Family

Readings for today: Genesis 14-16

Among the many privileges of my life is the opportunity each year to travel to the Horn of Africa. We go to places where the name of Jesus has never been heard. We often find ourselves in places where conflict or violence or even wars have been fought. We love going to the places where the need is greatest because it’s where we believe we can make the greatest impact. For example, several years ago, we went to a region that had just experienced several days of unrest. Conflict. Protests that often grew violent. Our indigenous partners were visibly uncomfortable taking us to the city where we were to conduct our church planter training and medical clinic. They wanted to make sure we stayed safe. We eventually loaded up the Land Rovers and headed out on our four hour plus trip. As we traveled, we passed right through areas where the riots had been just a day or two before. Large rocks littered the road. Burned out vehicles had yet to be cleared. A large semi-truck had been set on fire and flipped over. And while we were never in any real danger, we were reminded of the political realities on the ground in this particular country we love so much.  

The conflict in the Horn of Africa is tribal just like the conflict in Abram’s day was tribal. All these different kings led different tribes and they often fought as they sought to expand their power and influence. If one lived in those days, one might have been tempted to believe this is where the real action was taking place. The kings of Shinar, Ellasar, Elam, and Goiim making war with the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela. One might be tempted to think something significant rested on the outcome of their battle. But the Bible almost treats their conflict as an afterthought. Reading the passage for today, one gets the sense that the only reason this story is included at all is because Lot got caught up in it, forcing Abram into action. You see, the real action in these chapters has nothing to do with kings (even Melchizedek) and tribes and nations and their power struggles. No, the real action. The real drama. The real conflict involves an old man and his barren wife and their struggle to have children. It has to do with God and His promise to Abram and Sarai that they would have a son to carry on their family name.

And what is Abram’s response? Faith. He believes. Even crazier than taking 318 men and defeating four kings as they returned victorious from battle is old, childless Abram looking up into the night sky and believing God’s promise that his descendants will outnumber the stars in the sky. That’s why God declares him righteous. Because of his faith. And how does the Bible define Abram’s faith? The Apostle Paul will later say Abram was “was fully convinced that what God promised He was also able to do.” (Romans‬ ‭4‬:‭21‬ ‭NET‬‬) That’s the definition of true faith.

But God’s not done. He not only gives Abram this promise, He seals it by making a covenant with him. In the ancient near east, these ceremonies were common. Vassals would approach their kings and promise on their life to fulfill the terms of the covenant they were making. The crazy thing about Genesis 15 is it flips the whole ceremony on its head! Instead of Abram approaching God, it is God who puts Abram to sleep and approaches him. God is the one who makes His way through the halves of the animals, essentially declaring to Abram that He will fulfill the conditions of this covenant or cease to exist. It never ceases to shock me every time I read it.

Furthermore, as we have already seen, God’s faithfulness is unconditional. Even when Abram and Sarai take matters into their own hands - as in the case of Hagar and Ishmael - God is there to turn it for His good purpose. Because God has committed Himself to Abram and his family, He will never let go. No matter what they say. No matter what they do. God will remain faithful to the end. He must because He has pledged His own life to this covenant. Now fast forward a few thousand years to the Cross. God sacrificing His own life for the sake of Abram and his descendants. God sealing a new covenant by giving His body and shedding His blood. Can you see the fulfillment of Genesis 15? It’s amazing to consider the lengths to which God is willing to go for the sake of those He loves.

Readings for tomorrow: Genesis 17-19

A Life God Blesses

Readings for today: Jeremiah 7-9, Psalms 15

The Psalmist asks and answers a great question in our reading for today. “Lord, who can dwell in your tent? Who can live on your holy mountain?” (Psalms‬ ‭15‬:‭1‬ ‭CSB‬‬) The holy mountain, of course, is Jerusalem. Even more specifically, the holy mountain refers to the Temple Mount where Solomon’s Temple originally stood. This is the very place the people of Israel look for hope in the midst of their suffering and affliction. Sadly, however, they fix their eyes on the wrong thing. Instead of lifting their eyes above the hills to look to the One who actually brings help, they keep looking at the Temple, treating it like a sacred totem or talisman that will keep them safe. How often do we do the same? How often do we take the worship of God and turn it into an idol? Particular instruments? Particular spaces? Particular styles of worship? Particular buildings or properties? It’s so easy for us to place our trust in the blessings of God rather than God Himself.

