If you’re new to this blog series, please read this first.
This week I’m reviewing the book of Leviticus. It’s now been three months since Moses and his people fled Egypt. They’re still hanging out around the base of Mt. Sinai.
According to the study guide I’m using, Leviticus is a recording of how God’s people were to worship Him. The first 17 chapters discussed sacrifice. The next ten chapters discuss man’s fellowship with God.
The first 17 chapters discuss sacrifice as a way to worship God. Five kinds of sacrifices are mentioned.
The author of the study guide noted that “the burnt offering foreshadows Christ,” and “the meal offering exhibits the manhood of Christ and the life that he was offered.” The trespass offerings dealt with sin against others and atonement.
Then we come to the section on cleaninless and how God’s people must be clean. And that’s when things get messy.
Chapter 11 kicks off with a discussion on eating clean food. Moses – through God – instructs his people that they may eat any animal that has a divided hoof and chews cud. Forbidden food sources include:
The notes written in my Bible state that there is no explanation for why these animals were listed as unclean and therefore on the “You can’t eat this,” meal plan. However, they theorize that the reason behind this could have been connected to hygiene. Also, certain animals, such as pigs, could’ve been listed as unclean because they were often used in pagan rituals.
Also listed in Leviticus are a number of other regulations regarding defiling skin diseases, molds, and bodily secretions which God likely put into place to try to prevent the spread of diseases through His people.
And then we come to chapter 17. Technically it’s titled, Eating Blood Is Forbidden but I’ve decided to rename it, Why A. Marie Got Cyber-Smacked by Facebook Admins.
Sometime last Fall, there was a meme on Facebook. It was disgusting, in poor taste, and therefore I thought it was funny as hell. Naturally, I can’t find the meme anymore. The gist of it was that eating blood can help with weight loss. And since I’m in a weight loss group on Facebook, I thought it would be great to share that meme with that group. That’s when I remembered that my taste in humor isn’t for everyone. The thing is, the weight loss group I shared it to was a Christian weight loss group. And while a handful of women in the group thought it was funny, there were a whole lot of people who were very upset about it and started citing scripture about life blood – none of which I understood because I hadn’t read anything like that in the Bible. Until now. In chapter 17:11 it reads: For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life. And then in verse 14 it reads: You must not eat the blood of any creature, because the life of every creature is its blood; anyone who eats it must be cut off. Now I understand why everyone in that group got so upset. And also why the Facebook Admins removed the post, and cyber-smacked me with a nasty gram that said I broke their Facebook guidelines. Oh well. At least now I know what the references to life blood were all about. Most of the remaining chapters in Leviticus discuss appointed festivals that God wanted His people to celebrate. Those festivals are:
Leviticus concludes with a discussion on how God rewards His people and also punishes His people for disobedience. The part on how He punishes His people for disobedience is a little scary at first until verses 42-45 where He reminds everyone that even if they disobey him, they can always repent and try again to obey Him with all of their heart and He will not abandon them. He will forgive them. That part was comforting. And that, folks, is the book of Leviticus…..in a nut shell. Thanks for shopping Snark, Sass, & Sarcasm. I’ll see you next time. And hopefully when I do, I’ll figure out why my website is hell-bent on aligning everything to the right. If you like it, please pin it!
