EXPECTATIONS

Posted on January 16, 2025 by randscallawayffm

God appointed, anointed, consecrated, and ordained certain men as the mediating priests who would stand in the gap between the unholy sins of Israel and Holy God. God’s priestly order would begin with Aaron and the sons of Aaron.  Aaron is the brother of Moses who was surely not without the propensity to sin.  We remember that it was Aaron who caved to the crowd while Moses was getting instructions from God on the mountain. (Exodus 32). 

Forty days with God’s detailed training for Moses was just too long for the people waiting on Moses’ return.  The people assumed Moses wasn’t coming back, presumed Moses to be dead, and so reverted back to the sin of worshiping manmade gods and wild partying—as was their habit learned from the Egyptians.  Holy Cow!  No, seriously, gold was melted down by Aaron who then formed a calf from it, then put it on a platform for all the people to bow down and worship!  It got the people off his back, so to speak, but ended up with God anger becoming the anger of Moses who destroyed it, ground the gold down to power and made the partiers drink it! It’s been said that it takes 40 days to form a new habit; but God’s people merely fell back to old habits. God’s people need help.

We have been learning from the message of Leviticus of God commands His People to live differently and distinctly in the culture that surrounds them for their good and His glory.  “I will make you holy” promises our Holy God.  God was with them always but would not come near their sins until the priests mediated on their behalf by God’s detailed direction so that the unclean could be ceremonial clean by atonement for sin through sacrifice.  Only God is completely perfect and holy.  It is only Holy God whom they must trust and obey.

We learn today that God’s Mediators must be held to high standards for they are the ones who represent all God’s people; seeking God’s forgiveness of all their sins—as well as their own sins.  God knows his priests will not be perfect as they are human.  The priest must be atoned for his own sins before bringing the sins of the people to God to be forgiven.

Leviticus 21

Rules for Priests

21 The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them: ‘A priest must not make himself ceremonially unclean for any of his people who die, 2 except for a close relative, such as his mother or father, his son or daughter, his brother, 3 or an unmarried sister who is dependent on him since she has no husband—for her he may make himself unclean. 4 He must not make himself unclean for people related to him by marriage, and so defile himself.

5 “‘Priests must not shave their heads or shave off the edges of their beards or cut their bodies. 6 They must be holy to their God and must not profane the name of their God. Because they present the food offerings to the Lord, the food of their God, they are to be holy.

7 “‘They must not marry women defiled by prostitution or divorced from their husbands, because priests are holy to their God. 8 Regard them as holy, because they offer up the food of your God. Consider them holy, because I the Lord am holy—I who make you holy.

9 “‘If a priest’s daughter defiles herself by becoming a prostitute, she disgraces her father; she must be burned in the fire.

10 “‘The high priest, the one among his brothers who has had the anointing oil poured on his head and who has been ordained to wear the priestly garments, must not let his hair become unkempt or tear his clothes. 11 He must not enter a place where there is a dead body. He must not make himself unclean, even for his father or mother, 12 nor leave the sanctuary of his God or desecrate it, because he has been dedicated by the anointing oil of his God. I am the Lord.

13 “‘The woman he marries must be a virgin. 14 He must not marry a widow, a divorced woman, or a woman defiled by prostitution, but only a virgin from his own people, 15 so that he will not defile his offspring among his people. I am the Lord, who makes him holy.’”

16 The Lord said to Moses, 17 “Say to Aaron: ‘For the generations to come none of your descendants who has a defect may come near to offer the food of his God. 18 No man who has any defect may come near: no man who is blind or lame, disfigured or deformed; 19 no man with a crippled foot or hand, 20 or who is a hunchback or a dwarf, or who has any eye defect, or who has festering or running sores or damaged testicles. 21 No descendant of Aaron the priest who has any defect is to come near to present the food offerings to the Lord. He has a defect; he must not come near to offer the food of his God. 22 He may eat the most holy food of his God, as well as the holy food; 23 yet because of his defect, he must not go near the curtain or approach the altar, and so desecrate my sanctuary. I am the Lord, who makes them holy.’”

24 So Moses told this to Aaron and his sons and to all the Israelites.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

God gave instructions to Moses about the priesthood and sacrifices and gave a code of moral principles.  Those who serve God must be totally dedicated, because God deserves only the best.  God is the best.

But over the centuries, the human priestly system became so sinfully flawed that a “course correction” for the cleansing of sin would need to be made.  The Source of all that is good and holy stood ready at just the right time to make this course correction.  Interestingly, the intent The Law didn’t change; it was fulfilled by a Savior, who was God’s Son.  He came down to earth to save the world.  God knew before Creation that the ultimate Plan to save people from their sins would be needed and God was ready.  God’s love for His created all over the world prompted His perfect plan to save an imperfect people once and for all by one perfect sacrifice. God loves. He always has and always will!  God is the Source of real love.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17

God gave His people a glimpse of the glorious coming of the Messiah through the prophets. God gave them the words to say to tell how He would save His people—but many would not listen to understand for most people are very impatient in waiting. (Remember the golden calf debacle, for instance!)

Before Jesus came, the priests still stood and read of God’s Plan out loud in the synagogues; but they did not fully understand because of their well-formed arrogance coupled with their desire to always have the final say with power over the people in any given community.

As for me; I am grateful for The Plan.  I am humbled by Jesus who demonstrated God’s love, taught us what real love is with how to live a more holy life through repentance of our sins to Him and who gave us a greater understanding of who God is with what God expects. God still wants us to be holy as He is holy.  God gives us all the help we need to seek His holy ways.  God knows we are not perfect. God knows our hearts.  His expectation for us is to seek His holy ways.

Real life begins with Jesus, our High Priest, who is without sin, who sacrificed His life for ours, who stood in the gap between our sins and God’s holiness. We simply and sincerely repent to our Savior who has already taken our punishment and paid the debt of sin in full.  Jesus made us right with God—closing the gap between God and us!  

We who believe and repent to Jesus are made clean by God who is holy.  Our sins are erased, gone, remembered no more! Jesus stands ready as our Advocate to God because Jesus is God.  Pause to thank God for sending His Son to save us and make us holy before Him!  Jesus did what we cannot do for ourselves—remove all sin and make us holy before a Holy God.

Jesus’ plunge into the Jordan is a picture of his plunge into our sin. His baptism announces, “Let me pay.”  And He did.  So, to arrive at holiness we must trust in Jesus Christ. Every area of our lives must be placed in subjection to His lordship, every decision made with him, and every word said honoring to him. Believe, repent, and be set free to love God and others with the love God who now takes up residence in the hearts of those fully committed to Him who saved us. 

“Blessed are those who believe without seeing,” says Jesus. (John 20:29) He was talking about us!  As we trust and obey; we live with expectancy, following Jesus’ adventures that build and expand our faith, hope, and love—all from Him who loved us first!

Lord,

Thank you for your message of “standards” that when studied and translated leads us to seeking your holy ways of living. Thank you for the help we need every day to live a more holy life with you in the lead.  Cleanse our hearts and remove all that does not belong.  Renew our minds, transform our behaviors by your power working in us.  Refresh our souls with your tender mercies.  Continually restore the spring of joy of you in us and us in you.  Thank you for your gift of peace that transcends all.  Be our wisdom and strength for today.

In Jesus Name, Amen

Since Jesus, we who believe are appointed to go and teach of Jesus who saved us.  We are the “priests” who proclaim and point people to Jesus, the Highest Priest, who is the only Way to God. (1 Peter 2:9; Matthew 28:20; 2 Corinthians 5:20)  Do our standards for living match our Holy God desires for us?  Pondering…

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WHAT GOD REALLY WANTS

Posted on January 15, 2025 by randscallawayffm

The relationship God desires to have with His people, who He has created in him own image, is intimate, loving, and personal.  God wants His created to know Him.   God wants our undivided attention which is obvious by all the sin filled distractions that are detailed in Leviticus to be avoided at all costs!

God is not in heaven making up impossible rules for us to follow just to annoy us. God is not one who enjoys opportunities to punish us for disobeying his rules, His Word tells us.  When we pause to think about God, who He really is, and what He does, from His vantage point of relentlessly loving us; our perspective changes. God loves His created—individually and as a people group—and wants them/us to survive and even thrive in an imperfect world filled with other people groups who culturally seek self-satisfaction, self-produced power over the weak, while living life arrogantly without God.

God wants those who love Him back to be different and act differently.  There must be a distinction between those who love God and those who do not.

God is not soft on the sin that engulfs and enslaves His people.  His laws are given to protect His people in ways that provide health spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally.  His compassion for His people never stops, fails, or gives up.  If He did, we would not be reading this today!

Leviticus 20

Punishments for Sin

The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Say to the Israelites: ‘Any Israelite or any foreigner residing in Israel who sacrifices any of his children to Molek is to be put to death. The members of the community are to stone him. 3 I myself will set my face against him and will cut him off from his people; for by sacrificing his children to Molek, he has defiled my sanctuary and profaned my holy name. 4 If the members of the community close their eyes when that man sacrifices one of his children to Molek and if they fail to put him to death, 5 I myself will set my face against him and his family and will cut them off from their people together with all who follow him in prostituting themselves to Molek.