God is clear. He wants obedience over sacrifice. It’s far more important to God that we follow His Word than go through the motions of worship. This is why He tells Jeremiah to prophesy against the Temple. The people of God are neglecting the very things that are supposed to set them apart. They neglect justice and mercy. They neglect truth and righteousness. Instead, they pursue selfishness and greed and then come to worship, assuming they can placate God. God will not be mocked. He is not some pagan deity who can be appeased. He is jealous for us. Jealous for a true, authentic relationship with us. He refuses to share our devotion or settle for a divided heart. He will not rest until He is first and foremost in our hearts.

Readings for tomorrow: Jeremiah 10-13, Psalms 16

Holiness

Readings for today: Leviticus 5-7, Psalm 31

“Be holy because I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:16 CSB) God created us to be holy as He is holy. He created us to be perfect and pure just as He is perfect and pure. He created us as eternal beings, vessels made in His image, literally built to carry the weight of His glory. But we fell from grace. We sinned and went our own way. We decided we wanted to be our own gods. As a result, sin and corruption and impurity and unholiness polluted our souls. We are conceived in iniquity. Born with a sinful, broken condition. Our loves are disordered. Our desires disoriented. Our focus is inward rather than outward and upward. And this creates separation between us and God. So how do we bridge the gap? That’s the question this section of Leviticus is attempting to answer.

The first thing to remember is Leviticus comes from God. In this book, He is providing a way for the breach to be repaired. Through His laws, He is offering to restore that which was broken. It is at God’s initiation. God takes the first step towards us. He builds the bridge from heaven to earth in order to give us a chance to walk across it and return to Him. He does this eyes wide open. He knows the depth of our sin. Still He shows us grace. Still He provides a way. Still He longs to be in relationship with us. And yet, He also refuses to take away our voice. He refuses to deny us agency. He offers us a choice because love must be freely offered and freely given. It can never be coerced or forced.

The second thing to keep in mind is the vast chasm between a holy God and an unholy people. We can’t begin to fathom the distance between us. We can’t begin to understand the sheer breadth and depth of the void we created when we walked away from God. The reality is we don’t take God’s holiness nor our unholiness with enough seriousness. If we did, we would find the stories of the sacrifices told in these chapters far more palatable. We would understand our need for atonement. We would fall on our knees in worship and deep gratitude for all God has done.

The third thing to remember is God’s mercy and grace. He meets us where we are in life. The poor are not required to give a disproportionate sacrifice. Means are offered to make their offering proportional to where they find themselves. Two turtle doves. Two handfuls of flour. God makes allowances for each and every one of us. It’s yet another powerful reminder of His amazing grace.

I know the Old Testament sacrificial system seems weird and arbitrary and archaic. We are too far removed from the ancient world and therefore have a difficult time wrapping our minds around all the death and blood. But when we fast forward to Calvary, we see where it all comes to fulfillment. God offering up Himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sin. God building the bridge all the way from heaven to earth. God making us holy by washing us clean once and for all through His shed blood.

Readings for tomorrow: Leviticus 8-10, Psalm 32

Sacrifices

Readings for today: Leviticus 1-4, Psalm 30

Today we dive into Leviticus and the reading gets significantly more challenging. The biggest reason is the cultural distance between us in the 21st century and the people of Israel living in the ancient near east. Much of what you will be reading was fairly normative back then. Sacrifices were made to gods and goddesses of all kinds throughout the region. At the same time, there were some stark differences between Israel and her neighbors which we will see as we move through this book. What was the point of all the sacrifices and especially, all the blood? Purity. Ritual purity before the Lord. Ancient Israelite culture - much like ancient near east culture - was deeply concerned with purity. There were very specific rules regarding what was clean and unclean, pure and impure, holy and unholy. And when those rules were violated, a sacrifice was required to “atone.”

Atonement is a reparation made to right a wrong or restore that which was broken or repair an injury. It’s a key word in Leviticus. It’s God providing a way for Israel to dwell in His Holy Presence. Remember, everything we’re reading must be seen through the lens of relationship. God wants to restore the relationship He once had in the Garden of Eden with humanity. But humanity has fallen. She is unclean, impure, and unholy. So God, in His graciousness and because of His great love for us, provides a way to reverse our condition. He gives us specific instructions on how to maintain our relationship with Him. It requires a series of sacrifices and, as we’ll see as we get deeper into Leviticus, a specific way of life but it’s all done so that we can walk with God and talk with God just like it was in the beginning. In fact, one might argue what we’ll read here in Leviticus is what life would have looked like in the Garden pre-Fall and it is what life will look like in the New Jerusalem when Jesus returns. In the Garden and in the New Jerusalem, there is no sin. The law of God is written on our hearts. We walk in obedience out of our deep love and affection for the Lord. This is what God desires but we live in the “in between.” We live in the “already but not yet.” And that requires us to resist the desires of our sinful nature and walk by the Spirit.

