Along the Way w/ Bro. Ryan

In Leviticus 16, specifications are given for how Aaron and the priests were to perform the annual ceremony of the Day of Atonement, a day where all the sins of the Israelites were repented of and forgiven.  There would be a bull sacrifice involved along with two goats - one goat would be killed as the sacrifice on behalf of the people's sin and the other goat, known as the scapegoat, would have all the people's sins transferred over to him (symbolically, by the priest placing his hands on the scapegoat's head) and be sent into the wilderness, away from the people, never to return. That scapegoat, the one responsible for taking the people's sins outside the camp and into the distant wilderness was known as the 'Azazel.'  The Day of Atonement, and everything else given in the Law of Moses, especially sacrifices, were to point the people (and us today) to the future Messiah who would come and atone for the sins of all, once and for all.  The Messiah of course

“So, you shall speak to all who are gifted artisans, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments, to consecrate him, that he may minister to Me as priest.”  - Exodus 28:3 Moses was in the middle or receiving instructions for how to worship God.  God was giving His people the Law and as a part of that Law were a plethora of guidelines on how He was to be approached in worship – namely sacrifices, proper attire for priests, and various elements pertaining to the new Tabernacle. As a part of the instructions, God told Moses to gather all of the “gifted artisans .”  These craftsmen would be responsible for developing the many articles of clothing for the priestly garments, per God’s designs.  It’s interesting to note that these “gifted artisans” were gifted, not by their own abilities or skill, but that their skills, or their “giftedness,” was specifically given to them from God.  God said, “…speak to all who are gifted artisans, whom I have fil

“But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?’” - Exodus 3:11 Have you ever given God an excuse (or multiple) before?  Have you ever known what it was you needed to do or that God was moving you to do something and in response you gave excuses as to why you couldn’t do it?  Or you were the wrong person for it? That was Moses. Moses had an interesting past.  He was given up by his birth mother after a wicked Pharaoh ordered all male babies to be thrown into the river to stop Israelite population growth.  The daughters could remain living, but all baby boys had to go!  Pharaoh couldn’t risk losing his empire to a nation of people who were reproducing at a much greater rate than his Egyptian nation was.  However, by God’s grace and sovereignty, Moses’ little life was spared as he was adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter when she saw a basket floating down the river with a crying baby inside.   That lit