READING FOR AUGUST 20, 2024: LEVITICUS 10, LUKE 11, PSALM 83 LEVITICUS 10 After experiencing the overwhelming presence of God’s glory, the next event recorded is the tragic death of Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu. Remember how literally Moses had everyone follow God’s detailed instructions in order for God to show His acceptance by His consuming fire? Now, apparently Nadab and Abihu sought a similar experience of God’s glory but not according to God’s revealed instructions. Is this a lesson for today? Our culture is all about seeking great experiences achieved through our own means other than God’s revealed will. God’s response might not be consuming us with fire immediately, but Jesus actually promises His eventual judgment for those rejecting Him: “But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment than for you” (Luke 10:14).
In verses 4-7 Moses barked out orders to Aaron and his family rather than offer sympathy. This seems unfeeling, but he was trying to prevent anything more devastating from happening. He was, in fact, helping. In verses 8-11 God spoke directly to Aaron to provide clarity regarding what’s considered profane and holy. Again, this could be seen as prevention. He also gave him a clear task to teach the sons of Israel, perhaps providing some purpose to the family.
In verses 12-15 Moses again gets very directive with Aaron on proper procedure. Since the terrible incident of the gold calf, Aaron, the older brother, had been the model of obedience. Now Moses’s anger flairs again because Aaron and his surviving sons had not eaten their portion of goat for the sin offering. Aaron had been silent throughout this ordeal. Finally, he asks, given all that’s happened, would God have been pleased had he eaten that day? There can be wisdom gained through grief that’s unavailable any other way. Moses was stopped in his tracks and stopped barking orders. He had to agree with Aaron.
From our perspective, it’s understandable to think God was too hard on Nadab and Abihu. For many decades our teachers and pastors have drummed into us that God is love. Of course, God is love, more than we can ever imagine. What hasn’t been brought to our attention is that God is holy and calls us to be holy. We have violated God’s word because, like Nadab and Abihu, we don’t think it’s a big deal or it really applies to us. But God’s love is so great that, while maintaining the total holiness that we read about here, He sent to the cross His only Son. The collected sins of all humanity were laid on Him by the Father, as symbolized here by laying hands on the animal’s head. He was slaughtered at the cross to atone for our sins, even though he violated no law, as opposed to Aaron’s sons. He experienced the Father’s absence for the first time in all eternity. Yes, the Father was certainly hard on Him, but Jesus did it willingly for us: “Let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame”(Heb. 12:1-2).
READING FOR AUGUST 21, 2024 CONTINUED: LUKE 11, PSALM 83 LUKE 11 Mathew placed the Lord’s prayer into a larger context mostly about showy religiosity. Luke context’s is more about asking God for daily bread. Luke follows this prayer with a story about a man asking his neighbor for literal bread at midnight. Then He follows it up with a son asking for fish. The point is God wants us to pray to Him each day for what we need. What does Jesus think is the best request and what we need the most? “How much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” (Luke 11:13).
Luke’s Lord’s prayer doesn’t include the phrase, “deliver us from evil,” but verses 14-26 are all about Jesus’s deliverance ministry. Notice how often Jesus is criticized by those on the side- lines for healing, forgiving, or in this case delivering people from evil. The folks receiving the blessing are happy, but critics are constant in their complaints. Are we in church who observe but don’t participate in ministries ever guilty of this negatively? If so, we are in some rather infamous company. Even if we are silent, but not really involved, there is reason for concern: “The one who is not with Me is against Me; and the one who does not gather with Me scatters” (Luke 11:23).
In the rest this chapter, Jesus explains to the Jews how He relates to the Hebrew Scriptures (OT). He gives us an exciting approach to reading the Old Testament. Aspects of all great Old Testament heroes point to Him. Jesus says He is the greater Solomon and Jonah (vs. 31-32). Elsewhere we learn He is the greater Moses (Heb. 3:3), Isaac (Heb. 11:19), Adam (Rom. 5:19), and Noah (Matt. 24:39). On the other hand, for those who reject Jesus “the blood of all the prophets, shed since the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation” (Luke 11:50). PSALM 83 Confederations of nations conspiring against Israel according to Asaph
| Asaph tells God that the nations shown on the map in bold type have made a covenant to wipe out Israel. Some Bible teachers believe this is a prophecy of the end times. Given the many times fulfillment of prophecy has been a complete surprise, this writer takes no position. The 10 enemies have longstanding interaction with Israel: Assyria absorbed the northern Kingdom of Israel; Ishmaelites the descendants of Abram and Hagar; Edom the descendants of Esau; Amalek the descendants of Esau’s grandson and a concubine; Moab the descendants of Lot and his elder daughter; Ammon the descendants of Lot and his younger daughter; Philistia people of Canaan (Gaza); Gebal and Tyre people of the north on the sea coast; Hagarenes shepherds living east of Israel. |
