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February 16th
The Bible reading today is in Leviticus chapters 11,12,13.
I need to pick up a very important message in chapter 10 before we proceed. It’s the story and lesson from the sudden death of two young men...Nadab and Abihu...two sons of Aaron.
For seven days these two brothers, along with their father, went through God’s ordination to the newly instituted priesthood of Israel. Much of the exercise of ordination took place in the presence of the congregation of Israel.
This was a big deal. God was setting these men apart from all other Israelites. They had the privilege and responsibility to represent Israelites before God for His blessing...His favor for the nation.
These men would be dealing with everything holy unto God. This was serious.
How serious?....Dead serious. One day these brothers are elevated to positions only God can give. The next day their funerals are being planned. What happened?
The text in chapter 10 says that the brothers did something in the Tabernacle that God, nor Moses and Aaron assigned them to do.
They chose “strange fire” to burn the incense before the veil in the Tabernacle. In other words, they burned the incense with a fire that didn't come from the bronze altar...as God commanded. And...the fire from God struck them dead right where they stood in the Tabernacle. “Like lightning”, some have surmised.
Wow...many must have asked in secret, “wasn't that an excessive judgment from God?...especially since these new priests were young...and new to their duties...?”
I remember having the same thought...after reading 2 Samuel 6...Where Uzzah reached out to steady the ark when an ox stumbled. And God struck him dead. “No one was to touch the ark in transport” just the poles that 4 priests were to use to lift and carry the ark.
In both instances, men who had been trained to do “God’s will His way” decided to do things “their” way....a serious disrespect to God.
But you say, “Lord, John the Baptist’s father (a Levitical priest) disrespected You and You just took his ability to talk away for 9 months.” Mute...death...big difference.
King Uzziah of Judah disobeyed God....disrespecting Him big time...by allowing the altars of false gods to remain in Judah. That’s a pretty big sin. But God just gave him leprosy for the rest of his days....instead of death. death.
Now those comparisons can stump us...unless we remember our Exodus readings. Where God told Moses, “I will show mercy unto those that I choose to show mercy.” God is God.
Moses comforted Aaron with the very words of God...”By those who are near me, I will be sanctified...before the people, I will be glorified.”
God very God was going to be glorified...through the deaths of the young men.
Maybe it would be a strong wake-up call to their Father and two younger brothers who were ordained with them.
Their being set a part for God’s use only was not a game...it was not for show...it was and always would be for God’s glory...even if it cost their lives.
Wow sounds like Jesus...submitting to the Father’s use...all for the Father’s glory. Yes, even when it cost Him His life on the cross.
Now chapters 11-13 deal with dietary laws, the purification after child birth, and the disease of leprosy. These laws and rules give good insight to healthy living. Though we are not under these laws as Christians, we still see the wisdom in them.
Let me briefly tell you what I see here. The Lord He is God. And He has every right to speak into every area of our lives for His honor and glory.
Just like those faithful Israelites, in Christ, we belong to God as His treasured ones. He is more than just interested in our lives, He wants to use every part of them for His Kingdom’s work.
He made our bodies and He wants us to partner with Him to take care of them. And in Christ, our bodies are the temple (tabernacle) of God. As Paul put it to the church members in Corinth, “Your bodies are the temple of God...anyone who destroys this temple Him shall God destroy...for the temple is holy...which temple you are.”
The way we eat should glorify God. The way we take care of new born babies and their mamas is to bring glory to God. And the way we take care of the diseased among us is important to the glory of God.
Followers of Christ...thank you for wanting to do God’s will His way...
Have a great day
