| Genesis...Exodus...Leviticus...OH MY!!! |
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Well, we've been in Leviticus... Some heavy reading here! What exactly does it all mean...and do we need to be concerned with ancient Jewish law? Well, it points out that God notices... He had some very specific things he wanted the Israelites to do after escaping a polytheistic Egypt...and He was very clear, through Moses, what those laws and guidelines were. He didn't want them worshipping any other gods...I mean come on, He led them out of slavery...you'd think they'd want to worship no other god. But God knew their hearts and minds and knew they would need guidance, and even then, they screwed up. He notices the details...the details of our lives, our sins, and our hearts. All of the animal sacrifices have something in common...the animals are to be perfect, mild, meek, the best...they represent the sacrifice of Christ later on. God demanded perfect and pleasing sacrifices because that's ultimately what He gave to us. Thanks to Pastor Rod for clearing up some "Levitical" details, I now have a better understanding of this book... In order to have perfect animals for sacrifices -- without blemish or marks, without sores or cuts, without imperfections of any kinds -- the Israelites had to bring the sacrificial animal into their home and make it a "pet". They cared for it, and watched over it, all the while preparing to sacrifice it. Imagine the pain they must have felt to then slaughter their now loved household pet? And this was in the days long before PETA and animal activism...would we be able to sacrifice the same thing in the same way? Some of us Christians can't even sacrifice our money, our time, our energy for God...how would we react if He asked us to sacrifice Rover or Fluffy? Now, later in Leviticus we read of the laws God wanted His people to follow, regarding personal health and cleanliness, which also led into those acts of personal sin God wanted his people to shun. Obviously, our culture is very different now...although God's laws are still God's laws...but imagine what the Israelites had to endure? They lived in an Egyptian culture which worshipped multiple gods and probably enacted some pretty freaky stuff in their palaces and temples...things which were abominations to God. He clearly tells the Israelites what to do and not to do after leaving Egypt. Also, it is now necessary to keep the Israelites alive...they are the chosen people. God doesn't want them dying out from preventable disease, of their own doing. So He gives them laws of cleanliness, purity, and holiness...things they should do not just for their benefit, but for their very lives. In doing so He repeats to them that He is Lord, their God. God wants our hearts...He wants us to worship with love and praise to Him...our only God...He doesn't want our worship tainted with distraction, worry, bitterness, sin...but if we bring those things to Him, with a heart of repentance and a life of faith, He has vowed to forgive and never leave us... I have no animal sacrifice...however, Christ obliterated the need for me to slaughter a ram or a sheep. He was my atonement, and He is the gate which I enter to enjoy my relationship with God. Thanks Pastor Rod! Kim
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