Rules... who needs them?

Leviticus

First impression: finding the context

What do you see in this book that tells you about the original reader?

   The book is written to the Israelites (just like the other books that we have read so far) who are camping at the foot of Mount Sinai. The books deals a lot with getting Egypt out of the heads of the people of God, and it tries to erase the customs that the Israelites picked up while in Egypt. They spent so many years (400+) enslaved and they need to be retrained on how to have a relationship with each other, and with God which can reflect the holiness of God. Leviticus deals a lot with Priesthood, and rules for the Tabernacle but the book is not only for the Priests and Levites (Priests' helpers) but to the whole Nation. God wants to dwell among His people and have His glory appear to them (Leviticus 9:6). There's not much description of how much the Israelites have changed since they left Egypt but there's a few references of them shouting with joy and falling face down (Lev. 9:24) right after God presence's fire consumed their offerings. So we can see that they have a holy fear for the Lord and that they respect Him. 

   They also followed the rules that they are just learning as they brought a blasphemer to be judged. 

What do you see in this book that tells you about the author?

   Moses is very temperamental, according to the book he "became very angry" (Lev. 10:16) with two of Aaron's sons because they did not eat part of the sin offering, as God had commanded them to do. He also seems to have an extraordinary memory because for chapters and chapters God talks to him about laws and consequences of breaking it, and Moses just comes back to the people and recites everything like it's not a big deal. 

   We can also see that Moses is very contractual as he "followed all these instructions exactly as the Lord had commanded him" (Lev. 16:34)

What are the main themes, and repeated ideas in this book, and what is a one sentence summary of the “main idea”?

   There's a couple of ideas that are repeated throughout the book:

• "Then the Lord said to Moses", which really sets the whole mood for the book. God tells Moses, and he tells either Aaron and/or the whole people of Israel.
• The people of Israel did what God commanded, no matter what it was (Lev. 24:23 Stoning a blasphemer to death)
• The fact that God gave these laws through Moses at Mt. Sinai as evidence of the relationship between Himself and the Israelites (Lev. 26:46)

What is the primary reason this book was written?

   God is telling the people how to have a better relationship with each other and with Him. Rules were very necessary to help them in the process. Somehow, by reading the book I understood better how lost these people were! Their moral compasses were pointing South all the way... or maybe just pointing back to Egypt!!!

Theme tracing

What does this book show about the character and nature of God?

   I feel Leviticus shows how much God loves organization, and clear communication. There's a lot of rules in the book, rules for common sense things like don't marry a woman and her mom... at the same time (Lev. 20:14), that sounds like a lot of trouble, but the punishment sounds worse: The man and the two women had to be burned to death to wipe out that kind of wickedness from among the people of God.

   The text also let's us see that God is really holy and He wants His people to be holy for exactly that reason (Lev. 19:2)

   God is just, He burned a couple of Priests up because they burned the wrong kind of fire when He had clearly stated how to do such things in the Tabernacle (Lev. 10:1, 2). There is also a reference of them drinking before going into the tabernacle (Lev. 10:9-11) It makes a lot of sense that God talks about that exact matter right after the incident occurred. 

What does this book show about God’s redemptive plan for mankind?

   God wants to redeem these people so bad that He gives them rules even for what is good to eat and what they should not even think about eating! It's all about been holy to be able to have a closer relationship with God.

   All these rules are good for preparing people for something bigger than themselves, walking with God Himself! He is trying to make them clean, then holy so that they can have a better relationship. The Lord wants them to be in agreement with all of these offerings' rules, because they will follow them until Jesus comes and provide them with a new perfect sacrifice for atonement of all of their (our) sins.

Application questions

Personal application

Is there a timeless truth, or maybe a specific verse, or perhaps the main idea of the book you are studying that is challenging you in your life?

   I don't like rules... so, basically, the whole book was hard for me to read. However, it was really good to learn that we need rules to live well. I personally felt a lot of the things that the book states are really simple and basic rules, and I imagined that anyone would know those things, but apparently the Israelites needed a little help on telling right from wrong. For example the one rule that says that you should not marry your mom, because she is your mom. (Lev. 18:7)

   I also learned that "If a man loses his hair and his head becomes bald, he is still ceremonially clean." (Lev. 13:40) So now I'm not so concerned about losing my hair! Thank you Leviticus!!!!

   God's challenging me to embrace rules, as they bring structure to our society and prepare us to a very ordered heavenly life.

What area of your life is God encouraging you, convincing you or empowering you in through this book?

   Sometimes we jump to conclusions pretty fast, and I feel I did, I felt God was not fair when killing a lot of people inwas specially in this case where God burnt the two priests. If they were drunk, they should not have been in the temple to begin with, but even less should they have been burning offerings to God! He is Holy and He wants His representatives on earth to be clean and Holy as He is Holy!

Point of passion

Whether it is a people group or a sphere of society, God’s word can speak into all areas of life. Share in a paragraph or two how the message of this book, or a truth from this book relates to your  point of passion, and how your ministry to this area can use the message from this book to share Christ in your passion.
   When thinking about the rules of society, I feel we need them very much. For example, I am very impressed by the traffic lights system in developed countries... it seems like they are so well planned and I wonder who came up with the idea of their order. And of course I do not know who did, but I'm pretty sure that it took that person (or group of people) several tries (maybe too many) to be able to manage a highway intersection with a bank on one corner and a supermarket on the opposite one. 
   And then, I think about Israel and how God organized them with His rules... that was quite an operation. A successful one, I have to say.
   Whenever I think about a food truck ministry for the homeless, the poor and the people who have been hit by natural disasters, I makes me a little sick to my stomach because I feel I will be the one trying to impose some order in the midst of chaos. And then I remember that God is the one who will do it, not me. So, I can relax, because He is better at organizing a few million people than I will ever be. I just hope to keep reading and observing about how He does it, maybe if I pay close attention I'll learn a trick or two.