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! 

Leviticus 7 - 19: Blood, laws, & the goat in the wildnerness

- Offerings galore:  More offerings described, including the votive-offering, freewill-offering, fire-gifts, contribution-offering, wave-offering, and ordination-offering. This is a whole study in itself.
- Blood:  So much blood used in annointing and purifying. This seems so foreign to us. In our culture we rarely see blood.

- Laws:  God gave very specific dietary laws (no eating rock badgers because the chew their cud but don't have a split hoof) to help set his people apart from the surrounding peoples. These laws helped to keep the Israelites healthy, too.
- Hygiene:  Interesting laws instructed the people on how to deal with poisonous mildew and fungus--something we still deal with, such as killer molds.
- Medical care:  God also gave basic but detailed instructions about how to spot and contain diseases.
- The goat in the wilderness:  Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, Aaron was to put all of the people's sins on a goat's head. Then it was sent into the wildnerness (Lev 16:20-22). The people were to fast and refrain from work. "In the presence of GOD, you will be made clean of all your sins. It is a Sabbath of all Sabbaths" (Lev 16:29-31). A beautiful and vivid picture of Christ's redemptive work, still far in the future.
- Precious blood:  The people are forbidden to consume blood, on pain of death and banishment. Why? "The life of the animal is in the blood. I have provided the blood for you to make atonement for your lives on the Altar; it is the blood, the life, that makes atonement" (Lev 17:10-12). Blood = life, and it is precious.  
- Do not conform:  God tells the Israelites straight out not to live like the Eypgtians or the Canaanites. "Don't do what they do" (Lev 18:1-5).
- Sex laws:  It seems strange that God had to spell out all of these forbidden sexual practices in such detail, but these things must have been happening or God wouldn't need to make such laws. The worst? Child sacrifice. Almost unthinkable, but it was going on regularly around them.
- Strong words:  "Dabbling in the occult pollutes your soul" (Lev 19:31).
- A good reminder:  "Show respect to the aged" (Lev 19:32). This was a good nudge for me. My mom lives with me and sometimes drive me crazy :/
- This says it all:  "Be holy because I, God, your God, am holy" (Lev 19:1).

Elena's Verse of the Day: "The Lord appeared to the people in all his glory...they shouted and fell to their knees to worship the Lord" (Leviticus 9:23-24)

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

Exodus 34 - Leviticus 6: Glowing, gold, and blood

- What glowing skin:  Love how Moses' face glowed after he talked to God. He had to wear a veil. I'm wondering--do we glow when we spend lots of time with God?

- Ton of gold:  Amazed at the craftsmanship that went into the tabernacle and its furnishings. For example, the lampstands were made of pure gold and formed into a stem, branches, calyxes, and blossoms. 1900 pounds of gold went into the construction of the sanctuary--almost a ton of pure gold. Wow.

- They did it all:  When the Israelites were good, they were very very good. "The did what God had commanded to Moses. They did it all" (Ex 39:32). Do I always do all of what God asks?
- Overwhelming:  The sacrifices were bloody. They were instructed to make an offering of blood by splashing it against the sides of the altar. I can only imagine the sight, the sounds, and the smells (Lev 1:3-9). It must have been overwhelming and unforgettable.
- Pure and perfect:  The animals used for sacrifice were to be without defect. This foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice, Christ, and his sinlessness (Lev 3:1).
- Offerings:  Many different types of offerings described in Leviticus include absolution (atonement) offerings, burnt offerings, peace offerings, grain-offerings, and compensation-offerings.

Verse of the Day: "I am the Lord God. I am merciful and very patient with my people. I show great love and can be trusted." (Ex 34:6 CEV) --from Elena Santos Scharnhorst

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