I know that most people don't enjoy reading through some parts of the Bible. In particular, the book we call Leviticus tends not to be one of the more favorite books. Part of the reason for this is that the different sacrifices are explained in great detail, what they are, how they are to be offered, and other matters like that. Since there is relatively little action, such mundane matters often get overlooked for the more exciting stories.
However, if you read through the book, there's one thing that really stands out. God intentionally doesn't give to an entire tribe of His people. He doesn't give land to them, and that means that God seems to also be depriving them of the opportunity to plant crops and raise animals to sustain themselves. The tribe of the Levites basically gets left out of the inheritance of the land, and at God's express command.
Why is this? Well, one significant part of it is that God had set aside the Levites to oversee the rituals and practices of the sacrifices on behalf of God's people. They were to dedicate themselves to this. And so, God seems to have set up a way in which they could focus completely on such a task, and not have to worry about things like farming and husbandry. It is as though God said, "Concentrate on your task, and I'll make sure you get fed and taken care of."
That leads almost directly to what I see as a second, and maybe equally as important, reason for setting up this system. One thing we often hear God saying is that His people are to love their neighbor as themselves. God gives much to some, and it almost seems as though He gives that abundance to them just so they can share with those who have less than they do. In the context of the setting up of the Promised Land, God gave much to the other tribes, and then left the Levites to rely upon their provision, simply so that the people would have to practice charity and generosity in caring for their priests.
We often get taken by the idea of equality, especially in the country I live in. But what if God gives more to some and less to others, not because it's a statement about their relative worth, but because God truly wants to see to it that His people practice charity and generosity. What if God gives more to some and less to others specifically with the purpose of showing the importance of loving our neighbor as ourselves?
What if, in the end, God isn't so much concerned with equality, as He is with keeping His will and design for life, which includes charity, generosity, and also the humility to accept graciously what others have been given to provide? And if that is the case, where do you happen to find yourself standing in that equation?
However, if you read through the book, there's one thing that really stands out. God intentionally doesn't give to an entire tribe of His people. He doesn't give land to them, and that means that God seems to also be depriving them of the opportunity to plant crops and raise animals to sustain themselves. The tribe of the Levites basically gets left out of the inheritance of the land, and at God's express command.
Why is this? Well, one significant part of it is that God had set aside the Levites to oversee the rituals and practices of the sacrifices on behalf of God's people. They were to dedicate themselves to this. And so, God seems to have set up a way in which they could focus completely on such a task, and not have to worry about things like farming and husbandry. It is as though God said, "Concentrate on your task, and I'll make sure you get fed and taken care of."
That leads almost directly to what I see as a second, and maybe equally as important, reason for setting up this system. One thing we often hear God saying is that His people are to love their neighbor as themselves. God gives much to some, and it almost seems as though He gives that abundance to them just so they can share with those who have less than they do. In the context of the setting up of the Promised Land, God gave much to the other tribes, and then left the Levites to rely upon their provision, simply so that the people would have to practice charity and generosity in caring for their priests.
We often get taken by the idea of equality, especially in the country I live in. But what if God gives more to some and less to others, not because it's a statement about their relative worth, but because God truly wants to see to it that His people practice charity and generosity. What if God gives more to some and less to others specifically with the purpose of showing the importance of loving our neighbor as ourselves?
What if, in the end, God isn't so much concerned with equality, as He is with keeping His will and design for life, which includes charity, generosity, and also the humility to accept graciously what others have been given to provide? And if that is the case, where do you happen to find yourself standing in that equation?
I have to be honest. I do not question God's word nor His sovereignty in allowing some to prosper in this world's material goods, health, and well being....while others receive poverty, poor health, and deprivation. He is the potter; we are the clay. We are not to question this. I have only the problem of grasping, in Leviticus, the severe penalties of stoning to death those who committed various sins, I.e. the wayward disobedient son, idol worship, etc, although such sins can vary in intensity, as in adultery. I understand the reason God places importance on our obedience. When Jesus came, He seemed to condemn stoning for such things, and therefore, it would be confusing to understand. I can understand if God wanted more severity in the particular time and place in the history of Israel, and the people were under law, not grace, but still.....no Christian Bible teacher has ever fully explained this too well, and so...I rarely read Leviticus.
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