Leviticus.
The point many get to before quickly giving up a resolution to read God’s Word cover to cover.
A book that perhaps makes us question what all of these laws mean and which actually apply to us today.
That series of chapters that until recently seemed to me to be a great book with insight into my faith heritage and history, but not much more.
Or perhaps there’s more. Perhaps we can catch a glimpse into the very heart of God.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lord, I wonder how many of these rules and regulations just broke your heart to put into place…refusing to let people into your presence when Your whole intent in creating them was to be in relationship with them. But you knew it was good… it was best. Because imperfections in the presence of perfect can’t exist. To have to be separate from You in broken, not-perfect-ness, actually sustained our life.
In order to get to a point we could all come freely, boundaries first had to be set. Like banning Adam and Eve from the garden, because to eat from the Tree of Life after eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil wouldn’t actually be life at all. That boundary protects from forever death. So the boundary was set. Like a brokenhearted parent setting boundaries knowing their children can’t understand, yet standing firm knowing it’s best. We often come as those frustrated children, complaining that ‘it’s just not fair’… believing that You’re holding out, keeping us from what’s good. Your laws must only be there to take away our fun.
But here and there we get glimpses into Your real heart. The one that loves us more that we can understand. The one who would go to any lengths possible (and did) so there would be no restrictions any more.
Just an open invitation to…
come
To come broken.
Come beaten.
Come dirty and doubting.
Come defiled and disfigured.
Come just as we are to live fully in Your presence.
Oh, how it must have broken Your heart as you spoke those words of Leviticus to Moses… all the times, the ways, the situations in which he had to tell Your children, “Don’t come.” But even in that you made a way. You made a way for the imperfect to be made perfect again for sacrifices to be made and that relationship restored.
And now we rejoice that the Ultimate and Final Sacrifice has been made. The Scapegoat ran off, up to a hill, a cross on His back, our sins on Him. And so now there are no stipulations, no restrictions, no one left out. You rejoice with us and welcome us gladly to true life in Your Presence… Presence that brings joy and only the very best.
The Spirit and the Bride say “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.” (Revelation 22:17)
joyfullyblessedblog.com 
1 thought on “A Brokenhearted God – Reflections on Leviticus”