Don’t Skip Leviticus

I’ve been wanting and not wanting to do this for two years. I would open the Bible every morning and fill my journal with thoughts, some provoking, some too personal, and occasionally something I really wanted to share. So blogging seemed a good platform and terrifying at the same time. I’m the person who got off facebook because I didn’t even like commenting on other people’s posts much less tossing my own thoughts to the social media madness. But you know, God always pushes us a little beyond our comfortable and snug shell.

I say all that to tell you that now that I have paid the price and have actually begun writing, I am reading Leviticus for my daily reading. This is not exactly the most inspirational book of the Bible. I have read it many times. You know how it goes, you read the Old Testament through, enjoying Genesis and the great Exodus, and then you slam right into the book of the law. It’s like drinking syrup.

Here's a beautiful example:  "You may eat any animal that has a split hoof completely divided and that chews the cud. There are some that only chew the cud or only have a split hoof, but you must not eat them. The camel, though it chews the cud, does not have a split hoof; it is ceremonially unclean for you." Leviticus 11:1-4

I don’t know about you, but I feel a shout coming on! This is just the verse I need to face Monday morning. Honestly, after the first sentence my mind is stuck imagining how gross that chewing the cud thing really is. Why, Lord? Do I really need this? Can’t I just skip a few chapters and let the Jews memorize all this dietary law? I mean, when I walk down the grocery store aisle, choosing meat, their cud and hooves are never indicated.

You CAN skip it, only to find yourself in the middle of the laws pertaining to cleaning mildew from your home and what sores need to be shaved and what color hair you should be watching for to be called clean. Not kidding.

Now, I am not, AM NOT, making light of the Word of God. No way. His Word is HIS WORD. Of course, it is perfect. So this morning, I asked the Lord what I needed to take away from this perfect word. Here’s what I got. And actually it’s quite amazing.

1. All those rules about skin diseases read like a medical journal. So thorough. If it has a white hair, do this. If it is black, do this. Red and runny? This. But never a mention to ask God to heal. What a gift we have in Christ. We take healing for granted.
2. When you were healed, an offering was to be made. Can you imagine our offerings now? God healed your dad of cancer? Here’s the offering bag. Dig deep. Sore throat healed without antibiotic? Fifty bucks to the Great Physician. Hmm. Makes me a little more appreciative.
3. In all the talk of Feast Days and Holy Days, two were to be remembered and observed throughout the generations. Firstfruits, when the people would literally bring their first sheaves of grain and wave them in celebration before giving them to God. Second, Feast of Tabernacles, when the Israelites would dwell in tents and enjoy a week of celebrating. God loves a festival. Maybe we should look into some of these festivities too. I think we may be missing out.
4. God cares about our physical bodies and healthy living. He gives hygiene and dietary rules with great detail and much importance. Even house cleaning is listed among the rules from Mt. Sinai. God deals with mildew and mold better than Lysol and what materials can be disinfected and what needs to be destroyed. I can imagine how much healthier we may have been in past generations if we would have gave more attention to His cleaning methods.
5. Speaking of healthy lives, God gets down to the nitty gritty, the dos and the don’ts of sexual relations. Despite what Hollywood may tell you, what happens in your bedroom is His business. He has definite and particular rules. You want to sleep with your uncle? Nope, against the law. There’s a lot more information available. Parental guidance suggested.
6. There are chapters and chapters written about offerings. There’s the guilt offering, burnt offering, grain offering, sin offering, and the fellowship offering. Some people think the offering bag is passed too much today. God taught His people to give. Somehow, we got the idea that Jesus paid the price and offerings are inclusive in the deal. These chapters always challenge my “tithing is good enough” attitude.
7. And last but not least, especially to the fellow involved, there are rules regarding God’s Holy Name. It happened that the son of an Israelite momma and an Egyptian dad was caught up in a fight. During the fight he blasphemed “the Name”. Witnesses told Moses. Moses sought the Lord as to his punishment. God said he was to be put to death. And he was. Just let that sink in.

Of course, there is much more. These aren’t the Cliff Notes to Leviticus. This is just what the Holy Spirit pointed out to me. Just goes to show you that God’s Word is perfect. If you read any part of it, you’re that much better.