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(1) "The priests, the Levites—all the tribe of Levi—shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel; they shall eat the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and His portion. (2) Therefore they shall have no inheritance among their brethren; the LORD is their inheritance, as He said to them. ­Moses now reiterates how that the priests and the Levites were to not have any part of the inheritance of land that was given to the other tribes. ­There's a twofold reason for this the first of which is, they were to be supported by, and live on, the offerings of God's people, given to the Lord. ­The second reason is that the Lord Himself would be their portion, in that He would always provide for them as Levites in their priestly service.

(3) "And this shall be the priest's due from the people, from those who offer a sacrifice, whether it is bull or sheep: they shall give to the priest the shoulder, the cheeks, and the stomach. (4) The firstfruits of your grain and your new wine and your oil, and the first of the fleece of your sheep, you shall give him. (5) For the LORD your God has chosen him out of all your tribes to stand to minister in the name of the LORD, him and his sons forever. ­Here, Moses gets into the nuts and bolts, so­to­speak, of what portion of the offerings were given to the priests as it relates to their due amount. ­It's interesting to note how that God gives them the "why" behind the "what" of the priests pay, by saying He has called him to minister to them. ­One commentator said it best when they wrote that; "those who ministered to the people of God, were to be cared for by the people of God."

(6) "So if a Levite comes from any of your gates, from where he dwells among all Israel, and comes with all the desire of his mind to the place which the LORD chooses, (7) then he may serve in the name of the LORD his God as all his brethren the Levites do, who stand there before the LORD. (8) They shall have equal portions to eat, besides what comes from the sale of his inheritance. ­Moses takes it a step further and gets into specifics of how the priests could receive their support from the tithes and offerings that were given. ­While they could not have any land as the other tribes, they could have portions equal to the other tribes, and were permitted to buy houses.

(9) "When you come into the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. ­Moses goes from what they could do and have, to what they could not do and have namely, the committing of the abominations of other nations. ­It seems this warning cannot be overstated to the children of Israel by virtue of how often it is repeated in the scriptures. You'd think they'd get it. ­Sadly, as we'll talk more about in a moment, the history of the Israelites was characterized by the very practices of those nations abominations.

(10) There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, (11) or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. ­Moses records a grocery list of abominations that were practiced, the first of which was worshiping the god Molech, by sacrificing their children. ­Without getting into the details of this demonic practice, they actually burned children alive from the fire in the belly while on the arms of Molech. ­Lest we're too quick to dismiss this evil practice in our day, we would do well to liken it to abortion, which kills the baby in the belly of the womb.

­Moses continues the list with the practice of witchcraft, soothsaying, interpreting of omens, sorcery, casting spells, wizardry, and necromancy. ­Perhaps you'll indulge me for just a moment, because I think it's incumbent upon all of us to take a closer look at this list as it's practiced today. ­First let me say, we would be grossly remiss in thinking that this has no modern day application to us as born again believers in Jesus Christ.

­What I would like to do, is go through this list, line item by line item, so as to fill in the blanks with the hopes that we'll see how prevalent this is. ­This may come as a shock, but I would suggest that not only are these satanic practices in the culture today, they are also in the church today. ­While I am keenly aware that saying this, this way, may sound sensational and even provocative, I would just ask that you hear me out on this.

­Let's start with what comes after abortion, which is our modern day worship of Molech, and talk about the modern day practice of witchcraft. ­This encompasses a wide scope of practices, chief of which is what we see in the New Age, Wicca, and Mother Earth just to mention a few. ­These practices come packaged in a variety of different colors with new wrapping paper, but they're the same old lies from the father of lies.

­You'll also find at the core of witchcraft, the use of magic, with its supernatural powers, practiced within the occult, and found in modern music. ­Though we've talked about the occultist Aleister Crowley in prior studies it's worth repeating, that he was the Sergeant Pepper of the Beatles. ­Crowley's book Magick, is a Satanist's manual, and has been the inspiration for many famous musicians who have sold their souls to the Devil.

­It's also important to know that the word for witchcraft in the New Testament Greek is "Pharmakeia," which is where we get our word Pharmacy. ­It has been suggested that the use of mind altering drugs, is a catalyst for demonic possession because it opens the door to the spiritual realm. ­This explains the connection between drugs and Rock and Roll. It's no wonder the Apostle Paul would warn about the evil of these practices.

Galatians 5:19­21 KJV (19) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, (20) Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, (21) Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

­Next on the list is soothsaying, or fortune telling, if you prefer. I believe that this modern day astrology and the looking to ones daily horoscope. ­I hope you know that astrology is steeped in the occult, and is actually a Satanic perversion and deception of the Gospel that's in the Zodiac. ­Though there are several good teachings on this, I took the time to compile what I think is a relatively simple summary of the Zodiac message.

Constellation

Picture

Interpretations

Virgo

Virgin

Woman with child on her lap

Libra

Scales

The price of sin is deficient

Scorpius

Scorpion

The attack of the enemy

Sagittarius

Archer

Praise for the Redeemer's triumph

Capricorn

The Sea Goat

Life comes from death

Acquarius

Water Pourer

The blessing poured out

Pisces

Fish

The multitudes who will follow

Aries

Ram

The lamb that was slain

Taurus

Bull

The coming Prince

Gemini

Twins

Fully God fully man or the Church and Israel

Cancer

Crab

Sheepfold assembled together

Leo

Lion

King of kings, lion of the tribe of Judah

­I want to point out one more thing before we move on to the next one. Satan is the master counterfeiter, and in so doing validates the authentic. ­This is why there's no such thing as a counterfeit three dollar bill. There's really no such thing as a counterfeit unless there's the genuine first. ­It's for this reason the counterfeit actually validates and authenticates the genuine. The prophet Isaiah writes of this false or counterfeit worship.

