Blog Archives - FELICIA BRIDGES, AUTHOR

FELICIA BRIDGES, AUTHOR

Leviticus 12

2/18/2020

Leviticus 12 details the process for purification following the birth of a child. We can struggle to understand the historical and cultural context that viewed a woman as spiritually “unclean” following a miraculous process of procreation designed by God Himself.

But the portion of this chapter that really captured my attention is verse 6: “When her days of purification are complete, whether for a son or daughter, she is to bring to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting a year-old male lamb for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering.”

Why is that so fascinating?

Well, let’s view this requirement in light of a specific birth story that is familiar to most believers, found in Luke 2.

Following Jesus’s birth, we read, “And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were finished, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every firstborn male will be dedicated to the Lord) and to offer a sacrifice (according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons).” (Verses 22-24)

So where was Mary’s lamb, which was to be given as a burnt offering? Leviticus 12:8 explains, “But if she doesn’t have sufficient means for a sheep, she may take two turtledoves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering.”

We learn that Mary and Joseph lacked the resources to even provide a lamb for a burnt offering. Instead they provided a pair of turtledoves or pigeons. Note that these offerings were not something they would have had on hand, but rather something they would have to hunt or trap in order to bring as an offering.

Like us, they had no capability to meet the law’s requirements apart from the provision of God.

Leviticus 11

2/17/2020

Leviticus 11 describes the dietary laws and I'm so thankful I happened to be visiting my daughter and her husband, who had a copy of Dr. Mark Rooker's commentary on Leviticus, as I was studying this chapter. The dietary laws are some of the most challenging to understand, with many different possible explanations offered. But as Dr. Rooker contends, many of these explanations have difficulties that are not easily resolved.

In the end, these dietary laws are less about the specific symbolism, behavior, or physical characteristics of the animals, and more about God. They illustrate that God is God and we are not. Just as in the Garden of Eden God decreed that Adam and Eve were not to eat fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, not because there was anything wrong with it, but simply because God set a rule for them to follow. The Israelites were to be set apart from the populations around them, but also, and more importantly, the laws God provided were intended to allow them to fellowship with God. In essence, all of the Levitical laws illustrated a reversal of the fall in order to restore the fellowship with God that was broken when Adam and Eve violated God's only rule for them.

We can get so caught up with trying to understand why God tells us something and lose sight of the most important thing -- that God told us so. I know I always balked if my parents told me to do something "because they said so," but the reality is that God created the universe, He created us, and sometimes we need to obey simply because "He said so." God is not obligated to provide an explanation for His rules for us. He is not required to even have a reason for the rules He gives us.

There are times when, as a Mom, I've had to tell my kids "no" to something for reasons that were beyond their understanding. I wanted them to trust that I love them and always have their best interest in mind. In the same way, God desires a relationship with us that includes trusting Him. Trusting that He loves us and trusting that the rules He provides are for our good even when we aren't able to understand how or why.

Leviticus 10

2/16/2020

Leviticus 10 is the memorable story of Nadab and Abihu. The first time I read this account, I wondered why they were struck down...and how were they to know what fire was authorized and what was not, or if you have a KJV Bible, what fire was "strange" and what was normal?

To understand this chapter, we have to go back to the last verse in chapter 9, "And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the pieces of fat on the altar, and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces."

The authorized fire that Aaron and his sons were commanded to use for the altar of incense was the fire from the altar of sacrifice that they were to keep burning day and night. This fire had been lit by God himself when He accepted the sacrifices made on it at the consecration of the tabernacle.

Aaron and his sons, like those who serve in ministry today, bear a greater responsibility because they are leading others by their example. If they treat the things of God as common, those who follow them will do the same. If they fail to give honor and reverence to the Lord, for He is Holy, how can they expect the congregation to honor God?

This authorized fire was based on sacrifice where the blood of the sacrifice was poured. The "pleasing aroma" was not just the concoction of spices that created the incense, it was the atonement of the sacrifice. "Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin." (Hebrews 9:22) The incense represented intercessory prayer (Revelation 8:4), but without atonement, there is no intercession.

I confess that I sometimes approach God casually, as if Christ's sacrifice on my behalf means I can approach a Holy God like I would my BFF.

