I learned something a few days ago, something that I trust I will not soon forget … regarding “fellowship” with the Lord. (Which is the whole Point of Leviticus, how to establish and maintain such sublime Communion with our great God!)

The opening Section of the Book of Genesis, Genesis 1:1 through Genesis 2:3 specifically … carries us from the initial Moment of Creation to the establishing of the Sabbath Day, maybe the very “high point” of Creation week anyway!

As if God fellowshipping with us, and we with Him, were the very Purpose of Creation, of the Sabbath!

In Hebrew, Genesis 1:1 contains SEVEN Words.

Then come the SEVEN Paragraphs describing God’s miraculous Creative “Days! Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, etc. (SEVEN Days!)

Then, on that SEVENTH DAY, the Sabbath (Rest unto God) … God gives us a THREEFOLD Emphasis of that Special Day, that Day of Fellowship!

Here’s that TRIUNE Emphasis … “And God BLESSED the seventh day, and SANCTIFIED it: because that in it HE HAD RESTED from all his work which God created and made.” Genesis 2:3

It appears to me that the Creation Act of God was geared (arranged or orchestrated) to point to Communion with the Almighty! The “Purpose” of the Sabbath Day!

The very Theme of Leviticus!

The very Theme of the Tabernacle!

The very Theme of the Earth itself, built as a Tabernacle!

In fact, the very Theme of the Bible!

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

James 4:8 has come to mind: “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.”

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Today I talk about Creation, the Tabernacle, and the Book of Leviticus. I want to show you an amazing anomaly, particularly in ancient Hebrew vocabulary.

The Tabernacle, God’s special Place to meet mankind, has a lampstand within its walls/curtains. This we all know.

The “light” emitted by that lampstand (candlestick) is at times called “maor,” a seldom used (only 18 times in all Scripture) Hebrew noun. (In Exodus 25:6 and 27:20 and 35:8 and 35:14 and 35:8 and 39:37.) This is light to brighten the Holy Place, where the fresh Bread rests … a place to commune with God! The very entryway to the Holy of Holies! God’s Mercy Seat!

Now watch this. In the Creation Account which God gave Moses, when “light” was first mentioned … the Holy Spirit did not opt for the normal word for “light” (in Hebrew a noun simply spelled “or,” but pronounced “owr”). Instead He used “maor!” As in Genesis 1:3 … “And God said, Let there be light (maor): and there was light (maor).”

Furthermore, even when God created the sun and moon … “And God made two great lights (maor); the greater light (maor) to rule the day, and the lesser light (maor) to rule the night: he made the stars also.” Genesis 1:16, neglecting or refusing to use the normal (most frequently) employed noun for light, “or.”

And now … does Leviticus use this relatively rare term for “light?” Yes, in Leviticus 24:2 … “Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure oil olive beaten for the light (maor), to cause the lamps to burn continually.”  With God talking, commanding!

Wow!

If “maor” is “light” in the sense of making fellowship with God possible … then God crated this whole planet (which we call earth) for fellowship, Himself with his creation, with humankind! Earth then is a Tabernacle, in that sense!

And if “maor” is the word used by Moses to depict the “light” from the golden candlestick in the Tabernacle … again God made that Structure for such sweet fellowship too! A “given” in fundamental Bible Study!

And if (which it is) Leviticus is THE Book of fellowship with God … no wonder it also uses the atypical “maor” for “light!

God’s REASON for creating earth!

And for building the Tabernacle!

Anod for writing Leviticus …

All the Same … FELLOWSHIP WITH MANKIND!

Thrilling!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Invest some time with the Lord today. That’s your vey reason for existence! He loves such communion!

John 4:23, Jesus to a Samaritan lady one day … “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: FOR THE FATHER SEEKETH (DESIRES, AIMS FOR, STRIVES AFTER, CRAVES) SUCH TO WORSHIP HIM.”

God Almighty … HUNGRY for such worship, love, interaction, adoration, interplay! So says the Bible!

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Earlier today I was reading a little commentary on Leviticus. Written by a Christian Brother who died (went “home” to be with the Lord) in 1892 (December 30th). His name: Andrew Bonar, a Scottish man of God.

I quote him, concerning Leviticus … “There is no book, in the whole compass of that inspired Volume which the Holy Ghost has given us, that contains more of THE VERY WORDS OF GOD than Leviticus. It is God that is the direct speaker in almost every page; his gracious words are recorded in the form wherein they were uttered. This consideration cannot fail to send us to the study of it with singular interest and attention.”

