BRAGADAYJAH 139

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

BRAGADAYJAH 472

BRAGADAYJAH 471
Now while the children of Israel dwelt at Shittim, they began to commit harlotry with the daughters of Moab.  And the people were invited to feast with their gods and to bow down and worship their gods including the god Baal-Peor and the wrath of God was kindled against Israel.
And the Lord God told Moses to take all the heads of the people and hand them up in the sun before the face of the Lord that His fierce anger against the people of Israel may be abated.
So Moses ordered the judges to slay every one of his men that walked after Baal-Peor.  And one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of the congregation of Israel a Medianitish woman who wept before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

And when Phenihas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest saw it, he rose up from among the congregation and took a javelin in his hand and went into the tent and ran through both the man of Israel and his Medianitish woman killing them both and the plague was stayed rom among Israel; for those who had died from the plague were twenty four thousand.

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

BRAGADAYJAH 471

BRAGADAYJAH 471
“I shall see him but not now, I hall behold him but near; there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel and smite the corners of Moab and destroy all the children of Sheth.”
What an amazing prophesy, fulfilled in every material particular a little over two thousand years ago with the advent of Christ, almost 4000 years later.  Jesus, the brightest Star of Jacob’s line. Jesus, the King of Israel, symbolized by the scepter.
Sheth is symbolized by the falling of Edom and Seir and all the possessions of the enemy, the children of tumult.
And Edom shall be a possession, Seir shall also be a possession for his enemies, and Israel shall do valiantly.
Out of Jacob shall he come who shall have dominion and shall destroy he that remains of the city; and when he looked at Amalek, he took up his parable and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he shall perish forever.
And he looked at the Kenites and he said, strong is thy dwelling place, and thy put thy nest in a rock.  Nevertheless the Kenites shall be wasted until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.   And alas, who shall live when God does this? Ships shall come from the coast of Kittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and Eber and he shall perish forever.

And when he was finished all his prophesying Balaam rose and returned to his home; and Balak also rose and went his way.

Monday, December 29, 2014

The Truth about God's Creation

The Truth about God’s Creation

One of the many salient points made in his book Understanding the Existence of God by Dr. John S Weekes is that the very people who more often than not argue against the existence of God are the very people who should be acknowledging that the universe and its creation would have been completely impossible without an intelligent designer/Creator/ God/Higher Power by whatever name that intelligent source is called, and that Cosmos out of chaos is absolutely ridiculous.
Another point was that most of these atheistic scientists are being completely dishonest in the views they seem to espouse and are in it primarily if not completely for the billions of dollars assigned to them by governments as well the private sector in an effort to prove there is no God. 
On this point here is a quote from an article in the Wall Street Journal, written by Eric Metaxes
With such spectacular odds, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, a large, expensive collection of private and publicly funded projects launched in the 1960s, was sure to turn up something soon. Scientists listened with a vast radio telescopic network for signals that resembled coded intelligence and were not merely random. But as years passed, the silence from the rest of the universe was deafening. Congress defunded SETI in 1993, but the search continues with private funds. As of 2014, researches have discovered precisely bubkis—0 followed by nothing.”
Of course it is all a scam by science to enrich themselves and hoax the public. Here is another quote, which speaks for itself and which exposes the lie including a confession from the father of the “Big Bang Theory” himself.
“Fred Hoyle, the astronomer who coined the term “big bang,” said that his atheism was “greatly shaken” at these developments. He later wrote that “a common-sense interpretation of the facts suggests that a super-intellect has monkeyed with the physics, as well as with chemistry and biology . . . . The numbers one calculates from the facts seem to me so overwhelming as to put this conclusion almost beyond question.” And here is another
“Theoretical physicist Paul Davies has said that “the appearance of design is overwhelming” and Oxford professor Dr. John Lennox has said “the more we get to know about our universe, the more the hypothesis that there is a Creator . . . gains in credibility as the best explanation of why we are here.
The Author concludes:
The greatest miracle of all time, without any close seconds, is the universe. It is the miracle of all miracles, one that ineluctably points with the combined brightness of every star to something—or Someone—beyond itself.

Mr. Metaxas is the author, most recently, of “Miracles: What They Are, Why They Happen, and How They Can Change Your Life” ( Dutton Adult, 2014).

BRAGADAYJAH 470

BRAGADAYJAH 470
Upon hearing Balaam’s words, Balak became angry and clapped his hands together and told Balaam angrily, that he had called him to curse his enemies but instead he had blessed them now three times.  Therefore he said to Balaam run for your life; and go back to the place from whence you came.  I had it in mind to promote you to great honor; but your Lord has kept you from receiving it.
And Balaam asked Balak, “Did I not tell your messengers when you sent them to me, that if you should give me your house full of silver and gold I could not go beyond the commandment of the Lord to do either good or bad  of mine own mind,  but that what the Lord has spoken I would speak?”
So now I return to my people; but before I go I will show you what my people shall do to your people in the latter days.  
And Balaam said, I am speaking as one who has heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the Most High, who saw the vision of the almighty falling into a trance but having his eyes open

“I shall see him but not now, I hall behold him but near; there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel and smite the corners of Moab and destroy all the children of Sheth.”

Sunday, December 28, 2014

BRAGADAYJAH 469


BRAGADAYJAH 469
After Peor, Balaam at last realized his futility in seeking to get God’s permission to curse Israel; so he turned aside from his enchantments and set his face towards the wilderness.

And Balaam looked  afar off and saw Israel abiding in their tents according to their tribes; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he spoke a parable and said, “ Balaam the son of Beor has said, and the man whose eyes are open has said.  He has said who heard the words of God, who saw the vision of the Almighty falling into a trance, but having his eyes open?  How goodly are thy tents O Jacob and thy tabernacles O Israel.  Like the valleys are they spread forth; like gardens by the river side; like the trees of aloe which the Lord has planted, and like cedar trees beside the waters, he shall pour the water out of the bucket, and his seed shall be in many waters. And his king shall be higher than Agag and his kingdom shall be exalted.   God brought him forth out of Egypt; he has as it were the strength of a wild ox, he shall eat up the nations, his enemies, and shall break their bones and pierce them through with arrows.  He crouched; he lay down still like a lion, and like a great lion.  Who shall stir him up?  Blessed is he who blessed thee and cursed is he who cursed thee.”