But I need to remember that Christ is my intercessor (Hebrews 7:25) and my Great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16). I can only directly approach the Holy and Righteous God the Father through the Son. Otherwise I, like Abihu and Nadab, would be offering unauthorized fire. I'd be trying to cut to the chase and worship God without going through the One who offered Himself as my sin offering.

I'm so thankful that we can approach Jesus with the intimacy of a friend and that He then carries all our burdens to the Father. His offering is perfect and acceptable to God the Father so that our prayers are heard.

Leviticus 9

2/15/2020

In Leviticus 9, after Aaron and his sons had completed the ordination ceremony that lasted day and night for seven days, they immediately began serving by offering sacrifices for the people. These sacrifices culminated with a display of God's glory that was so unmistakable that it had them on their faces, literally, before God.

What a powerful moment that must have been when they knew without a doubt that they had done what God asked of them and that their sacrifices were acceptable and pleasing to God!

How often do I hem and haw over what God's will is and wonder if I've really done what He asked? Did I hear Him right? Or is it just my own preferences or ideas hijacking my communication with the Almighty? Was I fully submitted to His will, or was I really just trying to get a divine thumbs up on my own plans?

God's will is not an Easter egg that He is hiding from us and watching as we search under every bush and try to find it, laughing at us as we get "hotter" or "colder."

God wants us to know what His will for us is. And He makes His will for us known, with great clarity, in His Word!

But what about all our questions that aren't clearly answered in His Word, questions specific to circumstances in our life at this moment? What college to go to or what field to study? Which house to purchase or which job to take? Or just which restaurant to visit for dinner?

I recognize the voice of my husband and my children because I've listened to them daily for many years, I love them, and I desire to understand them and to know them better. I love hearing them share their lives with me. And I love sharing my life with them.

God is our loving Father. He loves spending time with us. He loves hearing us share about our lives (even though He already knows all about them...even more than we know).

When we regularly spend time with Him, we learn to recognize His voice. We hear Him whisper, "this is the way, walk in it." The more time we spend, the clearer His voice becomes, and the more clearly we see the glory of the Lord and know that the sacrifice we've made, the one mentioned in Romans 12:1, is good and acceptable to Him.

Leviticus 8

2/14/2020

Leviticus 8 details the ritual ordination of Aaron and his sons, setting them apart for service as priests. This consecration follows a pattern or serves as a type that is repeated over a thousand years later through Jesus. First, Aaron was ceremonially washed, representing Jesus's baptism. The priest was dressed in the special, priestly garments, meant to illustrate the glory and majesty of God. Jesus demonstrated this on the mountain of transfiguration for Peter, James, and John.

The sacrifice of a bull and two rams foreshadows the crucifixion, with the bull -- sacrificed for sin -- representing Christ, and the two rams representing the two thieves who were crucified with him. The first ram was slaughtered and completely burnt up, representing the unrepentant thief. He died in his sin and was separated from God eternally. The second ram was still sacrificed, as the second thief still died on his cross, but a portion of the sacrifice, the breast, was given as a wave offering and then served as a feast for the High Priest.

Aaron and his sons were marked with the blood of the sacrifice on the right ear, right thumb, the toe of their right foot symbolizing their role in hearing from God, doing the work of God with their hands, and walking with God.

They were to repeat this process each day, without leaving the tent of meeting, for seven days in order to atone for their OWN sin so that they might then be able to make atonement for the people's sin. This repetition indicates the pervasiveness and recurrent nature of sin. The sacrifice of the bull and rams had to be repeated daily because it was not a permanent atonement.

Finally, Aaron's sons were co-heirs with him of the priesthood. Just as today, believers in Jesus have joined Him in his ministry and partake with Him in both His joy and His suffering (1 Peter 4:13) by following Him. We first follow Him through baptism (Matthew 28:19-20). Then we are clothed with His righteousness (Revelation 7:13-14). We present ourselves a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2). The works we do that are temporal will be consumed by fire, but the portion of eternal value will remain (1 Corinthians 3:11-12). And we will feast with the Great High Priest (Revelation 19:9).

In reading Leviticus, it is easy to wonder, "What does this have to do with me today?"

EVERYTHING.

