Monday, June 30, 2014

(34) Victory over Jericho

 
Now the gates of Jericho were shut
because they heard what God had done
for Israelites along the way,
so they were afraid.
 
There was no way to in or out.
 
But God said to Joshua,
"I have given you Jericho,
Now listen, have your army to march
around the city once a day for 6 days.
On the 7th day, march around the city 7 times,
with priest blowing the horns.
When you hear the priests long blast on the horns,
have all Israelites shout.
Then the walls of the city will fall down,
and then conquer the city."
 
Joshua and Israelites did everything as God instructed.
 
On 7th day, after marched around the city 7 times,
they shouted as loud as they could.
 
and suddenly, the walls of Jericho collapsed,
and Israelites captured the city.
 
Everything was destroyed.
But Joshua spared Rehab who helped and protected 2 spies before.
 
God was with Joshua,
and his name became famous throughout the land.
 

Saturday, June 28, 2014

(33) Crossing the Jordan River

 
Now Joshua and all the Israelites had to cross the Jordan River
to get to the land God had given them.
 
When they arrived at the banks of the Jordan River,
they camped there for 3 days.
 
At the end of 3rd day,
 
Joshua told the people,
 
"Purify yourselves,
God will do great wonders among you.
Lift up the Ark of the Covenant and
lead the people across the river."
 
Then God told Joshua,
 
"Today I will make you great in the eyes of Israelites,
they will see that I am with you as I was with Moses.
Instruct your priests, who are carrying the Ark, 
to take a few steps into the river and stop."
 
Now it was the harvest season,
the Jordan river was overflowing.
 
But as soon as the priest had set his foot into the river,
the water began piling up, and
the water below flowed on to the Dead Sea.
 
Then all the people crossed over near the city of Jericho.
 

Friday, June 27, 2014

(32) Joshua son of Nun

 
After the death of Moses,
God spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses's Assistant.
 
"Now that Moses is dead,
I charge you to lead my people Israelites into the land I am giving them.
Be strong and courageous,
for I will be with you as I was with Moses.
Obey all the laws Moses gave you, and
you will be successful in everything you do."
 
Joshua then summoned the leaders of Israel and said,
 
"Have Israelites to get their provisions ready.
We will cross the Jordan River and
take the land God has given us."
 
Joshua then, discreetly, sent out 2 spies into the land
to spy out the land, especially around Jericho.
 
The 2 spies came back and reported to Joshua
"God will surely give us the land.
All the people in the land are scared of us"
 
 
 

Thursday, June 26, 2014

(31) The death of Moses

 
It's been 38 years since the Isrealites left the wilderness of Sinai.
The old generation that did not trust in God had passed away.
However, the new generation was about to enter the land
where God had promised to give them.
 
Now they had arrived at the plains of Moab.
 
And God showed Moses the whole land(Canaan),
and said to him,
 
"This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob. I have now allowed you to see it,
but you won't enter the land."
 
So Moses died there in the land of Moab just as God had said.
Moses was 120 years old when he died.
 
There was never been another prophet like Moses
who met God face to face.
 
 
 

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

(30) The bronze snake

 
Israelites were taking the road to the Red sea
to go around the land of Edom.
 
However, as always, Israelites grew impatient against God and Moses.
They began to grumble.
 
"Why have you brought us out of Egypt?"
"There is nothing to eat and nothing to drink!"
"We're sick of eathing this manna everyday!"
 
and God sent poisnous snakes among them,
and so many of them were bitten and died.
 
Then Israelites came to Moses and begged,
 
"We have sinned by speaking against God,
please, pray to God to take away these snakes."
 
Moses prayed for the Israelites.
 
Then God instucted Moses to make a replica of a
poisnous snake and hang it on the top of a pole.
 
and also commanded Moses to have people look at the snake
for they will be healed simply by looking at it.
 
Moses did as God instucted him,
and Whenever those who were bitten looked at the bronze snake,
they were healed.
 

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

(29) 12 scouts explore Canaan

 
After the census, the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle of the Covenant.
So Isrealites left the wilderness of Sinai and
traveled until the could stopped.
 
God said to Moses,
 
"Send 12 leaders from each tribes to explore the land of Canaan,
the land I promised to give to Israel."
 
So Moses did as God commanded him.
 
They went up and explored the land.
 
After 40 days of exploring, they returned  to Moses.
 
The frist 10 men reported,
 
"The land is great, it is certainly a magnificent place,
but the people living there are so tall and powerful, and they are
covered by strong fortresses.
They are stronger than us,
we are like grasshoppers to them. 
we cannot go against them."
 