6 “‘I will set my face against anyone who turns to mediums and spiritists to prostitute themselves by following them, and I will cut them off from their people.

7 “‘Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the Lord your God. 8 Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the Lord, who makes you holy.

9 “‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death. Because they have cursed their father or mother, their blood will be on their own head.

10 “‘If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress are to be put to death.

11 “‘If a man has sexual relations with his father’s wife, he has dishonored his father. Both the man and the woman are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.

12 “‘If a man has sexual relations with his daughter-in-law, both of them are to be put to death. What they have done is a perversion; their blood will be on their own heads.

13 “‘If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.

14 “‘If a man marries both a woman and her mother, it is wicked. Both he and they must be burned in the fire, so that no wickedness will be among you.

15 “‘If a man has sexual relations with an animal, he is to be put to death, and you must kill the animal.

16 “‘If a woman approaches an animal to have sexual relations with it, kill both the woman and the animal. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.

17 “‘If a man marries his sister, the daughter of either his father or his mother, and they have sexual relations, it is a disgrace. They are to be publicly removed from their people. He has dishonored his sister and will be held responsible.

18 “‘If a man has sexual relations with a woman during her monthly period, he has exposed the source of her flow, and she has also uncovered it. Both of them are to be cut off from their people.

19 “‘Do not have sexual relations with the sister of either your mother or your father, for that would dishonor a close relative; both of you would be held responsible.

20 “‘If a man has sexual relations with his aunt, he has dishonored his uncle. They will be held responsible; they will die childless.

21 “‘If a man marries his brother’s wife, it is an act of impurity; he has dishonored his brother. They will be childless.

22 “‘Keep all my decrees and laws and follow them, so that the land where I am bringing you to live may not vomit you out. 23 You must not live according to the customs of the nations I am going to drive out before you. Because they did all these things, I abhorred them. 24 But I said to you, “You will possess their land; I will give it to you as an inheritance, a land flowing with milk and honey.” I am the Lord your God, who has set you apart from the nations.

25 “‘You must therefore make a distinction between clean and unclean animals and between unclean and clean birds. Do not defile yourselves by any animal or bird or anything that moves along the ground—those that I have set apart as unclean for you. 26 You are to be holy to me because I, the Lord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own.

27 “‘A man or woman who is a medium or spiritist among you must be put to death. You are to stone them; their blood will be on their own heads.’”

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 along with the horrific practice of sacrificing their own children to a god of sin.

Research says—

“Molech was the god of the Ammonites. His metal image was heated red hot and little children were placed in his arms and burned to death (see 2 Kings 23:10; 2 Chronicles 33:6; Jeremiah 32:35). People who practiced such idolatry were inhumane, and their presence in the camp defiled God’s sanctuary and profaned His holy name. Idolaters were not tolerated because they influenced others and led people away from the worship of the true God.” –Wiersbe Study Bible

Although the sacrificing of children and the sexual abuse detailed seems barbaric to us; our sins of being unfaithful to our wives or husbands, sacrificing our children by not telling them of Jesus’ saving grace and teaching them to trust and obey God by words and our actions carry the same consequences.  The disgusting trafficking of innocent children around the world is at an all-time high today! These beloved children of God are prostituted to the highest bidder and robbed of all innocence unless rescued.

Divorce which affects everyone in the family is at an all-time high—even in “Christian” communities.  One out of three marriages will succumb to divorce—which is “emotionally worse than death” as stated by those we’ve counseled who suffer the destruction of intimacy with the one you imagined you would spend your life with “until death do us part.”  Abuse of a mate is a different story, of course, and protection must be sought.  But today’s casual perspective by those seeking to be married will often say; “Ah, if it doesn’t work out, I’ll just find another.”  This is distasteful to God who wants His best for all who belong to Him.

God’s moral law is the revelation of His holy will for humanity; individuals and nations can’t despise God’s law and escape judgment or consequences.

While law can be a light that exposes evil and a guard that restrains evil, it can never change the human heart. Only the gospel of Jesus Christ can do that.  All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” writes Paul.  Paul also confessed, “of whom I am the “chief sinner”!  Paul told his story of redemption and life transformation, from one who persecuted new believers to one who was relentless committed to Jesus, with every breath he took!  Jesus came into his life and changed his heart, renewed his mind, and transformed his behaviors!  (See Romans 3:23 and 1 Timothy 1:15)

Jesus does that for all who come to Him in repentance of sin with a sincere heart that desires what God wants for each one of us—freedom from sin’s bondage, joy and peace of knowing God, the promised gift of His Holy Spirit who lives in us giving us the power to change, along with the bonus of eternal life. 

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

The prophet, Jeremiah who believed, obeyed, and proclaimed what God told him to say then is still often quoted today as a verse from God that reminds us of the hope provided to us by Jesus who defeated death and gave us a future!

The foundation of all these laws and decrees from God was later taught and demonstrated by God’s Son himself when He walked the earth to “fulfill” every part of the Law—even unto death on the cross.  Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin as he carried all the sins of the world to that cross to save us; taking the punishment we deserve.  Because of Jesus’ sacrifice; We are a redeemed people!  And what does He ask of us?  To love God and each other like He loves us.

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” –Jesus, Matthew 22:36-40

Lord, I believe and ask today that all who believe be filled with your love, your purpose and plan, your compassionate mercy and grace, with your power to transform; as we love you and others like You love us—with all that is in us.

In Jesus Name, I pray, for our good and His glory, Amen

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PURSUE HOLINESS

Posted on January 14, 2025 by randscallawayffm

“Let me make this perfectly clear,” says God: “I am God; you are not.”

Then God gives us detailed ways to develop His holy character traits along with holy behaviors in the pursuit of being holy in what I’d like to call, “Holiness for Dummies”.  Okay, we humans might not be dumb but we can certainly become very dull as we absentmindedly go about our day, on our own, habitually expecting better results today than yesterday by doing life without God.  God commands, “Be holy because, I the Lord your God, am holy.” 

But, the standard is high, too high, we think.  How can we just “be holy” like God says? 

Leviticus 19

Various Laws

The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.

3 “‘Each of you must respect your mother and father, and you must observe my Sabbaths. I am the Lord your God.

4 “‘Do not turn to idols or make metal gods for yourselves. I am the Lord your God.

5 “‘When you sacrifice a fellowship offering to the Lord, sacrifice it in such a way that it will be accepted on your behalf. 6 It shall be eaten on the day you sacrifice it or on the next day; anything left over until the third day must be burned up. 7 If any of it is eaten on the third day, it is impure and will not be accepted. 8 Whoever eats it will be held responsible because they have desecrated what is holy to the Lord; they must be cut off from their people.

9 “‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God.

11 “‘Do not steal.

“‘Do not lie.

“‘Do not deceive one another.

12 “‘Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the Lord.

13 “‘Do not defraud or rob your neighbor.

“‘Do not hold back the wages of a hired worker overnight.

14 “‘Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the Lord.

15 “‘Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.

16 “‘Do not go about spreading slander among your people.

“‘Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the Lord.

17 “‘Do not hate a fellow Israelite in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in their guilt.

18 “‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.

19 “‘Keep my decrees.

“‘Do not mate different kinds of animals.

“‘Do not plant your field with two kinds of seed.

“‘Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material.

20 “‘If a man sleeps with a female slave who is promised to another man but who has not been ransomed or given her freedom, there must be due punishment. Yet they are not to be put to death, because she had not been freed. 21 The man, however, must bring a ram to the entrance to the tent of meeting for a guilt offering to the Lord. 22 With the ram of the guilt offering the priest is to make atonement for him before the Lord for the sin he has committed, and his sin will be forgiven.

23 “‘When you enter the land and plant any kind of fruit tree, regard its fruit as forbidden. For three years you are to consider it forbidden; it must not be eaten. 24 In the fourth year all its fruit will be holy, an offering of praise to the Lord. 25 But in the fifth year you may eat its fruit. In this way your harvest will be increased. I am the Lord your God.

26 “‘Do not eat any meat with the blood still in it.

“‘Do not practice divination or seek omens.

27 “‘Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.

28 “‘Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord.

29 “‘Do not degrade your daughter by making her a prostitute, or the land will turn to prostitution and be filled with wickedness.

30 “‘Observe my Sabbaths and have reverence for my sanctuary. I am the Lord.

31 “‘Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God.

32 “‘Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord.

33 “‘When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. 34 The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.

35 “‘Do not use dishonest standards when measuring length, weight or quantity. 36 Use honest scales and honest weights, an honest ephah and an honest hin. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt.

37 “‘Keep all my decrees and all my laws and follow them. I am the Lord.’”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

A person whose heart is fully committed to God desires to do life His way.  Our commitment to God grows stronger as we learn quickly that our way is limited in wisdom and weak in understanding.  Wisdom is defined simply as “skills for living.”  The wisdom we seek and follow determines the steps we take each day.  To be holy is to first pursue God and His wisdom, the One who is Holy in every way.  The definition of Holy is God.

What’s repeated in God’s Word is important to God!  Notice how many times God tells His people who He is; “I am the Lord, your God, and I am holy.”  We are not only to pursue God but to pursue who God is and He is holy.  Why? Because we are created “in the image of God.”  To be holy does not mean perfection, but the consistent moving forward to be like the One who is perfect in every way.