Isaiah 47:13­15 NIV (13) All the counsel you have received has only worn you out! Let your astrologers come forward, those stargazers who make predictions month by month, let them save you from what is coming upon you. (14) Surely they are like stubble; the fire will burn them up. They cannot even save themselves from the power of the flame. Here are no coals to warm anyone; here is no fire to sit by. (15) That is all they can do for you— these you have labored with and trafficked with since childhood. Each of them goes on in his error; there is not one that can save you.

­Next on the list is the interpreting of omens which is also a form of sorcery, casting of spells, and even necromancy, all of which are on the list. ­I'm of the belief that all the above are found in many of the video games of today. They're steeped in the occult and open doors to the demonic. ­Technology has paved the way, and taken the older games like Dungeon's and Dragons, and even Ouija Boards, to an extreme Satanic level.

­The last one we'll look at is wizardry. To do this, I'll simply mention to you, two words; "Harry Potter." Need I say more. Harry Potter is Satanic. ­In addition to this, there's the, quote; "outstanding children's program," on of all places the Disney Channel called; "Wizards of Waverly Place." ­Before you ban your children from watching Disney, you may wish to revisit some of the other channels and the programs on the paranormal.

(12) For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD, and because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you. (13) You shall be blameless before the LORD your God. (14) For these nations which you will dispossess listened to soothsayers and diviners; but as for you, the LORD your God has not appointed such for you. ­Here God is saying that all who do these things are an abomination to Him, and those who do them will be driven out from the land by the Lord. ­It's telling when He says that they were to be blameless before the Lord because it implies that they, like us, are prone to dabble in such things. ­The consequences of not being blameless in these matters, is that God will drive them out of the land. By the way, that's exactly what happens.

(15) "The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear, (16) according to all you desired of the LORD your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, 'Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, nor let me see this great fire anymore, lest I die.' (17) "And the LORD said to me: 'What they have spoken is good. (18) I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. (19) And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him. ­This is one of those places in God's Word that reminds me of how He is and how good He is to always give us what to do after what not to do. ­In other words, you're not to hear the false prophets or worship the false, counterfeit gods, because there will rise up a Prophet from your midst. ­Not only would He rise up from the midst of their brethren, but He would be like Moses, in the sense that He would be a mediator and deliverer.

­Back in our study through the book of Exodus while in the second chapter, we saw how that, in typology, Moses is a picture of Jesus Christ.

MOSES

JESUS

Was called “God’s servant” (Psalm 105:26)

Is called “God’s servant” (Matthew 12:18)

Was called “God’s prophet” (Deuteronomy 18:15­19)

They saw his miracles, called Him a prophet (John 6:14)

Was called “God’s priest” (Psalm 99:6)

Lives forever as our permanent priesthood (Hebrews 7:24)

Was their mediator (Exodus 33:8­9)

Is our mediator (1 Timothy 2:5)

Was called a king (Deuteronomy 33:4­5)

Is our King of Kings (Revelation 19:16)

Served as judge (Exodus 18:13)

Is given authority to judge (John 5:27)

Was a shepherd (Exodus 3:1)

Is the good Shepherd (John 10:11)

Was an intercessor (Numbers 21:7)

Is our Intercessor (Romans 8:34)

Was a prince and heir to the throne of Egypt (Hebrews 11:24)

Is our prince of peace, heir to all things (Hebrews 1:2)

Born into oppression under a cruel leader (Exodus 1:15,16)

Born into oppression under a cruel leader (Matthew 2:16)

Pharaoh has baby boys slain (Exodus 1:22)

Herod has baby boys slain (Matthew 2:13­16)

Beautiful and blessed is the child Jochebed bore (Exodus 2:2)

Blessed is the child Mary would bear (Luke 1:42)

Grew in wisdom, was mighty in words and deeds (Acts 7:22)

Increased in wisdom and stature (Luke 2:40, 52)

Went out to his brethren (Exodus 2:11)

Jesus came down to the earth to His brethren (John 3:16)

Leaves his royal position to come to his people (Hebrews 11:24)

Left His heavenly position, came to us (Philippians 2:6­8)

Looked on, made rest from, their burdens (Exodus 2:11, 5:5)

We come to Him for rest from our burdens (Matthew 11:28)

Rejected by his people at first appearance (Acts 7:23­27)

Rejected by His own at His first coming (John 1:11)

Told; “Who made you prince and judge over us?” (Exodus 2:14)

Hated for being a King to rule and judge (John 7:3, Luke 19:14)

Wearied from running and sat down by the well (Exodus 2:15)

Was wearied and sat down by the well (John 4:6)

Was given a gentile bride (Exodus 2:21)

Was given a gentile bride (John 3:29, Revelation 5:10)

(20) But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.' (21) And if you say in your heart, 'How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?'— (22) when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him. ­We finish chapter eighteen with Moses giving them a gauge by which to determine whether or not the word of a prophet was a counterfeit or not. ­Simply put, if it came to pass, it was the Lord, and if it did not come to pass, it wasn't the Lord, and in addition to that he tells them what to if not. ­In the event a prophet were to presume to speak a word in the name of the Lord that he was not commanded to speak, that prophet was to die.