Do And Do Not
Today's reading continues the details of the law for the children of Israel. The nature of the law is to identify practices that are harmful, shameful, criminal, or embarrassing and prescribe an appropriate punishment. Because the people chose the Law in Exodus, they now must fully subject themselves to all of it.
In chapter 16, very specific instructions are given to Aaron concerning the day of Atonement. To fail to follow these instructions to the letter meant death for Aaron and, at the same time, to refuse to offer the sacrifice meant death to the community. In verse 6 it is clear that Aaron must first offer a sacrifice for himself prior to offering sacrifices for the people. He must be purified before he can offer a sacrifice to purify the people.
While this is a type of Christ's sacrifice (the day of Atonement), we know that Jesus lived a life that required no sacrifice on His part. The sacrifice in 16:7, the scape-goat, is also a type of Christ who became our scape-goat, taking upon Himself the sins of us all so that we could be pure.
The other chapters deal with the consumption of blood - an absolute taboo in God's eyes. Additionally the people are warned against sacrifices in "open fields" (17:5) and sacrifices to Molech (18:21). All sacrifices had to be done in the Tabernacle by a priest according to the instructions given to Moses. In chapter 18, the Lord specifically prohibits immoral sexual activity - relations involving incest, relations with relatives - including step-relatives, homosexuality, and bestiality. These are all sins that the people in Canaan were guilty of, sins that had caused them to defile the land, sins that the Lord did not want repeated.
May God bless you and bless the reading of His Word.
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You will have to excuse my ignorance of the Bible but I was wondering why they can use no yeast? I was also suprised at how ornate the tabernacle is described and why is it men can have children by different women but it isn't considered adultery? There also seems to be a lot of repetition but I am enjoying the experience. I feel at peace when I am reading it.
ReplyDeleteBev,
ReplyDeleteI answered you on the FB group. I failed to answer your question on ornate. It is ornate because the Lord enjoys beauty (look at sunset, a mountain, etc). All of the materials used to make the Tabernacle have a symbolic meaning as well as a practical meaning.