Wow!

Thus, as we proceed with our study of Leviticus … we need to remember that we are indeed standing on “Holy Ground!” GOD IS SPEAKING!

Our Book is so named (Leviticus) because it centers on the proper activity for the Levites. Especially the Priests among the Levites. With God Almighty being the Instructor, Teacher, Lecturer!

Look with me at Leviticus 1:1, its very first sentence: “And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying, …”

I love learning new things “from” the Word of God, and even learning “about” the Word of God!

Lessons continue, Lord willing, tomorrow morning!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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We are looking at some Preliminaries … leading up to the Book of Leviticus and its beautiful Message.

And I’m trying to illustrate that God’s inexplicable Passion is to dwell with man … fellowship with him, and also (more important for us as polluted sinners) for man to dwell with God (a state requiring Calvary and Jesus’ Bloodshed), adoring and worshipping Him forever!

In studying this Grand Concept, I have come across a previously unknown truth (to me anyway). A sublime “link” between Creation (God preparing a place where He could come down and dwell with human beings) and the construction of the Tabernacle in the wilderness! A building whose exclusive purpose is for God and man to commune together! Us worshipping Him!

In Genesis, in describing the Creation of the earth (heavens too) … God has Moses depict that great Event in seven sections. God made earth in “seven” days! (And yes, I do believe they were literal 24 hour days.)

And later (in Exodus, chapters 25-40), when describing “how” to build the Tabernacle, God made seven speeches, imparting knowledge to the various construction crews!

Wow!

This establishes an “analogical relationship” between these two epochal Events! The second One mirrors the first One!

Now while I cannot possible discuss these seven “Movements” in each Miracle of God (Creation and Tabernacle) … I can illustrate with one of them, the final one. The seventh of these … the “grand finale!”

Creation … “And GOD SAW saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” Genesis 1:31

The Tabernacle … “And MOSES DID LOOK upon all the work, and, behold, they had done it as the LORD had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them.” Exodus 39:43

Back to Creation … “Thus the heavens and the earth were FINISHED, and all the host of them.” Genesis 2:1

Reflected in the Tabernacle … “Thus was all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation FINISHED: and the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they.” Exodus 39:32

Another cycle …

Creation Account … “And on the seventh day GOD ENDED HIS WORK which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.” Genesis 2:2

Tabernacle Account … “And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the hanging of the court gate. So MOSES FINISHED THE WORK.” Exodus 40:33

Creation … “And GOD BLESSED the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.” Genesis 2:3

Tabernacle … “And Moses did look upon all the work, and, behold, they had done it as the LORD had commanded, even so had they done it: and MOSES BLESSED them.” Exodus 39:43

Wow!

And both “projects” (Creation and the Tabernacle) were also said to be “sanctified!”

“And God blessed the seventh day, and SANCTIFIED it.” Genesis 2:3 again, Creation Week.

“And thou shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle, and all that is therein, and SHALT HALLOW (SANCTIFY) it, and all the vessels thereof: and it shall be holy.” Exodus 40:9

Too many “parallels” here to be accidental!

Clearly … God (in similar fashion) built both the earth and the tabernacle as “houses” of worship! Places where … communion and adoration and worship can occur!

“As God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” 2 Corinthians 6:16, the Heart of Almighty God!

I am amazed!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Look at this verse, nestled (placed) at the end of the Bible: “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.” Revelation 21:3

I believe this verse beautifully encapsulates God’s overarching, compassionate GOAL … including the very Act of Creation! To build a Tabernacle (the earth) where He can dwell with mankind! Better, where mankind can adore and worship Him, God Almighty!

The Old Testament also captures this same idea, over and over again: “And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.” Zechariah 8:8

Over the next few Lessons, I shall attempt to show how even the Creation Account portrays God desiring to dwell with man!

Read with me Isaiah 40:22 … “It is He (God) that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in.” Creation, especially this very planet … a “tent” in which to dwell, a “tabernacle” indeed!

I am also going to try to show you several parallels between Creation Week and the Construction of the Tabernacle … both Entities having the identical Goal of “God and man, living together in harmony!”

Fellowship!

Communion!

1 John 1:3 captures this thought, rather well in fact. “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.”

Amen!

Until tomorrow, the Lord willing …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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