Leviticus 7

2/13/2020

Leviticus 7 describes the sacrifice of thanksgiving, which was not an entirely separate sacrifice, but was a variety of peace offering. Enjoying the peace of God without being thankful for all that He has done for us is impossible. Peace comes from recognizing God's sovereignty, believing in His goodness and faithfulness to us, and trusting His promises for us.

The thanksgiving offering also differs in that it was to include three types of grain offering - unleavened bread, unleavened wafers, and loaves of (leavened) bread. In most mentions of leaven (yeast) in the bible, the context indicates that leaven represents sin, so why would the thanksgiving offering include a loaf of leavened bread?

First, because our thanks to God are not dependent on us being free of sin, a good thing, since we aren't. We don't give thanks because our lives are perfect, we give thanks because despite our sin, God accepts us. In the sacrificial system, that acceptance followed their sacrifices made to atone for sin, but for us today, Christ is the sacrifice and we can be thankful every day that our sin has been covered by Him.

Another distinction of this sacrifice is that it was brought, not by the priest, but by the individual. It was an offering that the person made to give thanks for all that God had done for them. And it was a sacrifice to be shared with the priest as well as with the one who brought it, magnifying the Lord by sharing what He has done with others.

After offering the sacrifice and waving the offering before the Lord as a visible way of expressing where these resources came from, the offerer and the priest would feast on them together to celebrate God's goodness. But the offering had to be entirely consumed in the day it was offered, none could be kept until the following day. The idea conveyed is that we should give thanks daily.

How often does God provide for us? Daily.

In fact, multiple times throughout each day. This is the origin for our "saying the blessing" or "giving thanks" before a meal -- that we should remind ourselves, and tell others around us, that God provided this meal for us and we are grateful not only for the meal but for all that He has given us.

Leviticus 6

2/12/2020

Leviticus 6, and much of Leviticus may seem more like history lessons rather than wisdom applicable to our day, but the first paragraph of this chapter could definitely be applied to our lives: “If anyone sins and commits a breach of faith against the Lord by deceiving his neighbor in a matter of deposit or security, or through robbery, or if he has oppressed his neighbor or has found something lost and lied about it, swearing falsely—in any of all the things that people do and sin thereby— if he has sinned and has realized his guilt and will restore what he took by robbery or what he got by oppression or the deposit that was committed to him or the lost thing that he found or anything about which he has sworn falsely, he shall restore it in full and shall add a fifth to it, and give it to him to whom it belongs on the day he realizes his guilt."

Hopefully, we aren't in the practice of stealing, deceiving, or oppressing those around us, but how often do we confess and make reparations on the day we realize our guilt? Do we make it right as soon as we recognize it, or do we try to negotiate for more time and look for a way out of the consequences? And how often, even when we "make it right," do we add 20% in reparations?

We're all imperfect, and therefore we all sin against God and against those God has put in our lives whether it is by taking advantage of their generosity or outright theft. We sin against them when we are not truthful or tell only a portion of the truth because the whole truth might make us look bad.

But the command here isn't to not do those things (though obviously that is implied), the command acknowledges that we will commit these sins. But when we realize what we've done, it instructs us in how to make things right. Simply giving back what was taken isn't sufficient. There is 20% restitution required above and beyond the damage. There is a dual purpose in this restitution: First, it is to compensate the victim not only for the actual loss, but also for the breach of trust. Once violated, trust is difficult to earn back. Second, it is to drive home the damage our sin does to others and the high cost to ourselves. It's intended to have a corrective impact on our future behavior. The consequences of sin are steep and this penalty is meant to help us see that.

The verses go on to describe the sin offering required in these instances, which we are no longer required to give as Christ is our sin offering once and for all. With this offering, the priest would make atonement for the Israelites' sin, just as Christ has atoned for our sin, and "he shall be forgiven for any of the things that one may do and thereby become guilty.”

Leviticus 5

2/11/2020

Leviticus 5 explains the guilt offerings which were made when one became aware of unintentional sin. These were times when you found yourself in a situation and realized, after the fact, that you had blown it. There were still consequences, including restitution plus 20% to the person you wronged if there was monetary damage.

Today, we tend to consider intent very heavily. There are even crimes that include the clarifier "with intent," "with intent to harm," or "with intent to kill." And there are those who are absolved of criminal action because the prosecution is unable to prove that there was intent.