Saturday, December 27, 2014

BRAGADAYJAH 468

BRAGADAYJAH 468
Continuing on, Balaam told Balak, “I received commandment to bless and God has blessed and I cannot reverse it.  God has not seen iniquity in Jacob, nor perverseness in Israel.  The Lord his God is with him and the shout of a king is among them.  God brought them out of Egypt; he has as it were the strength of a wild ox.  Surely, there is no enchantment against Jacob, nor is there any divination against Israel.  According to the time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, what has God wrought?  Behold the people shall rise up as a great lion and lift up himself as a young lion; he shall not lie down until he has eaten of the prey and drink the blood of the slain.”
And Balak said unto Balaam, “then neither bless them at all nor curse them at all.” Then Balaam answered and said unto Balak, “did I not tell you, did you not hear me say, that I must do all that the Lord has instructed me to do?”

But Balak was not satisfied, he told Balaam that he would take him and show him another set of people and maybe it will please God to allow him to curse them for him from there.  So he took Balaam to the top of mount Peor that overlooks Jeshimon.  And Balaam told Balak to build him there and prepare seven bullocks and seven rams. And Balak built seven altars and offered there seven bullocks and seven rams one each on each altar.

Friday, December 26, 2014

BRAGADAYJAH 467


BRAGADAYJAH 467
Besides, Balaam continued, “
Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel?  Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his.”
Upon hearing the words of Balaam, Balak asked him, “What have you done to me? I engaged you to curse my enemies, but instead you have altogether blessed them.” But Balaam responded and asked Balak, “Must I not take heed to speak that which the Lord has out in my mouth?”
Hearing this Balak invited Balaam to go with him to another place where Balaam could see the host of Israel but not completely and from that viewpoint, thought Balak, Balaam could curse them.
So Balak led Balaam via the field of Zophin, to Mount Pisgah and built seven altars and offered a bullock and a ram on each altar there.  And he said to Balak, stand here by the burnt offering while I go yonder and meet with God.
And God met Balaam again, and told him what to go and tell Balak; and on his return, Balaam found Balak as before, standing with his princes beside the burnt offering; and Balak enquired of him what was the word from the Lord

And Balaam told him, “God is not a man that he should lie; neither the son of man that he should repent. Hath He said and does he not do it, or has he spoken and shall he not make it good?”  More

Thursday, December 25, 2014

BRAGADAYJAH 466


BRAGADAYJAH 466

At the high place of Baal, Balaam told Balak to build him there seven altars, and prepare him there seven oxen and seven rams; and Balak did so. And they both offered an oxen and a ram on each altar. And Balaam told Balak to stand by the burnt offering while he go before the Lord to see what the Lord would say to him; and he left and went to a high place.
And the Lord met Balaam and Balaam told the Lord that he had prepared seven altars and had placed an oxen and a ram on each. And the Lord put a word in Balaam’s mouth for Balak and so Balaam returned to Balak and found him standing by the burnt sacrifice he and all his princes.

And Balaam said to Balak, “You have brought me from  Aram out of the mountains of the east saying, come and curse Jacob and defy Israel for me.  Therefore, how can I curse whom God has not cursed, or how can I defy whom the Lord has not defied? For from the top of the rocks I see Him and from the hills I behold Him, and lo, the people shall dwell alone and shall not be reckoned among the nations.”

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

BRAGADAYJAH 465


BRAGADAYJAH 465

And the angel of the Lord said to Balaam “Why have you smitten you ass three times?  I stood in front of you because you are acting perversely, and luckily for you, the ass saw me and turned away three times.  If the ass had not done so I would have slain you and saved the ass.”
Hearing the angel, Balaam confessed and said, “I have sinned for I did not know you stood in the way against me; so now if you will permit me, I will turn around and go back home.”
Thereupon the angel advised Balaam to go with the men; but charged him to speak only the words that he will tell him to say to Balak.  And so Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
And when Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him in a certain border town.  And Balak asked Balaam, “did I not send messengers to you, pleading with you urgently to come to me?  Why, therefore, did you not come?  Don’t you know I am able to make you rich and elevate you to great honor? “
“Well,” said Balaam, “as you can see I am now here; “but do I have any power at all to say anything save that which the Lord has told me to say?”

However, Balaam proceeded to follow Balak until they arrived at a place called Kiriathhuzoth.  And there Balak offered oxen and sheep to Balaam; and on the next day, Balak escorted Balaam unto a high place of Baal that he may see the multitude of the people from there.

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

BRAGADAYJAH 464


GRAGADAYJAH 464

Having blocked Balaam’s way twice, the angel of the Lord then went and stood in a very narrow path along the way, leaving no room for the donkey to go around him; and when the ass saw that there was no room to pass, it went down on its belly before the angel.  And this so infuriated Balaam, that he beat the donkey furiously with his staff.
At this time the Lord opened up the mouth of the donkey and gave it utterance, so that the donkey spoke and said, “What have I done to you that caused you to beat me these three times? “
And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have mocked me, and if I had a sword in my hand I would run you through and kill you!”
Then the ass said to Balaam, “Am  I not your very own ass, for you to use and abuse as you please?  Have you not ridden me from the first day I became yours unto now?  Have I not always done unto you as it was my duty to do?”

Then the Lord opened up the eyes of Balaam and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way with a drawn sword, and Balaam fell down on his face before the angel of the Lord.