God knew before we were born that we would not be perfect. God gave “free will” to follow Him—or not.  Because of our sin nature born within us because Adam and Eve’s  choice to follow evil; we have the propensity to be seduced by evil in our choosing in life, too.  But God, in His wisdom, guides us in all the details of living life.  He presents behaviors that will help us to develop His character of love, mercy, and grace.  God teaches us how to love Him back and how to love each other—in detail!  God teaches us how to be holy.

Did you notice?  All these regulations are tied back to God’s Ten Commandments for His People which relates to all that is moral and holy in God’s view of life. Since He is a holy God, we must be a holy people. If you count for curiosity’s sake; we discover that the phrase “I am the LORD your God” is repeated over forty times in Leviticus 18–26 to remind us that we belong to Him.

God also warns us, “Fear your God. I am the Lord” (19:32). Fear of God is more about a healthy respect and awe of our God who knows all, is in all, because He created all. There is no one like our God who cares for all He has created and wants His very best for each one.  Nothing escapes God.  God is sovereign.  Nothing will happen that will cause God to give up His divine authority over all.  He is God. We are not.

Note that God calls these laws “My decrees.”  God also reminds He people that the Sabbath is to be kept holy with reverence for the tabernacle that is His “sanctuary.” The law brings sinful people into the presence of a sovereign God who has every right to tell us what is right and wrong.  God is the final authority.

Today, these same laws of spiritually morality still guide us to what is wrong along with how to revere God and love Him back as well as how to really love each other with respect and dignity. God’s Holy Spirit guides us to what is right and holy and guides us to abundant living designed by God—who is Holy.  Because Jesus sacrificed his life for our punishment of sin, we who repent of sin are forgiven completely, our sins to be remembered no more!  We are in awe of God for His relentless love, mercy, and grace so undeserved!  

One final thought for today:  Getting along with people, especially our neighbors, isn’t a matter of obeying laws but of having love in our hearts. “Love is the fulfillment of the law,” says Paul. Romans 3:10) The new commandment given by Jesus to love one another helps us handle human relationships and treat people the way God treats us (John 13:34, 35).  “Being holy” then does not seem as hard as we first thought when we realize that in our committed pursuit of Holy God; He gives us powerful help to become holy.  We are not in this alone! God is with us. Always.

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14

THIS is the pursuit of holiness—to know and become more like Jesus each day, not perfect but perfectly forgiven.

Lord,

Only you are Holy for you are perfect in every way.  You know our hearts.  You know our thoughts and desires.  Cleanse my heart, renew my mind, refresh and fill my soul, and restore the joy and peace of you in me and me in you.  I will pursue your holy character all the days of my life.  I love you, Lord.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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FOR OUR GOOD AND HIS GLORY

Posted on January 13, 2025 by randscallawayffm

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

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LIFEBLOOD

Posted on January 12, 2025 by randscallawayffm

Our blood is being necessary to our lives.  Our hearts get the most attention these days because we think the heart, which is merely the muscle that keeps the blood flowing to all parts of our bodies is the most important.  But it is the blood that sustains and purifies our entire inner workings.  There have been many medical advances over the last decades designed to replace our hearts with other hearts, mechanical hearts, along with pace makers to regulate the flow of our blood so that we can continue to live.  But it is the blood that gives and sustains life.

That’s why cliches such as “his family was the lifeblood of the church” are used to indicate what or who is the indispensable factor or influence that gives something its strength and vitality. Lifeblood is that factor that is most important to the continuing success and existence of the living and growing! 

God is now teaching the Israelites that the life of any creature is the blood. Blood is regarded as the life itself.  God tells His people that is the blood that gives life and vitality.  Blood is the vital, life-giving force that drives all God’s creation.

As we read, remember that Jesus is the lifeblood of redemption and salvation! His blood was shed so that we could have life—eternal life for all who believe.

Leviticus 17

Eating Blood Forbidden

The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to Aaron and his sons and to all the Israelites and say to them: ‘This is what the Lord has commanded: 3 Any Israelite who sacrifices an ox, a lamb or a goat in the camp or outside of it 4 instead of bringing it to the entrance to the tent of meeting to present it as an offering to the Lord in front of the tabernacle of the Lord—that person shall be considered guilty of bloodshed; they have shed blood and must be cut off from their people. 5 This is so the Israelites will bring to the Lord the sacrifices they are now making in the open fields. They must bring them to the priest, that is, to the Lord, at the entrance to the tent of meeting and sacrifice them as fellowship offerings. 6 The priest is to splash the blood against the altar of the Lord at the entrance to the tent of meeting and burn the fat as an aroma pleasing to the Lord. 7 They must no longer offer any of their sacrifices to the goat idols to whom they prostitute themselves. This is to be a lasting ordinance for them and for the generations to come.’

8 “Say to them: ‘Any Israelite or any foreigner residing among them who offers a burnt offering or sacrifice 9 and does not bring it to the entrance to the tent of meeting to sacrifice it to the Lord must be cut off from the people of Israel.

10 “‘I will set my face against any Israelite or any foreigner residing among them who eats blood, and I will cut them off from the people. 11 For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life. 12 Therefore I say to the Israelites, “None of you may eat blood, nor may any foreigner residing among you eat blood.”

13 “‘Any Israelite or any foreigner residing among you who hunts any animal or bird that may be eaten must drain out the blood and cover it with earth, 14 because the life of every creature is its blood. That is why I have said to the Israelites, “You must not eat the blood of any creature, because the life of every creature is its blood; anyone who eats it must be cut off.”

15 “‘Anyone, whether native-born or foreigner, who eats anything found dead or torn by wild animals must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and they will be ceremonially unclean till evening; then they will be clean. 16But if they do not wash their clothes and bathe themselves, they will be held responsible.’”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Avoid roadkill…still.  (Okay, just my opinion, but my momma said, “leave that alone or put that down, you don’t know where it’s been!”)

It is the blood of the unblemished innocent that provides the atonement for sin.

Warren Wierbe simple states:

“When a sacrifice was offered and its blood was shed, it meant the giving of a life for the life of another. The innocent victim died in the place of the guilty sinner. Throughout Scripture, it’s the blood that makes the atonement. Any theology that ignores or minimizes the blood isn’t founded on the Word of God.”—Wiersbe Study Bible

God provides atonement for the sins of His People with a specific procedure because of His love, mercy, and grace.  Jesus, who is a part of the Trinity, will be the once and for all sacrifice for the sins of the world.  Jesus will take the place of all other sacrifices as the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world.  And we are grateful!

Because the blood is the life of the creature and the God-ordained means of atonement, it must not be treated like ordinary food. Before preparing his meal, a Hebrew out hunting had to be careful to drain out the blood of the animal or bird he had caught. The blood then had to be covered with earth, giving it a decent burial, as it were. Orthodox Jews today are very careful to purchase kosher meat from which the blood has been drained in the prescribed manner.

Peter writes;

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.” I Peter 1:18-20

As believers today, I pray that we fully appreciate the importance of the “precious” blood of Christ;

  • “Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!
  • “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” Ephesians 1:7
  • “…and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.  To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood…” Revelation 1:5
  • “And so, Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood.” Hebrews 13:12
  • “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:13
  • “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7
  • “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood” Acts 20:28

The number of sins, from small to barbaric, atoned for on the Day of Atonement is staggering. The sin offering cleansed the place of God’s dwelling from the pollution of the people’s sins. 

Today sin must be still be cleansed and washed away by the blood of the Lamb.  Maybe the process is too easy since Jesus did all the work for us!  Jesus’ crucifixion that provided our freedom from sin must NOT be read or believed casually. The sins of the world stood in the way of a growing relationship with Holy God.  His deserve was that no one perish but have eternal life with Him. God wants a relationship with us for He is the One who created us in His own image.  God loved us so much He sent His Son to suffer torture, be nailed to a cross, with a crown of thorns pushed down on his head. The purpose of Roman crucifixion was to be humiliated in public view while bleeding out until the body’s lifeblood was depleted. 

How can we then take sin and God’s forgiveness so casually when the very image of Jesus taking our place on that cross should drive us to our knees?  Maybe we take our sin too causally?  What is sin to us? 

Sin is anything and everything that distracts us from God.  “All have sinned,” says Paul.  “There is no one good; only God is good,” says Jesus.  Some sins are atrocious and affect everyone around us.  Some sins seem small in the view of the sinner and are casually deemed harmless. But, according to God; all sins need forgiveness and cleansing!  Think about it…

  • At the very least, we all complain and grumble when things don’t go our way.
  • We worry about everything we cannot see or control; even though Jesus says, “Do not worry!” God says, “Trust Me.”
  • We’ve hoarded when we should have shared.
  • We’ve turned away when you should have helped.
  • We’ve second-guessed, presumed, assumed, and we’ve covered up.
  • Because of sin, we criticize the ones we love without mercy and argued with the ones we cherish.
  • We feel ashamed, guilty, and bitter often.
  • We develop ulcers, endure sleepless nights, are depressed on cloudy days, and feel physical pain when out of sorts because we do life on our own with asking for God’s help.

