”The creation that God is redeeming is ongoing, but Christians are now redeemed in Jesus Christ!

Chapter 4 The three clans of the Levite’s are assigned their tasks.

Vs.2-20 First, no one could look at the holy things in the tabernacle, only the priests are to take the articles, cover them with a blue cloth and then cover them with leather only then the people designated to carry would be allowed to pick up the article. The Kohathites were assigned this task.

Vs.21-28 The Gershonites were to carry all the curtains that made up the tabernacle.

Vs.29-33 The Merarites were to carry all “the frames of the tabernacle, its crossbars, posts and bases, as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, ropes, all their equipment and everything related to their use.”

Vs.34-49 “The numbering of the Levite clans.” The total number of the clans was 8,580. God assigned everyone their task. This was important, because they ended up wandering in the desert for forty years. God redeemed them all, those who stayed faithful to God and to their task. It is no different today; faithfulness, belief in Jesus, results in integrity to what God has assigned to us, amen!

Does God Change His Mind!

# 10 2026 Dev. Isa.38:1. Does God Change His mind? Read all of chapter thirty-eight first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Isaiah 38:2-3 “Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, ‘Remember, Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.’ And Hezekiah wept bitterly.’”

Isaiah.38 Stands in juxtaposition to Ch.37; Jerusalem is saved but the King, in the strength of his life, is going to die. Hezekiah’s prayer changes God’s mind. If that wasn’t enough, God sends him an amazing sign. God moves the sun back, or the earth forward 10%, unbelievable! Hezekiah, asks for the sign, but the prophet asks God to do it. (2kings 20:10-11). This chapter continues with Hezekiah’s reaction to the miracle of healing. Note that God uses a natural means to heal Hezekiah.

Vs.1-6 “In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death.” God sends Isaiah to inform the king, “Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.” Hezekiah prayed: “Remember, Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes. ‘And Hezekiah wept bitterly.’” Are there many of us who could pray a prayer like that? God hears his prayer, Isaiah is sent back to Hezekiah to tell him he will live fifteen more years. But Hezekiah asks for a sign, not just any sign; “It is a simple matter for the shadow to go forward ten steps,” said Hezekiah. “Rather, have it go back, ten steps.”

Vs.7-8 “‘This is the Lord’s sign to you that the Lord will do what he has promised: I will make the shadow cast by the sun go back the ten steps it has gone down on the stairway of Ahaz. ‘So, the sunlight went back the ten steps it had gone down.’” There is no archaeological evidence that there was a sun dial or steps that could measure time, nor is there any astrological evidence but by faith we know that this happened.

Vs.9-22 “A writing of Hezekiah king of Judah after his illness and recovery:” Hezekiah, here uses one metaphor after another to describe what he has gone through; “The gates of death… I will not again see the Lord himself in the land of the living… like a shepherd’s tent my house had been pulled down… Like a weaver I have rolled up my life… like a lion he broke all my bones… I moaned like a morning dove…What can I say?… I will walk humbly all my years… Lord, by such things people live… You restored me to health and let me live…in your love you kept me…you have put all my sins behind my back… The living, the living they praise you, as I am doing today… The Lord will save me…” Isaiah tells them to “prepare a poultice of figs and apply it to the boil and he will recover.” This is an amazing event, God changing his plan for Hezekiah. How many times has God changed His mind for us, because of our prayers? I believe many times. Keep on praying!

The Chosen!

# 09 2026 Dev. Numbers 1-2 The Chosen! Read all of chapter one and two. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Nu.1. God orders a census after the rules and commandments in Leviticus, God establishes a Theocracy, a Kingdom with God as King.

Nu. 2. God sets the order of assembly, where to pitch their tents in relation to the tabernacle. Also, the order of marching when moving from one area to another.

Vs.1-19 God gave Moses the names of the men to conduct the census one from each tribe. But Ephraim replaces Joseph and Manasseh replaces Levi, they are to tend the tabernacle as Priests, responsible for maintenance, break down and setup. They are the only ones who are allowed to carry the tabernacle, only the Levites can touch the holy things. They are to count “every man 20 yr. old and above who are able to serve in the army.” And every man was to be written down by name and tribe.

