This day the Lod your God commands you to do these statutes and ordinances. You shall therefore be careful to do them with all your heart and with all your soul. You have today declared the Lord to be your God, and that you would walk in His ways and keep His statutes, His commandments and His ordinances, and listen to His voice. The Lord has today declared you to be His people, a treasured possession, as He promised you, and that you should keep all His commandments; and that He will set you high above all nations which He has made, for praise, fame, and honor; and that you shall be a consecrated people to the Lord your God, as He has spoken.

Deuteronomy 26:16-19 NASB

These verses in chapter 26 describe the relationship that the people of Israel had with God. He wanted them to obey Him and He wanted to bless them for praise, fame, and honor. It makes sense that there were so many different commandments that were given to the people by God because He wanted them to live a life set apart from the sinful ways of the world. God desires that I also would live my life set apart from the ways of the world around me. I am to be a light of truth in the midst of a dark and sinful world. I know that I am not always living out my faith as I should but I desire to change. Lord, help me to not hide in this world but let me live my life as a testimony to You.

Deuteronomy chapter 25 continues the listing of sundry laws started in chapter 24. Every law listed is to keep the people pure and set apart from the sinful ways of the world. I am currently looking for a job and I am excited to start earning a salary but in Deuteronomy chapter 26 Moses reminds the people to offer their first fruits to God. In offering their first fruits to God the people acknowledged that they are only where they are because of God’s blessing. Was this offering a way to keep pride in check? I am excited to get a job but I do not want the income to become an idol that draws me away from God. I want need to remember to offer from my first fruits to God. In acknowledging and embracing my inability to do anything apart from God I am humbled and reminded of my need for God.

Then the story in Numbers gets even more incredible. Moses enters the tent of meeting and God speaks with him from above the mercy seat between the two cherubim upon the Ark of the Testimony. How did Moses feel by now? He had spoken with God frequently and most notably at a burning bush. I don’t know if I could ever take it lightly to come before God’s presence. It makes me look upon my own life and how I approach God. Do I come to God in prayer with awe and wonder? Do I thirst for time in His presence?

Numbers chapter 8 we have all of the Levites cleansed and taken into the service of the Tabernacle. The Levites were presented as a wave offering before the Lord from the Israelites. The Israelites were instructed to place their hands upon the Levites. This must have been an incredibly solemn and personal moment between the Israelites and the Levites. It was no animal that was being offered to God it was the Levites being presented to be worthy of service. It is interesting looking back at the laws laid down in Leviticus about sacrifices. When an offering was made it became holy and the possession of the priests and used by God. The Levites were given as a gift from God to Aaron and his sons to perform service. I do not know if I can convey my amazement about how this truly amazes me. The Levites were an offering! Not and offering like the pagans who offered people as blood sacrifices these Levites were set apart in service to God. Looking forward to the promised Messiah, Jesus Christ, He also served humanity in love by dying on the cross.

I am throughly enjoying taking this time to read through the Bible and blog about it as I read. I pray that you too find this an encouragement and may you be spurred to know God in a more personal way through reading through the Bible.

Do I run to God? Abram saw God and ran to Him and offered the best he had. Sometimes I find that I am so easily distracted by life that I don’t give God what he deserves. When I worship my God do I do it while I think about the worries of the world? It makes me think about what I do that is for sure. Jesus died on the cross for my sins and I didn’t deserve it but God loved me enough to save me. For that I am so very grateful.