God always knows what is best for us.  God created us.  God knows how our bodies work from the inside out and outside in.  We are meticulously woven together by God in our mother’s womb. God knew us before we were a “twinkle in the eyes” of our parents. We are intricately made to sustain good health.  God love us each one of His created and knows us by name. God even knows the number of hairs on our heads!  God knows what keeps us healthy and strong. God knows what we will need to fulfill his pleasing and perfect will for each one of us.  God created us with purpose. God has a plan to prosper us, not to do us harm.

In traveling through the wilderness as God’s People, the Israelites are reminded Who brought them out of slavery from Egypt to be set free to follow God to the land He promised their ancestors centuries earlier.  We need to broaden our scope as we center on this people group. They number in the hundreds of thousands. This isn’t a small camping adventure led by tour guides.  The Israelites numbers are over six hundred thousand by now.  To keep them all focused on the Lord, their God, God must provide laws in all areas of their lives for their good and His glory. 

Sexual purity proclamations are clearly detailed as with the other laws and practices God has given them.  Why?  Because the Israelites lived for years in a culture where “anything goes” in Egypt.  Evil behaviors, sexual abuse of people to satisfy their own needs, along with the defilement of women and the sacrifice of children will now be seen as they approach and live near the people living in Canaan where God’s protection does not exist.  God’s people have a new beginning to live in ways that are for their good. Following God’s ways will give God glory for all that is good for God is good. 

“I am the Lord your God,” God reminds them.  I know what is best for you for I created you in my own image.  Let me repeat that.  We are created in the image of God; we are like Him, we belong to Him.  To do anything that would bring defilement using our bodies is the same as desecrating the image of God that He created.  God has our best interests at heart.  Our bodies, His Temple, should not be used in unhealthy ways that would bring harm to us or to those with whom we are intimate.

Who and what we truly believe will be reflected in our behavior.

Leviticus 18

Unlawful Sexual Relations

The Lord said to Moses, ² “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘I am the Lord your God. ³ You must not do as they do in Egypt, where you used to live, and you must not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you. Do not follow their practices. ⁴ You must obey my laws and be careful to follow my decrees. I am the Lord your God. ⁵ Keep my decrees and laws, for the person who obeys them will live by them. I am the Lord.

⁶ “‘No one is to approach any close relative to have sexual relations. I am the Lord.

⁷ “‘Do not dishonor your father by having sexual relations with your mother. She is your mother; do not have relations with her.

⁸ “‘Do not have sexual relations with your father’s wife; that would dishonor your father.

⁹ “‘Do not have sexual relations with your sister, either your father’s daughter or your mother’s daughter, whether she was born in the same home or elsewhere.

¹⁰ “‘Do not have sexual relations with your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter; that would dishonor you.

¹¹ “‘Do not have sexual relations with the daughter of your father’s wife, born to your father; she is your sister.

¹² “‘Do not have sexual relations with your father’s sister; she is your father’s close relative.

¹³ “‘Do not have sexual relations with your mother’s sister, because she is your mother’s close relative.

¹⁴ “‘Do not dishonor your father’s brother by approaching his wife to have sexual relations; she is your aunt.

¹⁵ “‘Do not have sexual relations with your daughter-in-law. She is your son’s wife; do not have relations with her.

¹⁶ “‘Do not have sexual relations with your brother’s wife; that would dishonor your brother.

¹⁷ “‘Do not have sexual relations with both a woman and her daughter. Do not have sexual relations with either her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter; they are her close relatives. That is wickedness.

¹⁸ “‘Do not take your wife’s sister as a rival wife and have sexual relations with her while your wife is living.

¹⁹ “‘Do not approach a woman to have sexual relations during the uncleanness of her monthly period.

²⁰ “‘Do not have sexual relations with your neighbor’s wife and defile yourself with her.

²¹ “‘Do not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molek, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the Lord.

²² “‘Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable.

²³ “‘Do not have sexual relations with an animal and defile yourself with it. A woman must not present herself to an animal to have sexual relations with it; that is a perversion.

²⁴ “‘Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, because this is how the nations that I am going to drive out before you became defiled. ²⁵ Even the land was defiled; so I punished it for its sin, and the land vomited out its inhabitants. ²⁶ But you must keep my decrees and my laws. The native-born and the foreigners residing among you must not do any of these detestable things, ²⁷ for all these things were done by the people who lived in the land before you, and the land became defiled. ²⁸ And if you defile the land, it will vomit you out as it vomited out the nations that were before you.

²⁹ “‘Everyone who does any of these detestable things—such persons must be cut off from their people. ³⁰ Keep my requirements and do not follow any of the detestable customs that were practiced before you came and do not defile yourselves with them. I am the Lord your God.’”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

God was leading the Israelites from one pagan culture (Egypt) to another (Canaan). God wanted the people to follow his guidelines for sexual practices. He wanted them to abhor the sexual sins of the pagan cultures.  To obey God means fulfilling our sexual desires only with our spouse, as God intends.

This is not a check list to decide which one to obey and which one crosses the line for us—all is detestable to God who created us in His own image.  God wants His image bearing people to reflect His holiness.  The detailed list includes all the ways we can hurt ourselves and/or the children produced from unholy sexual practices.

When it comes to our bodies, the Bible declares that we don’t own them. “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies”. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

We respond to God’s goodness by using our bodies to honor God. “Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.” Romans 6:13

Your body is God’s instrument, intended for his work and for his glory.  We who believe Him belong to Him!

For Our Good—

God had chosen Israel to be the channel through which His Son would come into the world, and it was important that the channel be sanctified. The breakdown of marriage in the Jewish society and the adopting of pagan practices could threaten the plan of God for their redemption. This seems to be the emphasis of Malachi 2:15. The Lord was seeking “godly children” that can come only from godly marriages.

The world promotes sex without restrictions as the key to happiness. Avoid that lie. Eliminate its deceitful influence. Build solid friendships and an active social life on a foundation of sexual purity. If you are married, renew your commitment to your spouse.  What the world needs now—is God’s love—for our good and His glory!

Lord,

Thank you for the details that avoid the loopholes so many of us seek instead of seeking your holiness and what is best for our good and brings you glory, honor, and praise.  Thank you for clarifying that abuse of women and children are not a part of your plan to prosper us. Thank you for claiming us as your own, reminding us we were made in your image.  We belong to you.  I belong to you. To be known as your child humbles me and brings peace to my heart. 

In Jesus Name, Amen