But God's Law says that even when we harm unintentionally, there are still consequences. We don't get a pass because we weren't paying attention, were looking at our phone, or hadn't gotten a good night's sleep. As followers of God, we are responsible for our behavior, even when we act without intending harm. Even when we speak without thinking. Even when we are blind to our own bias or error.

We've become a society that sees apologies as weakness or vulnerability. When we admit we've wronged someone, we aren't telling them something they don't know. We're agreeing that it was wrong, acknowledging that we caused pain, and - hopefully - offering to make amends in whatever way we can.

The cost of the guilt offering differed based on the offenders resources. Those with the means, gave a lamb or a goat. Those without these resources could give two doves or pigeons. Notice that doves and pigeons weren't something they "owned" but rather something they would have to capture. Something that would require effort. More than just the words, "I'm sorry."

How do you make amends when you've harmed someone? Jesus paid the debt for our sin against God, but how can we demonstrate our gratitude for that grace?

Leviticus 4

2/10/2020

Leviticus 4 continues to lay out various sacrifices that were commanded for the Israelites. It's easy to read through these detailed descriptions of sacrifices we no longer perform and miss the significance, so I want to pause and draw a picture to help convey what God was asking of them.

Imagine that you are an Israelite, following with Moses God's pillar of cloud by day and fire by night through the desert. You have a small herd of goats. Moses comes down from the mountain (the second time -- you thankfully survived the cleansing of the camp after that debacle with the golden calf). He reports all the things that God has said you were to no longer do. You're pretty sure you can manage it...at least most of them. Well, some of them. You're going to give it a try.

Then Moses announces that if you commit a sin, even unintentionally, when you realize that you've sinned or when someone points out your sin, you must make a sin offering to atone for the wrong you've committed against God. Then Moses begins to describe how this sin offering must be made. He says that you must look over your herd and pick your very best female goat, one that is without any sort of defect. You must bring it to the tabernacle, place your hand on its head and kill it. Then you must sprinkle its blood on the altar and burn on the altar the fat and entrails - but the meat and the hide, the parts of the animal that are the most useful, you must carry outside the camp and incinerate. You must take the very best that you have and burn it up -- that part isn't even the offering, it's just burnt up like garbage.

It's hard to put this in a modern context because most of us don't raise goats. But think about the dependence that the Israelites had upon their flocks. The female goats needed for this sacrifice provided milk, were bred to increase their herd, their meat could be eaten and their skins used for clothes, but all of these uses were lost when the animal was sacrificed. Depending on the size of your herd, if you had trouble keeping the commandments, you could find yourself without any resource for supporting your family pretty quickly.

How seriously do we take the commands of God? Would we take them as lightly if we knew that failure to obey them could leave us penniless without any means of income? How often do we confess and repent -- only to return to the same sin? It was never God's intent that these sacrifices be a kind of ancient indulgence, a sin tax paid to allow us to go on with our sin. The sacrifices were meant to "hit home," to illustrate the destructive nature of sin.

Leviticus 3

2/9/2020

Leviticus 3 describes the peace or fellowship offerings, which differed from the other two types of offerings in practice and meaning. The burnt offering for sin was to be consumed entirely and the freewill offering was to be partially consumed and the remainder given to the priests for their portion.

But the fellowship offering would be partially burnt on the altar with the remainder returned to the one making the offering and shared with the priests or friends. It was a celebratory offering meant to praise God and celebrate His provision and/or to ask God for His provision.

These were freewill offerings not given by command or obligation, but out of gratitude and faith in God to provide all that was needed. God instituted the peace offering as a way to promote fellowship with His people and among His people. The notion was that the people would give thanks for both what God had provided (the sacrifice) and believe in faith for what He would provide, by sharing what they had with priests and with others.

Let's think about that for a moment in our modern context. I got a new job. We went out to dinner to celebrate. Of course, we gave thanks to God for opening this opportunity and for giving me favor with those who made the decision. Maybe we invited friends or family to join in the celebration and paid for their dinner, trusting that through this new job, God had provided the means for us to do so. But do we stop and think about it in terms of our gratitude and our faith?

How often when we enjoy a time of special blessing from the Lord do we celebrate by sharing a portion of God's blessings with others? How often, when we are seeking for God to provide for a specific need, do we give generously to others in faith and anticipation that God will provide, rather than hoarding our resources to try to "help" God meet the need?