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 17:10-12,
"I [the Lord] will set my face against any Israelite or any foreigner residing among them who eats blood, and I will cut them off from the people. For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life. Therefore I say to the Israelites, 'None of you may eat blood, nor may any foreigner residing among you eat blood.'"
One of the hallmarks of sinful man is to take what God has provided us and pervert God's intention for doing so. Here he prohibits the Israelites from eating blood. God says, "I have given it to you" and then he states the reason for it, "to make atonement for yourselves on the altar". Later, in verses 13-14 he says that when an animal is taken for food (and not for the purpose of the tabernacle worship) the blood is to be buried. The blood of an animal was to only be used in offerings and sacrifices or buried.
Here is a prohibition that was continued by apostolic decree at the Jerusalem council in Acts 15:20, 29.
I'm sure we could come up with a lengthy list of things the Lord has provided that sinful man misappropriates or misuses for what God never intended. Sexual pleasure comes to mind here. God wants us to procreate - he is building his kingdom! Look at how sinful man misuses or abuses that (outside the marriage bed). God has given us families and spouses. Look at how sinful man misuses or abuses that. God provides us the ability to provide for ourselves. Look at how sinful man misuses or abuses that. Like I say, I'm sure we could come up with quite a lengthy list here.
I am mindful that when God provides us something, we really ought to consider his purposes in providing it. What it is may be morally neutral, but how we use it just may not be.
On a humorous note, it looks like road-kill is out: "Anyone, whether native-born or foreigner, who eats anything found dead or torn by wild animals must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and they will be ceremonially unclean till evening; then they will be clean." Verse 15. You know who you are...
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.
"I [the Lord] will set my face against any Israelite or any foreigner residing among them who eats blood, and I will cut them off from the people. For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life. Therefore I say to the Israelites, 'None of you may eat blood, nor may any foreigner residing among you eat blood.'"
One of the hallmarks of sinful man is to take what God has provided us and pervert God's intention for doing so. Here he prohibits the Israelites from eating blood. God says, "I have given it to you" and then he states the reason for it, "to make atonement for yourselves on the altar". Later, in verses 13-14 he says that when an animal is taken for food (and not for the purpose of the tabernacle worship) the blood is to be buried. The blood of an animal was to only be used in offerings and sacrifices or buried.
Here is a prohibition that was continued by apostolic decree at the Jerusalem council in Acts 15:20, 29.
I'm sure we could come up with a lengthy list of things the Lord has provided that sinful man misappropriates or misuses for what God never intended. Sexual pleasure comes to mind here. God wants us to procreate - he is building his kingdom! Look at how sinful man misuses or abuses that (outside the marriage bed). God has given us families and spouses. Look at how sinful man misuses or abuses that. God provides us the ability to provide for ourselves. Look at how sinful man misuses or abuses that. Like I say, I'm sure we could come up with quite a lengthy list here.
I am mindful that when God provides us something, we really ought to consider his purposes in providing it. What it is may be morally neutral, but how we use it just may not be.
On a humorous note, it looks like road-kill is out: "Anyone, whether native-born or foreigner, who eats anything found dead or torn by wild animals must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and they will be ceremonially unclean till evening; then they will be clean." Verse 15. You know who you are...
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment