Leviticus
7 – 9
Verse 7:1 opens with the guilt offering instructions:
Here are the instructions for
the ritual of the guilt offering; it is most sacred.
As I read the instructions to each of these offerings, it
does not seem as clean as just cutting a lamb’s throat. After draining the blood, splattering it
around and then dealing with the fat and organs, it must be horribly
bloody. This is especially the case when
it is done for the people and each of their offerings. My sister took some
pictures of sacrificial offerings somewhere in the Middle East, it was very
bloody.
Verse 7:19 in the middle of this gives a very important
instruction:
Do not eat meat that comes in
contact with any impure thing. Burn it up completely. As for any remaining meat
that is pure, people who are ritually clean may eat it.
Today we assume the power of antibacterial soaps and
refrigeration will keep us safe but food borne illness is still a common cause
of death today. The Israelites figured out cleanliness and ensuring their food
was as safe as it could be. You look at their dietary and cleanliness laws and
you see why the nation was often targeted. Ironic that instead of adopting
their diet, hygiene or farming (like in modern day Israel) the enemy will
attack to destroy the nation. If Europe had learned from Israel in the Middle
Ages the Black Plague would not have been as bad.
Verse 8:12 has Moses anointing Aaron and his sons:
Moses poured some of the oil on
Aaron’s head and anointed him to set him apart as head of the priestly
order.
Anointing with oil is something I still do not understand
much. I have been anointed a few times, had oils spread around the home and
other places yet I don’t understand why it’s done. Well I do see God asks us to
do it and that should be good enough, but I wonder why a special blend of oil.
Do most who anoint these days ensure they get that blend or do they just use
vegetable oil? I understand the meaning of being set aside for God, just don’t
understand why it is oil.
Verse 9:23 is something I pray for often:
Moses and Aaron entered the
congregation tent. When they returned, they blessed the people, and the Eternal
One’s glory appeared to all the people.
How much easier explaining God would be if He appeared to
the people. We could easily point to God and say “see He is real”. As we see
over and over again, when God does this it helps that generation, but is
quickly lost in future generations. God needed to bring us the Holy Spirit with
Jesus in order for us to understand personally. Unfortunately it is not a
definitive light in the sky, but it gives each and every one who receives Jesus
an understanding of God. So pray for God to reveal himself, but don’t expect it
to happen in a grand display, but rather a subtitle display.