This week of the Amazing Race: Around the Word in 90 Days had us reading through all of Leviticus, Numbers, and most of Deuteronomy. I'm not going to say this was an easy week. These books are pretty dry reading for the most part, but I made it through right on track!
Overall, the one thing that stuck out to me most was just how thankful I am to not have to live like the Israelites did! With the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, we no longer need to make another sacrifice to satisfy God's law of blood atonement. Reading through these books makes it clear that God's law requires a blood sacrifice to atone for our sins. That was true then and it is still true today. The big difference is that we have the opportunity to turn to Jesus, accept him as our Savior, and the sacrifice He made for us on the cross satisfies all of God's requirements! Also, I want to note that in the days of the tabernacle, the high priest was only able to see the Lord once a year. The rest of the population just had to wait to hear what the Lord shared with the high priest on that day. Now that Jesus has died for our sins, we have the Holy Spirit with us at all times and can commune with Him whenever we want. AWESOME!
I just finished Beth Moore's Psalms of Ascent study this summer. One of the things she encouraged us to do was to get on our knees with our heads down on the ground at least once a day to pray. She said that the physical posture of getting facedown with the Lord would affect the mental posture as well. In Leviticus 9:24b it says, "And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown." I thought this was a great example of exactly what Beth was talking about!
In Deuteronomy the command to love the LORD Your God was stated a few times.
- "Love the LORD Your God with all you heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates." (Deut. 6:5-8)
- "Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." (Deut. 11:18-19)
I've heard many times before, if it's repeated, it must be important! These two passages say almost the same things and yet are only 5 chapters apart. It must be important! I love how it emphasizes teaching them to your children. It's so important to pass on the heritage of faith our family has instilled in us!
Amen!
ReplyDelete