Monday, December 22, 2014

BRAGADAYJAH 463

BRAGADAYJAH 463

So Balaam departed with the princes of Moab thereby gaining the Lord’s displeasure. Not only displeasure but God’s wrath was fired up against Balaam.  But how so some may ask, did God not tell him to go?  True; but God had already made known to Balaam his will in the matter when he asked Him the first time. To understand fully what is taking place we need to understand the difference between the permissive will of God and our own free will.
That situation was no different from what happens to us in our own relations with God. We all as His children know pretty much what God expects of us.  When therefore in exercise of our self-will we over-step the mark or fall short of His mark, we are able to do so because God permits us, the same as saying you know my will; but I am not going to stop you from having your own way.  That is exactly what happened with Balaam and with God.
So as Balaam went out to meet Balak that day, the angel of the Lord stood in his way. The donkey saw the Angel standing in the way with a drawn sword; but Balaam did not see him, his eyes no doubt on other things, and so the ass turned aside and went into the field.

Balaam smote the ass and tried to steer it into the way but the angel stood in the middle of the way, leaving only walls on either side, and having no other choice the donkey ran into the wall crushing Balaam’s foot, whereupon he smote the ass a second time.

Sunday, December 21, 2014

BRAGADAYJAH 462


BRAGADAYJAH 462

So the high ranking emissaries of Balak returned to Balaam and made known to him their King’s offer and his desire to have Balaam accompany them back to the King’s domain so that he might curse the children of Israel for him.
Then Balaam answered them and told them that even Balak were to give him his house full of silver and gold, he could not go against his Lord God to do neither small nor great. But notwithstanding Balaam’s personal knowledge and conviction that what he was being asked to do was not only morally wrong but physically impossible, the lure of riches was too great o dismiss out of hand; so again he invited the visitors to spend the night at his house while yet again he consulted with the Lord.

Now the Lord spoke to Balaam in the night and told him when the visitors call him in the morning, he was to go with them; but the words which he should say to them were the words the Lord told him to say. So Balaam got up early in the morning and saddled his ass and departed with the princes of Moab. 

Saturday, December 20, 2014

BRAGADAYAH 461


BRAGADAYJAH 461

When God asked Balaam about the men he had in his house, “who are these men?” it is understood of course God was at once disapproving and reproving Balaam.  Balaam knew that God knew, so that it was not merely a question but a statement, “you must know that I will not approve of your associating with these men of Balak, so why do you even bother to keep them overnight; why not send them away in the first place?.”
Still Balak proceeded to tell God by way of a lame excuse, “these are men of Balak king of Moab and he sent them to me to ask me to curse Israel for him in order that he may fight against them and be victorious, and be able to drive them out of his land.
Not surprisingly God told Balaam not to go anywhere with these men and certainly not to try to curse God’s people whom He had blessed. So Balaam rose up early in the morning and told the princes of Moab, the messengers of Balak to return unto their lord; for God had refused to give him permission to go with them or to curse Israel. So the princes returned unto Balak and told him of Balaam’s refusal to do as he was bidden.

But Balak would not take no for an answer, he gathered together men of his who were even closer to him and of a still higher ranking in his kingdom, and sent them unto Balaam with the promise of even greater riches and greater honor if only he would return unto him with them.to curse this people who were in fact a thorn in his side.

Friday, December 19, 2014

BRAGADAYJAH 460


So in accordance with their instructions the messengers of Balak sought out Balaam with their odious message from their King to curse Israel.  No doubt Balak’s concept of Balaam was his reputation as a false prophet who would do anything for money, like so many false prophets of our day who are hungry for filthy lucre. So Balak’s emissaries approached Balaam laden with gifts and bribes to beseech him to move against God’s people.
Notwithstanding Balaam’s greed, he obviously was not unmindful of the dangers not to mention the difficulties of his would be undertaking to curse God’s people; but he could not even then turn down such a golden opportunity to line his pockets; so he played for time. “Let me think about it overnight, he said, and I will give you my answer in the morning; so the messengers decided, or he invited them to spend the night at his mansion.

However, God was watching and hearing what was going on, so in the night he paid Balaam a visit.

Thursday, December 18, 2014

BRAGADAYJAH 458

BRAGADAYJAH 459

After defeating the King of Bashan and possessing his land, the children of Israel moved on to the plains of Moab by the side of the Jordan by Jericho; and Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites, and he was very much afraid of the Israelites because they were many, and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.  So Moab told the elders of Median that the Israelites licked up everything that is around them much as an ox licks up the grass of the field.
Now at that time, Balak was king of the Moabites; so he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor to Pithor which is by the river of the land of his people to summon him saying there is a people come up out of Egypt and they cover the face of the earth and they are gathered against me.

“Therefore I want you to curse these people for me because they are too mighty for me to deal with them.  If you can somehow curse them perhaps I would be able to overcome them, and drive them out of the land. I am asking you to do this because I know you have the power to bless whomsoever you bless and curse whomsoever you curse.”

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

BRAGADAYJAH 458

BRAGADAYJAH 458

Sihon refused to let Israel pass through his borders and instead gathered his army together and attacked Israel at Jahaz.  And Israel smote Sihon with the edge of the sword and took his land from Arnon even unto Jabbok compassing all the lands of the children of Ammon.
And so Israel conquered and possessed all the cities of the Amorites including Heshbon the city in which Sihon dwelt, and they dwelt therein. 
After some time while dwelling in the former land of the Amorites, Moses sent spies to spy out the land of Jazer and they took the villages thereof and drove out the Amorites who dwelt there.  Thereafter they marched towards Bashan and Og and the King of Bashan and all his people went out and fought against Israel at the battle of Edrei.  During the battle the Lord said to Moses, “Fear him not; for I have delivered him and all his people and all his land and thou shall do to him as thou hast done to Sihon King of the Amorites who dwelt in Heshbon.

So the children of Israel smote him and all his sons and there was none left to him alive and Moses possessed their land.

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

BRAGADAYJAH 457

BRAGADAYJAH www.chaberbooks.com457

From the borders of Edom, those of the children of Israel who survived snake bites or being bitten journeyed unto and pitched their tents at Oboth and having rested there, they soon moved on to and encamped around the borders of Moab, the land of the Amorites. And they encamped around the stream which flows from the brook on the border of Ar; and from there they journeyed on to Be'er and having arrived there the Lord told Moses to gather the people together as He would give them water there.
After having been refreshed the children of Israel sang a song of praise to the Lord, extoling his providence in providing water from the well. And having refreshed themselves they continued on their journey passing over Mattanah, Nahaliel, Bamoth all the way to the top of Mount Pisgah which overlooked Jeshimon.