Ah, but wait, there’s more…

  • Because of sin, the young are abused and the elderly forgotten.
  • Because of sin, God is cursed while drugs and other addictions are worshiped.
  • Because of sin, the poor have less and the affluent are never satisfied.
  • Because of sin, babies have no daddies and husbands have no wives.
  • Sin gives birth to a thousand heartaches and broken promises. Addiction can be traced back to an original sin.
  • Mistrust can be traced back to sin.
  • Bigotry, robbery, adultery—all because of sin.

But in heaven, there is no sin.  All the sins above will be no more. In heaven, sin will have no power; in fact, sin will have no presence. There will be no sin, no tears, no death. 

Avoid allowing sin to pull us down, distract and deceive us. Sin is the enemy’s one and only tool used to destroy us. 

Believe, repent, confess sin out loud to God in Jesus Name. God already knows anyway!  Accept God’s complete forgiveness. Thank God for His relentless love, great mercy, and unending grace.  Then live a gratefully free, humbly redeemed life!

Others who need a Savior will see His reflection on the faces of those who truly believe that Jesus really suffered a horrific death in our place for the punishment of all our sins.

Lord,

Thank you for shedding your blood so that I could be free from all my sins. Thank you for forgiving me of all my sins. Thank you for the guidance of your Holy Spirit who teaches me to avoid returning to the sins that brought me down. Thank you for those times when I did fall but you were quick to pick me back up and put me back on your solid foundation—all because of your love, mercy, and grace.  There is no one like our God!  You had me at “we love Him because He first loved us”!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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THE SCAPEGOAT

Posted on January 11, 2025 by randscallawayffm

Some call these people crazy, some are grateful for them, and some assume it is their job as leader to take the blame for all who work there. Afterall, the “buck stops here.”  Who are we talking about?  The “scapegoat” in any given workplace or family community who will take all the blame for the wrongful behaviors of the group on their shoulders.  The scapegoat will voluntarily step forward and bare the brunt of the punishment they know must be administered.  Sometimes the scapegoat doesn’t have a choice in our world. 

Scapegoating begins at a very young age.  As immature children, our first response and inherit knee jerk reaction is to shift the blame to a bystander as we run from the scene of the crime with sure punishment.  In any given social group, one will be chosen by the group to take the blame.  They will betray him or her with made up lies about their character so that their innocence is accepted and protected.  Sound familiar?  Were you ever the scapegoat—voluntarily or involuntarily?  Or were you the one who helped decide who the scapegoat was going to be?

The term “scapegoat,” most likely, originated with this next passage.  God was the inventor of the idea!  Read on…

Leviticus 16

The Day of Atonement

The Lord spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron who died when they approached the Lord. 2 The Lord said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron that he is not to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place behind the curtain in front of the atonement cover on the ark, or else he will die. For I will appear in the cloud over the atonement cover.

3 “This is how Aaron is to enter the Most Holy Place: He must first bring a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. 4 He is to put on the sacred linen tunic, with linen undergarments next to his body; he is to tie the linen sash around him and put on the linen turban. These are sacred garments; so he must bathe himself with water before he puts them on. 5 From the Israelite community he is to take two male goats for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.

6 “Aaron is to offer the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household. 7 Then he is to take the two goats and present them before the Lord at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 8 He is to cast lots for the two goats—one lot for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat. 9 Aaron shall bring the goat whose lot falls to the Lord and sacrifice it for a sin offering. 10 But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord to be used for making atonement by sending it into the wilderness as a scapegoat.

11 “Aaron shall bring the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household, and he is to slaughter the bull for his own sin offering. 12 He is to take a censer full of burning coals from the altar before the Lord and two handfuls of finely ground fragrant incense and take them behind the curtain. 13 He is to put the incense on the fire before the Lord, and the smoke of the incense will conceal the atonement cover above the tablets of the covenant law, so that he will not die. 14 He is to take some of the bull’s blood and with his finger sprinkle it on the front of the atonement cover; then he shall sprinkle some of it with his finger seven times before the atonement cover.

15 “He shall then slaughter the goat for the sin offering for the people and take its blood behind the curtain and do with it as he did with the bull’s blood: He shall sprinkle it on the atonement cover and in front of it. 16 In this way he will make atonement for the Most Holy Place because of the uncleanness and rebellion of the Israelites, whatever their sins have been. He is to do the same for the tent of meeting, which is among them in the midst of their uncleanness. 17 No one is to be in the tent of meeting from the time Aaron goes in to make atonement in the Most Holy Place until he comes out, having made atonement for himself, his household and the whole community of Israel.

18 “Then he shall come out to the altar that is before the Lord and make atonement for it. He shall take some of the bull’s blood and some of the goat’s blood and put it on all the horns of the altar. 19 He shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times to cleanse it and to consecrate it from the uncleanness of the Israelites.

20 “When Aaron has finished making atonement for the Most Holy Place, the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall bring forward the live goat. 21 He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the wilderness in the care of someone appointed for the task. 22 The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a remote place; and the man shall release it in the wilderness.

23 “Then Aaron is to go into the tent of meeting and take off the linen garments he put on before he entered the Most Holy Place, and he is to leave them there. 24 He shall bathe himself with water in the sanctuary area and put on his regular garments. Then he shall come out and sacrifice the burnt offering for himself and the burnt offering for the people, to make atonement for himself and for the people. 25 He shall also burn the fat of the sin offering on the altar.

26 “The man who releases the goat as a scapegoat must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water; afterward he may come into the camp. 27 The bull and the goat for the sin offerings, whose blood was brought into the Most Holy Place to make atonement, must be taken outside the camp; their hides, flesh and intestines are to be burned up. 28 The man who burns them must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water; afterward he may come into the camp.

29 “This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month you must deny yourselves and not do any work—whether native-born or a foreigner residing among you— 30 because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the Lord, you will be clean from all your sins. 31 It is a day of sabbath rest, and you must deny yourselves; it is a lasting ordinance. 32 The priest who is anointed and ordained to succeed his father as high priest is to make atonement. He is to put on the sacred linen garments 33 and make atonement for the Most Holy Place, for the tent of meeting and the altar, and for the priests and all the members of the community.

34 “This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: Atonement is to be made once a year for all the sins of the Israelites.”

And it was done, as the Lord commanded Moses.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

The Day of Atonement was the holiest day for the Israelites. God teaches His People that sin cannot dwell before a Holy God.  Sin must be dealt with in a way clears the pathway to God.  God made a way for the sins of the priest and the people to be atoned or covered over so that Holy God can come and reside with His people. 

The number of sins atoned for by the Day of Atonement is staggering. The sin offering cleansed the place of God’s dwelling from the pollution of the people’s sins.  Like oil and water; sin and holiness do not mix.  Sin blocks our view of God and stands in the way of our relationship with God.  Holy God will not occupy the same space as sin; so sin, not in part but the whole, must be cleansed thoroughly so that God can enter in.

No one but the high priest entered the Most Holy Place. No one. To do so meant death. Two of Aaron’s sons died when they disobediently entered the Most Holy Place to offer sacrifices to the Lord on their own terms. In no uncertain terms, the curtain was the line between the Holy and unholy and declared: “This far and no farther!”

We learn that God and only God is holy.  We are sinners.  There is distance between God and sinners.  Max Lucado writes of our sin problem with where the blame resides;

Isn’t this our problem? We know God is good. We know we are not, and we feel far from God. The ancient words of Job are ours, “If only there were someone to mediate between us, someone to bring us together” (Job 9:33).

Oh, but there is! Jesus hasn’t left us with an unapproachable God. Yes, God is holy. Yes, we are sinful. But, yes, yes, yes, Jesus is our mediator. Is not a mediator one who “goes between”? Wasn’t Jesus the curtain between us and God? And wasn’t his flesh torn? What appeared to be the cruelty of man was actually the sovereignty of God.

We are welcome to enter into God’s presence—any day, any time. God has removed the barrier that separates us from him. The barrier of sin? Down. He has removed the curtain.” –Lucado’s Encouraging Word Bible

The most important day of the year for the Old Testament Israelite was the Day of Atonement—Yom Kippur—when God graciously atoned for all the sins of all the people and gave the nation a new beginning.  Israel can’t celebrate Yom Kippur in the appointed way today; but those who have received Jesus Christ can see in this ancient ritual a picture of what Jesus did for us on the cross.  Jesus was our “scapegoat” who took all the sins of the world upon his shoulders and carried them to the cross!  Because of God’s love, mercy, and grace; His Son, Jesus took the punishment for our sins so that we could be set free from what we owned—our sin debt! 

Only the shedding of the blood could give the people forgiveness and a new beginning on this day of atonement.  Only by the shedding of Jesus’ blood are our sins forgiven and forgotten forever.  (Hebrews 9:22)

And the goat who was released?  This goat, we call “the scapegoat”, is short for “escape-goat,” that is, the goat that escaped death and escaped into the desert. The Hebrew word is azazel, which could be a compound of the two Hebrew words “goat” and “to go away.” Some Hebrews connect it with an Arabic word that means “to remove, to banish.”

