I am currently reading the book of Leviticus. I find it boring and trying to find relevance is not easy. I did not see how learning about Aaron and his priestly garments and the many offerings that the Israelites could be beneficial. I then Googled to find a how to guide and found this very helpful article. It has changed my mindset in how I study the book of Leviticus. Firstly it reminded me that every word in the bible is God-breathed, so even the words in Leviticus are the very words of God. Then it reminded me of how I have been conformed to this world of entertainment - I can even fast forward things to get to the good parts. It may appear boring but it's the law of God. He compared it to reading the fine print in a contract, important but not entertaining. He showed me how I can appreciate some of the terminology used in the New testament because I understand the Old testament. For instance, I have to understand the role of the chief priest in the old testament to understand why Jesus is the chief priest. How his death on the cross paid in full for all my sins so I don't have to bring any offerings to God. Jesus is the ultimate offering. He is the sacrificial lamb with an aroma that is pleasing to the Lord. With my tail between my legs I prayed and started reading again.
I read a story that made me see the contrast between the Law and Grace. In Leviticus 6: 1-5, God says “If anyone sins and is unfaithful to the Lord by deceiving a neighbor about something entrusted to them or left in their care or about something stolen, or if they cheat their neighbor, or if they find lost property and lie about it, or if they swear falsely about any such sin that people may commit— when they sin in any of these ways and realize their guilt, they must return what they have stolen or taken by extortion, or what was entrusted to them, or the lost property they found, or whatever it was they swore falsely about. They must make restitution in full, add a fifth of the value to it and give it all to the owner on the day they present their guilt offering." Here God says if someone has stolen or deceived they neighbour in any way, they must repay what they have stolen and add a fifth of that value to it and offer a guilt offering.
This made me think of the story of Jesus and Zacchaeus in Luke 19: 1-10, see the story below:
He entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
In this story Zacchaeus has an encounter with Jesus. Zacchaeus is a the Chief Tax Collector. Tax collectors were hated by the Jews because they over-charged on taxes and then they kept the extra money. This was the way they got paid (so it was legal, my own comment). Most tax collectors got very rich by over-charging taxes. Taxes were too high. Some people had to sell their children into slavery to pay their taxes. High taxes made the Jews poor and kept them poor. Tax collectors worked for the Romans. The taxes went to pay Roman soldiers and Roman governors. The Jews hated the Romans in their land, and they hated paying taxes for them***. Zacchaeus was one of these Tax collectors and the Jewish people regarded him a sinner. This sinner had an encounter with Jesus and he is not only does what the law commanded but cheerfully gives more than what was required even by the law. Zacchaeus gives half of his money to the poor. He then promises to pay back fourfold all those has had defrauded. He reveals to me that being saved by God's grace is results in immense gratitude! Zacchaeus found the treasure in Jesus. He was willing to let go of most of his wealth for him. For Zacchaeus - Jesus was enough.
How has your encounter with Jesus transformed you?
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