DAY 50 Read Numbers 14; Leviticus 10 and 11.
Today's reading records Israel's tragic failure on the very border of the Promised Land; it tells a painful story of swift punishment for a grievous sin. It also lists the clean and unclean animals.
Memory gem: "Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of the mercy" (Numbers 14:19).
Thought for today:
"At the hour of worship, as the prayers and praise of the people were ascending to God, two of the sons of Aaron took each his censer, and burned fragrant incense thereon, to rise as a sweet odor before the Lord. But they transgressed his command by the use of 'strange fire.' For burning the incense they took common instead of the sacred fire which God Himself had kindled, and which He had commanded to be used for this purpose. For this sin, a fire went out from the Lord and devoured them in the sight of the people.
"Next to Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu had stood highest in Israel. They had been especially honored by the Lord, having been permitted with the seventy elders to behold his glory in the mount. But their transgression was not therefore to be excused or lightly regarded. All this rendered their sin more grievous. Because men have received great light, because they have, like the princes of Israel, ascended to the mount, and been privileged to have communion with God, and to dwell in the light of His glory, let them not flatter themselves that they can afterward sin with impunity; that because they have been thus honored, God will not be strict to punish their iniquity. This is a fatal deception. The great light and privileges bestowed require returns of virtue and holiness corresponding to the light given. Anything short of this, God cannot accept. Great blessings or privileges should never lull to security or carelessness. They should never give license to sin or cause the recipients to feel that God will not be exact with them. All the advantages which God has given are His means to throw ardor into the spirit, zeal into effort, and vigor into the carrying out of His holy will."--Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 359, 360.
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Difficult or obscure words:
Leviticus 11. Some of the creatures mentioned here do not correspond to those modern ones with the same names. The general principles remain the same, however.
Today's reading records Israel's tragic failure on the very border of the Promised Land; it tells a painful story of swift punishment for a grievous sin. It also lists the clean and unclean animals.
Memory gem: "Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of the mercy" (Numbers 14:19).
Thought for today:
"At the hour of worship, as the prayers and praise of the people were ascending to God, two of the sons of Aaron took each his censer, and burned fragrant incense thereon, to rise as a sweet odor before the Lord. But they transgressed his command by the use of 'strange fire.' For burning the incense they took common instead of the sacred fire which God Himself had kindled, and which He had commanded to be used for this purpose. For this sin, a fire went out from the Lord and devoured them in the sight of the people.
"Next to Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu had stood highest in Israel. They had been especially honored by the Lord, having been permitted with the seventy elders to behold his glory in the mount. But their transgression was not therefore to be excused or lightly regarded. All this rendered their sin more grievous. Because men have received great light, because they have, like the princes of Israel, ascended to the mount, and been privileged to have communion with God, and to dwell in the light of His glory, let them not flatter themselves that they can afterward sin with impunity; that because they have been thus honored, God will not be strict to punish their iniquity. This is a fatal deception. The great light and privileges bestowed require returns of virtue and holiness corresponding to the light given. Anything short of this, God cannot accept. Great blessings or privileges should never lull to security or carelessness. They should never give license to sin or cause the recipients to feel that God will not be exact with them. All the advantages which God has given are His means to throw ardor into the spirit, zeal into effort, and vigor into the carrying out of His holy will."--Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 359, 360.
----------------
Difficult or obscure words:
Leviticus 11. Some of the creatures mentioned here do not correspond to those modern ones with the same names. The general principles remain the same, however.
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