Hello there friends! We made it to Leviticus! Wahoo!! I love the Old Testament but I will admit some books and chapters can be harder to connect with. So some of these posts in Leviticus may not be huge, but again it's about showing up and reading God's word everyday. And knowing that even when we don't think it's going to make sense or hit us, he's always got something for us. So onward to Leviticus!
I use the She Reads Truth Bible, in the CSB Version, and I really love how as each Chapter of the Bible begins it gives you history and info on who wrote it, sometimes there are maps, this one has a layout of the Tabernacle which I found super helpful because I am terrible at visualizing things in my head.
Leviticus is about a Perfect, Holy God, who wants to be close to his imperfect people. So the laws and the ways to do things are about how to bring his people closer to him.
Some interesting points, The Term Tent of Meeting also refers to the Tabernacle. Sometimes they use one or the other.
1:14-17 had me feeling a bit queasy and thanking God as I read my Bible that he created me in the 1980's and not back then when they had to sacrifice animals. Ya girl isn't good with blood and guts. If I was a priest back then having to do the sacrifices, they would have to pull me out with the rope. Because my bells would quit ringing and they would think I was dead, but no. I just passed out from the sight of blood.
In the Podcast TL brings up that sacrificing the animals hails back to Genesis and the Garden of Eden. When Adam and Eve sinned, there had to be consequences. So in order for them to live, God had to kill an animal. I hadn't put that together so that was an aha moment. Sacrificing animals is a temporary fix to atone for their sins before the ultimate atonement, Jesus dying on the cross and then rising again after three days happens.
TL linked an article in the Podcast about the different types of offerings, and I have copied and pasted that below.
htps://seedbed.com/5-offerings-old-testament/
When they talked about the Priests keeping part of the food, TL mentioned that that was part of God providing for them. Since they were priests, they weren't out and abotu hunting and gathering and getting food for themselves. They were working doing holy things, so God provided food for them as literally part of their jobs and duties.
It reminded me of the verse in
Matthew 6:26:
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
As well as
Philippians 4:19 (ESV):
“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
2 Corinthians 9:8 (NLT):
“And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.”
There's another verse that's right at the top of my head and I cannot bring it to the forefront for the life of me. But you get the gist. God always provides for his people. And I just think it's super cool that not only did he provide the food for the priests but he literally provided it as part of their jobs, what he had called them to do. They were obedient to him and he blessed them and took care of them.
Sometimes, ok, ALOT of times, God's provisions for us don't look like what WE think it will. I'm learning day after day that God's plan for my life is way better than anything I could ever dream up. Even in the hard spots. Even in the trying times. Even in the muck and they why God??! It's a daily, and sometimes hourly reminder for me to keep my eyes on God and keep trusting him. I've been praying a lot this year that The Lord would make straight his pathway for my life and show me the next right thing to do. Or turn me in the direction he wants me to go.
I am a planner through and through. I have a plan Q,R and S. Letting go of that- HARD. And a daily submission to God's will. But it's worth it. Because, He's where the joy is :)
See Y'all tomorrow for Leviticus 5-6!
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