Leviticus! Are you serious?!!!

Who gets excited to read Leviticus? I certainly don't!!! Currently I am reading my Bible in chronological order, ever done that? Well, sooner or later, you have to read Leviticus. No skipping it when you choose this form of study. So. . . here we go!

The book of Leviticus is authored by Moses, one of my favorite Bible heroes, and focuses on the Law. What does that mean, exactly? It means that the entire book is about rules, right? Well, sort of, if you choose to see it that way as many people do. However, when you examine it further you see that really it is a book about holiness. An old fashioned word, I know, but a word that is just a relevant in today's culture and society as it was then in the days of Moses and the Israelites.

My focus today is on the second chapter of Leviticus. This chapter is only 16 verses, but it packs a punch if you dig a little. The subject matter of this chapter is the grain offering and how it is to be prepared and presented to the Lord.

Here is what I noticed: the Israelites were given options by God on how the grain offering could be prepared. Options? Really? In the book of Leviticus? YES, really!!! Take a look:

• verse 1 & 2 “‘When anyone brings a grain offering to the LORD, their offering is to be of the finest flour. They are to pour olive oil on it, put incense on it ² and take it to Aaron’s sons the priests.
• verse 4 “‘If you bring a grain offering baked in an oven . . . "
• verse 5 "If your grain offering is prepared on a griddle. . . "
• verse 7 "If your grain offering is cooked in a pan. . ."

The preparation of each method of cooking was the same. The grain offering was to be made of fine flour and oil was to be poured over it before it was presented to the priests. Even in the midst of the Law, God provided his people with choices and options.

No matter what method of preparation the Israelites chose, the end result was the same. A portion of their grain offering was burned upon the altar in sacrifice to God and the rest was given to the priests for consumption. This was considered the most holy part of the sacrifice.

God gave His people specific instructions on what, how, and why to do this, but He also allowed them the freedom to choose which method worked best for them. Once again, we see the loving nature of our God. We see that through the Law, what seems like rules and regulations and bondage, how God was making a way for His people to come before Him, holy and acceptable in His sight. We see how the Law was God's provision for His people and how through obedience, He provided a pathway to His heart; a relationship is formed.

God's will is for all of us is to follow Him in holiness and obedience, but even within this walk, we are given choices and options. Many times we get too hung up on exactly what we are supposed to do. God was clear; bring the sacrifice to me so that I may consume it and be pleased with its aroma. We fear the process of obedience; will I make the wrong choice? How will I know if this is the right path? What if I get lost along the way? However, there are more important questions. What if I don't step out? What if I choose to disobey? What if I never move from this spot just because I am afraid?

Our path is clear. We are to bring the sacrifice. Sometimes the method is up to us.

Moses On a Mountain

I am fascinated by Moses! My devotions for the last several weeks have taken place in the Old Testament centered around Moses and his many adventures. His story is fantastic! His life begins literally in the water!

In the third chapter of Deuteronomy, Moses is recalling what the Lord has told him:

²¹ At that time I commanded Joshua: “You have seen with your own eyes all that the LORD your God has done to these two kings. The LORD will do the same to all the kingdoms over there where you are going. ²² Do not be afraid of them; the LORD your God himself will fight for you.”

I love verse 22 and how it reassures me that God will fight for me. This is not past tense or even in terms of my future, it is right NOW!

²³ At that time I pleaded with the LORD: ²⁴ “Sovereign LORD, you have begun to show to your servant your greatness and your strong hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do the deeds and mighty works you do? ²⁵ Let me go over and see the good land beyond the Jordan—that fine hill country and Lebanon.”

²⁶ But because of you the LORD was angry with me and would not listen to me. “That is enough,” the LORD said. “Do not speak to me anymore about this matter. ²⁷ Go up to the top of Pisgah and look west and north and south and east. Look at the land with your own eyes, since you are not going to cross this Jordan.

The reality sets in with Moses that he really is not going to cross the Jordan with the people. Someone else will have to lead them. Then God asks Moses to do something that I would imagine was the most difficult thing for him;

²⁸ But commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land that you will see.”

Joshua is the one that will lead the people, not Moses! God grants Moses request to see the land, but makes it very clear that he will NOT be going with them. He will NOT be their leader any more.

I wonder how Moses felt at that moment when the reality of what was about to happen set in. Did he feel abandoned by God? Was he jealous of Joshua? Was he indignant at the thought of this kid taking his position? Did he completely buck the idea of encouraging and strengthening Joshua?

Much like Moses, we are not always allowed to "finish" what we start. Sometimes, this is not a bad thing! God is merciful when it comes to our failures! We may be allowed to begin something and then have to train and encourage someone else to complete it.

When I first read this passage I felt sorry for Moses and his un-finished job, however, when I looked at the passage again, I realized something; he did finish his job. You see, Moses had faithfully prepared these people for this exact moment for years. Ultimately, his reward was knowing the job would be completed even though he was not the guy.

How many times do we walk away from an experience or a project with failure on our mind? The job was incomplete, therefore, I am incomplete; I failed. Could Moses have viewed himself that way? I am sure he could have, but I do not think that he did. I believe that even in his own personal disappointment, he knew God would finish what HE started, even if it was through another vessel named Joshua. Moses completed his part, therefore, he completed the job.