Having arrived there, they sent messengers to Sihon, King of the Amorites seeking permission to pass over peaceably, promising not to trespass upon their vineyard or even to drink water from their wells, but confine themselves to the highway; but Sihon declined their request and refused them passage.

Monday, December 15, 2014

BRAGADAYJAH 456

BRAGADAYJAH 456

After many had died from the sting of serpents, the people turned to Moses and confessed that they had sinned in that they had spoken against the Lord and against Moses.  Therefore, said they, pray for us unto the Lord that he may take the serpents away from us.  And of course Moses sought the Lord on their behalf.
And so the Lord told Moses to make a fiery serpent and set it upon a pole; and it will come to pass that everyone who is bitten, when he looks upon the brazen serpent he shall live.
And Moses made a serpent of bronze and put it upon a pole and it came to pass that if anyone was bitten, when he looked upon the serpent, he lived.

In this context, the serpent symbolized sin judged; the bronze was also symbolic of the bronze alter where sin was judged and the bronze laver of self- judgment where one symbolically washed away his sin. And of course the bronze serpent is a type of Christ who became sin for us.

Sunday, December 14, 2014

BRAGADAYJAH 455

BRAGADAYJAH 455

Israel’s Victory over Arad, King of the Canaanites

When King Arad heard that Israel was attempting to pass over the territory by the route of the spies, he declared war on Israel and took some of them prisoners.  And Israel petitioned the Lord and made a promise to Him that if He would deliver the Canaanites into their hands, that they would utterly destroy their cities; and the Lord heard them and granted Israel their petition.  And so Israel utterly destroyed the city of the Canaanites, and they called the name of the place Hormah, and they journeyed from Mount Hor by way of the Red Sea in order to circumvent the land of Edom; but the people became discouraged by the circuitous route and their heart failed them.
As usual the people began to complain against God and Moses asking why they had been brought out of Egypt to die in the wilderness; for there was no food and no water and indeed their souls loathed this new land. 

And in response to their most recent griping, the Lord sent serpents among them which stung many of them to death.

Saturday, December 13, 2014

BRAGADAYJAH 454


BRAGADAYJAH 454
The Death of Aaron
While the children of Israel sojourned at Mount Hor by the border of Edom, the Lord spoke unto Moses and Aaron and told them that Aaron shall be gathered unto his people, because he shall not enter upon the land which had been promised to the children of Israel because of their rebellion against His word at the waters of Meribah.  Accordingly, Moses was instructed to take Aaron along with his son Eleazar and to take them up to Mount Hor. Once there Moses was to strip Aaron of his garments and put them upon Eleazar after which Aaron would die there and be gathered unto his people.
And Moses did as the Lord commanded him and went up to Mount Hor with Aaron and Eleazar in the sight of the congregation of Israel and there he stripped Aaron of his garments and put them upon Eleazar and Aaron died there on the mountain.

After Aaron was dead, Moses came down from the mountain with Eleazar and they and all the people mourned the death of Aaron thirty days.  

Friday, December 12, 2014

BRAGADAYJAH 453


The Unforgiven Sin of Edom

And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, informing him as follows:
“You our brother, are aware of all the hard times that have overtaken us.  How our father went down into Egypt, and have dwelt in Egypt along time; and how the Egyptians angered us as well as our fathers; and when we cried unto the Lord he heard our voice and sent an angel and has brought us up out of Egypt, and now we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of the territory. “

“Let us pass I pray thee through your country. We will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, nor drink of the water of the wells.  We will go by the King’s highway; we will not turn to the right or to the left until we have passed your borders.”
But the King’s reply was, “you will not pass by me; if you try to do so, I will come after you with the sword.”
And the children of Israel told him, “we will pass via the highway; and if we and our cattle drink of your water, we will pay for it.  We will only go through on foot and do nothing else.”

But the king of Edom insisted that he would not let them through peaceably. And he gathered an army and came up against the children of Israel.  But Moses refused to engage him and turned away avoiding passage through the land of the Edomites and came to the Mount called Hor.

Thursday, December 11, 2014

BRAGADAYJAH 452


BRAGADAYJAH 452
Moses struck the Rock
I must admit that there were two occasions after which having read the offence and the punishment, I verily said in my heart that God’s punishment was too severe and this is one of them, the other being His summary treatment of Uzi, David’s servant, when he laid his hand on the cart carrying the ark of the covenant.
Of course with riper years and systematic study it was revealed that there were very deep significance to the offences and thus the reason for a fit punishment.
In this case I saw Moses as having toiled and labored hard and faithfully as he pressed towards the promised land, and that he clearly got overdone by the constant threat and rebellious nature of the children of Israel; after  all has God himself not characterize them as an unruly and stiff-necked people?
In any event we must also understand that God saw into Moses’ heart and thus the intention behind his words and actions in a way that we could not.

In striking the rock Moses took credit for what God had done for himself; (he said must we?); God told him to speak to the rock; in striking it he was disobedient; he clearly lost his temper as we see him striking the rock twice; he not only lost his temper but he judged the people harshly, he called them rebels; he resented them for expressing their needs; he sought to get the glory which belonged to God for himself.  Surely God will share His glory with any man! Both he and Aaron rebelled against God in failing to do what God said to do; so both suffered the same fate.  In addition we know that the Rock is Jesus, hence the seriousness of the offence.

BRAGADAYJAH 451


BRAGADAYJAH 451
Moses struck the Rock
I must admit that there were two occasions after which having read the offence and the punishment, I verily said in my heart that God’s punishment was too severe and this is one of them, the other being His summary treatment of Uzi, David’s servant, when he laid his hand on the cart carrying the ark of the covenant.
Of course with riper years and systematic study it was revealed that there were very deep significance to the offences and thus the reason for a fit punishment.
In this case I saw Moses as having toiled and labored hard and faithfully as he pressed towards the promised land, and that he clearly got overdone by the constant threat and rebellious nature of the children of Israel; after  all has God himself not characterize them as an unruly and stiff-necked people?
In any event we must also understand that God saw into Moses’ heart and thus the intention behind his words and actions in a way that we could not.