Vs. 20-46 All the tribes are counted, men, 20 yrs. old and above and there were 603,550 total. It appears the count included men ready for military service, plus the Levies were not counted, most scholars estimate a total population of two million plus.

Vs. 47-54 Basically lays out the role of the tribe of Levi. This chapter highlights the importance of organizing, and setting direction when God is in their midst 24/7. What about us? Are we thinking about God in our midst, living in us by His Spirit 24/7? “The Levites, however, are to set up their tents around the tabernacle of the covenant law so that my wrath will not fall on the Israelite community.” They are a hedge as Jesus is our hedge today, “by His stripes we are healed!”

Chapter 2 God, appoints the who and the what will comprise the composition of the groups of the tribes and progression of travel. Judah is first, he will camp east of the Tabernacle. He will be joined by two tribes, Issachar and Zebulun, making up group one. Moving counter clockwise, Reuben will be south of the camp. He is joined by the tribe of Simeon and Gad making up group two. At the west of the camp, the tribe of Ephraim. He will be joined by the tribe of Manasseh, and Benjamin making up group three. At the north of the camp will be the tribe of Dan. And he will be joined by the tribe of Asher and Naphtali making up group four. These are the groups God chose to camp around the Tabernacle and the order of departure, Judah being first. Of all the children of Jacob, Judah is the one chosen to be in the line of Christ, in spite of his indiscretion with Tamar a Canaanite woman who was married to Judah’s son. God works all things for the good of His people. Throughout, the long genealogies God added many persons from different tribes and peoples into the line of Jesus. Therefore, every kind of person is acceptable to God in Christ Jesus. That includes you!

God’s Assurance!

# 08 2026 Dev. Isa.37:3 God’s Assurance! Read all of chapter thirty-seven first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Isaiah 37:3 Hezekiah sends his official, in sack-cloth, to Isaiah: “This is what Hezekiah says: This day is a day of distress and rebuke and disgrace, as when children come to the moment of birth and there is no strength to deliver them.”

Isaiah.37 This Ch. continues from Ch.36. In this chapter we see the fulfillment of prophecies of the forgoing chapters in Isa. We see Hezekiah humble himself before God. God answers his prayer. “Sennacherib sent messengers saying, ‘don’t be fooled, your god can’t save you, he is like all the other gods of the nations I have conquered!”‘ “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Pr.16:18.” He will be surprised and overwhelmed!

Vs.1-7 “When King Hezekiah heard this, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and went into the temple of the Lord. He sent Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the secretary, and the leading priests, all wearing sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz…When King Hezekiah’s officials came to Isaiah, Isaiah said to them, “Tell your master, ‘This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid of what you have heard—those words with which the underlings of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.’” This all came down to the blaspheming of God’s name and His power by the field commander and Sennacherib as well. “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.Gal.6:7”

Vs.8-20 Sennacherib sent messages to Hezekiah, laying out to him all he had done to many countries. “Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. And He prayed; ‘You have made heaven and earth. Give ear, Lord, and hear; open your eyes, Lord, and see; listen to all the words Sennacherib has sent to ridicule the living God.’ He continues; ‘Now, Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, Lord, are the only God.'”The Lord God is the only Living God, He created us in our mother’s wombs, he has sustained us, guided us, protected us and lives in us by His Spirit!

Vs.21-38 Isaiah sends a response to Hezekiah in writing; “Virgin Daughter Zion despises and mocks you…By your messenger you have ridiculed and blasphemed…And you have said, I have ascended the height of the mountains…I have dug wells and drunk water there…Have you not heard long ago I ordained it…But I know where you are and when you come and go, and how you rage against me…I will put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth, and I will make you return, by the way you came…By the way that he came he will return; he will not enter this city, declares the Lord. I will defend this city and save it, for the sake of David my servant!’ Then the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp.” Sennacherib returned to Nineveh and his two sons killed him. This was the end of the Assyrian empire. There are forces in the world today to kill Christians, to oppose Christianity in our own country, to discredit churches and the message of salvation. This is blasphemy, we hear it every day. Beware people, God is not mocked! Pray for God’s protection!

