Banquet With The King

Friday, February 7, 2025

Are You Standing on Holy Ground?

Have you ever stood on Holy Ground? What makes it holy?

Imagine being with Joshua and the Israelites right after they crossed the Jordan River. Their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land had finally ended. They’ve left the manna behind and are ready to begin taking control of the land that God had provided, but there were people inhabiting that land. Jericho was the first town they’ve come to…and how were they going to take possession of it? Joshua, the great leader that God had put in charge, was confronted with an individual—probably Jesus. We’ve never seen Jesus—but here Joshua is talking to Him face to face, standing on Holy Ground. What a great opportunity. Another person to stand on Holy Ground and talk to the Lord was Moses. Remember the account of the Burning Bush?

One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God. There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn't burn up. "This is amazing," Moses said to himself. "Why isn't that bush burning up? I must go see it." When the LORD saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, "Moses! Moses!" "Here I am!" Moses replied. "Do not come any closer," the LORD warned. "Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground. Exodus 3:1-5

Holy Ground. Now anywhere where we worship the Lord is holy ground. Where do you worship the Lord today?

Now when Joshua was by Jericho, he looked up, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his drawn sword in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, "Are you for us or for our adversaries?" He said, "No; rather I have come now as captain of the army of the LORD." Then Joshua fell with his face toward the earth and bowed down, and said to him, "What does my lord have to say to his servant?" The captain of the LORD'S army said to Joshua, "Remove your sandals from your feet, because the place where you are standing is holy (set apart to the LORD)." And Joshua did so. Joshua 5:13-15 AMP

Prayer – Lord Jesus, I’m standing on holy ground as I worship now. You are worthy of all praise and honor.

Meditate on holiness and holy ground.

Verse of Salvation ~ Now all glory to God, who is able to make you strong, just as my Good News says. This message about Jesus Christ has revealed his plan for you Gentiles, a plan kept secret from the beginning of time. But now as the prophets foretold and as the eternal God has commanded, this message is made known to all Gentiles everywhere, so that they too might believe and obey him. All glory to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, forever. Amen. Romans 16:25-27

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

What do you feed your family when you’re not hungry. Is it time for Breakfast for Supper?

Pancakes or waffles? I heard someone say recently that she and her husband just had cereal for supper—no kids at their home. Maybe that’s ok for older adults, but kids need fruits, vegetables and some form of protein. So, along with those pancakes, serve some scrambled eggs with kale, or spinach. Top the pancakes with fresh fruit, or some unsweetened applesauce.

Easy Pancakes (Four servings)

1 cup flour (use half whole wheat for more nutrition)

2 Tbsp cane sugar

2 tsp baking powder

Pinch of salt

1 cup milk (or buttermilk by adding 1 Tbsp vinegar)

2 Tbsp oil

1 egg, or equivalent egg substitute

For variety you can add 1 tsp of vanilla, ¼ cup of mashed pumpkin, or a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Mix the dry ingredients. Mix the wet ingredients and stir into the dry ingredients.

Heat a lightly greased griddle or frying pan on medium high heat. Pour about ¼ cup pancake batter onto the griddle and cook for 1-2 minutes or until bubbles forming on the top of the pancake no longer break. Flip the pancake and cook another 1-2 minutes until done on the bottom. Do not flip over and over. One turn only.

Top with a little butter, peanut butter, syrup, fresh fruit like blueberries or strawberries, or applesauce.

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified® Bible (AMP),

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Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

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Thursday, February 6, 2025

Who is a Prophet Greater than Moses?

Prophet – a spokesperson or an interpreter for God; usually one who tells the future, according to the Strong’s Lexicon in the Blue Letter Bible website.

Jesus didn’t claim to be a prophet…but He made a statement about the recognition and honor of a prophet when He was visiting the synagogue in Nazareth where He grew up.

