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February 20th
Our Bible reading today is in Leviticus chapters 22,23.
Today’s text begins with some warnings to Aaron and his boys. God sends them a “death threat”. You would think that the fire of God which came from the Holy place to take the life of two of Aaron’s sons, would have been warning enough for this family. And yet God chooses to warn them again against “spiritual carelessness”. God was serious...dead serious.
Why?
The priests were 24-7 testaments of God, His character, and His will and ways. And if they became careless in their spiritual lives it could cost people their faith and even their lives.
May we remember that the priests were always pointing the congregation to a hope even beyond the land of promise....always pointing the people to the Perfect Priest and Intercessor to come...Jesus...the perfect Sacrifice/the Once and for all Sacrifice (to take away sin) to come...Jesus...!!!!
Speaking of spiritual leaders...at home...in church...on the job...in the classroom. God has blessed us with you. We are praying for you.
In chapter 23, God gives Moses instructions for celebrating “special occasions”...” holy times” for the people to focus on God.
God starts with the celebration of Sabbath Days. Once a week the people of God were to set aside their normal work and instead, rest...remembering who gave them rest from their torturous bondage in Egypt. Rest...remembering who gives them rest from the penalty of sin...God...
And by the way, who is our Sabbath...our rest from everything burdensome?... Jesus!!
I'll mention one or two more of the “holy times” to be celebrated by Israel.
The Feast of Passover...Israelites remembering how God passed over them in Egypt one night...withholding judgment upon the firstborns in their homes...because of covenant blood on their doorposts.
And Lord Jesus...thank You for being our Passover lamb...that took the death we owed...upon yourself...that we might live forevermore with You!
And The Feast of First Fruits. 50 days after the Passover feast...celebrating the goodness of God who gives the harvest to His people...not only to support them but to support neighbors and sojourners passing by.
During the celebration, the congregation would bundle the “first fruits”
of grain stalks into what they called “sheafs”. Then they would begin to wave them toward heaven as “wave offerings” of praise to God.
Remember what Paul told the Church at Corinth using the Wave Offering as the illustration? He said, inspired of the Holy Spirit, that Jesus’ resurrection was the “First Fruit” of the entire harvest of believers who will one day rise from the dead at Christ’s second coming.
Every chapter pointing toward the promised son...the promised Messiah...Savior...and Lord..our Jesus Christ!
One more thought...At the end of chapter 22, God reminds Moses of something very important. Important to him and to us...“I am the Lord and I will sanctify you even as I brought you out of Egypt.”
How powerful was God in delivering Israel out of Egyptian bondage? All-powerful. And He promised Moses that He would supply ample grace / ample power to sanctify and transform him into the Godly man he was to be.
With the same power that Jesus saved us, He will change us into Godly men and women.
Now that is quite a salvation...from here to heaven.
Have a good day
