Know Your True Worth

Could God’s laws teach us His worth, and also our worth to Him? If so, how?

Most people who read the Bible will tell you Leviticus is a difficult book to get through. Honestly, I have been one of those people because Leviticus seems like a bunch of rules. But, what if we began to look at Leviticus in a different way? I’m taking a seminary class right now and my professor told us Leviticus might become one of our favorite books. Although I’m not there YET, I am beginning to understand the beauty of Leviticus. Let’s look at it together with some examples from real life. 

Leviticus begins with a most important understanding of Who is speaking, and how this Person desired to teach His people to live in ways which pleased Him. 

God Himself is the Person who is speaking; He summoned Moses, and spoke to him from the tent of meeting. He told Moses exactly what to tell the Israelites in ordered steps concerning sacrifices, ordination of priests, and specific laws regarding cleanliness and uncleanliness. God explains the Day of Atonement and how His people were to live in relationship with Him, a Holy God. Leviticus also explains what God desires concerning vows and tithes. 

God created us to be in relationship with Him and as we come to know Him, love Him, trust Him, and obey Him we begin to understand more of who He is. As we understand more of who God is, we understand how precious we are to Him as His people. I’ve heard many people say God’s love language is obedience, and we see the blessing of obedience in our human relationships within families, neighborhoods, work places, cities, nations, and especially in our relationship with God.

So, as we look at God sharing in Leviticus His most ordered way of how He desired His people to worship Him, what does this teach us about God’s character? For a moment, think about a parent or a teacher who gives specific instructions on a certain task. I remember a time in second grade when my teacher asked all the students to stop working in our language workbooks. I remember disobeying my teacher and continuing to work ahead in my notebook thinking I could get ahead, until my teacher called my name and said, “Are you still working?” I was ashamed and so I lied and said I had stopped working. My teacher said, “Please bring me your notebook.” It was a moment I still remember because fear gripped me because I had gone against my teacher’s wishes, and although the consequences were simply her talking with me, it definitely got my attention and showed me I needed to listen to her and obey her, even if I didn’t understand why. I needed to she was my authority as my teacher, she she had a reason for what she was asking. She was teaching me how to relate well with her, and respect her and my classmates’ time; relating well with her meant listening to her instructions and following them respectfully.

When God speaks to Moses it is for the Israelites’ good. In Leviticus we begin to understand God is meticulous and ordered in a beautiful way. He enjoys the sweetness of fellowship with His people, and provides for them a way to be back in right relationship with Him when they sin or go astray. As a loving, grace-filled parent has rules for their children to follow for their protection, which also leads to a pleasing parent-child relationship, God has rules and boundaries for us to live in fellowship with Him. God’s desire in Leviticus is to teach His people as a good father teaches his children, and make certain that His people know what He desires and expects as our creator. God does this so we can please Him and live lives of harmony with Him and others, and know how to come back into fellowship with Him and others when we have sinned. 

Exercise your faith!

Read Leviticus over the next week and prayerfully look at God’s guidance throughout what He asked Moses to tell the Israelites.

In your journal answer these questions:

What do you see and understand about God’s character that you never noticed before?

If you have read the New Testament, what do you notice in Leviticus 17 that is needed for forgiveness of sin (atonement)?

Which of God’s rules in Leviticus are important in your life of faith today?

What do you notice about God’s faithfulness as you finish reading Leviticus? What does God say about His covenant with His people?

After answering this question, spend about 10 minutes in prayer or worship noting how He has been faithful and generous to you.