Leviticus 20:23 You must not live according to the customs of the nations I am going to drive out before you. Because they did all these things, I abhorred them.
I have the privilege of coordinating the daily devo reflections for my church. This week we are in Genesis 22, where Abraham thinks God is calling him to sacrifice Isaac and takes steps to do so, seemingly without hesitation. Part of the prayer for tomorrow’s reflection is “…we understand that you interacted with and taught the people in those days in ways they could understand.”
Leviticus 20:24 But I said to you, “You will possess their land; I will give it to you as an inheritance, a land flowing with milk and honey.” I am the Lord your God, who has set you apart from the nations.
That reflection, written by a retired pastor, resonated with me and my slog through Leviticus, and it brings to mind Heb 4:12, “For the word of God is alive and active….” God’s word is active and alive because He knows us–all of us. He knows times and circumstances change. He knows the myriad of human hands to have translated His word. He knows our hearts.
Leviticus 20:25 “ ‘You must therefore make a distinction between clean and unclean animals and between unclean and clean birds. Do not defile yourselves by any animal or bird or anything that moves along the ground—those that I have set apart as unclean for you.
Precious Savior, Thank You for the reminder that You speak to us through Your word but that You know a modern reader is not the same as the Israelite who just left Egyptian captivity. We don’t think the same. Our concerns aren’t the same. Life isn’t the same. Help us to read Your word with a heart to draw closer to You alone. Give us the tools so that we can use Your word as You intended. Help us, Jesus. Amen.
Leviticus 20:26-27 You are to be holy to me because I, the Lord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own. “ ‘A man or woman who is a medium or spiritist among you must be put to death. You are to stone them; their blood will be on their own heads.’ ”
Have a blessed day.