Then Jesus told them, "A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family." Mark 6:4

People called Jesus a prophet as He enter Jerusalem on the day we acknowledge as Palm Sunday—Jesus triumphal entry into the city.

The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as he entered. "Who is this?" they asked. And the crowds replied, "It's Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee." Matthew 21:10-11

The Sea of Galilee in Israel.
The place where Jesus walked on water and...
taught His disciples and thousands of followers.
Prophet, Teacher, King
He is my Lord and Savior!
Is He yours?

It is suggested that Jesus was a prophet greater than Moses. Moses was blessed to actually see the LORD face to face, to use the power of God to demonstrate God’s power to the Egyptians, and to basically tell others about God. Moses and Jesus had a unique relationship. Can we attain a personal relationship with Jesus such as that of Moses? We can only hope that our dependance, obedience, and reverence for our Lord and Savior would draw us closer day by day to our Creator, Sustainer, King of kings, Lord of lords, our Shepherd, Teacher, Redeemer, the Almighty One, our Master, provider, the one who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life—our brother and our friend. He is so much more than we could ever hope for. Jesus is the eternal Messiah—not just for the Jews, but for everyone. He is certainly more than a prophet and as such we should honor Him. What are you doing today to intentionally seek and serve Him?

There has never been another prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face. The LORD sent him to perform all the miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt against Pharaoh, and all his servants, and his entire land. With mighty power, Moses performed terrifying acts in the sight of all Israel. Deuteronomy 34:10-12

Prayer – Lord Jesus, I worship and honor You—for You are worthy of all praise and adoration. Blessed be Your name forever and ever. Thank You for Your obedience—doing just what God the Father asked of You.

Meditate on the role of prophets.

Verse of Salvation ~ Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me. ... Listen to me, you stubborn people who are so far from doing right. For I am ready to set things right, not in the distant future, but right now! I am ready to save Jerusalem and show my glory to Israel. Isaiah 46:9, 12-13

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

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Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Do You Like Bread?

Have you ever followed a cloud or had a drink of water that came gushing from a rock? Paul reminds us of how the Israelites during their Exodus from Egypt to the Promised Land were guided by a cloud and received water from a rock—as recorded in the books of Exodus and Numbers. We briefly looked at those Old Testament passages the last two days on this blog. Personally, I’ve never had a cloud guiding me…or drank water from a rock, although I’ve enjoyed lots of rushing streams lined with rocks.

The Jordan River near its headwaters.
Caesarea Philippi, Israel.
The Jordan is like the river of water
from the Rock that Moses struck.
Lifegiving

In the focus scripture for today we see that that rock was Jesus Christ. Paul wrote succinctly that the rock was Christ. He is the spiritual drink that was given to the Israelites…and to us. Spiritual food? Could that have been the manna that God provided to the Israelites to feed them day to day? The great commentator, Matthew Henry, says as much and gives us direction that this bread that came down from heaven was a type of Christ crucified. We can relate that to communion passages that tell us that those who eat this bread will live forever. That is spiritual food.

Have you partaken in this spiritual food and drank of the spiritual water—all provided by Jesus Christ in the Old and New Testaments? Jesus is not only The Way, The Truth, and the Life…He declared Himself to be the Living Bread. He offered Himself on the cross—a sacrifice for our sins.

I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh." John 6:51

Jesus is the Bread of Life—not just a baby in a manger that some people celebrate at Christmas, remembering His birth. He is living now—resurrected after being crucified on a cross two thousand years ago. Do you or will you believe in Him as your Savior? He obediently surrendered His life according to God’s plan, so that we could live forever. It is a great gift that He is giving us. Can you accept His contribution of eternal life and then go tell others about Him?

I don't want you to forget, dear brothers and sisters, about our ancestors in the wilderness long ago. All of them were guided by a cloud that moved ahead of them, and all of them walked through the sea on dry ground. In the cloud and in the sea, all of them were baptized as followers of Moses. All of them ate the same spiritual food, and all of them drank the same spiritual water. For they drank from the spiritual rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ. 1 Corinthians 10:1-4

Prayer – Lord Jesus, You are the Living Bread of life that I treasure. Thank you for Your sacrifice, obedience, and devotion to our Heavenly Father—and to us. I praise You. Glory-Glory-Glory.

