Leviticus 20 - Numbers 2: Holiness, slavery, and Jubilee

Yesterday was, by far, the hardest day so far for my Bible Boot Camp reading. Lots of heavy duty laws and punishments outlined in this part of Scripture. It was hard reading. A few thoughts:

-  The key to holiness:  Holiness means being different from the sinful behavior going on around you. To help the Israelite people remember that they were to be holy like God, they kept a holy calendar which included feasts, Sabbath (which was for the people, the land, and the animals, too), and a Jubilee Year every 50th year. Jubilee meant family reunions, no harvest work, and release of obligations.   
- Slavery?  I'm wondering why God permitted slavery? In Lev 25:44-46, the Israelites were allowed to purchase slaves from surrounding tribes, but Israelites themselves were not to be kept as slaves. Perhaps, this gave other peoples access to the Israelite way of life and a chance to get to know God?
- God at the center:  The Tabernacle was the center of the Israelite world. The people were to set up camp around the Tabernacle, facing it. It was the center, as God was to be the center.

- On another note regarding slavery and gender, Vickie wondered why, in Leviticus, women slaves were worth only half what men were worth. This is a great question. Jonalyn Fincher, an author and apologist, wrote an article on this topic called "Is God Playing Favorites in Leviticus 27:1-8?" The articles are here on her blog: Part I and Part II.

 Elena's Verse of the day:  "I am the Lord your God...I have set you free; now walk with your heads held high" (Lev 26:13).

I'm sharing a few thoughts from each day's reading. Feel free to jump in and share your own!