In striking the rock Moses took credit for what God had done for himself; (he said must we?); God told him to speak to the rock; in striking it he was disobedient; he clearly lost his temper as we see him striking the rock twice; he not only lost his temper but he judged the people harshly, he called them rebels; he resented them for expressing their needs; he sought to get the glory which belonged to God for himself.  Surely God will share His glory with any man! Both he and Aaron rebelled against God in failing to do what God said to do; so both suffered the same fate.  In addition we know that the Rock is Jesus, hence the seriousness of the offence.

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

BRAGADAYJAH 451

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

BRAGADAYJAH 450


BRAGADAYJAH 452
Death of Miriam
So the whole congregation of Israel came to the desert of Zin and dwelt in Kadesh and it happened that Miriam died and was buried there.  
Now while there at Zin, there was a lack of water and the congregation gathered themselves together against Moses and Aaron.  And they strove with Moses and said that they wished they had died along with the others when they had died before the Lord.
“Why?” they asked him confrontationally, “did you bring us and our cattle up out of Egypt for our cattle and ourselves to die in the this evil place?  It is no place for figs, or seed, or vines or, pomegranates; and there is no water to drink.

And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation; and they fell upon their faces and the glory of the Lord appeared unto them.

Monday, December 8, 2014

BRAGADAYJAH 449

BRAGADAYJAH 449

The Significance of the Red Heifer
The Red Heifer, without doubt is a type of the sacrifice of Christ as the basis for the cleansing of the believer from the defilement contracted in his pilgrimage walk through the world.  It is also illustrative of the method of cleansing as follows: the slaying of the sacrifice; the seven-fold sprinkling of the blood; the turning of the sacrifice to ashes which is then preserved as a memorial; the cleansing from the twofold nature of sin, namely guilt and uncleanness by sprinkling with ashes mixed with water.  Water typifies the Holy Spirit and the Word. The method is that the Holy Spirit uses the Word to convict the believer of the things that operate to deprive the believer of his joy, growth and service.  In the circumstances the sinner is brought face to face with his sin and the knowledge that Christ has met the price for his sins.



Sunday, December 7, 2014

BRAGADAYJAH 448


BRAGADAYJAH 448
The Ordinance of the Red Heifer
Now the Lord spoke unto Moses and Aaron concerning the Ordinance of the Red Heifer. “This is the law which the Lord commanded and said, speak unto the children of Israel that they bring to thee a red heifer without spot or blemish and which was never yoked and give it to Eleazar which he shall take outside of the camp and have it slayed in his presence.
Then he shall take the blood on the tip of his finger and sprinkle it seven times immediately in front of the tabernacle of the congregation.  Then the heifer should be burnt in the sight of the priest, the skin the flesh the dung and its blood. And the priest shall take cedar wood and hyssop and scarlet and cast it unto the burning heifer.
After that the priest shall wash his clothes and bathe his flesh in water before returning to the camp and afterwards he shall be unclean until the evening; and the person who did the burning shall also wash his clothe in water and bathe his flesh in water; and shall be unclean until evening.
And a man who is clean shall gather up the ash of the heifer and pile it up outside the camp in a clean place and it shall be kept there for the children of Israel and the place kept as a place of separation for the children of Israel.

And he who gather up the ashes shall also wash his clothes and his flesh and shall be unclean until evening.  

Saturday, December 6, 2014

BRAGADAYJAH 447

BRAGADAYJAH 447
The Lord Excluded Aaron form Inheritance

The Lord specifically excluded Aaron and his descendants from having any inheritance of the lands of Israel, their portion having been as outlined above.  So He told Aaron, “Thou shall have no inheritance in their land neither shall thou have any part in them.  I am thine part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel.”
As for the Levites, he told him, “I have given them the tenth in Israel for an inheritance for their service which they serve in the tabernacle of the congregation.  In addition, the children of Israel must never again go near the tabernacle of the congregation lest they sin and die.  The Levites service is in the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; “they shall bear their iniquity; and this shall be so forever,” added the Lord.

The tithes of the children of Israel which they offer as a heave offering unto the Lord, I have given to the Levites to inherit. That is why I say unto them, said the Lord, they shall have no other inheritance in the land.

Friday, December 5, 2014

BRAGADAYJAH 446


BRAGADAYJAH 446
Provisions For Aaron and his household
In addition, the Lord said to Aaron, I have given you the charge of the heave offerings of all the hallowed things of the children of Israel.  I have given them to you and to your sons because of the anointing; these things shall be yours forever. All these things reserved from the fire, every oblation of theirs, every meal offering, every sin offering and every trespass offering, which they shall render unto me, shall be most holy unto you and your sons.

You shall eat it in the most holy place and every male son shall eat it, for it is holy unto you. Also given unto you shall be the heave offering with their gifts, and all the wave offering to be eaten not only by you and your sons, but your daughters too and everyone in your household who are clean shall eat it.  All the best of the wine and all the best of the oil, of the wheat and the first fruit which they offer shall be yours also. And whatever is first ripe in the land which they shall bring unto the Lord, I have given unto you.

Thursday, December 4, 2014

BRAGADAYJAH 445

BRAGADAYJAH 445
The Duties and Privileges of Aaron and the Levites Affirmed
 And the Lord spoke to Aaron and told him that he and his sons of his father’s house shall be responsible for the iniquity of the sanctuary as well as that of the priesthood, together with the sons of Levi that they may be joined with them in rendering the ministerial duties of the tabernacle of witness.
They were to keep the charge of Aaron in service in the tabernacle save that on pains of death, they did not approach the vessels of the sanctuary or the altar.
Aaron’s duties were reiterated to him, that is the duty to keep the charge of the sanctuary and the charge of the altar, that there be no longer wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel.
Therefore, God warned Aaron, ”Thou and they sons with thee shall keep the priest’s office, for everything of the altar, and everything within the veil; for ye shall serve; for I have given you the priest’s office as a service of gift; and the stranger that comes near shall be put to death.”  