Meditate. Consider God’s plan for salvation that began in the Old Testament—and is lived out in the New Testament.

Verse of Salvation ~ God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:8-10

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

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Tuesday, February 4, 2025

Have You Asked for Living Water?

Fountain at Manito Park
Spokane, Washington.
Jesus is like a fountain...
giving us Living Water.

Jesus is the rock that gives us living water. He demonstrated this when He directed Moses to strike and to speak to the rock, as recorded in the books of Exodus and Numbers. Speak to the rock and hit it with his staff. In that way the Lord gave water to the thirsty Israelites…but Moses didn’t listen closely and obey. He wacked that rock twice when he was supposed to just speak, and it kept him from being allowed to go into the Promised Land. What a disappointment! After all those years of wandering in the desert, listening to the complaining Israelites, serving the Lord, and looking forward to the fulfillment of the promise of living in the Land of Milk and Honey, Moses was left behind. Did he experience the living water?

In the New Testament, Jesus declared to the women at the well that He was the living water.

Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, "Please give me a drink." He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food. The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, "You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?" Jesus replied, "If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water." "But sir, you don't have a rope or a bucket," she said, "and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? And besides, do you think you're greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?" Jesus replied, "Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life." "Please, sir," the woman said, "give me this water! Then I'll never be thirsty again, and I won't have to come here to get water." John 4:5-15 (Emphasis mine.)

Jesus freely gives living water…even today. We don’t have to speak to or hit a rock. We just have to ask…and repent as Jesus requires of everyone who follows Him. Have you experienced the living water? Will you ask Him for this living water that gives eternal life?

So once more the people complained against Moses. "Give us water to drink!" they demanded. "Quiet!" Moses replied. "Why are you complaining against me? And why are you testing the LORD?" But tormented by thirst, they continued to argue with Moses. "Why did you bring us out of Egypt? Are you trying to kill us, our children, and our livestock with thirst?" Then Moses cried out to the LORD, "What should I do with these people? They are ready to stone me!" The LORD said to Moses, "Walk out in front of the people. Take your staff, the one you used when you struck the water of the Nile, and call some of the elders of Israel to join you. I will stand before you on the rock at Mount Sinai. Strike the rock, and water will come gushing out. Then the people will be able to drink." So Moses struck the rock as he was told, and water gushed out as the elders looked on. Moses named the place Massah (which means "test") and Meribah (which means "arguing") because the people of Israel argued with Moses and tested the LORD by saying, "Is the LORD here with us or not?" Exodus 17:2-7

Moses and Aaron turned away from the people and went to the entrance of the Tabernacle, where they fell face down on the ground. Then the glorious presence of the LORD appeared to them, and the LORD said to Moses, "You and Aaron must take the staff and assemble the entire community. As the people watch, speak to the rock over there, and it will pour out its water. You will provide enough water from the rock to satisfy the whole community and their livestock." So Moses did as he was told. He took the staff from the place where it was kept before the LORD. Then he and Aaron summoned the people to come and gather at the rock. "Listen, you rebels!" he shouted. "Must we bring you water from this rock?" Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with the staff, and water gushed out. So the entire community and their livestock drank their fill. But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!" This place was known as the waters of Meribah (which means "arguing") because there the people of Israel argued with the LORD, and there he demonstrated his holiness among them. Numbers 20:6-13 (Underlined for emphasis.)

Prayer – Lord Jesus, You are the Rock…and the Living Water. I put my trust and hope in You. Like Moses, I look forward to eternal life with You and serving You in the Promised Land of the new earth and new Heaven forever.

Meditate on Living Water.

