"Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature." Genesis 2:7
"I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves. And I have broken the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect." Leviticus 26:13
In my last blog post on Exodus, we saw how God invites man back into His presence in the story of Moses approaching the burning bush. As Moses approaches the burning bush, marveling at the strange sight, God tells Him he is standing on holy ground. This holy ground is a refrain back to the garden in Eden, where God's presence reigned. Then, God invites the fugitive, exiled Moses to lead his people, the Israelites, out of Egypt and back to this holy mountain.
If God's work in the story of Exodus serves as the inaugural event in Israel's creation story, freeing the people from oppression and guiding them to the threshold of God's presence. Then, Leviticus serves as a new Genesis 2, where the Israelites are formed into God's people in the dust of the wilderness.
Laws, Priests, Offerings, OH MY!
We tend to read the laws, offerings, and other weird things in the Old Testament with a lens of legalism. As if anything that is regulated, repeated, or not spontaneous is limiting the work of the Spirit and ultimately not worshipful. However, that is our misreading of God's Word and not the view revealed in the text itself.
In Strong's Definitions, an offering is defined as "something brought near the altar." But I love how Tim Mackie defines the offerings in the BibleProject series on Leviticus as "a drawing near thing."
Through the life of a blameless animal, God invites the priests and Israelites to draw near to Him again. Although still somewhat uncomfortable for our modern minds, this is a reality of Eden that God extends to His people in a broken world.
You see, the Israelites need to be re-formed into God's people again. Just as Adam was formed by the dust in the beginning, the system of offerings is one way that God re-forms His people in the dust of the desert.
Genesis 2:7 says, "Then the Lord God formed the man out of the dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being." In verse 15, we are told that the man is placed in the garden to work and watch over it. Soon after, Eve was created to come alongside Adam to have dominion over creation.
So, for this unknown length of time, were images of God ruling and reigning as God created them to do. This is the picture of perfect humanity. By contrast to the curses and their exile in Genesis 3, we can assume that Adam and Eve had constant access to the presence and wisdom of God before sin entered the picture. They were formed and lived in God's holy presence unencumbered.
Their work was their offering, and God's presence was their gift.
In contrast, the Israelites did not live in a sinless state of life and possibility. So, their formation had to include the provisions for sin and death. Like the orcs in Lord of the Rings, sin and death disfigure us into people that are less than human. Therefore, the laws and ritual offerings were not meaningless practices, but they were the merciful methods God used to re-form the Israelites into true humans again.
The laws taught them righteousness before God and with others, while the offerings provided cleansing from their sin so God could continue to dwell in the midst of them. As a holy people, they could then rule and reign as God originally intended for them to do. They could also fulfill God's promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:3, "all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you." Extending God's promise to the whole world through the Israelites.
Reading Leviticus, there's great hope and expectation of a new humanity who follows the voice of God. But, it doesn't take long before the men and women formed by God again fall to the voice of idols and turn away from Him in rebellion. This pattern continues throughout history until the death and resurrection of Jesus. Then, something new happens.
Jesus, Our "Drawing Near Thing"
Adam and Eve were formed in the dust. Moses and the Israelites were re-formed in the wilderness. We are re-formed at the cross.
The wisdom and heart of the law and offerings in Leviticus are finally fulfilled in Christ.
We no longer draw near to God through the ongoing sacrifice of blameless animals but through one sacrifice of His innocent and beloved Son. Jesus is now and eternally our "drawing near thing."
Through His death on the cross, our sins are dealt with permanently. Now, we are formed as God's people not by laws or ritual offerings but through the power of the Spirit. By the power of the Spirit, we can finally follow God's word to live as imitators of Jesus, His true humanity.
All the loose ends and broken hopes from Leviticus find their resolution in Jesus.
Though I'll probably have to read Leviticus 100 more times before it sounds less foreign and confusing, I'm comforted knowing that God's desire for us to draw near to Him has never dimmed. He provided a way then, and He provides a way now. By His blood, I can draw near. Hallelujah!
Thanks for reading my blog! I am reading through the Bible very slowly (thanks to an 18-month-old and another on the way). This is one post in a series (see related posts below). I also write about motherhood, church, and other topics that pique my interest.
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