Regardless of the origin of the word, the meaning is clear: The releasing of the goat symbolized the sins of the people being carried away, never to be held against them again…like Jesus did for us!

“As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Ps. 103:12).

“Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).

The Hebrew word kapar, translated “atonement,” is used sixteen times in Leviticus 16, and it basically means “to ransom, to remove by paying a price.” The high priest had to repeat the ritual of the Day of Atonement year after year, but Jesus Christ came at the right time (Galatians 4:4-5) to finish the work nobody else could do. “Once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Hebrews 9:26).

The death of Christ on the cross has fulfilled the Day of Atonement! 

Our part is to wholeheartedly believe, repent, and be forgiven and redeemed from sins confessed forever.  Jesus also resurrected from physical death as the Son of Man, defeating death, giving us the hope of eternal life with God!  “We shall be like Him”

The annual Day of Atonement was considered a Sabbath, and the people weren’t allowed to do any work. The fact that the people weren’t to do any work reminds us that we are saved wholly by God’s grace, through faith, and not, because of our character or our good works (Ephesians 2:8, 9). The forgiveness that the people received that day was the gift of God.  God did for us through Jesus what we cannot do for ourselves—remove all our sins—God’s gift to us.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Lord,

Thank you for removing all my sins as I confess them to you one by one. Thank you for the Way made to boldly walk into your throne room to speak with you, God, our Father. The curtain removed by the blood you shed for me. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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SUSTAINING CLEANLINESS

Posted on January 10, 2025 by randscallawayffm

The normal routines of life, our going to work, coming home, preparing meals for family, keeping clothes clean for work, school, and church, vacuuming all the dirt of the world we bring into our homes, the washing of bedding, cleaning toilets of germs always present—all these chores are done to sustain a clean household for our families to enjoy.  When one has a sickness, it is common sense to isolate them as best we can, so the other members of the household can avoid it.  Our sustained cleaning is designed to avoid sicknesses but we bring in germs from our daily going and coming that cannot be avoided.  The Covid era (as other former plagues of the world) highlighted the need for good hygiene through all generations for sure!

God tells Moses detailed ways to sustain the cleanliness of the Israelites’ households with awareness of how to deal with bodily fluids, both normal and abnormal.  All secretions must be cleansed, along with everything the fluids touch.  Then they must be declared clean by the priest who will provide a sacrifice and burnt offering from what they bring to him so that they can be atoned and cleansed.

Are we noticing how the job description of a priest is growing in the number of tasks?  I have questions!  Priests now are very personally involved in the lives of God’s people!  They will see and hear things that others will not.  As with lawyers and doctors, will they sustain a confidentiality agreement?  But wait, there’s more…

Leviticus 15

Discharges Causing Uncleanness

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When any man has an unusual bodily discharge, such a discharge is unclean. 3 Whether it continues flowing from his body or is blocked, it will make him unclean. This is how his discharge will bring about uncleanness:

4 “‘Any bed the man with a discharge lies on will be unclean, and anything he sits on will be unclean. 5 Anyone who touches his bed must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening. 6 Whoever sits on anything that the man with a discharge sat on must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening.

7 “‘Whoever touches the man who has a discharge must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening.

8 “‘If the man with the discharge spits on anyone who is clean, they must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening.

9 “‘Everything the man sits on when riding will be unclean, 10 and whoever touches any of the things that were under him will be unclean till evening; whoever picks up those things must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening.

11 “‘Anyone the man with a discharge touches without rinsing his hands with water must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening.

12 “‘A clay pot that the man touches must be broken, and any wooden article is to be rinsed with water.

13 “‘When a man is cleansed from his discharge, he is to count off seven days for his ceremonial cleansing; he must wash his clothes and bathe himself with fresh water, and he will be clean. 14 On the eighth day he must take two doves or two young pigeons and come before the Lord to the entrance to the tent of meeting and give them to the priest. 15 The priest is to sacrifice them, the one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. In this way he will make atonement before the Lord for the man because of his discharge.

16 “‘When a man has an emission of semen, he must bathe his whole body with water, and he will be unclean till evening. 17 Any clothing or leather that has semen on it must be washed with water, and it will be unclean till evening. 18 When a man has sexual relations with a woman and there is an emission of semen, both of them must bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening.

19 “‘When a woman has her regular flow of blood, the impurity of her monthly period will last seven days, and anyone who touches her will be unclean till evening.

20 “‘Anything she lies on during her period will be unclean, and anything she sits on will be unclean. 21 Anyone who touches her bed will be unclean; they must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening. 22 Anyone who touches anything she sits on will be unclean; they must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening. 23 Whether it is the bed or anything she was sitting on, when anyone touches it, they will be unclean till evening.

24 “‘If a man has sexual relations with her and her monthly flow touches him, he will be unclean for seven days; any bed he lies on will be unclean.

25 “‘When a woman has a discharge of blood for many days at a time other than her monthly period or has a discharge that continues beyond her period, she will be unclean as long as she has the discharge, just as in the days of her period. 26 Any bed she lies on while her discharge continues will be unclean, as is her bed during her monthly period, and anything she sits on will be unclean, as during her period. 27 Anyone who touches them will be unclean; they must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening.

28 “‘When she is cleansed from her discharge, she must count off seven days, and after that she will be ceremonially clean. 29On the eighth day she must take two doves or two young pigeons and bring them to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 30 The priest is to sacrifice one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. In this way he will make atonement for her before the Lord for the uncleanness of her discharge.

31 “‘You must keep the Israelites separate from things that make them unclean, so they will not die in their uncleanness for defiling my dwelling place, which is among them.’”

32 These are the regulations for a man with a discharge, for anyone made unclean by an emission of semen, 33 for a woman in her monthly period, for a man or a woman with a discharge, and for a man who has sexual relations with a woman who is ceremonially unclean.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

God always has a reason for his detailed commands. We have learned that God who loves and cares for His created has a strong desire to keep them safe and protected from harm and sickness. This is indeed another “law” to keep that will prevent the spread of disease.

However, I’m reminded of the woman who bled consistently for twelve years.  She tried everything.  She paid money to every doctor who said they could help—but could not. She obeyed the Mosaic law but found never to be cleansed completely because the bleeding never stopped!  All hope was gone until she heard of this preacher who had healed others of their debilitating ways of life and gave them a healed new life.  Oh, how she long for a new life without continually cleansing herself and her clothes of this constant bleeding that made her weak and weary.  All who knew her declared her unclean—for twelve long years! 

We pick up her story in Luke 8—

“And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years,[a] but no one could heal her. She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.

“Who touched me?” Jesus asked.

When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.”

But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.”

Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. 48 Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” Luke 8:43-47

This same beautiful story of healing of this particular woman is also told by Matthew and Mark as well.  “If I can only touch the hem of his garment…”  The woman knew an unclean person such as herself should not be touching anyone—especially a man proclaimed to be a prophet of God!

But she had tried everything else.  Her last and only hope was Jesus. 

This woman’s risky faith, the size of a “mustard seed”, brought the healing she had sought for twelve years!  It was instant!  Jesus, full of the power of God, healed her as soon as she touched the hem of his garment without seemingly knowing who she was—or did He?  Jesus knew that the power within him had just been released to this lost, weakened woman, so he used her story to declare her faith and His glory!  The woman could now go the local priest, offer a sacrifice, and be declared clean! 

Think about it—

This woman had a hidden need, a burden she had lived with for twelve long years. It affected her physically and made life difficult. But it also affected her spiritually, because the hemorrhage made her ceremonially defiled and unable to participate in the religious life of the nation as we just read in Leviticus 15:19–22. She was defiled, destitute, discouraged, and desperate, but she came to Jesus and her need was met. Her faith, though maybe a bit superstitious at first; was honored and applauded by the Highest Priest and Savior of our souls!

But wait, there’s more—there’s always more God want us to know!

In the same passage of Luke, previous to this healing of the woman, Jesus was on his way to the house of Jairus, a prominent man, whose twelve year old daughter was dying!  So, the daughter was born about the same time the woman developed her bleeding disease.  Mm, with God, there are no coincidences!

The healing on the way to Jairus house was an opportunity for the woman to confess Christ and glorify God for her healing! Had she stolen away in the crowd, she would not have met Jesus personally or heard His words of assurance and comfort. But her confession was also an encouragement to Jairus, who would soon hear that his daughter had died. (Perhaps he wanted to blame the woman for the delay!) The woman’s twelve years of trial were ended, and the same Christ who helped her would help Jairus.  We read that Jesus brought Jarius’ daughter back to life!  The same Jesus served both the poor and destitute and the rich.  This same Jesus still gives life to whoever believes and desires to be saved from all their sins!

So, we learn that the law convicts us of all that is unclean that needs to be cleaned.  But it is Jesus, the Fulfiller of The Law who brings complete cleansing to all sin by His Sacrifice, once and for all!  Wow.  Jesus who was with God in the Old Testament is linked once more to Jesus of the New Testament who came down to earth and moved into the neighborhood of humanity.  May our response be to fully embrace the God who knows exactly what we need when we need Him.  Trust Him.  He knows!