Obedience and Disobedience!

“If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. Jn.15:10

# 07 2026 Dev. Lev.26-27.Obedience and Disobedience! read all of chapter twenty-six and twenty-seven first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Lev. 26 is all about obedience; obeying God’s decrees and commands “I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down and no one will make you afraid. I will remove wild beasts from the land, and the sword will not pass through your country.” The blessings of obedience! If Obedience is important then also disobedience, that would result as the opposite of above.

Vs.1-13 Obedience is rewarded. “Observe my Sabbaths and have reverence for my sanctuary. I am the Lord.” As Christians we do set aside a day for the Lord, for most of us it is Sunday. In contrast to the Sabbath in Moses day, Christ has given us freedom in our service to God. The rewards “‘I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you. You will still be eating last year’s harvest when you will have to move it out to make room for the new. I will put my dwelling place among you, and I will not abhor you. I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people.” That promise has been given to us in Christ Jesus. He lives in us by His Spirit, guiding, protecting, and growing our faith

Vs.14-46 Disobedience. The results; “You will plant seed in vain, because your enemies will eat it. I will set my face against you so that you will be defeated by your enemies; those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee even when no one is pursuing you.” God is always ready to give second changes. But, “‘If after all this you will not listen to me, I will punish you for your sins seven times over.”

“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Isaiah 55:6.”

Lev.27 Redeeming, what is vowed to the Lord. This chapter is about going above and beyond what is required. People can be dedicated, children, property, animals. The price of each is set, and can be redeemed, if the person wants to redeem, one fifth of the price is added. Today we have much more freedom, we decide how much we give to God, through our churches, some, think that it should 10% but that should not limit us we should give according to our blessings. We should also give to special projects to meet needs. Example, housing, money for wells, for education in third world counties, money for transportation for missionaries. People are free to go above and beyond, we have experienced that as missionaries. God is Good!

A Prayer for Reprieve!

# 06 2026 Dev. Isa.36:3 A prayer for Reprieve! Read all of chapter thirty-six first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with.This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Isaiah 36: Sennacherib’s field commander: “Furthermore, have I come to attack and destroy this land without the Lord? The Lord himself told me to march against this country and destroy it.”

Isaiah.36:1 “In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah’s reign, Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them.” Only Jerusalem is left and is being threatened, even after Hezekiah had sent major tribute to the king.

Vs.1-10 “‘This is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: ‘On what are you basing this confidence of yours?You say you have counsel and might for war—but you speak only empty words. On whom are you depending, that you rebel against me? But if you say to me, ‘We are depending on the Lord our God—isn’t he the one whose high places and altars Hezekiah removed, saying to Judah and Jerusalem, ‘You must worship before this altar?’” This threat has been going on since Ahaz was the king in Jerusalem. Chapter 7:13 Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? Therefore, the Lord himself will give youa sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” The invasion they feared at the time will not happen but in the same chapter God appoints the King of Assyria as his instrument. From that time forward Isaiah prophesied destruction for many countries but also God’s grace for Israel.

Vs.11-22 Now that Jerusalem is surrounded: Eliakim, the palace administrator, Shebne, the secretary and Joah, the recorder went out to meet with the Assyrian field-commander. Two of these names come up in Isa. Ch. 22:16 “Go, say to this steward, to Shebna the palace administrator: ‘What are you doing here and who gave you permission to cut out a grave for yourself here…” also Eliakim vs. 20-23 “In that day I will summon my servant, Eliakim son of Hilkiah. I will clothe him with your robe (Assyrian King’s robe) and fasten your sash around him and hand your authority over to him. He will be a father to those who live in Jerusalem and to the people of Judah. I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.” He is here as a type of Christ. Then there is Isa.Ch.33, “Woe to you destroyer…” a reference to Assyria. If the leaders would have paid attention to Isaiah’s prophecy they may not have been so worried. If we would only listen to the Word of God, we would live in peace by faith and dependence. Praise God!

