Monday, April 6, 2009

Fire & Water

The kids (mine...not the ones pictures ha ha!) have been learning about goats and working with goats each week with a wonderful lady (pictured)who goes to our church. As a homeschool family, we love this because it's one less topic I have to teach and it involved hands-on learning.
A couple of Bible Verses I read this morning stuck out to me and I've always agreed with the rule that blogs that have pictures are more interesting. With that in mind, the pictures really don't go with my blog to follow, except that when speaking of sacrifices, I often think of goats and the reddish colored goat (aka Sarah) reminds me of the red heifer spoken about in the verses.
Number 31:22-23
Gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin, lead and anything else that can withstand fire must be put through the fire, and then it will be clean. But it must also be purified with the water of cleansing. And whatever cannot withstand fire must be put through that water.

Number 19
...Tell the Israelites to bring you a red heifer without defect or blemish...the heifer is to be burned....The priest is to take some cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet wool and throw them onto the burning heifer. After that, the priest must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water.... A man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer and put them in a ceremonially clean place outside the camp. They shall be kept by the Israelite community for use in the water of cleansing; it is for purification from sin.
For quite some time, my friends and I have been having some reoccuring dream themes. One theme includes the setting of dreams occuring in a bathroom. The bathroom is always different, but a bathroom nevertheless. We learned that God is showing us a time of cleansing, purifying, preparing, getting rid of sin. The second theme includes redheads and hearing a lot of mention about the red heifer spoken about in the Bible. Knowing that a red heifer will be sacrificed at the nearing of the return of Messiah, we took this as a reminder that His return is near.
Oh, but the revelation of God is amazing! When I read the above verses this morning, His Spirit reminded me about His purification and cleansing. This takes place in fire and is soothed by the Living Water of His Son Jesus Christ. He is the great Cleanser, Purifier. I also think it is interesting that the Holy Spirit is referred to as fire.
Our family has been in the fire for almost a year now. But I can look back and see the cleansing that God has done in our life and be thankful. I'm ready to be bathed in His Living Water. I want to be a spotless bride ready at any moment for His return. This isn't His desire just for me, but for His Church. There has been a major purification of His Church over the last year, a cleansing, shaking, sifting, and shifting. I believe the fire is going to continue to burn hotter and hotter until His people are made ready.
He desires obedience more than sacrifice, mercy more than sacrifice.

2 comments:

  1. I love when you put all that we are learning to one story that ties it all together and makes sense..........Oh what a year.....yet God has been so faithful....
    Cara

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