DAY 41

DETAILS & DIFFICULTY

Leviticus 8, 9 & 10 and Matthew 25: 31 - 46

The readings for today seem to provide details and difficulty. Leviticus 8 and 9, over 1,500 words, describe the consecration of the Aaron and his sons and Aaron’s offering. It takes seven days to consecrate them! It appears as if all five offerings were offered plus and offering for ordination. This would seemingly make sense as they are beginning to the use the Tabernacle for the first time.

When you begin something new it is usually exciting, and maybe even a little intimidating. What is something you have had to prepare for, something you had to wait for, before you could begin? Excitement grows and you are most likely really focused. But then we come to Leviticus 10. Unfortunate would be an understatement. Aaron’s sons (Nadab and Abihu) foolishly, and we are not sure why, offer incense…and it costs them their lives. God, Moses and Aaron move past the event, but the point is made…do not pervert the worship of the Lord.

This is a strong reaction by God. I think the point is similar to a statement I made about the Plagues, the Exodus, and being Covenant People: it is serious business. Over the years the Church has been pretty heavy-handed. The Church has laid on the guilt. The Church has realized her error, but I think overcorrected. Worship today is casual. We are lead to believe we can just wander in before a Holy God and say “Hi”! While I believe Jesus reveals a dimension of the Love and Approachability of God, would you really just wander in and casually say “Hi”?

Moses has spent seven days scrubbing Aaron and his sons, and they have been offering every form of sacrifice in order to be able to serve God: it is serious business.

Which brings us to the New Testament: We normally see Jesus as the person who says “Come to me all you that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give your rest”. We see Him that way because He does say this! He is also the Judge. He separates the sheep from the goats: serious business.

I believe it is a mistake to so lower our image of God. I believe we confuse the Love, Compassion, and Mercy of God with some kind of anything is OK attitude. I believe we like seeing God as Grandpa (the kind that lets things slide and waits for the parents to get home and deal with it) and not Father. Think about it for a moment: God is always Father…He is no one’s Grandpa.

I suggested yesterday that we get ourselves twisted. Don’t let the details and even the difficulties of the passage confuse you. (I am still trying to get a really straight answer on Urim and Thummim).

The point I believe in all the “details and difficulties” is to follow God, He will keep us un-twisted. He will dwell with us, with all His Glory and with all His Holiness.