Verse of Salvation ~ This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Romans 13:11-12

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

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Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

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Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Monday, February 3, 2025

Is There a Cloud?

Clouds...by day and by night.

When you think about a “cloud” now do you think about some data storage that is hopefully safe and secure? Or do you think about the weather and the possibility of rain, snow, or a tornado? In the Old Testament book of Numbers, the children of Israel were led by a cloud as they were migrating from Egypt to the Promised Land. It is estimated that there were more than a million people traveling together—that was 600,000 men, plus their wives and children—so that they moved very slowly at times and didn’t know where they were going. This “cloud” of fire by night and smoke by day provided them with guidance and gave LORD Jesus a way of commanding them when to move. Pretty ingenious. Everyone could see that cloud. It was not a data storage method, but it did provide a sense of securing knowing that their God was going before them and leading them.

Jesus was in that Tabernacle and in that cloud. Would you follow some smoke in the air? With the fires lately in California we’ve learned it is best not to go towards any smoke—but to go the opposite direction and get away from the smoke and fire. Breathing smoke is not safe. I don’t think that the smoke from Jesus’ cloud was harmful. Instead, it provided an awareness of the presence of the LORD. Jesus was calling the Israelites to follow Him. Are you prepared to go into the world, to follow Jesus today—and to take others with you?

On the day the Tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered it. But from evening until morning the cloud over the Tabernacle looked like a pillar of fire. This was the regular pattern—at night the cloud that covered the Tabernacle had the appearance of fire. Whenever the cloud lifted from over the sacred tent, the people of Israel would break camp and follow it. And wherever the cloud settled, the people of Israel would set up camp. In this way, they traveled and camped at the LORD's command wherever he told them to go. Then they remained in their camp as long as the cloud stayed over the Tabernacle. If the cloud remained over the Tabernacle for a long time, the Israelites stayed and performed their duty to the LORD. ... So they camped or traveled at the LORD's command, and they did whatever the LORD told them through Moses. Numbers 9:15-19, 23

Prayer – Lord Jesus, please open our eyes to opportunities to serve You…to follow You where You lead us, whether it is in our neighborhood or just praying for others around the world. Where You lead us, we will follow.

Meditate. Consider how the LORD is leading you to serve Him.

Verses of Salvation ~ This is what the LORD says: "At just the right time, I will respond to you. On the day of salvation I will help you. I will protect you and give you to the people as my covenant with them. Through you I will reestablish the land of Israel and assign it to its own people again. I will say to the prisoners, 'Come out in freedom,' and to those in darkness, 'Come into the light.' They will be my sheep, grazing in green pastures and on hills that were previously bare. They will neither hunger nor thirst. The searing sun will not reach them anymore. For the LORD in his mercy will lead them; he will lead them beside cool waters. And I will make my mountains into level paths for them. The highways will be raised above the valleys. See, my people will return from far away, from lands to the north and west, and from as far south as Egypt." Isaiah 49:8-12

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

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Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Sunday, February 2, 2025

Be Honest - Be Holy

Jesus declares who He is The LORD when He gives instructions about the Tabernacle and living His way to the Hebrew people during their journey to the Promised Land. God expects His people—the chosen ones and all His followers to be honest—that is a step to holiness.

You can count on the sundial--like God...
to tell time correctly.
Can you count on others to...
measure honestly?

Integrity—what you do when no one is looking. It is a combination of elements working together. Small qualities that make up the whole. Integrity is another of those virtues in which you want to treat others like you want to be treated. Honesty. Truthfulness. Dependability. Those with high integrity are those whom you want as role models in your life. Like Jesus. The word “integrity” is never really used to describe Jesus in the New Testament—but He is the epitome of integrity. We see here in this Old Testament book of Leviticus that the LORD, Jesus, expects His disciples—including us—to have a high level of integrity.