But Joshua and Caleb reported otherwise,
 
"Let's go at once to conquer the land,
if God is pleased with us,
we can surely do it!"
 
Then the whole Israelites splited into 2 groups,
one who trusted and followed God and Moses, and
the other who listened what other 10 men had reported.
 
Then God punished those who did not trust in God
by making them wander in wilderness for 40 years.
 
 

Monday, June 23, 2014

(28) Israel's Census

 
One day in midspring,
during the 2nd year after Israel's leaving from Egypt,
God spoke to Moses in the Tabernacle.
 
"Take a census of the whole community of Israel.
List the names of all the men 20 years old or older who could battle."
 
God also said to Moses,
 
"Do not include the tribe of Levi from the census;
put the Levites in charge of the Tabernacle of the Covenant."
 
So the Israelites did everything just as God had instructed them.

Saturday, June 21, 2014

(27) The Tabernacle

 
God said to Moses,
 
"I want Israelites to build me a sacred place
where I can live among them.
You must make this Tabernacle and its furnishings
exactly according to the plans I will show you."
 
God gave each plans for the Ark, Table, Lampstand,
and Tabernacle.
 
God also gave wisdom and knowledge to a few selected people
to do the work.
 
So at last Moses finished the work.
 
Then God's glorious presence came down in cloud,
covering the Tabernacle.
 
Now whenever the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle and moved,
Israelites would move as well.
But if the clould stayed, they would stay until it moved again.

Friday, June 20, 2014

(26) The calf idol

 
When Moses did not come back down the mountain right away,
the Israelites went to Aaron.
 
Israelites were worreid that the man who brought them
out of Egypt, Moses, disappeared. They wanted to make
their own god that could lead them.
 
So Aaron, Moses' brother, asked the people
to collect all the gold earings and accessories.
Then Aaron took the gold, melted it down,
and molded into the shape of a calf.
 
Israelites loved it.
 
Aaron saw how happy Israelites were and
held a festival for the new god.
 
Then God told Moses in anger.
"Israelites have turned away from me and
have made an idol for themselves, worshiping it."
 
Moses turned and went down the mountain.
Moses saw the calf and the people dancing.
In anger, he threw the stone tablets to the ground.
 and had them repent.
 
 

Thursday, June 19, 2014

(25) The 10 Commandments

 
The Israelites arrived in the wilderness of Sinai
2 months after they left Egypt.
 
They camped at the base of Mount Sinai.
Then Moses climbed the mountain to present himself before God.
God called out to him from the mountain and said
 
"Give these instructions to the Israelites.
 
God thundered his commands for all to hear.
 
1. Do not worship any other gods besides me.
2. Do not make idols of any kind.
3. Do not misuse the name of God.
4. Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
5.Honor your father and mother.
6.Do not murder.
7. Do not commit adultery.
8. Do not steal.
9. Do not testify falsely against your neighbor.
10. Do not covet your neighbor's house...
anything your neighbor owns.
 
When Israelites heard the thunder,
they trembled with fear.
so they asked Moses to have God speak to them
through Moses; not directly to them
for they could not bear God's awesome power.

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

(24) Water from the Rock

 
God commanded Israelites to leave the Sin Desert
and move from place to place.
 
Then they came to Rephidim,
However, there was no water for them to drink.
 
So once again they comlained to Moses
 
"Give us water to drink!"
 
"Why did you bring us out from Egypt?"
 
They argued with Moses and tested God.
 
Then God instructed Moses to strike the rock.
 
Moses struck the rock and water gushed out.
 
 


Tuesday, June 17, 2014

(23) Manna & Quail from Heaven

 
Israelites arrived at the Sin Desert a month after they left Egypt.
 
Since there were not enough to eat and drink,
people began to speak against Moses.
 
Israelites longed for the days back in Egypt
where they were able to eat full.
 
and their complaints had reached God.
 
Then God told Moses
 
"I am going to rain down food from heaven,
and bring quails so they can have meats too."
 
That evening God brought great numbers of quail over the camp.
 
The next morning the desert all around the camp was covered with Manna.
(think flakes and white like frost)
 
So the Israelites went out and gathered this food from heaven.
 
 
 
 

Monday, June 16, 2014

The Gospel Message

 

 
Hope this comes in handy
when approaching someone who hadn't heard
the gospel.

(22) The Red Sea

 
God harden Pharaoh's heart again
and Pharaoh regretted that he let the Israelites go.
 
Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds
to go after the Israelites and bring them back.
 
As pharaoh and his army approached,
the Israelites saw them in the distance,
coming toward them.
 
