The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Exodus 24:3, “Then Moses came and recounted to the people all the words of the LORD and all the ordinances; and all the people answered with one voice, and said, ‘All the words which the LORD has spoken we will do!’”

The first five books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) constitute what is known as the Torah or the Pentateuch. They contain priestly rituals and laws that are the outworking of the Covenant the LORD established with Israel in Genesis and Exodus.

The Book of Leviticus does not contain the phrase, “all the Words of the LORD”; therefore, our verse comes from the Book of Exodus. The absence of that phrase in Leviticus, however, does not mean that there is no Word from the LORD in Leviticus. It is, in fact, filled with ordinances and instructions for the conduct of the LORD’s people. The name Leviticus comes from the name Levi, who was a leading priest of the LORD in the Old Testament era.

C. Leviticus27

Author: Moses

Date: 1450?1410 B.C.

Theme: Fellowship with God

Key Words: Holiness, Atonement

I. THE GROUND OF FELLOWSHIP IS SACRIFICE (1-17).

1. The Offerings Signify Absolution (1-7).

2. The Priesthood Signifies Mediation (8-10).

3. The People Learn Purification (11-16).

4. The Altar Signifies Reconciliation (17).

II. THE WALK OF FELLOWSHIP IS SEPARATION (18-27).

1. Note The Regulations Concerning The People (18-20).

2. Note The Regulations Concerning The Priests (21-22).

3. Note The Regulations Concerning The Festivals (23-24).

4. Note The Regulations Concerning The Land (25-27).

Notice that the first part of the book concerns sacrifice. All of the Old Testament sacrifices pointed through history to Christ’s death. As with His people in Old Testament times, we are to meditate on His Word and live purified lives. There is no other path to fellowship with Him.

The second part of this book concerns “The Walk of Fellowship”; and that fellowship only comes from separation from the things of the world. Make no mistake about it, the LORD is serious about His regulations. People, priests, festivals, and the land are all His and He holds the authority over them, just as the owner of a house has authority over the house.

There are so many distractions around us today. Popularity, prestige, notoriety, money, possessions, authority –all hang above us, vying for entrance and dominence over our lives. Yet, we must look beyond our time to the Eternal. There we can successfully calculate what is of value; namely, Jesus Christ!

I have today read of some serious troubles in the lives of some Christian people. We should always keep abreast of such instances and communicate the needs to Christ Jesus in prayer. Yet, our prayers’ value depends upon our walk of fellowship with the LORD.

We love and pray for you daily,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

John 17:17, “Sanctify them through thy truth: Thy Word is truth.”

There’s an old saying, “They that can, do; they who cannot, teach.”

In my effort to set forth an outline of Genesis, I omitted the subheadings under

II. Patriarchal History (12:1-50:26)

1. Abraham (12:1-20:18)

2. Isaac (21:1-25:33)

3. Jacob (25:34-36:43)

4. Joseph (37:1-50:26)

“Genesis means “beginning,” and everything has it’s initial beginning in the Book of Genesis. Next, we turn to Exodus.

B. Exodus40

Author: Moses

Date: 1450?1410 B.C.

Span: 80 Years

Theme: Redemption by Blood

Key Verses: 3:8 & 12:23

I. THE EXODUS OCCURS (1:1?18:27).

1. It Is Projected Through Moses (1:1-4:31).

2. It Is Obstructed By Pharaoh (5:1?11:10).

3. It Is Affected By The Lord (12:1?18:27).

II. THE LAW EMERGES (19:1?24:18).

1. The “Commandments” Are Moral (19:1?20:26).

2. The “Judgments” Are Social (21:1?23:9).

3. The “Ordinances” Are Religious (23:10?24:18).

The Book of Exodus was written by Moses between 1450 to 1410 B.C. and covers 80 years. The theme of the book is “Redemption by Blood.”

“Exodus” highlights the Jews exiting from Egypt. For 400 years the Jewish nation lived under the cruel hands of Egyptian pharaohs. Yet, God sent Moses to lead them out. What Moses intended, Pharaoh denied, until the plagues of the LORD brought him to say, “Okay, GO!” But, he didn’t mean it. Eventually, the people left under the leadership of Moses, and the LORD destroyed the Egyptian army at the Red Sea.

The Book of Exodus gives us the Law to which the Jews were to adhere. The Commandments were the morals by which they were to live. The Judgments dealt with their cultural and social life. The Ordinances were the religious instructions.

You can profit immensely by reading the Book of Exodus. The life of Moses itself is guided by the Hand of the LORD; and it is encouraging to know that the LORD guides us as we

live.

It is also good to memorize the number of chapters in each book (Genesis 50; Exodus 40), as we journey through the Scripture. The more you know about the Bible, the more you will learn what the Bible contains – instructions that enrich our lives and the lives of those around us.

We live in the Word! It guides and encourages us, and we want it to do that for you!

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

1 Peter 1:24-25, “For, ‘All flesh is like grass, And all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, And the flower falls off,

25 But the word of the Lord abides forever.’ And this is the word which was preached to you.”

To anyone who has ever been required to assemble a product he has ordered, “Read the Directions” is a meaningful instruction. Yet, while directions are included with all kinds of physical equipment, they are strangely absent when dealing with the Bible. I have encountered numerous persons over the years, who had no idea whatsoever about how to read the Bible with understanding.

