The book of Leviticus is a difficult book to understand. In this lesson we will gain insight into the symbolism surrounding the Tent of Worship and how each symbol was placed there to help God's people understand their relationship to Him and the coming Messiah, and the work He would accomplish on the cross of Calvary. Every article of furniture pointed to the promised Redeemer - Jesus the Christ.

The tabernacle in the wilderness was a place where God dwelled and where sinners could come to be forgiven and reconciled to Him. The Bible says our bodies are the temple of God. We have to understand the first Hebrew temple in order to understand what God is doing presently within us. That former temple teaches us about worship, about Jesus, and the miracle Christians live with every day: Christ is in us.

Leviticus, this priest's manual, explains how all the operations of the Levite Priesthood were to teach the people of God about holiness and sanctification in serving the Lord. The heart of the book is found in chapters 11-22, where the sanctification of God's people is explained. The tent of worship and the priests who officiated there were God's statement to the whole world that the chosen people of God were a holy people because their God was holy.

In the book of Numbers we learn why it took the Israelites 40 years to make an 11-day trip and how the Israelites made ten wrong turns. This piece of history allegorically tells us something about the spiritual journey of many believers. If you are you suffering through a "wilderness experience" and have not entered the "Promised Land" of the abundant life promised in the New Testament ask yourself this question: Am I being totally obedient to God?

Numbers is filled with powerful metaphors and allegories. We see how man's freedom of choice can limit God's power. If we have the faith to believe and claim all the blessings God has for us and accept His good and perfect will for our lives, then He can lead us into our spiritual Promised Land. There is a difference between God's permissive will and God's directive will. The abundant life is only found in God's directive will.

In Numbers we see the greatness, the burnout, and the sin of Moses that prevented him from entering the Promised Land. Even great people of God can come to the end of themselves physically, emotionally, and mentally. It is normal for God's people to get tired from serving Him, but we should not get tired of serving Him. If you are feeling burned out, then you are not only in good company, you are in good hands.

Deuteronomy means "the restating of the Law"; restating it to the second generation of God's chosen people before they crossed Jordan and entered Canaan. This book is filled with lessons for those who have decided to take another, more serious, look at their new life in Christ and be totally committed to Him. Moses instructs those who love God to know and obey His Word, and the responsibility to pass those values on to their children.

Throughout Deuteronomy, in the sermons of Moses, there is a strong emphasis on the importance of obeying the Word of God. When Israel obeyed God's laws, He blessed them. When they did not obey God's laws, they did not enjoy the blessings of God. In one of Moses' final sermons he tells us God does not bless us because we are good. God blesses us because He is good and because He loves us. That is what grace means.

The sermons of Moses teach about our response to God's grace and about apostasy, about those who no longer respond to God's grace. Moses preached on tithing, showing God is first in our life and of giving to the poor. He preached a very strong message on how God forbids the occult, fortunetelling, communicating with the dead, and using black magic. He also told them about the Prophet Priest, and King who would one day come and save them.

The book Joshua is all about faith, the kind of faith that conquers and possesses all God wills for His people. Many of us fail, like the Israelites, to experience the spiritual blessing God intends us to have: prayer, Scripture, fellowship, worship - God gives them all to every believer. You possess prayer by praying, and you possess the Scripture when you read it, understand it, and apply it. You possess your spiritual possessions one spiritual step at a time.

What is faith? How does faith work? The book of Joshua provides sixteen illustrations to demonstrate faith. God will sometimes test your faith but you can be assured He will not take you where His grace cannot keep you. If you know God is leading you to do something, do it. His plan is always the right plan. Joshua teaches us that faith is practical. When faith walks, it works, and when faith works, it wins the battles of life.

The book of Joshua is full of allegories that teach us how to overcome the enemies of our faith. The first enemy of our faith, the world, is pictured by Jericho. The second, represented by Israel's defeat, represents our flesh. The people from Gibeon made a treaty with Israel by tricking them. The devil deceives us in the same way and is our third enemy. Joshua challenged his people to seal their faith by making a covenant with God.