Lord,

Thank you for leading us through Your Word that gives light to what might be hard to understand by the power of Your Holy Spirit who guides us to truth.

I’m yours.  I’m listening.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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THE CLEANSING

Posted on January 9, 2025 by randscallawayffm

In any given public school classroom; all who reside for the duration of the school day are exposed to all that students (and teachers) bring into the classroom from their home environments.  As they travel to special classes of gym, music, library, or art; they carry the germs with them.  During cold and flu season, we provide more tissue boxes and full bottles of soap at the sink.  But first graders in my classroom needed to be taught often about the hygiene of washing hands after tending to their runny noses. Some had to be taught how to wash their hands!  One of my students, for example, didn’t know that when soap is applied and hands are scrubbed together, bubbles form!  That instance taught me not to assume that common hygiene skills are learned at home.  I sent that student home with his own bottle of soap.  He was elated and excited to show his younger siblings!

Along with the writing, reading, phonics, and math; we taught the science of what a good cleansing does for our health!  First graders respond when you show them all the germs under a blue light that exposes what a careless washing of hands can miss!  Yes, I did that and it was effective!  A good cleansing removes all that can possibly make you sick later. 

God teaches the Israelites how to cleanse His people of diseases brought into the camp.  The regulations provide ways to prevent future outbreaks among the thousands who live and journey together on their wilderness trek with God in the lead to the promised land. As always, God is in the details!

Leviticus 14

Cleansing From Defiling Skin Diseases

The Lord said to Moses, 2 “These are the regulations for any diseased person at the time of their ceremonial cleansing, when they are brought to the priest: 3 The priest is to go outside the camp and examine them. If they have been healed of their defiling skin disease, 4 the priest shall order that two live clean birds and some cedar wood, scarlet yarn and hyssop be brought for the person to be cleansed. 5 Then the priest shall order that one of the birds be killed over fresh water in a clay pot. 6 He is then to take the live bird and dip it, together with the cedar wood, the scarlet yarn and the hyssop, into the blood of the bird that was killed over the fresh water. 7 Seven times he shall sprinkle the one to be cleansed of the defiling disease, and then pronounce them clean. After that, he is to release the live bird in the open fields.

8 “The person to be cleansed must wash their clothes, shave off all their hair and bathe with water; then they will be ceremonially clean. After this they may come into the camp, but they must stay outside their tent for seven days. 9 On the seventh day they must shave off all their hair; they must shave their head, their beard, their eyebrows and the rest of their hair. They must wash their clothes and bathe themselves with water, and they will be clean.

10 “On the eighth day they must bring two male lambs and one ewe lamb a year old, each without defect, along with three-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering, and one log of oil. 11 The priest who pronounces them clean shall present both the one to be cleansed and their offerings before the Lord at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

12 “Then the priest is to take one of the male lambs and offer it as a guilt offering, along with the log of oil; he shall wave them before the Lord as a wave offering. 13 He is to slaughter the lamb in the sanctuary area where the sin offering and the burnt offering are slaughtered. Like the sin offering, the guilt offering belongs to the priest; it is most holy. 14 The priest is to take some of the blood of the guilt offering and put it on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of their right hand and on the big toe of their right foot. 15 The priest shall then take some of the log of oil, pour it in the palm of his own left hand, 16 dip his right forefinger into the oil in his palm, and with his finger sprinkle some of it before the Lord seven times. 17 The priest is to put some of the oil remaining in his palm on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of their right hand and on the big toe of their right foot, on top of the blood of the guilt offering. 18 The rest of the oil in his palm the priest shall put on the head of the one to be cleansed and make atonement for them before the Lord.

19 “Then the priest is to sacrifice the sin offering and make atonement for the one to be cleansed from their uncleanness. After that, the priest shall slaughter the burnt offering 20 and offer it on the altar, together with the grain offering, and make atonement for them, and they will be clean.

21 “If, however, they are poor and cannot afford these, they must take one male lamb as a guilt offering to be waved to make atonement for them, together with a tenth of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering, a log of oil, 22 and two doves or two young pigeons, such as they can afford, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering.

23 “On the eighth day they must bring them for their cleansing to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting, before the Lord. 24 The priest is to take the lamb for the guilt offering, together with the log of oil, and wave them before the Lord as a wave offering. 25 He shall slaughter the lamb for the guilt offering and take some of its blood and put it on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of their right hand and on the big toe of their right foot. 26 The priest is to pour some of the oil into the palm of his own left hand, 27 and with his right forefinger sprinkle some of the oil from his palm seven times before the Lord. 28 Some of the oil in his palm he is to put on the same places he put the blood of the guilt offering—on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of their right hand and on the big toe of their right foot. 29 The rest of the oil in his palm the priest shall put on the head of the one to be cleansed, to make atonement for them before the Lord. 30 Then he shall sacrifice the doves or the young pigeons, such as the person can afford, 31 one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering, together with the grain offering. In this way the priest will make atonement before the Lord on behalf of the one to be cleansed.”

32 These are the regulations for anyone who has a defiling skin disease and who cannot afford the regular offerings for their cleansing.

Cleansing From Defiling Molds

33 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 34 “When you enter the land of Canaan, which I am giving you as your possession, and I put a spreading mold in a house in that land, 35 the owner of the house must go and tell the priest, ‘I have seen something that looks like a defiling mold in my house.’ 36 The priest is to order the house to be emptied before he goes in to examine the mold, so that nothing in the house will be pronounced unclean. After this the priest is to go in and inspect the house. 37 He is to examine the mold on the walls, and if it has greenish or reddish depressions that appear to be deeper than the surface of the wall, 38 the priest shall go out the doorway of the house and close it up for seven days. 39 On the seventh day the priest shall return to inspect the house. If the mold has spread on the walls, 40 he is to order that the contaminated stones be torn out and thrown into an unclean place outside the town. 41 He must have all the inside walls of the house scraped and the material that is scraped off dumped into an unclean place outside the town. 42 Then they are to take other stones to replace these and take new clay and plaster the house.

43 “If the defiling mold reappears in the house after the stones have been torn out and the house scraped and plastered, 44 the priest is to go and examine it and, if the mold has spread in the house, it is a persistent defiling mold; the house is unclean. 45 It must be torn down—its stones, timbers and all the plaster—and taken out of the town to an unclean place.

46 “Anyone who goes into the house while it is closed up will be unclean till evening. 47 Anyone who sleeps or eats in the house must wash their clothes.

48 “But if the priest comes to examine it and the mold has not spread after the house has been plastered, he shall pronounce the house clean, because the defiling mold is gone. 49 To purify the house he is to take two birds and some cedar wood, scarlet yarn and hyssop. 50 He shall kill one of the birds over fresh water in a clay pot. 51 Then he is to take the cedar wood, the hyssop, the scarlet yarn and the live bird, dip them into the blood of the dead bird and the fresh water, and sprinkle the house seven times. 52 He shall purify the house with the bird’s blood, the fresh water, the live bird, the cedar wood, the hyssop and the scarlet yarn. 53 Then he is to release the live bird in the open fields outside the town. In this way he will make atonement for the house, and it will be clean.”

54 These are the regulations for any defiling skin disease, for a sore, 55 for defiling molds in fabric or in a house, 56 and for a swelling, a rash or a shiny spot, 57 to determine when something is clean or unclean.

These are the regulations for defiling skin diseases and defiling molds.

**The Hebrew word for defiling skin disease, traditionally translated “leprosy,” was used for various diseases affecting the skin.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

If it seems overkill to rid the camp of disease by shaving all the hair from their bodies, both male and female, then you have never experienced a lice epidemic among students.  Lice are tiny insects who spread like wildfire and jump from student to student. Lice embedded themselves at the nap of the neck and hide in hair.

Only the purchase of special prescribed solutions from the local pharmacy can be used at home to wash everything that the student has come in contact with so the lice can be eradicated from their home.  The student’s hair is washed several times until they are declared “clean” from the invasion of lice!  Long ago, many parents would shave their heads, as recommended by some doctors, if shampooing was not cleansing enough! When all cleansing procedures were completed; the school nurse had the final say regarding reentry into the classroom!  So, we get it!

A complete cleansing takes effort but is good for the overall health of God’s beloved.

Failure to obey these regulations was considered sin. While following God’s laws did provide good hygienic results, they also separated the pure and clean from the impure and unclean. Israel was to be distinct from the pagan nations surrounding them. Obedience to God shows our desire to be holy before a Holy God!

Although it was discouraging to read chapter 13, with its emphasis on uncleanness and isolation. But chapter 14 brings us that ray of hope that we need: A person with a skin disease can be cleansed and restored!

