“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
I know this verse well and appreciate it, but the breadth of it doesn’t hit me until I am working my way through an Old Testament book like Numbers or Leviticus, books that seem to focus solely on the Israelites. In this case it was Exodus. I was reading Exodus 29 which is all about consecrating Aaron and his sons to be able to offer sacrifices in the tabernacle on behalf of the Israelites.
I was just tootling along, not paying much attention because—well—let’s face it—this has nothing to do with me and life in 2026—when I suddenly reached verses 38-39 and read God’s command to Moses regarding the sacrifices to be made on the altar: “This is what you are to offer on the altar regularly each day: two lambs a year old. Offer one in the morning and the other at twilight.”
It wasn’t the plight of the lambs that caught my attention. It was the final statement: "Offer one in the morning and the other at twilight."
I looked up the “why” behind this command, and saw that this routine “served as an act of daily national consecration and a perpetual reminder of Israel’s ongoing dependence on God,” and that this would be where God would meet them to speak with them.
Now I know we are not under Jewish law, but Jewish law at its core was designed to set the Israelites apart from other cultures by establishing a moral society and to reveal God’s holy character. So much can be learned by paying attention to what he told them to do. And this is one.
I have learned over the years that starting my day with God first thing in the morning provides a solid foundation and much needed sense of peace for my day. But I had never thought to end my day with Him in a similar manner. Yes, a round of nightly prayers filled with gratitude and petitions, sometimes sprinkled with a few contritions, but not a time of reading and reflection.
Yet, it makes sense. The day is done but the night is nigh and the mind does not rest when asleep. Rather it takes on all the concerns and thoughts of the day and keeps working on them. I have often had disturbing dreams that melded last thoughts with people or places that i have not seen in years, as my subconscious tries to work out solutions or make sense of my convoluted thoughts.
Though not a command, I think I will give it a go. I will end my day the way I began it, remembering my dependence on God and learning more about His holy character. I would love for you to join me.
I know this verse well and appreciate it, but the breadth of it doesn’t hit me until I am working my way through an Old Testament book like Numbers or Leviticus, books that seem to focus solely on the Israelites. In this case it was Exodus. I was reading Exodus 29 which is all about consecrating Aaron and his sons to be able to offer sacrifices in the tabernacle on behalf of the Israelites.
I was just tootling along, not paying much attention because—well—let’s face it—this has nothing to do with me and life in 2026—when I suddenly reached verses 38-39 and read God’s command to Moses regarding the sacrifices to be made on the altar: “This is what you are to offer on the altar regularly each day: two lambs a year old. Offer one in the morning and the other at twilight.”
It wasn’t the plight of the lambs that caught my attention. It was the final statement: "Offer one in the morning and the other at twilight."
I looked up the “why” behind this command, and saw that this routine “served as an act of daily national consecration and a perpetual reminder of Israel’s ongoing dependence on God,” and that this would be where God would meet them to speak with them.
Now I know we are not under Jewish law, but Jewish law at its core was designed to set the Israelites apart from other cultures by establishing a moral society and to reveal God’s holy character. So much can be learned by paying attention to what he told them to do. And this is one.
I have learned over the years that starting my day with God first thing in the morning provides a solid foundation and much needed sense of peace for my day. But I had never thought to end my day with Him in a similar manner. Yes, a round of nightly prayers filled with gratitude and petitions, sometimes sprinkled with a few contritions, but not a time of reading and reflection.
Yet, it makes sense. The day is done but the night is nigh and the mind does not rest when asleep. Rather it takes on all the concerns and thoughts of the day and keeps working on them. I have often had disturbing dreams that melded last thoughts with people or places that i have not seen in years, as my subconscious tries to work out solutions or make sense of my convoluted thoughts.
Though not a command, I think I will give it a go. I will end my day the way I began it, remembering my dependence on God and learning more about His holy character. I would love for you to join me.
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