Leviticus 11-12

Leviticus 11-12

God next goes into a detailed discussion about what animals the Israelites are allowed to touch and eat. He lists the different four-footed animals, birds, insects, and fish that are clean and unclean. He then tells them that when they break one of these commands, they will be unclean until evening. In essence, when they are unclean, they have sinned against God. This listing can almost appear to be quite picky and hard to keep, but God has a reason for these commands. He is not doing it just to make life hard for the Israelites. Sometimes, it is easy to feel that people in authority over us (such as parents, and God in this instance) come up with ridiculous rules just to make our life hard. At times, we do not understand why these rules are given, for no one ever gives a reason for the commands.

The end of Leviticus 11, however, gives a reason for these commands. God wanted the Israelites to be holy before Him. In fact, He commanded that they live in a holy manner. After all He had done for them, in rescuing them from the Egyptians and providing for them ever sense, He expected them to honor Him. He had made a covenant with their ancestors and promised them that they would one day return to the Promised Land, that He was just going to give to them. The least they could do was to show Him respect and honor Him by obeying His commands.

This passage is also important in that it is why the sacrifices and offerings were needed. Some of the offerings were used to ask for forgiveness. To ask for forgiveness meant that there was some sin that needed forgiving. That sin came from breaking one of God’s commands. So in Leviticus 11, God begins a lengthy discussion on how the Israelites were to live. These next several chapters can seem almost pointless to today’s society, because they really do not apply as much today (for they were under the Old Covenant). However, if nothing else, these chapters show us how God expects us to live a holy lifestyle as well. He has not changed in that He still expects His children to follow His commands. We should desire to live a holy lifestyle as well, one that is a life of obedience to God.

Another example of some of these laws can be seen in Leviticus 12. This short chapter deals completely with childbirth. For the Israelites, it was considered unclean to give birth. So in order to be purified and be considered clean again, she had to make a series of offerings after the birth. This may seem odd to a twenty-first century culture, but it does show a mother’s dedication to the Lord. In a way, it becomes a testament that she is willing to follow the Lord’s commands and teach them to her newborn child. From its first days of birth, it will see its mother following God’s commands. Parents should always be living a holy life, setting a positive example for their children, and it must be evident from the time that the child is born. So again, although these laws do not make sense to us today, many of them still have applications for our lives.

Matt