Sometimes we need the bad news of judgment before we can appreciate the good news of salvation!  Warren Wiersbe paints a beautiful picture of salvation from the sickness of sin;

“The steps in the person’s cleansing and restoration picture to us what Jesus Christ has done for sinners. The priest goes to the sufferer. Since the unclean person wasn’t permitted to enter the camp, the priest had to go outside the camp to minister to him or her. “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which is lost” (Luke 19:10). When He ministered here on earth, Jesus was called “a friend of tax collectors and sinners” (Luke 7:34); He compared Himself to a doctor helping his needy patients (Matthew 9:10–13). As God’s Great Physician, Jesus makes “house calls” and comes to sinners right where they are. In the case of the Hebrew person with a skin disease, the priest went out to investigate and determine if indeed the victim was healed, but Jesus comes to us that He might heal us of the sickness of sin.”—Wiersbe Study Bible

Consider the significance of the offerings:

  • The sin offering shows Christ atoning for a person’s sin.
  • The trespass offering reminds us that Christ paid the debt we owed to God because, like the diseased person, we were unable to serve Him during our days of uncleanness.
  • In the burnt offering, the man dedicated himself completely to God, and the grain offering displayed the perfections of Christ accepted for the imperfections of the worshiper.

Wiersbe notes that the priest ceremonially treated the now cleansed like a fellow priest!  The priest put the blood of the trespass offering on the man’s right ear, right thumb, and right big toe. He sprinkled oil on the man seven times and then put the oil on the blood that was already on his ear, thumb, and toe. After that, he poured the oil on the man’s head. These are the same details given to Moses to be used when he ordained Aaron and his sons!  What grace, that God should treat a former unclean person like a priest! Six times in this section the Lord declares that the priest “purified” the man, which means that his sins were forgiven.

But then again, isn’t that who God is? –Full of grace, abounding in mercy with unending love for all people who come to Him, seeking to be well from the sickness of our sins?  The answer is yes, and amen!

I am reminded of an old hymn of my childhood that I now recall and fully understand—

Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?


Are you washed in the blood,
In the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless?
Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

After our own cleansing; we become “joint heirs” with Jesus, members of his royal priesthood, with a mission.  Go to where the sick in sin people are and teach them how too be cleansed by Jesus!  Then baptism them as a public profession of their cleansing by the blood of the Lamb!

Lord,

I love how you guide our thoughts and lead us to connect the dots of your love, mercy, and grace from Genesis to Revelation!  I’m yours and I’m listening!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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PRIESTS—AGENTS FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASE CONTROL

Posted on January 8, 2025 by randscallawayffm

It was not fun when the chicken pox spread throughout our children’s elementary school near the close of the school year.  We spent the first weeks of summer vacation tending to the itchy, swollen rashes that wreaked havoc on their skin.  “I even itch on the inside” was the pitiful cry of one of our kids.  I didn’t know there was an epidemic until it came to our house.  I didn’t notice anything wrong until I bathed both of our girls in the same tub of water and saw the first bumps on our oldest daughter.  By then it was too late.  Both were exposed, then later our son.  The days of isolation for all of us was challenging but we got through it.

Skin diseases are noticed by anyone glancing at you and immediately signal that something might be wrong.  We all work hard to avoid being exposed to what might be spreading, don’t we?  In the days of Moses, it was imperative for God to create a system for regulating the health of the hundreds of thousands of people traveling together through the desert wilderness. Imagine it! There are no doctors, as such.  So, God gave medical oversight to His priests who will have the authority to examine skin abnormalities to prevent the spreading of disease.  They are under the leading and guidance of The Great Physician who created us.  God, as always, is very detailed.

Leviticus 13

Regulations About Defiling Skin Diseases

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 2 “When anyone has a swelling or a rash or a shiny spot on their skin that may be a defiling skin disease, they must be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons who is a priest. 3 The priest is to examine the sore on the skin, and if the hair in the sore has turned white and the sore appears to be more than skin deep, it is a defiling skin disease. When the priest examines that person, he shall pronounce them ceremonially unclean. 4 If the shiny spot on the skin is white but does not appear to be more than skin deep and the hair in it has not turned white, the priest is to isolate the affected person for seven days. 5 On the seventh day the priest is to examine them, and if he sees that the sore is unchanged and has not spread in the skin, he is to isolate them for another seven days. 6 On the seventh day the priest is to examine them again, and if the sore has faded and has not spread in the skin, the priest shall pronounce them clean; it is only a rash. They must wash their clothes, and they will be clean. 7 But if the rash does spread in their skin after they have shown themselves to the priest to be pronounced clean, they must appear before the priest again. 8 The priest is to examine that person, and if the rash has spread in the skin, he shall pronounce them unclean; it is a defiling skin disease.

9 “When anyone has a defiling skin disease, they must be brought to the priest. 10 The priest is to examine them, and if there is a white swelling in the skin that has turned the hair white and if there is raw flesh in the swelling, 11 it is a chronic skin disease and the priest shall pronounce them unclean. He is not to isolate them, because they are already unclean.

12 “If the disease breaks out all over their skin and, so far as the priest can see, it covers all the skin of the affected person from head to foot, 13 the priest is to examine them, and if the disease has covered their whole body, he shall pronounce them clean. Since it has all turned white, they are clean. 14 But whenever raw flesh appears on them, they will be unclean. 15 When the priest sees the raw flesh, he shall pronounce them unclean. The raw flesh is unclean; they have a defiling disease. 16 If the raw flesh changes and turns white, they must go to the priest. 17 The priest is to examine them, and if the sores have turned white, the priest shall pronounce the affected person clean; then they will be clean.

18 “When someone has a boil on their skin and it heals, 19 and in the place where the boil was, a white swelling or reddish-white spot appears, they must present themselves to the priest. 20 The priest is to examine it, and if it appears to be more than skin deep and the hair in it has turned white, the priest shall pronounce that person unclean. It is a defiling skin disease that has broken out where the boil was. 21 But if, when the priest examines it, there is no white hair in it and it is not more than skin deep and has faded, then the priest is to isolate them for seven days. 22 If it is spreading in the skin, the priest shall pronounce them unclean; it is a defiling disease. 23 But if the spot is unchanged and has not spread, it is only a scar from the boil, and the priest shall pronounce them clean.

24 “When someone has a burn on their skin and a reddish-white or white spot appears in the raw flesh of the burn, 25 the priest is to examine the spot, and if the hair in it has turned white, and it appears to be more than skin deep, it is a defiling disease that has broken out in the burn. The priest shall pronounce them unclean; it is a defiling skin disease. 26 But if the priest examines it and there is no white hair in the spot and if it is not more than skin deep and has faded, then the priest is to isolate them for seven days. 27 On the seventh day the priest is to examine that person, and if it is spreading in the skin, the priest shall pronounce them unclean; it is a defiling skin disease. 28 If, however, the spot is unchanged and has not spread in the skin but has faded, it is a swelling from the burn, and the priest shall pronounce them clean; it is only a scar from the burn.

29 “If a man or woman has a sore on their head or chin, 30 the priest is to examine the sore, and if it appears to be more than skin deep and the hair in it is yellow and thin, the priest shall pronounce them unclean; it is a defiling skin disease on the head or chin. 31 But if, when the priest examines the sore, it does not seem to be more than skin deep and there is no black hair in it, then the priest is to isolate the affected person for seven days. 32 On the seventh day the priest is to examine the sore, and if it has not spread and there is no yellow hair in it and it does not appear to be more than skin deep, 33 then the man or woman must shave themselves, except for the affected area, and the priest is to keep them isolated another seven days. 34 On the seventh day the priest is to examine the sore, and if it has not spread in the skin and appears to be no more than skin deep, the priest shall pronounce them clean. They must wash their clothes, and they will be clean. 35 But if the sore does spread in the skin after they are pronounced clean, 36 the priest is to examine them, and if he finds that the sore has spread in the skin, he does not need to look for yellow hair; they are unclean. 37 If, however, the sore is unchanged so far as the priest can see, and if black hair has grown in it, the affected person is healed. They are clean, and the priest shall pronounce them clean.

38 “When a man or woman has white spots on the skin, 39 the priest is to examine them, and if the spots are dull white, it is a harmless rash that has broken out on the skin; they are clean.

40 “A man who has lost his hair and is bald is clean. 41 If he has lost his hair from the front of his scalp and has a bald forehead, he is clean. 42 But if he has a reddish-white sore on his bald head or forehead, it is a defiling disease breaking out on his head or forehead. 43 The priest is to examine him, and if the swollen sore on his head or forehead is reddish-white like a defiling skin disease, 44 the man is diseased and is unclean. The priest shall pronounce him unclean because of the sore on his head.

45 “Anyone with such a defiling disease must wear torn clothes, let their hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of their face and cry out, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ 46 As long as they have the disease, they remain unclean. They must live alone; they must live outside the camp.

Regulations About Defiling Molds

47 “As for any fabric that is spoiled with a defiling mold—any woolen or linen clothing, 48 any woven or knitted material of linen or wool, any leather or anything made of leather— 49 if the affected area in the fabric, the leather, the woven or knitted material, or any leather article, is greenish or reddish, it is a defiling mold and must be shown to the priest. 50 The priest is to examine the affected area and isolate the article for seven days. 51 On the seventh day he is to examine it, and if the mold has spread in the fabric, the woven or knitted material, or the leather, whatever its use, it is a persistent defiling mold; the article is unclean. 52 He must burn the fabric, the woven or knitted material of wool or linen, or any leather article that has been spoiled; because the defiling mold is persistent, the article must be burned.