So why don’t we perform the sacrifices listed here in Leviticus? Why don’t we follow all the laws we’ll be reading about in the days ahead? Because of Jesus. Jesus Christ is the perfect sacrifice. On the cross, He made full atonement for all our sin. He is the “once and for all” sacrifice that puts an end to the need for bulls and goats and sheep. His blood is powerful enough to wash away the sins of the world. Jesus also perfectly fulfills the law. And because He lived the life you and I were designed to live, we are set free from the tyranny of legalism and offered forgiveness and grace. This brings us back to the video we watched for our devotional about the favor of God. The favor of God is granted to us not through human effort but because of what Christ has done. Thanks be to God!

Readings for tomorrow: Leviticus 5-7, Psalm 31

Sacrifice

Readings for today: Numbers 29-32

It is important to read the Bible honestly because the text begs all kinds of questions. For example, today’s reading details the enormous number of sacrifices the people of Israel were called to make on a regular basis. Anyone else wonder how they accomplished it? The logistics alone must have been incredibly complex! Not only that but why all the sacrifices? What’s the deeper meaning behind all this instruction?

The first thing one has to understand is that the Book of Numbers was not written as a math textbook anymore than Genesis was written as a science textbook. Israel often reported their “numbers” collectively rather than individually and sometimes spoke hyperbolically to make a deeper point. For example, Numbers 11 talks about God giving quail to Israel to eat after they complained about the manna. One skeptic, doing the math, suggests God would have had to send 29 trillion quail if we take the calculations literally. Obviously, this is a misreading and the careful reader is able to make room for hyperbole without losing sight of the larger point. The Torah is not a system of equations to solve which is why Biblical numerology is junk science.  

Having said that, it doesn’t mean every detail of these stories should be taken allegorically or metaphorically. These events did actually take place. There is real truth here that needs to be teased out. So, Israel’s sacrifices. Without a doubt, life in ancient Israel was a virtual slaughterhouse. Practiced faithfully, the priests would be sacrificing thousands of animals every single year. Here again the principle of representation applies as it is entirely possible one man’s sacrifice would “represent” an entire family, clan, or tribe. Furthermore, considerable latitude was given in ancient near east cultures when it came to the practical application of the law. What I mean is that it’s highly unlikely Israel ever truly lived up to the standards Moses set for them. At the same time, the sacrificial fires were kept burning day and night. By the time we get to the Temple in Jerusalem, the Talmud depicts priests wading knee deep in blood. Some passages describe up to 1.2 million animals being slaughtered in a single day, something the Roman historian Josephus confirms. Archaeological evidence from dumps outside the city seem to confirm these findings as well. The reality is the sacrificial system of Israel created an enormous economic engine that had to be supported by trade, animal husbandry, a literal army of priests, etc.  

But why? Why all the blood? Why all the slaughter? Why all the sacrifice? What’s God trying to prove? The sacrificial system’s main purpose was to remind the people of Israel of their utter dependence on God. Everything they “owned” was given to them by Him. He held first claim to their harvests and flocks and lives. Making these regular offerings reminded them they were simply stewards of God’s gifts. Nothing more. Second, the constant shedding of blood reminded them of their sin and their need to remain pure before the Lord. The people of Israel were human beings just like you and me. All of them had sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. All of them stood in constant need for forgiveness and grace before the Lord. Third, the sacrificial system set them apart. It made them different than the pagan nations around them. Israel enjoyed a special, unique relationship with God. They were His chosen race. His royal priesthood. A people for His own possession. As such, they maintained a particular, even peculiar, way of life that served as a continual reminder of their exalted status.

What does all this have to do with us? Well, I love how the writer of Hebrews puts it, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews‬ ‭12:1-2‬) Jesus is our perfect, eternal sacrifice. Through His suffering and death, He lays claim to our lives. Through the shedding of His blood, we are purified from sin. Through His resurrection, we now enjoy the same unique relationship with Him that Israel enjoyed with Yahweh. This is why the author of Hebrews challenges us to keep our eyes on Christ and find daily, weekly, monthly, even annual rhythms that will draw us continually back to Him.

