In Leviticus 24 and 25 we get a glimpse of the celebrations and justice that God commands for the Israelites. These celebrations were times of remembrance upon what God has done and is doing for the Israelites. The justice comes in the form of the famous line “An Eye for an Eye and a Tooth for a Tooth”
Convocations (celebrations)
- Sabbath – 7th day of the week
- Lord’s Passover – 14th day of the 1st month at twilight
- Feast of Unleavened Bread to the Lord – 15th day of the 1st month
- A day of rest and remembrance – 1st day of the 7th month
- Day of Atonement – 10th day of the 7th month
- Feast of Booths – 15th day of the 7th month a feast of the Lord for 7 days.
God desired that the Israelites remember Him and follow Him. These celebrations are times when the people of Israel had moments to remember and reflect on God. The Feast of Booths was a unique week long celebration once a year where people live in ‘booths’ or temporary structures for the 7 days as a memory to the descendants that God had the people live in booths after leaving egypt. In the time just after leaving Egypt it is easy to remember what God did but as generations pass the memories start to fade and life becomes comfortable in the homes of the people. I think it is all too easy to become comfortable in our lives and we forget where God brought us from. I know that it is easy for me to get too caught up in my daily routine and forget the wonderful help God bestowed upon me.
I love how God desired the Israelites to bring offerings from their first fruits of the field and flock. It is a great reminder to them where harvest comes from. It makes me think of my life with sadness. Do I bring my first fruits or my table scraps to God? Sadly I know that all too often I remember God as an after thought and that is not what He wants from me. Lord grant me the passion to bring you my first fruits!
Random Fact: I love how the lamp of the Tabernacle burned continually. It amazed me because I have no idea how a lamp works. Wouldn’t the wick burn out?
In Leviticus 24 God tells that no one can blaspheme the Name of the Lord. One who does will bear his sin and be stoned. A man did and the people who heard the man blaspheme had to place their hands on the mans head prior to stoning. What an impact it would have been to place your hand on the head of a man to be stoned. God also commanded “Fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth.” as the one standard which the Israelites were to follow. In what ever way a person does a wrong the same will be done to them. It is interesting to look at this form of justice and restitution which was carried out. If someone killed a man they would be killed or if a man killed a cow that cow would be replaced. My mind is drawn to Matthew 5:38-42 where Jesus talks about ‘an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth’. Jesus tells us not to resist if someone want to slap us, sue us, force us to walk, or borrow from us. How do these two passages meet up between Exodus and Matthew? If restitution and justice are the point of the command in Exodus what had changed between Exodus 24 and Matthew 5? How does the truth and reality of Jesus Christ change how we act? Since Christ came to fulfill the law and not nullify it what does this all mean? I think the answer can be found in the end of Matthew chapter 5 where Jesus says “But I say to you love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you so, that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and unrighteous.” Matthew 5:44-45 Jesus is telling us to love, respect, and pray for those who hate us. If we are children of God and walking in fellowship with God this will not be a burden. I know that my flesh will want to rise up and take control because it is not natural to let people do evil upon us but God calls us to be perfect as He is perfect in verse 48. I need to live my life in thankfulness always remembering what God has done for me. It will be a daily process of turning to God but in the end does anything else matter?
