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 20:23a,
"Because they did all these things, I abhorred them."
Here is the ominous statement of God about a region of Gentiles. Because of his abhorrence of them he decided to annihilate them. Yes, our loving God determined to destroy these people in a massive campaign of genocide. These Gentiles were the nations that lived in the land of Canaan. They engaged in practices and behaviors that God described as "detestable", verse 13, "dishonored", verse 11, "a perversion", verse 12, "wicked", verse 14, "a disgrace", verse 17, "an act of impurity", verse 21, etc.
God is not only kind and loving. He is also just and righteous. That which offends his righteous character and nature will be dealt with - one way or another. "'... let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,' declares the Lord." Jeremiah 9:24.
Although Israel failed to wipe them out completely (a disappointment God raised with Israel), God devastated these Gentile nations through Israel's occupation of the land promised to Abraham's offspring. God, the Creator of mankind, made clear his feelings about the issues he raised with Moses and Israel in this chapter by both what he said and what he did.
Fast forward to our day. President Barack Obama announced in May of 2012 that he had "evolved" on same sex marriage. The president, and according to polls at the time, the public mood, had shifted toward embracing same-sex marriage for the nation - solidifying America's embrace of homosexuality.
Does a presidential announcement or polling supersede God's position on the rightness or wrongness of acts he has deemed detestable, dishonorable, perverse, wicked, disgraceful and impure? Who is going to win that argument?
Has God "evolved" on these acts and practices? My Bible informs me that our eternal God never changes. Ever. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews 13:8.
"Because they did all these things, I abhorred them."
Here is the ominous statement of God about a region of Gentiles. Because of his abhorrence of them he decided to annihilate them. Yes, our loving God determined to destroy these people in a massive campaign of genocide. These Gentiles were the nations that lived in the land of Canaan. They engaged in practices and behaviors that God described as "detestable", verse 13, "dishonored", verse 11, "a perversion", verse 12, "wicked", verse 14, "a disgrace", verse 17, "an act of impurity", verse 21, etc.
God is not only kind and loving. He is also just and righteous. That which offends his righteous character and nature will be dealt with - one way or another. "'... let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,' declares the Lord." Jeremiah 9:24.
Although Israel failed to wipe them out completely (a disappointment God raised with Israel), God devastated these Gentile nations through Israel's occupation of the land promised to Abraham's offspring. God, the Creator of mankind, made clear his feelings about the issues he raised with Moses and Israel in this chapter by both what he said and what he did.
Fast forward to our day. President Barack Obama announced in May of 2012 that he had "evolved" on same sex marriage. The president, and according to polls at the time, the public mood, had shifted toward embracing same-sex marriage for the nation - solidifying America's embrace of homosexuality.
Does a presidential announcement or polling supersede God's position on the rightness or wrongness of acts he has deemed detestable, dishonorable, perverse, wicked, disgraceful and impure? Who is going to win that argument?
Has God "evolved" on these acts and practices? My Bible informs me that our eternal God never changes. Ever. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews 13:8.
Obama may "evolve" - God does not. What may appear to be just news stories in passing - can have grave consequences for us as a people. Our nation's embrace of homosexuality and same-sex marriage will bring conseqences. Afterall, I don't think God is going to apologize to the peoples of Canaan any time soon (like, never!)
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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