Chronicles of a Believer

---

I am currently reading a Bible plan through the entire Old Testament and finished Leviticus about a month and a half ago (forgive me for the late post <3).

Also known as one the law books, Leviticus is a book that contains some of the ways in which God wanted the Israelites to live.

Laws, as we understand them, are not the same as the modern laws we know today. Laws, in the Biblical context, are more so a teaching or instruction.

With that being said, here are some key takeaways:

1. God is still the same God today as He was when He gave these laws thousands of years ago, meaning that He is still a holy God who does not tolerate evil or sin. However, He made grace available because He knew we could not live up to the standards set forth in the Law. Grace empowers us to live and love the way God has always and still desires.

2. God values life. In Leviticus, God set standards for the proper way to sacrifice an animal. He continually reiterated that the Israelites were not to eat the blood of the animal. Why? Because blood is the physical life force that gives us life, and blood is sacred to God because He is life itself. Blood also points us to Jesus, who shed His own when He came to earth as a man so that we might live. And God loves us so much that He wants us to live, right now and for eternity with Him.

3. God is immeasurably compassionate. God was understanding of the Israelites’ various financial situations, including what they could afford. Those who were fairly wealthy could sacrifice lambs, which were considered the best and most sacred animals. But some could not afford a lamb, so God said they could sacrifice two doves or two pigeons. Some could not afford even the birds, so God said they could sacrifice grain.

How kind is God? He was willing to let the Israelites bring what they could to be forgiven because He was (and still is) ready and willing to forgive. He desired to be in a relationship with the Israelites and for their relationship to be restored with Him. He desired to fellowship with them, so much so that one final sacrifice (Jesus) cleared all of humanity’s debt and allowed all people to approach Him at any time.

But it did not stop there. God wanted to continue to dwell closely with us and did so by sending His Holy Spirit, who dwells in our hearts when we give our lives to Jesus.

---