The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Leviticus 26:12-13,
"I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians; I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high."
This chapter provides something of a conclusion to the laws the Lord gave Moses. Nothing colored in soft pastels in this chapter. Both the frightful warnings of failing to obey the Lord's laws and the astonishingly wonderful rewards he promises in keeping them are provided in big bright and bold strokes.
In verses 12-13 the Lord reminds Israel that he is God and is to be their God. He reminds them that he was the one who brought them out of slavery, removed the yoke from their necks and enabled them to "walk with heads held high." Now that he has freed them from slavery in Egypt, they are to serve the Lord now through the laws he has provided them.
Freeing the Israelites from their bondage in Egypt brings to mind another type of bondage the Lord frees us from. "But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness." Romans 6:17-18.
Just as the Lord freed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt to serve him in the promised land, he frees us today from our own sinful natures to serve him in righteousness.
Just as the old Bob Dylan song, "Gotta Serve Somebody", the refrain is "But you're going to have to serve somebody, yes indeed you're going to have to serve somebody." Where he says we either serve the devil or the Lord, Paul in Romans talks about it in reference to our own sinful nature or the Lord.
"I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians; I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high."
This chapter provides something of a conclusion to the laws the Lord gave Moses. Nothing colored in soft pastels in this chapter. Both the frightful warnings of failing to obey the Lord's laws and the astonishingly wonderful rewards he promises in keeping them are provided in big bright and bold strokes.
In verses 12-13 the Lord reminds Israel that he is God and is to be their God. He reminds them that he was the one who brought them out of slavery, removed the yoke from their necks and enabled them to "walk with heads held high." Now that he has freed them from slavery in Egypt, they are to serve the Lord now through the laws he has provided them.
Freeing the Israelites from their bondage in Egypt brings to mind another type of bondage the Lord frees us from. "But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness." Romans 6:17-18.
Just as the Lord freed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt to serve him in the promised land, he frees us today from our own sinful natures to serve him in righteousness.
Just as the old Bob Dylan song, "Gotta Serve Somebody", the refrain is "But you're going to have to serve somebody, yes indeed you're going to have to serve somebody." Where he says we either serve the devil or the Lord, Paul in Romans talks about it in reference to our own sinful nature or the Lord.
Stay in slavery to our own sinful nature or be set free to serve the Lord in freedom from it? (Along with all the amazing benefits of an enduring inheritance that brings!)
It's our choice!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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