People began to panic,
and they cried out to God for help.
They even turned against Moses,
saying
"Why did you bring us out here to die?"
 
But Moses told them, boldly, not to worry 
and see how God rescues them.
 
God instructed Moses to put his staff over the sea.
 
When Moses held his staff over the water,
a strong east wind blew and
the path opened up before them through the sea.
and all the Israelites walked through on dry land.
 
Pharaoh and his army, too, went after the Israelites
through the opened up sea.
 
but before they could make it through the sea,
God instructed Moses to raise his hands to close the sea upon them.
 
The water covered all the entire army of Pharaoh.
 
When the Israelites saw the mighty power that God displayed,
they feared God and put their faith in God
and his servant, their leader, Moses.
 
 
 

Saturday, June 14, 2014

(21) The Exodus

 
When Pharaoh let the Israelites go,
 
God lead them around by the desert road
toward the Red Sea even though it was longer
than the other route.
 
Moses took the bones of Joseph with him
for Joseph had made his sons to swear an oath.
 
By day God went ahead of Israelites in a pillar of cloud
to guide them on their way and
by night in a pillar of fire to provide them light,
 
so Israelites could travel by day and night.
 
The pillar of both cloud and fire never left them once.
 
 
 

Friday, June 13, 2014

(20) 10 Plagues in Egypt

 
Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said
 
"God says 'Let my people go, so that they may
hold a festival to me in the desert."
 
Pharaoh scoffed at God and Moses.
 
Pharaoh's heart was so stubborn.
He even ordered more workload upon the Israelites.
 
So God sent 10 plagues in Egypt
to let Pharaoh and Israelites to know who is the real
God of the whole world.
 
1. water to blood
2. frogs
3. gnats or lice
4. swarms of flies
5. animals sick, die
6. boils
7.hails
8.locusts
9. darkness
10. death of every firstborn
 
The following morning after 10th plague on the firstborn,
Pharaoh told Moses and Aaron
 
"Leave my people, you and Israelites!
Go, worship the Lord as you have requested.
Take all your flocks and herds as well."
 
Now the length of time the Israelite people
lived in Egypt was 430 years.
 
At the end of the 430 years,
the Israelite people left Egypt.
 
 

Thursday, June 12, 2014

(19) God called Moses

 
Moses had met the man named "Jethro" in Midian.
 
Now Jethro had 7 daugthers, and
 he agreed to give one of his dauther "Zipporah"
to Moses as his wife.
Zipporah became pregnant and
gave birth to a son named "Gershom."
 
40 years later,
 
God heard Israelites' crying in Egypt and
he remembered his promise
with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
 
One day, Moses was tending the sheeps
at the mountain called "Horeb."
 
There the angel of God apperaed
to Moses in flame of fire within a bush.
Moses found it strange
because the bush was on fire but it did not burn.
 
 When Moses got close to the bush,
God called him
 
"Moses! Moses!"
 
"I have heard my people crying in Egypt,
Now I am sending you to Pharaoh to free my people
so they can worship me in the land I promised to them."
 
Moses refused to go several times
but God assured him and provided him
with signs and other assists.
 
With God's help,
Moses had returned to Egypt.
 
 
 

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

(18) Moses flees to Midian


 
After Moses had grown up,
he went out to where his own people(Israelites) were
and saw them working severely hard.
 
Moses saw an Egyptian beating an Israelite.
 
Moses looked around and made sure no one was around,
then he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.
 
However, the next day, Pharaoh found out what Moses had done.
He wanted Moses killed.
 
but Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to settle in Midian.
 


Tuesday, June 10, 2014

(17) Moses

 
Hundreds of years later,
a new pharaoh, who did not know Joseph,
worried that Israelites were becoming too great in numbers.
 
so he ordered all the Israelites new born baby boys to be killed
and put Israelites in hard labor.
 
Now there was a new born baby boy in the house of Levi.
 
The baby's parents hid him for 3 months but
baby was getting louder each day.
 
So she placed the baby in the basket and put it among the reeds
along the bank of the Nile.
 
and his sister kept her eyes on the basket.
 
Then pharaoh's daughter went down to the Nile to bathe.
She noticed the basket and opened it.
She saw the baby and she felt sorry for him.
 
so she kept him in the palace, as her son and
named him Moses, meaning
"I drew him out of the water."

Monday, June 9, 2014

(16) Fulfilled dream

 
Joseph was 30 years of old
when he became the 2nd in charge of the whole country of Egypt.
 