Readings for tomorrow: Numbers 33-36

Restitution

Readings for today: Leviticus 5-7

Why so many sacrifices? It’s a great question to ask as we read through Leviticus and some of the other books of the Old Testament. Why so much blood? Why so many animals? What is the point of it all? The sacrificial system of ancient Israel was a massive operation. Fires were kept burning continually as priests performed their duties. Rivers of blood would have flowed from the mercy seat. The carcasses of the dead animals piling high as each family came forward to atone for their sin.

At the heart of this system is the need for restitution. Forgiveness is not free. It is not cheap. It is not easy. It is far more than feeling sorry. It is far more than feeling guilty for getting caught. Sin creates offense which must be addressed. Sin creates brokenness which must be made whole. Sin damages our relationship with God and therefore requires reparation. This is why God requires sacrifice because the price that must be paid in order to make things right with God is death. Death was the penalty for original sin - “on the day you eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, you shall surely die” (Genesis 2:16-17) - and thankfully, in His mercy, God allowed His people to offer animals in their place.

“For the wages of sin is death…” The Apostle Paul clearly understood the seriousness of sin. He understood the righteous penalty God demands from those who rebel against His glory. Thankfully, the Apostle Paul also understood what God did to remove the penalty of sin in the sending of His only begotten Son to take our place. To die in our place. To become the “once for all” sacrifice that fulfilled the requirements of Levitical law. It’s why he goes on to say that though the wages of sin is death, “the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

Why did Jesus have to die? He died as the perfect sacrifice, the spotless Lamb of God who was slain before the foundations of the world. (Revelation 13:8) In so doing, Jesus offers Himself up as restitution for sin. To make right what went so wrong. To repair that which was broken. To restore that which had become marred and defaced. To redeem that which was lost. This, friends, is the heart of the gospel and what we read here in Leviticus foreshadows the cross. It is designed to point us forward to Good Friday where God Himself took on the sins of the world and paid the price so that we might receive forgiveness and grace.

Readings for tomorrow: Leviticus 8-10

Living Sacrifices

Readings for today: Leviticus 11-14

Confession time. I have leprosy. At least according to Leviticus 13. The leprosy referenced in our passage today isn’t limited to Hansen’s disease but could refer to a variety of conditions like psoriasis, scarlet fever, scabies, or atopic dermatitis. I’ve been fighting this last one for years. In periods of stress, my eczema flares up. I get these red patches of skin that are dry and itchy. Of course, the fact that I swim regularly doesn’t help. ;-) If it’s serious enough, I have to use steroid cream to get rid of it. It’s not any fun and it would have potentially made me unclean back in ancient Israel. This is where Leviticus really starts to get challenging. Holy. Unholy. Clean. Unclean. Common. Polluted. The ancient Israelites assigned disease to a different category than we do today. They used lots of words we don’t think about in our own context and culture. This begs for some explanation.  

First, everything that is not defined as holy is understood as “common.” Second, common things – like animals, plants, pots, homes, clothes, even people – are further divided into two groups which are labeled “clean” and “unclean.” It’s important to note here that “cleanness” is a state of being more than anything else. Clean things hold the potential to become holy things when they are sanctified. Unclean things cannot be sanctified and therefore cannot become holy. For example, if I come to present a lamb from my flock as an offering, it must be unblemished. It must not be diseased or old or disabled in some way. Blemished lambs are considered unclean, cannot be sanctified, and therefore are not suitable to offer as a sacrifice. The flip side is also true. Clean things can become unclean if they are polluted by touching something dead for example. Holy things can become defiled in the same manner which is why the proper rituals must be followed to the letter during the daily sacrifices. 

But what about people, you ask? Great question! The baseline condition for humanity is “common” but the baseline condition for the people of Israel was “clean.” They were set apart by God remember? Israel can become “unclean” through sin, disease, corruption, pollution, etc. Israel can also become holy by following the law of God and offering the right sacrifices. In fact, it was God’s stated goal for His people to be holy even as He is holy. “For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming thing that crawls on the ground. For I am the Lord who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy."(Lev. 11:44-45)

Now here’s the great news! In Christ, all of the ceremonial laws that sanctified God’s people have been fulfilled. He is the perfect, “once for all” sacrifice. He is the unblemished Lamb offered on our behalf. His death atoned not just for our sins but for the sins of the entire world. (1 John 2:2) As a result, our baseline condition is no longer “common.” It’s no longer even “clean.” It’s holy. Pure. As such, we no longer need to worry about clean and unclean animals. We no longer need to fear being made unclean by disease or disability or coming into contact with the dead. Through His shed blood, Christ has not only washed us clean – in the Levitical sense – but sanctified us permanently! 