Outlines are often helpful in understanding literary meanings. Basically, an outline is merely an organization of thought –the thought of the person producing the outline. Writers often differ in their concept of outlining; therefore, it is important to remember that the outline is no more than one person’s opinion. Where two or more outlines appear to agree, the conclusion is that the authors’ views were the same. The outlines in this work are the product of many years. As I have had opportunities to teach Bible classes, I have produced outlines to benefit my students. They will agree and differ in whole and in part with those of others; but, their faults and omissions should be assigned to me alone.

The arrangement of each outline brings to the reader what I have often wished had been available to me. The number in superscript that attends each Bible book’s name (e.g., Genesis50 ) indicates the number of chapters in the book. The authors, dates, the books’ span of years, theme and key verse or words will be helpful. Here again, biblical writers differ with regard to many of these items. Dates of books, particularly, seem to change with every turn of the archeologist’s spade. Yet, my dates lie well within the margin of error, leaving only the supercilious scholar scratching his head.

No effort has been made to issue comments on the books, apart from what is offered through the outlines. Commentary is the responsibility of introductory works and in-depth studies of which there are numerous available.

THE OLD TESTAMENT – 39 BOOKS

1. HISTORICAL – 17 BOOKS

(1) Legal History – 5 Books

A. Genesis50

Author: Moses

Date: 1450?1410 B.C.

Span: 2500 Years

Theme: Man’s Failure; God’s Salvation

Key Verse: 1:1

I. PRIMEVAL HISTORY (1:1?11:32)

1. Creation (1:1?2:25)

2. The Fall (3:1?5:32)

3. The Flood (6:1?10:32)

4. The Tower of Babel (11:1?32)

II. PATRIARCHAL HISTORY

(12:1?50:26)

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).

We pray that you will live in the Word daily,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

P. S. Rose Marie’s procedure went well today. Thanks for your prayers. She is asleep,

as I write. God bless you for your faithful concern.

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Psalm 143:7-9, “Answer me quickly, O LORD, my spirit fails; Do not hide Thy face from me, Lest I become like those who go down to the pit.

8 Let me hear Thy lovingkindness in the morning; For I trust in Thee; Teach me the way in which I should walk; For to Thee I lift up my soul.

9 Deliver me, O LORD, from my enemies; I take refuge in Thee.”

Have you ever gotten up in the morning and simply not wanted to go to work? It wasn’t the work itself that you hated; it was the workers. Actually, it was only one. You’ve tried to like your fellow-workers, and even gone out of your way to be friendly, but nothing seemed to smother the “cheap shots” that they delighted to take at you all throughout the day.

That’s something of what I understand to have been the psalmist’s trouble. He had to work. It was his only way of maintaining a livelihood. It he just didn’t have to endure the hatred of others! His only hope is in the LORD. “Answer me quickly” before I decide not to work today. I’ll just die if I have to face the crude remarks they throw at me every day.

What would you do if you were in the psalmist’s situation? “Let me hear Your lovingkindness,” he begs of the LORD. “I trust in You,” but I don’t know whether I can hold out any longer against the rotton tounges that come against me. “Teach me the way in which I should walk.” Let your Holy Spirit work within me and produce Your Love. “Lift up my soul. Deliver me, O LORD, from my enemies” –from those who hate and despise me.

Okay, LORD, I’m going to work now, and “I am taking refuge in You.” I can’t dealt with hateful people, but I’m trusting You to lift me up and help me to rise above the wrong that I face.

Very often we all encounter what the psalmist encountered. Yet, the LORD is greater than

those who rise up against us. Whatever we face –even a job that requires more than we are mentally able to give— the LORD is our refuge and strength. Let Him be that to you. Meditate on His Word. Think of the humiliation He encountered; yet “He opened not His mouth.” In the end, He was triumphant. And so it will be with you! Trust Him!!

We love and pray for you,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

P. S. Please remember Rose Marie as she undergoes a bone density biopsy on Monday.

She had one previously, about a year ago. Done in the doctor’s office. No anesthesia.

It’s just that she’s been through so much in the last six months. God bless you!

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Psalm 139:1-6, “O Lord, Thou hast searched me and known me.

2 Thou dost know when I sit down and when I rise up; Thou dost understand my thought from afar.

3 Thou dost scrutinize my path and my lying down, And art intimately acquainted with all my ways.

4 Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O LORD , Thou dost know it all.

5 Thou hast enclosed me behind and before, And laid Thy hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot attain to it.”

I was reading a student paper the other day that described in great detail how a human egg and a sperm communicate in bringing a child into the world. Numerous areas related to birth are quite complex. The human body has ways of protecting the egg and even repairing corridors that close unexpectedly.

The psalmist does not go into that great of detail in the verses above, but he aludes to the omnipresence and omnipotency of Almighty God in every situation. The LORD searches the most minute areas of our minds and spirits and knows everything about us. He knows the things we think are insignificant; and He knows the minutest detail of our far-reaching thoughts. We would do well to remember that nothing we do escapes His notice!

I can remember my mother anticipating my response to a directive she had given. She said, “DON’T SAY IT,” indicating that she knew me so well that she understood what I was

about to say. Oh, I argued that she could not have known it, but the truth is she was more than 90 percent right all of the time. The LORD knows it all and long before we know it.

His total “enclosure” of us, noted in verse five, is His protection; and the “hand” that He lays upon us is not disciplinary; rather, it is His guidance of us in what we say and how we behave. Understanding only a fraction of the LORD power and perception of His people

should alter our thoughts and manner of life. As the psalmists conclude, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot attain to it.”

The next time you are tempted ignore the LORD and do as you please, remember these words from the psalmist. Some men think there is no God. Some, think they themselves are God. They’re not even close. Nor are we! Recognize Him as LORD and He will also be your protector.

We love and pray for you daily,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”