“There Will Be Consequences”


BIBLE READING: Leviticus 24-27

                As the book of Leviticus draws to a close, God issues a stern warning to His people concerning disobedience.  "But if you will not listen to me and will not do all these commandments, if you spurn my statutes, and if your soul abhors my rules, so that you will not do all my commandments, but break my covenant, then I will do this to you: I will visit you with panic, with wasting disease and fever that consume the eyes and make the heart ache. And you shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. I will set my face against you, and you shall be struck down before your enemies. Those who hate you shall rule over you, and you shall flee when none pursues you. And if in spite of this you will not listen to me, then I will discipline you again sevenfold for your sins…” (Leviticus 26:14-18).
Why is God so harsh?  Is God somehow trying to scare them into believing and obeying Him?  Does He see us as a little child that just needs to be disciplined? Although God does consider us His children, He is by no means trying to threaten us into following His commandments.  If there is one reoccurring theme within the Bible, it is the love that God has for us.  Love was the only reason He created us in the first place.  Love is the reason He sent Jesus into the world to offer us a way to be saved (John 3.16).  In fact, the very essence of God is love (I John 4.7-21).  Then why does God seem so brutal to the children of Israel?  Maybe a better way of viewing this is not as a threat, but as a warning.   God loves the nation of Israel, if He didn’t, He never would have brought them out of Egypt.  God also knows what is best for the nation of Israel as well, He has the unique perspective of knowing what can help or harm them.  One thing that stands out when you read these commandments is that they are specific.  They are specific, because God knows what will happen to them if they disobey them.  For instance, if they chose to not obey the laws concerning dealing with leprosy, the whole nation is at risk of an epidemic.  These laws were not just created for God’s pleasure, but rather our necessity of understanding His will when it is made known to us in the New Testament.  Each one of these commandments contain a deeper meaning.  Although they may not fully understand their purpose, today we are able to see exactly why He put them into place.  So instead of understanding this portion of Scripture as a threat, maybe we should see it more as a warning. God wants them to know that if they refuse to heed His words, there will be consequences.   God knows what is best for His people, even when we might not be able to see it ourselves.  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tuesday - October 4, 2016

Woodlawn Family Bible Study TUESDAY BIBLE READING:    Genesis 32:22-32 Do you want to be blessed? That sounds like a rhetorical question, doesn’t it? Who doesn’t want to be blessed? I guess it really depends on your definition of “blessed.” Many people desire blessings that will make them wealthy or, perhaps, material goods. However, being blessed is not limited to those physical things. In fact, sometimes we can be blessed in the most unusual ways. For instance, in Genesis 32:26, we find Jacob wrestling with what we often call an angel. Within the story, Jacob is overtaking the angel and holding him down; refusing to let go until the angel gives him a blessing. The angel obliges Jacob, but not in the way he might have imagined. The angel changed his name from “Jacob” to “Israel,” but he also did something else. He put Jacob’s hip joint out of socket, causing him much pain and difficulty walking. In part, his blessing had to do with him walking with a limp. How is tha...
Read more

“Examples”

BIBLE READING: Mark 13- Luke 1 DISCUSSION                                                                                   This past week we have read of some great examples in the bible.   We read in Mark 13 about us being ready and being prepared for when Jesus returns.   We need to all stay awake!   In Mark 14 we read of one action having such an impact.   How this woman gave her very best to Jesus because of her love for Him.   In Mark 15 we read of Pontius Pilate and his desire to keep his power.   He loved his power and did not want to give it up even if that meant sending an inno...
Read more

Monday

BIBLE READING : Job 3. 1-26 “I wish I had never been born,” Job said to his friends. “I wish that my birthday was just wiped off of the calendar as though it never happened.” Who could blame him? The loss that he had endured in mere moments had been catastrophic. Job had experienced a wonderful life until that day, when all he had known changed. I know that many people have endured tragic losses, but Job’s defeat seems unfathomable. Isn’t it ironic that, although Job’s comments brought him so much pain, they can bring us so much joy? My mother always taught me that, no matter how bad I may think things are, someone else always is suffering more than I am. Not only does that help us to feel that we are not alone in our depression, but it gives us that hope for what is to come. Job’s story helps us to learn to appreciate the blessings that we have today! Job was not in control of his circumstances, but he was in control of his reaction to those circumstances. When Job was hurtin...
Read more