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

BRAGADAYJAH 444


BRAGADAYJAH 444
Aaron’s Rod Budded
And after those things, God commanded Moses to speak to the children of Israel and instruct them that every one of their princes according to the house of their father should take a rod, twelve rods altogether, and write on each rod the name of the tribe to which he belonged.  And Aaron’s name was to be written on the rod of Levi. 
Moses was instructed that the twelve rods were to be laid up in the tabernacle of the testimony, where the Lord was to meet with him.  Then the Lord, told Moses, further of the twelve rods, the man’s rod whom He shall choose shall blossom and He shall make to cease the murmurings of the children of Israel whereby they murmur against him.
Accordingly Moses collected the twelve rod, including that of Aaron’s and laid them in the tabernacle of the witness before the Lord.  And the next day when Moses went into the tabernacle of the witness, he found that Aaron's rod had brought forth buds and produced blossoms and ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­bore almonds.
Then Moses took all the rods out to the congregation and each man took his own rod according­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ to his house but Aaron’s rod was instructed to be kept within the tabernacle of the witness as a sign against the murmuring rebels and a reminder that they should never again go near the tabernacle of the Lord lest they die. 

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

BRAGADAYJAH 443

BRAGADAYJAH 443
When told that God was about to destroy them for their murmuring, they, not or the first time, fell on their faces and assumed positions of penitence.  And so Moses told Aaron to put fire in his censor and put incense in it and go quickly unto the congregation and make atonement for them; for there was wrath gone out from the Lord and the plague had begun to affect the people.
And Aaron did as Moses commanded and went out among the congregation among whom the plague had already began to afflict and he made an atonement for the people. And as he stood between the dead and the living, the plague was stayed.
And the total of all who died of the plague was fourteen thousand and seven hundred in addition to all those who died along with Korah when they were swallowed up.
Then Aaron returned unto the tabernacle into the company of Moses and by that time the plague had been lifted.   


Monday, December 1, 2014

BRAGADAYJAH 442


BRAGADAYJAH 442
Murmuring Continued
Now the Lord told Moses to tell Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest to take up the censors out of the burning and scatter the fire abroad, for the censors were hallowed. The censors that were used to profane the worship of God were to be beaten flat and placed as a covering over the altar as a reminder to the children of Israel.
So Eleazar the priest took the bronze censors that they who were burnt had used, and made broad plates for a covering of the altar. This was a reminder to the stranger as well as the children of Israel that no one who is not of the seed of Aaron was to go near to offer incense before the Lord as did Korah and his company. 

Notwithstanding, the very next day, the children of Israel began again to murmur against Moses and Aaron accusing them of killing the people of the Lord. And so it came to pass that when the congregation were gathered against Moses and Aaron that they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation and saw that the cloud had covered it; and the glory of the Lord appeared and Moses and Aaron came before the tabernacle of the congregation, and the Lord told Moses and Aaron to separate themselves from among the congregation that He might consume them in a moment.

Sunday, November 30, 2014

BRAGADAYJAH 441

Destruction of Korah and his Followers


BRAGADAYJAH 441
Moses then spoke to the congregation and told them that they were about to see whether he was the one appointed by God to do all he had been doing or not, assuring them that whatever he did was not according to his own idea, but in accordance with what God wanted him to do.
So, said Moses, “if these men die the common death after the manner of all men, or if they suffer as men ordinarily suffer, then you will know that the Lord has not called me;”  but if the Lord does a new thing, and the earth open her mouth and swallow them up and their houses and all the men that follow them and everything they own go down into hell with them alive then you shall know that these men provoked the Lord.
And it happened that as soon as Moses had finished speaking, the earth opened up under them and swallowed them up and they disappeared and they all perished from among the congregation of Israel.
Upon seeing this those who were gathered around fled for their lives and fire came down from heaven and devoured all the two hundred and fifty men who dared to appear before the Lord with their censors of fire and incense.   

Saturday, November 29, 2014

BRAGADAYJAH 440


BRAGADAYJAH 440
And so the next day, Korah and his followers gathered themselves with their censors with fire, and put incense in them before the Lord.  And the Lord spoke to Moses in the hearing of the whole congregation and told him to separate himself from them so that he may consume them in a moment.
Then the congregation fell upon their faces and besought God asking, if He was about to destroy them all because of the sin of one man; and so the Lord spoke again unto Moses and told him to peak unto the congregation advising them to separate themselves from Korah, Dathan and Abiram.
And so Moses rose up and went to Dathan and Abiram and as he went the whole congregation followed him. And he spoke unto the congregation and told them to depart from the tents of these wicked men and touch nothing of theirs less they be consumed in all their sins.
And the people departed from the presence of Korah, Dathan and

Abiram leaving them alone in their tents whereupon the three men were left alone with only their wives and their children, More.

Friday, November 28, 2014

BRAGADAYJAH 439


BRAGADAYJAH 439
We Will Not Come!  If Moses had any doubt with regard to what Korah, Dathan and Abiram were up to, such doubt would have been dissipated by their blunt response.  “We will not come up!”  “Is it nothing to you,” they asked, “that you have brought us here, away from a place of plenty, a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in this wilderness, and make yourself a prince over us?  Beside, this land to which you have brought us is a barren and dangerous land, it has no milk or homey and no green fields and vineyards.  Do whatever you like; but we will not come up.”
This response made Moses very angry and he spoke unto the Lord and said to Him, “Respect not their offering for I have not taken one thing from them, neither have I hurt any of them.”

