Old Testament Lessons

This year in Bible Study Fellowship, we’re studying the life of Moses.  There was a day when I would have groaned at the mere suggestion of reading Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers.  Leviticus?  Really?  It now strikes me as one of the most interesting books in the Bible.  I’ve read it three times this year, only once because it was assigned.  Leviticus shows how well God knows us, how we think, and how we try to get around God.  It’s about about holiness, holy living, and how we fall short.  One of the messages I learned from this book is that ignorance is no excuse.  I’m accountable for every sin I commit, even the ones I don’t know I committed.  The old “I didn’t know” doesn’t wash with God.  That conscience built into our DNA is there for a reason, no matter how hard we try to deny the truth.  Whether you believe or not, God will have the final word.

Hence, our need for a Savior.  Thank You, Jesus, for taking my sins upon Yourself.  I owe You my life.  I want You to have it!

No matter how many times I read the Bible, I always discover something new.  That – ‘Oh, wow!  I never even thought about that!” moment.   Some of the BSF notes pointed out that there is a progression in the way God foreshadowed His plan for salvation.  One animal for one person:  an animal was slain for Adam and one for Eve (in order for them to have clothing to cover them after they lost their innocence and wanted to hide themselves).  One lamb for one family:  a lamb was killed and the blood put on the door lintels and posts so that the angel of death would Passover a family during the plagues God sent upon Egypt. One lamb for one nation:  A perfect lamb was slaughtered for a nation of Israel (on the Atonement Day).  One Lamb of God for the entire world:  Jesus born of a virgin impregnated by the Holy Spirit lived a perfect, sinless life so that He (God Himself) could be the perfect sacrifice for our sin –thereby opening the way for us to be in relationship with Him. 

Thinking about that made me think about other progressions in scripture.

God visited Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. 

Moses had to climb a mountain to talk to God.

God lived in the Tabernacle in the middle of the camp of His chosen people.

Jesus made it possible for believers to have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

How amazing!  First, a visit.  Then a hard climb up a mountain to His Presence inside a tent in the middle of a camp, then to His Holy Presence living inside each believer.  That gives me a wow! feeling.  When you go back to the first chapters of Genesis, God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  From the beginning, God created us for a deep, abiding, intimate, ever-lasting relationship with Him. 

We made a mess in the Garden and we make a mess of our lives today.  And yet, God still loves us. He still pursues a relationship with each of us.   My answer to Him is:   Yes, Lord!  Yes!  Thank You, God.  Yes!