I recently read an interesting article in Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia Journal. She shared her thoughts and comments about how we all are “being made ready” for the next part of our lives. At that time she was pondering her own current phase of life. It was a time of enjoying the blessings of a new child recently born into their family. She felt she had been “made ready” for this special event to happen.
Is this really such a wonder? God’s children experience the amazing process almost every day. Yet we all still shake our heads in complete awe whenever it happens to us.
I think we all have those times when God is actively preparing us through life’s daily events and circumstances. We sense He is actively “making us ready” to do life well in the next phase of our journey. Somehow we forget He has already mapped and planned the best of life for us.
Similar to Joanna, I too believe in destiny. As we continue to follow God in all of our ways, He DOES prepare us for the future and the things to come.
MAMA SAID THERE WOULD BE DAYS LIKE THIS
Certainly, anyone looking back over their days on this earth can see patterns. There is that certain path they did not anticipate. We all can remember astounding details about and how God led us through some rocky roads. Looking back we see He did this in order to help us become stronger. We don’t always see this in the midst of the trials.
Sometimes looking back helps us to have faith as we move forward.
This is exactly what happened to the nation of Israel. When God was reviewing all of His laws, statutes and ways with them through Moses, sometime they did not see until later.
This whole process of God and Moses on the mountain is comparable to when your Mom yells “Okay! I’m only going to tell you this ONE MORE TIME….” She expects you to remember the next words that proceed from her mouth to your ears. It is demanded that you follow her instructions this time. Obviously, what she has repeated to you over and over again is VERY IMPORTANT for your future well-being. If she has repeated it many times, this may well be the last time she expects to have to remind you.
Perhaps that was how God felt. In Leviticus 20 the people of God being formed into the new Nation of Israel were definitely “being made ready.”
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to our every-Thursday bible study called COME AS A CHILD.
Today’s lesson will take us through Chapter 20 of Leviticus.
If you missed last week’s lesson on Chapter 19, you may catch up and review it here: https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/holy-living/.
Leviticus, Chapter 20 is yet another of those long passages of scripture where God is slowly and carefully going over His laws for living. He has repeated them again and again when dealing with His people. They haven’t been good listeners. The golden calf is proof.
So, YHVH is patiently repeating all the laws, statutes and the best ways for a godly nation to live. He is emphasizing all the things godly people should NOT desire to do.
God wants His people to come apart from the ways of the world.
THOU SHALT NOT
There is a list of things God has repeated over and over NOT to do. This list contains items such as Do NOT forget WHO God is. Do NOT take His name in vain. It includes NOT forgetting that He is sovereign and Almighty. He is THE ONE AND ONLY GOD. His list goes on. It contains NOT worshiping idols. Molech is mentioned specifically over and over again. He brings up NOT failing to keep Sabbath, NOT defiling God’s Sanctuary and NOT profaning God’s Holy Name. YHWH speaks of NOT dishonoring parents or mistreating the elderly, NOT lying or bearing false witness and NOT supporting the lies and false witness of others by remaining silent and unresponsive when needed. NOT having familiar spirits, wizards and pagan practices is brought up. NOT cursing others, NOT committing adultery, NOT participating in incest, bestiality, homosexuality or any other types of sexual sins, is mentioned. NOT eating an unclean diet or participating in any unclean practices is also a topic of conversation.
There were just a LOT of things that God did NOT want happening among His people.
THESE THINGS REMAIN UNCHANGED
All of the things clearly displeased God back in the days of the Israelite’s living in the wilderness. They still displease Him today.
God never changes. He is the same past, present and future.
A PEOPLE BEING MADE READY
God was making sure that the people knew and understood these things BEFORE they entered the promised-land. He wanted them to know His requirements BEFORE they became known by the world as The Nation of Israel. These laws needed to be firmly established BEFORE they became the pattern God recommended for all nations throughout history.
Most all of the items in this long list of sins are considered to be so bad before God that they are punishable either by death or by the guilty party/parties being cast away from the whole community.
God meant for His people to stay clean. His desire was for them to become holy in every phase of their daily lives. Our Father was simply not going to tolerate anything otherwise.
COME OUT AND BE SEPARATE
Over and over we hear these words; “I AM The LORD Your God who has separated you from other people.”
Also we hear these words; “I AM The LORD God; Ye shall be holy unto Me; for I, The LORD, am holy.”
Have you ever noticed God doesn’t ask anything of His people He hasn’t already done Himself? YHVH expects the same of us that He expects of Himself, holiness.
God desires all people bearing His Holy Name to be different from the pagan nations. Part of His plan was to cast those pagan nations out of the Land of Canaan. He wanted His people to be set apart and noticed as a nation that kept His laws and statutes.
AN INDIVIDUAL AND A NATIONAL REQUIREMENT
As I mentioned earlier; God never changes. He still feels the same about this subject as He did back in the days of Moses. YHVH expects us to keep his laws and follow His ways. He desires for us to live holy lives before Him.
This is an individual requirement and a national requirement.
YESHUA’S SACRIFICE DEEPENED THIS COMMITMENT
Yes; it is true that so many things today are BEING MADE READY. Some things HAVE changed over time. They have become more relevant, have even deeper meanings, and are even more important.
Our circumstances have changed; but our God has NOT changed.
We have known The Messiah. God sent Him to bring us mercy and forgiveness for our sins. That will always applY. It will always be true until all time passes away forever. This is something God planned for mankind from the very foundation of the world.
However, it is this very fact, that Yeshua Messiah has come to save us, that emphasizes the fact that God would not have us to take His sacrifice of life and blood for granted. We must follow Yeshua Messiah in all that He did while living on this earth.
Yeshua ALWAYS obeyed God. We are never to destroy or disrespect the sacredness of the Blood of Yeshua by disobeying the laws and statutes God has given us for our own best interest.
GROWING FAITH REQUIRES STRENGTH AND MATURITY
If we expect abundant and holy lives, God’s ways are to be followed. Forgiveness and mercy are there when required. However, faith requires gaining strength and attaining more maturity in Yeshua as we travel down this dusty road called life.
Those Israelis had a hot, dusty, desert floor to walk too. Both times are grounded in the very same ways and laws we should be writing across our hearts today.
The children of God from all times and places are directed by God to come apart and be holy.
A LAND OF MILK AND HONEY
The promised-land awaiting us in eternity will be flowing with milk and honey. Abundant life forever awaits those who desire to please God with all their hearts.
I whole-heartedly agree with Joanna Gaines’ statement. We all are being “made ready” for something wonderful and amazing. If we just stay the course and keep walking forward, God will go before us and show us the best and most abundant way.