And Moses said to Korah, you and your company come before the Lord tomorrow, and Aaron will also be there.  And when you come, you and your two hundred and fifty princes, bring your censors and put fire in them and Aaron will be there with fire in his censor”  More

Thursday, November 27, 2014

BRAGADAYJAH 438


BRAGADAYJAH 438
Years of Wandering – Korah’s Rebellion
While wandering in the wilderness, a man by the name of Korah the son of Izhar, Levi’s grandson and two other men Dathan and Abiram two descendants of Reuben conspired and rose up against Moses, supported by some two and fifty of the prominent princes of Israel and a large number of the people.
And they as a group confronted Moses and Aaron and said, “You take too much unto yourselves, seeing all of us is holy, all of us are the Lord’s just as well; and He is with us as he is with you. What make you think that you are better than we are?  What make you think you can Lord it over us?
Upon hearing their complaint Moses fell on his knees in their presence and said, “By this time tomorrow, the Lord, will show you who are his and who is holy and will cause that one he has chosen to come near unto him. Take therefore your censors, you Korah and all your followers, and put fire in them and put incense in them before the Lord tomorrow and it shall come to pass the man whom the Lord has chosen he shall be holy. It is you sons of Levi who have taken too much upon ourselves.
Do you think it is a small thing that you among the children of Israel that the Lord has separated from the congregation of Israel to bring you near unto himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the Lord and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them?  And because the Lord drew you near unto himself do you also seek the priesthood? For what cause are you gathered together, and why are you murmuring against Aaron.

Thereupon Moses sent to summon Dathan and Abiram but they said, “We will not come.”

Phillip Joel Hughes - R I P

As I stirred in the night and opened my eyes, I looked at the time; it was 2:55; I was not surprised.  It is the time I awake most mornings.
I decided to go to ESPN Cricket News to see how young Phillip Hughes was doing; I was devastated; it was announced that he was dead.  How sad, I thought.  I had prayed for him and many thousands others also prayed for his recovery; but it was not to be.  He was gone. Prayers did not do any good I thought fleetingly; but then a voice deep within told me I was wrong.  Perhaps those prayers were all he had going for him during those last 48 hours of his unconscious life.  Maybe those prayers reached the throne of grace and helped to accompany him home.
How tenuous a thing life is, I thought; and what a thin line we walk in this life; how fragile the hold between life and death, and how monumental the decisions we make while we yet have breath.
The doctors say his death was a freakish accident. He was struck on the neck below the helmet.  The blow crushed his vertebral artery and sent blood to the area surrounding the brain, and in spite of the best on the scene and post traumatic medical attention the doctors were unable to save his life.
The truth is, whatever our age or situation in life, we are all sojourners along the dual pathway of life. 
As we go we make decisions constantly with regard to our final destination.  However much we enjoy or seek to enjoy this present life, it is but a vapor which soon floats away. And so the path we choose the way we go is all important.
Phillip loved his cricket.  It was for cricket he lived and died; and while we mourn his passing, we may take time to ponder the uncertainty of life and the certainty of death.
As he was in the middle, Hughes was no doubt eyeing another century; he was on 65 and when he saw that last short ball coming he thought no doubt, here is one I can hit out of the park.  He could have ducked or swayed out of the way, no doubt; but he decided to meet it head on.  But alas, instead of he hitting it out of the park, it hit him out of the park.
If he had a chance of facing that same delivery again, knowing its fatal trajectory, it is certain he would have used a different option; but there is no second chance after death.  This lifetime is the only chance we get as we progress each day to that boundary that has been fixed for us by the Ancient of Days.
Phillip Hughes beloved cricketer is gone.  We pray that in life he had made a choice to live a life in preparation for the world in which he now finds himself.  A world in which he shall spend all the rest of eternity.
The Prophet Isaiah by inspiration of God wrote, as rendered by the Living Bible:  “The good men perish; the godly die before their time and no one seems to care or wonder why.  No one seems to realize that God is taking them away from the evil days ahead.  For the godly who die shall rest in peace.” {Isa. 57:1-2}

May the soul of Phillip Joel Hughes, Rest In Peace.

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

BRAGADAYJAH 437


BRAGADAYJAH 437

The Border of the Blue – Reminder of Separated Walk,
And now the Lord commanded Moses to instruct the children of Israel that they make fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe a cord of blue.
God explained that the fringe and blue cord was to be a perpetual reminder to them that each time they see it, it would remind them of the commandments of the Lord and the necessity to keep them and not be led away by their shifty hearts and wandering eyes both of which led you them to playing the harlot and that they may remember to be holy unto their God.
Significantly the cord of blue betokened the heavenly color, blue, also used upon the borders of the priest’s garment; and was a reminder that the people of God were to be heavenly in obedience in character and separate themselves from earthly desires and ambitions.

So God reemphasized His commandment reminding them “I am the Lord your God who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God; I am the Lord your God.”

Chin Up Bro Bill

Like Sodom and Gomorrah
A Tribute to Bro. Bill

Alas, in this Land of buggery,
There abides a strong vial of bigotry.
Like a cancer it grows,
And acutely it flows,
The devil’s own putrescent alchemy.

The Press and its minions conspire,
To set Marriage’s majesty on fire.
In place of Adam and Eve,
They’d enthrone Adam and Steve
And exalt animalistic, carnal desire.

Thus they all too avidly desire,
A man’s noble career to retire.
So four floozies they got,
To spill unfounded rot,
And rub a man’s good name in the mire.

Like in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah,
 They paid the full price for their error.
Soon the trumpet will sound,
And the whole vile lot be bound
In the fiery flames of hell forever.

At the core of this latest concoction,
Are folk’s hearts set on destruction.
So hold your head up Bro. Bill,
You will triumph o’er them still;
They’ll perish in their own sour confusion.
                                                By PJC
11/22/2014

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

BRAGADAYJAH 436


BRAGADAYJAH 436
Once the priest receives the sin offering of the soul that sinned through ignorance, the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinned through ignorance and the atonement shall result in his sins been forgiven him; but the soul that sins presumptuously, whether he be born in the land or a sojourner, the same reproaches the Lord, and that soul shall be cut off from among the people, because he has despised the word of the Lord, and has broken his commandment, that soul shall be utterly cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him..
And it happened that while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man who gathered sticks on the Sabbath day, and they brought him before Moses and Aaron and the congregation; and not sure what to do with him they locked him up. 


And the Lord said to Moses, the man shall be surely put to death  All the congregation shall stone him with stones outside the camp; and so the man was taken outside the camp and stoned to death as the Lord commanded them to do.

