Leviticus: A Love Letter from God

Today, as I was reading Leviticus 10-12 my mind began to wonder as many do when reading the book of Leviticus. But the more I read the book of Leviticus, I’m impressed by something God is doing in the midst of all the rules and regulations. God was giving the Israelites a healthy and safe way of living. They had been slaves for hundreds of years and most likely took on most of the Egyptians customs and ways of living. God wanted to bring them back into relationship with Himself, and protect them in the process..

As He described what was lawful and unlawful to eat, we see that the food that was lawful was healthier than the unlawful food. Take the creatures from the sea. Only things with scales and fins were lawful to eat, so shell fish, crab, lobster, would have been unlawful. But those are the most tasty! True, but they are incredibly unhealthy. Those are the creatures that eat all the junk at the bottom of the oceans.

So in the midst of all the rules, God was loving His people and wanted them to be healthy and safe. It’s no different than being a parent. I tell my boys what is lawful and unlawful every day. Why? to protect them and keep them safe and healthy.

Jesus said in Matthew 5, “”Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”

The law is a beautiful thing because it demonstrates God’s love for His people in writing, like a love letter from Him to us. Jesus came to fulfill or carryout the commandments of the law that we were unable to do. That is where grace is engaged!

Thank you God, for loving me so much. Let me be one who follows your commandments and let me be one who walks in your grace.