We’re only human, but God expects those who love and follow Him to “do no wrong” in their business dealings. That is what the “measurement of weight or capacity” is all about. How do you feel when you buy 5 pounds of apples and get only 4 pounds? Cheated. How do you think it makes you look if you sit at your desk for 8 hours and only actually work 7 hours of that recorded time? Your next performance report likely will reflect that, and it may mean that you don’t get a raise or bonus that you expect. Honesty and accuracy in measuring standards and in spiritual values is important. God wants us to be holy since He is holy.

So set yourselves apart to be holy, for I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 20:7

The choice is yours.

"Do not use dishonest standards when measuring length, weight, or volume. Your scales and weights must be accurate. Your containers for measuring dry materials or liquids must be accurate. I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt. You must be careful to keep all of my decrees and regulations by putting them into practice. I am the LORD." Leviticus 19:35-37

Prayer – Lord - Show us if we have any flaws in the integrity of our character. Then help us fix whatever is wrong in our lives.

Meditate. Consider honesty and holiness.

Verse of Salvation ~ Cry out, "Save us, O God of our salvation! Gather and rescue us from among the nations, so we can thank your holy name and rejoice and praise you." 1 Chronicles 16:35

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

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Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Saturday, February 1, 2025

Jesus the High Priest

Can we really see Jesus in every book in the Bible? That is just what the website GotQuestions.org says is true. You can Google it for yourself—but we’re going to take a look at those in the coming days and weeks. If you recall, we’ve already looked at a few sitings of Jesus in the Old Testament. See Banquet With The King blogs from January 14, 2025, through January 25, 2025.

Jesus is the High Priest in heaven as noted in several places in the book of Hebrews in the New Testament.

Here is the main point: We have a High Priest who sat down in the place of honor beside the throne of the majestic God in heaven. There he ministers in the heavenly Tabernacle, the true place of worship that was built by the Lord and not by human hands. And since every high priest is required to offer gifts and sacrifices, our High Priest must make an offering, too. If he were here on earth, he would not even be a priest, since there already are priests who offer the gifts required by the law. They serve in a system of worship that is only a copy, a shadow of the real one in heaven. For when Moses was getting ready to build the Tabernacle, God gave him this warning: "Be sure that you make everything according to the pattern I have shown you here on the mountain." But now Jesus, our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for he is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises. Hebrews 8:1-6

Jesus, as the LORD, spoke to Moses about His own presence in the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle, as recorded in Leviticus. He testified as to His very existence in the cloud above the Ark.

What is the right kind of fire?

The LORD spoke to Moses after the death of Aaron's two sons, who died after they entered the LORD's presence and burned the wrong kind of fire before him. The LORD said to Moses, "Warn your brother, Aaron, not to enter the Most Holy Place behind the inner curtain whenever he chooses; if he does, he will die. For the Ark's cover—the place of atonement—is there, and I myself am present in the cloud above the atonement cover. Leviticus 16:1-2

We continue to see Jesus as the high priest in the book of Leviticus, commanding Moses. There is no Jewish Tabernacle or Temple here on earth now…maybe in the future—but we know that there is a Tabernacle in heaven and that is where there are thrones upon which Almighty God and Jesus are seated now. The King of kings, Lord of lords is Jesus our Savior. Is He your Savior?

In future generations, the purification ceremony will be performed by the priest who has been anointed and ordained to serve as high priest in place of his ancestor Aaron. He will put on the holy linen garments and purify the Most Holy Place, the Tabernacle, the altar, the priests, and the entire congregation. This is a permanent law for you, to purify the people of Israel from their sins, making them right with the LORD once each year." Moses followed all these instructions exactly as the LORD had commanded him. Leviticus 16:32-34

Prayer – Lord Jesus, You are our Savior, the high priest worthy of our praise. By Your sacrifice You have purified us. Glory be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Meditate. Consider the sacrifices made by the Levitical priests…and by Jesus as our Savior.

Verse of Salvation ~ They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household." And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household. Acts 16:31-32

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories