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 Image result for clip art of Jehovah NissiEvery other year or so, I decide to skip the book of Leviticus in the Bible.  Details can be so overwhelming.   Leviticus is the REMINDER that the once and for all transaction on Calvary by our Lord for you and me took care of all our sins.  Oh the blood of Jesus which cleanses us from all our sins!  Grateful!

I quickly run to Numbers, the story of Israel's preparation to enter the land promised to them...FINALLY.  This first generation is finishing up their added wanderings of 40 years for their unbelief. The Lord was so angered by their unbelief and disobedience that He vowed that no one over the age of 20 would go into the Promised Land.  (40 in Scripture is always the number signifying testing or trials.)

Presently, God has given Moses the placement of each Tribe's encampment around the Tent of Meeting. They are in four divisions shaped like a quadrangle around the Tent of Meeting.  Each camp is "under his standard with the banners of his family." To identify each tribe, the flags/banners may have been a specific color and would have had an insignia on it pertinent to each tribe.  For example: Adam Clarke's commentary suggests: Judah may have had a lion emboidered on theirs, Issachar: a donkey, Zebulun: a ship, Reuben: a river, Simeon: a sword, Gad: a lion, Ephraim: a unicorn, Manasseh: an ox, Benjamin: a wolf, a serpent to Dan, corn to Asher, and to Naphtali: a stag.  These insignia were taken from Jacob's blessings to his sons in Genesis 49. When each tribe was going into battle or moving to another location, they were led out under that banner.

I wonder?  God is called by Moses Jehovah Nissi: Our Source of victory, associated with warfare, our Defender, Captain, Mighty in battle, and we fight under His banner.  My tribe:  What banner identifies my family?  Have I been intentional to set that identification?  I fully understand that each person has a freedom of choice.  We will see in Numbers as the first generation dies off, this second generation quickly forgets what they have been taught and they STRUGGLE as they choose DISOBEDIENCE.  My children, for the sake of the Lord Jesus and His kingdom, ENCOURAGE AND MODEL TO your children to have an identification and hearts to align with the truth of Scripture where there is no variance or relativism. THEY MUST SEE IT MODELED OUT IN OUR LIVES!  It has been said "that we are always one generation from paganism" and that is so true as this present culture so presses to reshape and conform us to its ways.  Our prayers for the Graves and Simmons, "Father God raise up a godly heritage unto yourself and your glory."   #IHAVETHREESONS  

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