Big Idea - God is holy and if He is to dwell in the midst of the people, they too must be holy. God gives extensive laws to make sure the camp is a holy place. God guards His holiness through the Priests and Levites as well so that the people are not destroyed. Then, it seems quite randomly, God blesses the people. How are we to understand the holiness of God, the law that guards His holiness, and the desire of God to bless the people? How are God’s holiness and goodness related or reconciled? We may have the idea that the law and God’s holiness are what God wants and cares most about, and the blessing is what we want and care about. The law is seen as how we give God what He wants (honor and obedience in accordance with His holiness) so that He will give us what we want - the blessings of prosperity and comfort. But this is a terrible misunderstanding of who God and His desire for His people. Holiness and blessing are not two different things. It is not the economic exchange of a consumer and a commercial enterprise! God’s holiness and His blessing are deeply connected and we could say even one in the same thing. The greatest blessing we can possess is His holy presence, and the deepest longings of our heart can be satisfied in a life rooted in His holiness. God’s laws are not to be obeyed in order to earn heavenly currency that can be cashed in for God’s blessing. Rather, the law is a necessary condition of blessing. So, good health, reconciled relationships, marital faithfulness, and devoted service are life conditions that bring about the realization of God’s blessing and shalom in our life!
