Day 35. Numbers 6: 27. put my name
God wants to work through people. I realized this myself when I thought about Gods presence in this world. God could bless in secret, God is not dependent on people. But he chooses for being dependent. We have to do something. Not to stay passive. God want to act in our world but wants us to have an attitude of expectation. What do you expect from God?
Day 34. Numbers 3: 49. redeemed
The Levites are give a special task. They are given work on the tabernacle to support the priests. They have their homes before, besides and behind the tabernacle. If the people of Israel travel they carry the tabernacle with them. This does not relieve the people of Israel from their duties towards God. Today God has another tabernacle to live in. That makes all of us Levites!
Day 33. Number 1. exact number
The bible does not say how many hairs you have on your head but that God did count them. The people of Israel is to be counted as God requested. He can count himself cannot he? He knows every man? God wants it to be clear for everybody. Everybody counts with God. You too!
Day 32. Leviticus 26: 29 don't destroy your future
What a horrible preview is given to the people of Israel. God warns them to not lose him out of sight. The consequences will be terrible. In those days children were a basis for future, hope, blessing and wealth. To let go of God and his commandments will have consequences in the end. Not a punishment by God but a foreseen result of leaving his rules for life. Who wants to live without hope, without a future?
Day 31. Liviticus 23: 22. do not gather all
There is enough for everybody. If you harvest, don't be to greedy. Do not always try to go for the ultimate when trying to get what you should by right. You don't always visibly have to share your wealth with ones who have less, you can leave enough behind and not take all the rightfully belongs to you. It is about basic attitude, not about caring for the poor.
Day 30. Leviticus 20:2. do not sacrifice children
We cannot imagine that one sacrifices children. Eventhough one reads the weirdest stories in today's newspapers. But in ancient times it was habit with the people around Israel. God asks his people to not do this, to be different, to break through a habit or to not go along. Do you go along in what seems so normal but in fact might be horrifying. Or are you special and willing to be different by doing Gods will?
Day 29. Leviticus 16: 10. Azazel
Maybe it is not fully clear what Azazel means. Is it the name of a person or place or a situation? This much is clear, the sins of the people are being brought to a place from which they will not return. It shows us that God wants take our sins far away from us, forgive and forget. You are a new person. (Feeling of) guild is not needed when God forgives your sins.
Dag 28. Liviticus 13: 40. just baldness
In this book of the bible there is a description of a very practical habit of the people of Israel. If one has some variation on skin of hear, one goes to a priest. They are the specialists. Just checking. It could be a disease or just a start of boldness. The same goes for spiritual illness. Thoughts, speech or behaviour could be the start of a (mental) disease, or just part of life. A regular check-up would not harm. Do you sometimes think through or discuss your mindset with other christians?
Day 27. Leviticus 10:3. near me
Through those who are near me I will show my self holy. This is what God says to Aäron through Moses when he lost two sons to a burning fire. This is hard to understand. A loving God that kills people because they made a (little) mistake. Being near to God obviously requires a great sense of responsibility.
Day 26. Liviticus 6: 2. against the Lord
Deceiving a neighbor is tresspassing against the Lord. God is not detached from this world or the people surrounding you. It does not matter who it is, believer of not, deceiving someone is tresspassing against God. God doesn't position humans above or lower then himself. If you deceive a human, anyone, God takes that very personal. Are you aware how you treat people around you?
Day 25. Leviticus 1: 2 bring your offering
In a relationship one sometimes does the other one a favor. Sometimes it goes a bit further and you give something very valuable. When it goes even further it could take a serious effort to show your love. You could give away something of your own. It points the other and you to the importance of the relationship. To keep a relationship it takes offers. Are you willing to go further then a shallow compliment or do you seek depth in your relationships?
Day 24. Exodus 39: 43 he blessed them
The work has finished. Although it was "pro Deo", for God, Moses blessed them who did all the work. What he said is not written down but it must have been something like "thank you" or a compliment. If anything is done for you, maybe only the expected thing. How do you react to the people who did this, eventhough it was "pro Deo". Do you hearten those people with a word of thanks, in the name of God?
Day 23. Exodus 36: 4,5. more than enough
Why is this detail in the bible. Why didn't this detail get lost while telling this story from father to son. Because it impressed the storytellers. Imagine, more silver and gold than the artisans could handle. Because it gives so much hope. There is a huge potentioal in people, in you. Do you use this potential every day to performe above expectations, to make your life into a sanctuary for God?