Light, Redemption and Rest

# 05 2026 Dev. Lev.24-25. Light, Redemption and Rest! Read all of chapter twenty-three and twenty-five first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Lev. 23 is all about; The Appointed Feasts: but Ch. 24-25 is about Light, righteousness, unrighteousness and rest. God’s light is righteousness.

Vs.1-4 “The Lord said to Moses, ‘Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning continually.”’ The Minora is one lamp with seven branches. We read in “Rev.1:4-5 Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.” This light that must burn continually and is God’s presence with Moses and His people.Today, Jesus is the light of the world, Emmanuel; God with us eternally! We thank God!

Vs.5-9 The table and show bread, fresh bread every Sabbath, “on behalf of the Israelites, as a lasting covenant. It belongs to Aaron and his sons, who are to eat it in the sanctuary area, because it is a most holy part of their perpetual share of the food offerings presented to the Lord.” Today, we do communion together, as Jesus instructed His disciples. Some churches practice it once every three months but some churches practice communion every week. “The Reformed understanding of the Lord’s Supper is grounded in an important distinction between the sign and seal (bread and wine) the thing signified (forgiveness though His blood, ‘the blood of the covenant’), and a sacramental union between the two (our Lord’s words ‘this is my body’”).

Vs.10-25. Blasphemers, a serous issue in the day. “Then the Lord said to Moses: ‘Take the blasphemer outside the camp. All those who heard him are to lay their hands on his head, and the entire assembly is to stone him.”’ There is more here: “‘Anyone who takes the life of a human being is to be put to death.” Anyone who injuries a person must suffer the same injury, Today, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. Mt.5:38-42.” Not retribution, Jesus calls us to love!

Ch. 25. The Sabbath year and the year of Jubilee.

Vs.1-7 The Sabbath Year; “For six years sow your fields, and for six years prune your vineyards and gather their crops. But in the seventh year the land is to have a year of sabbath rest, a sabbath to the Lord. Do not sow your fields or prune your vineyards.” However, you may eat whatever the land produces.

Vs.8-55 The year of Jubilee: “Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you; each of you is to return to your family property and to your own clan.” There is no evidence that this was ever practiced. But one aspect of it was practiced such as the situation with Naomi, Ruth and Boaz. Boaz was not the nearest relative. But the relative did not want to take Ruth along with Naomi’s land. He ceded the right of redemption to Boaz. God was in the details; Ruth and Boaz’s offspring are in the line of Christ.

The right to redeem was based on the ability of the person redeeming to pay for the house or property. If an Israelite sells himself to a fellow Israelite because of poverty, he and their children are to be released in the year of Jubilee. Vs.54-55 says it all:“‘Even if someone is not redeemed in any of these ways, they and their children are to be released in the Year of Jubilee, for the Israelites belong to me as servants. They are my servants, whom I brought out of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.” This applies to us today, we are the children and the servants of the Lord our God, redeemed in Christ Jesus, praise be to God!

The Joy of the Lord!

_{“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Php.4:4-7.”}

# 04 2026 Dev. Isa.35:3 The Joy of the Lord! Read all of chapter thirty-five first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Isaiah 35:3 “Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way…”

Isaiah.35 After the doom and judgment of the nations in ch.34, now in ch.35, God, through the prophet, gives us the vision of the New Heaven and Earth!

Vs.1-2 What was destroyed will be renewed, ‘“they (we) will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God.”

Vs.3-4 ‘“say to those with fearful hearts, ‘Be strong, do not fear…”’ Today, there are many Christians all over the world who fear for their lives, Satan is working to destroy Christianity, He tried to do that once before at the beginning of Christianity. Are we now near Satan’s end? The Prophet writes: “Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution.” Come Lord Jesus!