53 “But if, when the priest examines it, the mold has not spread in the fabric, the woven or knitted material, or the leather article, 54 he shall order that the spoiled article be washed. Then he is to isolate it for another seven days. 55 After the article has been washed, the priest is to examine it again, and if the mold has not changed its appearance, even though it has not spread, it is unclean. Burn it, no matter which side of the fabric has been spoiled. 56 If, when the priest examines it, the mold has faded after the article has been washed, he is to tear the spoiled part out of the fabric, the leather, or the woven or knitted material. 57 But if it reappears in the fabric, in the woven or knitted material, or in the leather article, it is a spreading mold; whatever has the mold must be burned. 58 Any fabric, woven or knitted material, or any leather article that has been washed and is rid of the mold, must be washed again. Then it will be clean.”

59 These are the regulations concerning defiling molds in woolen or linen clothing, woven or knitted material, or any leather article, for pronouncing them clean or unclean.

**The Hebrew word for defiling skin disease, traditionally translated “leprosy,” was used for various diseases affecting the skin.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

We learn that leprosy was the most dreaded skin disease of all to God’s people.  They believed it was infectious so to guard the healthy from exposing others in among family and friends; they were to immediately isolate themselves by living outside the camp until they died of the disease.  Leprosy was a flesh-eating disease that caused fear among those who had it or saw it. There was no sign of relief, only an impending slow death.  Knowing this makes the healing of Jesus of those with leprosy even more miraculous and compassionately wonderful! 

Jesus, The Great Healer, came to heal, save, and set the captive free from not only sin but from being ostracized from the community.  Jesus demonstrated the love of God when He showed compassion for the outcasts that no one else dared to touch or come near.  Some family members would leave food for the infected but would not touch or extend their love to them in any other way or they would be considered unclean.  Imagine being told by Jesus, “who touched them” with His healing Hand to go now and tell the priests you are well!  Now, we know the reason they must go the priest who will examine them with authority to pronounce them clean so they can reenter the neighborhood!

How like leprosy is sin! “When desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death” (James 1:15).  Sin is also a progressive disease that hinders our growth of an intimate relationship with God that He lovingly desires with us.

Sin unexamined, undiagnosed, and unhealed by not believing in Jesus who died for our sins; affects all those around us and will also lead to death if left unchecked and unresolved.  We have a choice of eternal life and a growing relationship with God because of Jesus’ work on the cross—or death.

Warren Wiersbe writes;

“Sin is more than skin-deep. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. Who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). The word translated “wicked” in Jeremiah 17:9 means “sick” and can be translated “beyond cure.” Sin is not a surface problem that can be solved with simple remedies, like trying to cure cancer with hand lotion. Sin comes from within, from fallen human nature; unless the heart is changed, there can be no solving of the sin problem. Paul wrote, “I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find” (Romans 7:18). Those who talk about the “innate goodness of man” know neither the Bible nor their own hearts.”–Wiersbe Study Bible

Why this parallel discussion of skin and sin?  As skin illnesses had to be examined by priests and confirmed as clean or unclean; God’s Holy Spirit examines our hearts, minds, and souls; “diagnosing” us of the status of our spiritual health and relationship with God daily.

Jesus told His disciples of God’s Holy Spirit who God would send when Jesus ascended to heaven.  God, the Father, Jesus, the Son, and now the Holy Spirit—THREE in one Person, contributing to the spiritual health of our beings created in His image.  Amazing!

This truth is a lot to internalize for lost humanity.  But when we truly believe what God says about who He is; who Jesus is and what He did to save us; with who the Holy Spirit is and that He lives within us to guide us to spiritual health; we are found!

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Paul writes. (Romans 3:23) But the remedy to cleanse us of all sin, to be remembered no more, is accomplished by humbly uttering the words, “I believe you, Jesus.  I believe that you died in my place for my sins. My desire is to now follow what you say is right and good.  I want to know you, dear Jesus, who is the Way to eternal life with God, our Father. Thank you, for all you have done to give me a healthier spiritual life that knows no bounds in growing in your love, mercy, and grace.”  In Jesus Name, Amen, I believe. Our high priest then declares us clean.

Lord,

I believe.  And I’m listening.

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GOD TEACHES DISCIPLINED HEALTH PRACTICES

Posted on January 7, 2025 by randscallawayffm

Randy and I decided to walk 3-5 miles daily to strengthen our heart’s ability to keep us alive and well.  If the weather is nice, we walk the paths through our neighborhood.  (Praying over the neighborhoods is good, too) If the weather is not as nice, we walk indoors on a path the width of our home, which isn’t that long so it takes many laps to accomplish our goal.  After diligently doing this for a couple of years, we invested in a small treadmill, to help us reach our goal more efficiently. 

Walking was a unified decision on our part.  The decision made was influenced by considering what quality of life we preferred.  Did we want to live a sedentary life on the couch that leads to diminished energy levels; or did we want to remain as active as possible with our energy levels consistently renewed daily?  We also love to serve—not to be served so the later alternative fit us.  These decisions are indeed a lifestyle choice.  We chose walking with some stretches added so our bodies in this season of life can be at their best.

If we learned anything at all during Covid; we were clearly made aware that clean health practices matter to the quality of life we desire!  We must be cleansed from the diseases that enter our world daily.  So, we do our part to cleanse ourselves daily.  Our personal hygiene affects the health of those we live with and those we encounter daily. 

God who created the working of our bodies, is now teaching His beloved people who are walking through the wilderness on their journey to the promised land with how to handle bodily fluids because of childbirth, a women’s cycle, and the circumcision of male babies on the “eighth day” which makes it easier to keep boys clean and healthy. To us now, it all makes sense.  God made a way for purification.  To be declared “clean” promoted good health among His people. 

Leviticus 12

Purification After Childbirth

The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Say to the Israelites: ‘A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during her monthly period. 3 On the eighth day the boy is to be circumcised. 4 Then the woman must wait thirty-three days to be purified from her bleeding. She must not touch anything sacred or go to the sanctuary until the days of her purification are over. 5 If she gives birth to a daughter, for two weeks the woman will be unclean, as during her period. Then she must wait sixty-six days to be purified from her bleeding.

6 “‘When the days of her purification for a son or daughter are over, she is to bring to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting a year-old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a dove for a sin offering. 7 He shall offer them before the Lord to make atonement for her, and then she will be ceremonially clean from her flow of blood.

“‘These are the regulations for the woman who gives birth to a boy or a girl. 8 But if she cannot afford a lamb, she is to bring two doves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean.’”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

I gave birth to three children in my lifetime. Every mom develops rituals to protect the cleanliness and health of their newborns.  Our goal is to keep our beloved infant alive and well!  It’s “inborn” to care for our offspring.  We also understand the care we must take of our own bodies as new moms.

Nothing in Leviticus 12 should be interpreted to teach that human sexuality is “dirty,” that pregnancy is defiling, or that babies are impure. God created humans “male and female” (Genesis 1:27), and when God declared His creation to be “very good” (Genesis 1:31), that declaration included sex and reproduction. He commanded our first parents to “be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:28). Scripture presents children as blessings from God.  Jesus blessed babies and children when he walked the earth!

Therefore, the theme of this chapter is not personal holiness but ritual purification for the mother, without which she could not return to normal life in her home and in the camp. So, God set forth his laws for purity. These laws included food, childbirth, skin diseases, and bodily fluids for their own protection.  While following God’s laws did provide good hygienic results, they also separated the pure and clean from the impure and unclean. Israel was to be distinct from the pagan nations surrounding them who did not.

Today, we make decisions daily that may not be popular but may be proper.  Do what is right even when no one is looking over your shoulder may not be popular for instance, but it is what God is asking for us to achieve.  The silly “five second rule” for instance, is not a rule to follow when food falls on the dirty floor or ground.  Our goal is good health with less disease.  We all must be taught what is pure as well as holy.  God still teaches us to do what is right today through His Holy Spirit!

God’s Holy Spirit is our guide to wisdom when making decisions.  Many in the world make decisions based on the blowing of the winds of opinion and popularity. But we learn when we follow God that the majority is not always right. If the majority had ruled, the children of Israel never would have left Egypt. They would have voted to stay in bondage. If the majority had ruled, David never would have fought Goliath. His brothers would have voted for him to stay with the sheep.

What’s the point? We must listen to God’s Holy Spirit within us who guides us to all that is true and right.  God says we’re on your way to becoming His disciple when you can keep a clear head and a pure heart before Him.

If we do all that is right, will we escape sickness, heart disease, cancer and other health issues that can lead to our passing?  No, but we can follow a regimen that leads to a better quality of life before God takes us home in His time.  We know our days are numbered.  Walking with Him here prepares us for walking with Him forever!  And when we do what is right and good, God remembers. 

So, in the meantime, we’ll keep walking!  Peace comes from knowing God and doing what He says.

The End Game—Is only the beginning!

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.” –Jesus, John 14:1-3

Lord,

May we always look beyond what we see if front us to what lies ahead with expectant hope.  Help us to look beyond Moses to Jesus Christ, the Great Physician, who was wounded that we might be healed as the prophet Isaiah wrote. To you be the glory for teaching, healing, leading, and guiding us to all the is true and right for our good.  Thank you, thank you, thank you! Make us holy as you purify our hearts, minds, and souls.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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