Monday, November 24, 2014

BRAGADAYJAH 435


BRAGADAYJAH 435
The Law of the Stranger
The Lord told Moses, that there were to be one law for the stranger as well as the children of the congregation. So that if any one lived among them and was of a mind to offer up an offering made by fire for a sweet savor unto the Lord, he shall be bound with regard to his offering as were the members of the congregation of  Israel.
Furthermore, the Lord told Moses, to tell the children of Israel that when they enter into possession of the land and they eat of the bread, of the land they must offer up a heave offering unto the Lord. They were to offer up a cake of the first of the dough for a heave offering of the threshing floor. The first of the dough was to be given unto the Lord.
And if anyone erred and did not keep all of those commandments given from the very first to the very last, all were to be kept, it was also given that if anything be done through ignorance, without the knowledge of the congregation, that all the congregation shall offer one bullock for a burnt offering, for a sweet savor unto the Lord with his meal offering and his drink offering according to the ordinance and one kid of the goats for a sin offering.  

Sunday, November 23, 2014

BRAGADAYJAH 434


BRAGADAYJAH 434

After this the Lord spoke to Moses and told him to instruct the people, that is to say those who were spared, that when they would have possessed the land which He would give to them, concerning the offerings unto the Lord.
That when they make any offering by fire, be it a burnt offering, or a sacrifice in performing a vow, a free will offering, or an offering made in one of the solemn feasts to make a sweet savor unto the Lord of the herd or of the flock, then the offeror shall also bring a meal offering, of a tenth part of flour mixed with the fourth part of a hin of oil, the fourth part of a hin of wine, for a drink offering, to be offered with the offering of one lamb.
For a ram, the preparation for a meal offering was to be two tenth of flour mixed with the third part of a hin of oil; and for a drink offering the third part of a hin of wine for a sweet savor unto the Lord.
When the offering for a burnt offering or a sacrifice, or a in performing a vow or a peace offering, is a bullock, the meal offering shall be three tenth part of flour, mixes with half a hin of oil; and for a drink offering a hin of wine for an offering made by fire for a sweet savor unto the Lord.
These were the commandments of the lord concerning these offerings.  

Saturday, November 22, 2014

BRAGADAYJAH 433


BRAGADAYJAH 433


And Moses told all those sayings of the Lord to the people and they mourned greatly.
And they rose up early in the morning and went up into the mountain, and said, "Now we are here and we will go up unto the place which the Lord has promised for we have sinned."
And Moses said to the people, now you want to disobey the Lord by going up unto the mountain to seek his face? That would be a waste of time because the Lord has turned his back on you and going up will be to no avail.
Your advice is to not try to go before the Lord, lest He strike you all dead in the sight of all your enemies. In any event the Amalekites and the Canaanites are already in the land and if you go you shall all perish by the sword. For now you have turned away from the Lord, he has turned away from you.
Notwithstanding Moses admonition, the rebellious people presumed to go upon the hilltop to seek the Lord, while Moses remained in the camp with the Ark of the Covenant;

Accordingly the Amalekites came upon them and the Canaanites who dwelt in the hill fell upon them and smote them all. 

Like Sodom and Gomorrah - A Tribute to Bro Bill.

Like Sodom and Gomorrah
A Tribute to Bro. Bill

Alas, in this Land of buggery,
There abides a strong vial of bigotry.
Like a cancer it grows,
And acutely it flows,
The devil’s own putrescent alchemy.

The Press and its minions conspire,
To set Marriage’s majesty on fire.
In place of Adam and Eve,
They’d enthrone Adam and Steve
And exalt animalistic, carnal desire.

Thus they all too avidly desire,
A man’s noble career to retire.
So four floozies they got,
To spill unfounded rot,
And rub a man’s good name in the mire.

Like in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah,
 They paid the full price for their error.
Soon the trumpet will sound,
And the whole vile lot be bound
In the fiery flames of hell forever.

At the core of this latest concoction,
Are folk’s hearts set on destruction.
So hold your head up Bro. Bill,
You will triumph o’er them still;
They’ll perish in their own sour confusion.
                                                By PJC
11/22/2014

www.chaberbooks.com

Friday, November 21, 2014

BRAGADAYJAH 432

 BRAGADAYJAH 432

No, said the Lord, your little ones shall indeed enter into the land; but as to you, your carcasses shall rot in the wilderness. And your little ones shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your harlotries until your carcasses be wasted in the wilderness.
After the number of days wherein ye shall search the land, even forty years each day for a year, you shall bear your iniquities and you shall know my breach of promise. "For I the Lord have said, I will surely do it, unto all this evil congregation that are gathered together against me' in this wilderness they shall die."
And the men which Moses sent to search the land who returned and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land, all those men that did bring up an evil report upon the land died by the plague before the Lord.

But Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of the men that went to search the land lived still.www.chaberbooks.com

Thursday, November 20, 2014

BRAGADAYJAH 431


BRAGADAYJAH 431
The Amalekites and the Canaanites were then occupying the land; but the Lord told Moses to turn and take a route towards  the Red Sea. Also the Lord told Moses that He the Lord had heard the murmuring of the people how they murmured against Him, and promised that as truly as He lives, so they did unto him so will he do unto them; and their carcasses would fall in the wilderness; and all who were numbered of them, those of them who were numbered from twenty years and up who have murmured against Him, shall without doubt not enter the land concerning which He had promised to give to them. All except Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.

But the little ones whom they said would be a prey, they will He bring in, and they shall know the land which their fathers despised; but as for the rest of you, your carcass shall rot in the wilderness.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

BRAGADAYJAH 430

BRAGADAYJAH 430

The Lord’s Response, Pardon and Rebuke.
In answer to Moses’ prayer the Lord responded and said, “I have pardoned in accordance with your word; but as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord. Because all those men who have seen my glory, and my miracles which I did in Egypt, and in the wilderness, and have put me to the test these ten times, and have not hearkened unto my voice, surely they shall not see the land which I swore to give unto their fathers, neither any of them that provoked me see it.”
“But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereto he went, and his seed shall possess it.”