So does this mean we no longer need to follow the law? Not at all. The call to personal holiness has not been set aside. God still calls us as His people to be set apart in thought, word, and deed. We are still called to “be holy as He is holy” and offer our lives as “living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God” according to Romans 12. Though the ceremonial obligations of the law have been fulfilled, the moral obligations remain in force. God still has expectations for His people. Sin is still serious and should not be treated casually. This is why Jesus spends a great deal of time talking about the heart in the Sermon on the Mount and Paul spends a great deal of time on the ethical obligations of Christians in most of his letters. As Christians, we no longer need to undergo elaborate rituals to maintain a state of cleanliness or sanctification before the Lord but we should undergo regular examination and confession of our sin in light of the Word of God. 

This is one of the reasons Christians have historically engaged in spiritual practices like the Daily Examen. First pioneered by Igatius Loyola, founder of the Jesuits, it is an intentional way to reflect on our day. We prayerfully ask God to reveal to us what in our day drew us closer to Him and what drew us away from Him. We think back on the actions, thoughts, and feelings we experienced during the day and we consciously “examen” them in light of the Word of God. We confess where our actions/thoughts/feelings fell short and we rejoice where our actions/thoughts/feelings reflected Christ. This is just one example of learning how to bring every thought captive to Christ and live for Him. 

Readings for tomorrow: Leviticus 15-18

God Will Provide

Readings for today: Genesis 20–23

Father, there is always value in spending time in Your Word. You honor every precious moment. You speak through every single verse. There is a message for me each and every day. May I slow down long enough to listen to Your still, small voice as you speak to me today.

“God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” I have long wrestled with this verse. It has been an enigma to me. How could one walk with such faith? Did Abraham really believe what he was saying or was this wishful thinking? Is he just trying to buy time while he figures out another way? Is he just telling Isaac what he wants to hear because he cannot bring himself to tell him the truth? Did Abraham ever doubt his course of action? Did he ever wonder if he misheard God? What kind of man would even consider sacrificing his own son? Why would I ever consider such a person someone to emulate? Perhaps you’ve wrestled with some of these questions as well? 

Recently, I’ve come to see this verse as the ultimate expression of Abraham’s faith. Abraham has this ability to take life as it comes. He walks with open hands before the Lord. He doesn’t cling to outcomes or conclusions or destinations. He began his journey with God without knowing where it would take him. He believed the promise of God for a son even though he had no idea of the timing. And here he is willing to offer his son as a burnt offering on a mountain God has yet to show him. He has no idea how this is all going to end. None of it made any sense. I’m sure it created all kinds of questions in his mind. But still he believes. He trusts God. He knows a promise has been made. A covenant has been established. God has committed Himself to Abraham and his descendants so somehow, someway this will all work out. The promise will not fail. Isaac cannot die on this mountain. Abraham walks by faith not by sight. He doesn’t have to solve this problem. He doesn’t have to come up with “plan B” in case God doesn’t come through. He lets go of his need to control the outcome. He lets go of his need to understand the mysteries of God. He lets go of his need to know the end of the story.

I am learning this same lesson in my life. The uncertainties of this last season have really caused me to slow down. To take each day as it comes. To not plan too far ahead. To let go of the need to figure things out. It’s actually okay to not know all God is up to. It’s actually okay to not understand all His ways. It’s actually okay to not know how all the things I’ve got going right now in my life will end. This is super challenging to me. It cuts against the grain of my natural way of doing things. I have always been the “man with the plan.” In fact, I don’t just have “plan B” but plans “C, D, E…all the way to Z!” I hate uncertainty. I get incredibly anxious when I am confused. I don’t like feeling out of control. So you can imagine how COVID has exacerbated these things to the nth degree! 

I’m learning to walk with open hands like Abraham. To trust that God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering. When the pandemic began, all my plans got thrown out the window. How in the world does one “pastor” remotely? How would our church respond to the crisis? How do I navigate the layers of conflict around public health policy, political hyper-partisanship, and ethnic tensions? How do I help people process the trauma and grief of the past two years? How can I cast a vision for the future of our ministry when I don’t even know what tomorrow may bring? How can I love my own family in the midst of our disagreements and divisions? I’ve wrestled with all these questions and more and what I’ve discovered is I don’t have to have all the answers. The more I slow down. The more I listen. The more I let go. The more I create space for God to step in and provide. And you know what? He has never once failed to show up! I’ve seen more miracles in the past year in my life and in my church family than I can count and it is all because God has proved faithful to provide the “lamb” for every single “burnt offering.” 

Readings for tomorrow: Genesis 24-26