After 7 years of prosperity in crops,
there was a great famine throught out the whole country
and other regions nearby where Israel(Jacob) lived.
 
When Israel heard that there was grain in Egypt,
he sent his sons to exchange grains for what they already had.
 
Now Joseph was the 2nd in charge of the whole country,
so when Joseph's brothers arrived,
they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground;
 
like the dream Joseph had many years ago.
 
Joseph, eventually, made himself known to his brothers.
 
Joseph also asked his brothers to ask their father Israel
to come to Egypt so they can be reunited.
 
Israel and all his offspring went to Egypt.
 
Pharaoh provided them a designated place for them to settle.
 
Israel's family lived there long afterward
and become great in numbers.
 
 
 

Saturday, June 7, 2014

(15) Pharaoh's dream

 
God blessed Potiphar's house through Joseph.
God gave Joseph success in everything he did,
his master Potiphar assigned Joseph to be in charge
of everything he owned.
 
One day, Potiphar's wife lied to his husband about Joseph
and Potiphar believed her so he ordered Joseph to be
thrown into the prison.
 
 However, God was still with Joseph.
and gave wisdom and knowledge to Joseph.
 
With the wisdom given from God,
Joseph interpreted people's dream in the prison.
 
The word got into Pharaoh's ears too.
 
Pharaoh summoned Joseph to interpret the dream he had recently
which none of his magicians could intrepret.
 
Joseph, with the widom from God, told Pharaoh
that the country will prosper in crops overwhelmingly for the next 7 years,
and severe famine for the following 7 years.
 
Pharaoh was amazed by Joseph's wisdom and praised God
and appointed Joseph to be the 2nd in charge of the whole country of Egypt.
 
 
 

Friday, June 6, 2014

(14) Joseph in Egypt

 
One day Israel(Jacob) told Joseph to
see and check his brothers in the field
if they are doing alright.
 
Joseph went to the field to see his brothers.
 
When Joseph's brothers saw him from a distance,
they plotted against him to kill him.
 
When Joseph arrived,
instead of killing him,
they stripped him and sold him to the Midianite traders who were heading Egypt.
and Midianites brought Joseph into Egypt.
 
The Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar,
Pharaoh's officer,
the captain of the bodyguard.
 
Meanwhile, Joseph's brothers lied to his father Israel
that they found Joseph's robe in the field with blood on it.
When Israel(Jacob) heard that
his favorite son Joseph was killed by animals.
 
He tore his clothes and wept for many days.
 
 
 
 

Thursday, June 5, 2014

(13) Joseph's dream

 
One day Joseph had a dream,
 
"Please, listen to my dream I had today!
we were binding sheaves in the field, and
my sheaf rose up and stood and
your sheaves gathered around and bowed down to my sheaf."
 
Joseph's brothers hated him more after Joseph had shared the dream with them.
 
Next day, Joseph had another dream,
 
"I had another dream today!
the sun, and the moon, and 11 stars were bowing down to me."
 
When Israel(Jacob) heard this he silenced Joseph from sharing his dream anymore.
but Israel kept Joseph's dream in his mind.
 
 

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

(12) Jacob's sons

 
Jacob came back to his home land(Canaan) with his 11 sons.
and had another son named "Benjamin."
 
Out of his 11 sons, Jacob loved Joseph the most
because he was Rachel's child and
Joseph was so much yougner than the other 10 brothers.
 
and Jacob's love for Joseph
caused other big brothers to hate Joseph.
 
 

(11) Jacob's new name

 
Jacob lived 20 years with his uncle.
 
At the end of the 20 years,
God told Jacob to return to his home land.
 
But Jacob still feared his brother Esau.
 
Jacob prayed to God that Esau might not kill him.
 
Jacob prayed so hard that when he saw the man of God,
Jacob grabbed him and wrestled with him
until the man of God blessed him.
 
and Jacob won.
 
God gave Jacob a new name "Israel."
because Jacob had wrestled with God and men and had won.
 
With God's blessing,
Jacob reunited with his brother Esau.
 
 
 
 

Monday, June 2, 2014

(10) Rachel & Leah

 
 
Laban, Jacob's uncle had 2 daughters, Leah and Rachel.
 
When Jacob saw Rachel,
he immediately fell in love for Rachel.
 
Laban asked Jacob to work 7 years for him
in exchange for Rachel.
 
After 7 years of work
Laban tricked Jacob into marrying Rachel's sister Leah.
 
Jacob was offered to work 7 more years
to marry Rachel.
 
Jacob fulfilled another 7 years of work
and married Rachel.
 
Leah was hurt by 
Jacob's undivided love for Rachel.