Vs.5-7 We do now see, hear and understand the Grace of God. Jesus’s work on earth continues to this day. When John was in prison, he asked Jesus if He was the one. “Jesus replied, ‘Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me. Php.4:4-7.”Let us not be ashamed of the Gospel! Not only are people renewed, Creation will be revived: “Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.” Jesus, as well as Isaiah are speaking in a spiritual sense and in a realistic sense as well.

Vs.8-10 “And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way.” No reprobate, scoffer or wicked people will walk in that way, “only the redeemed, and those the Lord has rescued…” Today, Christians walk in the way of Holiness by God’s Grace, weaving us through life in the direction God wants us to go, thanks be to Him. But for Christians being murdered now, “They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.” We will join them in His time, thanks be to God!

God’s Rest!

“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.1Jn.2:1-2”

# 03 2026 Dev. Lev.23 God’s Rest! Read all of chapter twenty-three first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Leviticus 23:3“‘There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a sabbath to the Lord.”

Lev 23 The Appointed Feasts: The Sabbath, Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, Feast of Weeks, Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, Feast of Tabernacles.

Vs.1-2 The Sabbath, “you may not do any work…” The punishment for breaking the Sabbath, was death. For Christians today, Sunday is the day we set aside, the day Jesus arose, our day of rest also reflects God’s eternal rest. Paul writes: “On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. 1Cor.16:2.” Most of us are still doing that today. Paul also writes: One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord.Rm.14:5-6a.” So, today we have more freedom as it concerns Sunday, but “whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord.” We are blessed on Sunday with the Word of God! Imagine having to work seven days a week!

Vs.4-8 The Passover was combined with the Feast of Unleavened Bread, a seven-day event, celebrating the time in Egypt when the angel of death passed over every house having the blood of the lamb on the door posts. Today’s lamb: “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! Jn.1:29.’” Today’s bread of life: Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. Jn.6:35.” Jesus is speaking of Spiritual food for eternal life.

Vs.9-14 Offering of First Fruit: “The Lord said to Moses, ‘Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter the land I am going to give you and you reap its harvest, bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain you harvest.”’ This offering was to include a lamb, fine flour mixed with olive oil and wine. This was to be done before one ate of the new harvest. Today’s firstfruit: “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 1Cor 15:20.” We also add the bread and wine of Communion. Luke 22:19-20.

Vs.15-21 The Festival of Weeks. “‘From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, count off seven full weeks. Count off fifty days up to the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then present an offering of new grain to the Lord.”Multimale sacrifices are required, two loaves of bread, seven male lambs, one young bull, and two rams to the Lord. One male goat for a sin offering and two lambs for the priests. Jesus said on one occasion, while he was eating with his disciples, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. Acts 1:4,” We need more of the Holy Spirit today!

V.22. “‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest.” This was for the poor, we have provisions for the poor today. Today we need to address those who have not experienced God’s Grace: Then he said to his disciples, (and to us) ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Mt. 9:37.”’ That is how it was then and so it is now!

Vs.23-The Festival of Trumpets. “The Lord said to Moses, ‘Say to the Israelites: On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of sabbath rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts. Do no regular work, but present a food offering to the Lord.’” Today, we look forward to: in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.1Cor.15:35.”Come quickly Lord Jesus!

Vs.26-32. The Day of Atonement. “The Lord said to Moses, ‘The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. Hold a sacred assembly and deny yourselves, and present a food offering to the Lord.” Three times the passages say: you must deny yourselves. It is time to ponder why we need atonement, why we need reparations for doing wrong. Today, Jesus: “He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. Heb.9:12.” Redemption for us all!

Vs.33-44. The Festival of Tabernacles. “So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival to the Lord for seven days; the first day is a day of sabbath rest, and the eighth day also is a day of sabbath rest.” They were to live in temporary shelters, remembering the shelters they lived in during the time God brought them out of Egypt. Today, “On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Jn.7:7-39.” We have that Spirit today, what is our excuse?