“Keep my commands and follow them. I am the Lord. Do not profane my holy name. I must be acknowledged as holy by the Israelites. I am the Lord, who makes you holy and who brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the Lord.” Leviticus 22:31-33
Leviticus and Numbers are two of the toughest books in the Bible to read. Many a “read through the Bible in a year” plan has met its demise in these third and fourth books of the Bible. Such plans are always promising at the start, with the captivating book of Genesis. Then comes Exodus and the rich story of God’s redemption of Israel from slavery in Egypt, even if the tedious descriptions of the Tabernacle and sacrifices in the second half are daunting. But it’s nothing compared to Leviticus, that goes into even greater detail on a variety of offerings, then moves on to such fun topics as clean and unclean foods, infectious skin diseases and cleansing from mildew (especially relevant for those who live in the Pacific Northwest). This is in addition to the laws, laws and more laws! If, for some unknown reason, we get through Leviticus, we are then confronted by Numbers. If you share my lack of love for mathematics, the name itself may be enough to stop you in your tracks. Certainly, there are intriguing stories in this book, but it’s the lists and numbers, in addition to more instruction on offerings and laws, which wear you down. Even the more engaging stories are less than inspiring as God’s people, time and again, give into fears, fickleness and faithlessness. It boggles the mind as to why the chosen people, the recipients of divine redemption, would be so quick to turn away from their God. Which raises the question, why? What’s the point of these books? Historical value? That doesn’t seem a credible reason for inclusion in the Holy Bible! And the recurring themes seem far too purposeful to simply write off as mere history. So, what is the point of these two lengthy narratives that form books three and four of the Torah? First, they point to the holiness of God. As we see in the quote above, God’s very name is holy, sacred, worthy of reverence. This makes the three-fold repetition of His holy name, LORD or Yahweh, all the more significant in these three short verses. We serve a holy God! In a world which persistently seeks to profane anything and everything deemed holy, from sexuality to the life of the baby in the womb, these books stand as a testament to the holiness of our God and, by extension, His commands. Second, these books reveal the reality and cost of human sinfulness. We see this not only in the stories of rebellion and their destructive results, but also in the emphasis on the sacrifices necessary to pay for human sinfulness through the laborious and gory sacrificial system. Third, Leviticus and Numbers point us to God’s provision for sin and the call to holiness. “Keep my commands and follow them….I am the LORD (Yahweh), who makes you holy.” God is both the source of and means to our holiness. We who serve a holy God are called to be a living witness to His holiness by choosing to live in a manner honoring to Him. Yet, when we sin, it is God who provides the means for our forgiveness and reconciliation to Him through sacrifice and special days and feasts, not the least of which is the Day of Atonement (Lev. 23:26-32). As my old Hebrew professor, John Sailhamer, writes: But God is a gracious God (Ex. 34:6). In spite of Israel’s repeated failures, he continued to renew their covenant. He himself provided a means of substitution whereby the death rightly due sinful human beings was transferred to an innocent animal. God accepted the blood shed by the innocent animal as a substitute for the blood of the guilty sinner. Throughout Leviticus, that system of sacrifice is assumed as God’s gracious gift to atone for sin. These books neither diminish the necessity for God’s people to walk in holiness nor preclude the ability to be cleansed of sin. Yet, as we see throughout the Old Testament, the failings of God’s people, combined with God’s love and faithfulness, ultimately look to a more profound provision for sin in the sending of His one and only Son. These books point us to God’s plan for sin’s payment “through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Heb. 10:10). As followers of Jesus, then, the message of these books is powerful. It reminds us that the God we serve is holy and worthy of our trust and obedience. It reveals God’s loyal love and faithfulness to His redemptive purposes. And it reminds us of the costliness of sin and, viewed through the cross, the great price paid on our behalf through the sin-conquering death of Jesus. What is our response to Leviticus and Numbers? Deeper trust in our faithful Father, growing obedience as His holy people and heartfelt praise for His gracious work of redemption!
5 Comments
Linda Jane Clauson
3/3/2024 01:32:47 pm
Once again I loved this Lamplighter!
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Dan
4/21/2024 02:04:08 pm
Bible as a full meal, not tapas. Love it!!! But the Gospels certainly are a good place to start...
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Michael Buttress
4/21/2024 01:22:37 pm
Thank you for your blogs. I had no idea just how much effort you put into your role as RBC pastor. God bless you.
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Dan
4/21/2024 02:07:17 pm
Thank you for reading...and for listening and chewing! It's a blessing to be able to study and share God's life-changing Word...including Leviticus and Numbers.
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Michael Buttress
4/21/2024 05:32:22 pm
Oops! I accidentally clicked on unsubscribe. Didn't mean to, silly me. Leave a Reply. |
Dan GannonDan has ministered at Renton Bible Church, with his wife Debbie, since 2003. Archives
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