From the giving of the law to the death of Aaron (chapter 10)
Moses recounted the
giving of the law and reminded the Jews that he had safely preserved the
tablets of the law in the ark.
He then relived the
death of Aaron. It all confirmed, that while the high priest was temporary and
thus duly replaced by Eleazar, the law and the framework of their faith was
enduring.
Then in verse 12-13,
Moses said, “what does the LORD thy God require of you, but to fear him, to
walk in all his ways, to love and serve him with all your heart and soul. To
keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes.”
What followed was
pivotal to Paul’s teachings in Romans 2, that circumcision is of the heart, not
of the flesh. It formed the basis of an extensive teaching of justification by
faith and the power of Jesus to change our hearts and save us from our
wretchedness.
Only in Jesus can we fulfill
the law, love God and become true sons. External signs relating to liturgy and
our differences will never separate our hearts, for Christ alone is our
separation. Externalities tend more to divide, rather than unite our faith.
Teach your children well (Chapter 11)
Moses then addressed
the parents of that generation, who had been children of the previous.
They had seen what God
did to Pharaoh and Egypt. They had also witnessed God’s righteous indignation
on numerous occasion. Like no other generation since, they had witnessed the
reality of God and walked in his shadow.
That set in them the
one thing he most wanted: a heart for God. Despite all else, the greatest
marvel to God was a transformed national heart. “Write it on your doorposts”,
he urged.
He confirmed that they
would possess the land, till their fields, harvest their crops, know the rain
and blessing of God, discern between his blessings and curses and that wherever
their soles trod would be marked as a perpetual inheritance.
What a hope it echoes
in the hearts of all of us as we plod towards a place of redemption and
breakthrough: to occupy his promises and enjoy abundant life.
Not every man to himself (chapter 12)
A jealous God had
conceded that things were less than perfect, with individuals and families
maintaining variations on the theme of the traditions held by all.
To an extent cottage
industries popped up and people served God in their way, in their familial
tradition, just as we still maintain our own emphases. That extended to
denominations, which reflect the branches of Jewry, ranging from orthodox to
cultural.
Rather God spoke of a national
center and tribal center. He wanted sacrifices brought there, to Jerusalem,
although that is not named at that stage.
He had not forgotten
Abraham’s covenant sacrifice and was determined to bring his people back there.
That was sacred to him by association with his priceless son.
His need for a center
was to prevent a dilution of traditions and the influences of neighboring
cultures. That said, Jesus discounted a place as the key to a centered faith
and alluded rather to the wellspring of the heart that would never run dry.
The voice of truth (chapter 13)
Like Paul, Moses told
them not to accept every man claiming to be a prophet. God help our
contemporary culture not to follow every self-made prophet.
Rather return to your
center: to the touchstone of your faith. If a prophet told them to walk
contrary to the ways of God, he was clearly false and had to be stoned.
Likewise, “if any man
preaches any other gospel (Galatians 1:8), let him be accursed”, said Paul. The
cutting edge of our faith is Jesus, not epithets, morals or religiosity.
Thus Paul said, “I
sought nothing among you save Christ and him crucified”.
Eat the right stuff (Chapter 14)
Moses reiterated the
approved diet of the Jews but implied something weightier, if the context of
the preceding scriptures is to be our guide.
It is not about food,
per se, but about our spiritual diet. Be careful what you consume. Not all that
poses as truth is truth and not all that sounds right is good. Be discerning
and wait on God for his truth to be fully formed in us – and avoid private
interpretations.
This extends a
teaching in Chapter 12 about not eating what is meant for sacrifice, at home or
outside the tabernacle. There is a place where truth should be distilled to believers.
Therefore, don’t turn to your own ways.
Moses instructed that
they should not drink blood at all, for the life is in the blood. He alluded to
the blood that would be spilled by us, which indicted the idea of
transubstantiation by which communion wine becomes blood.
Blood in any form was
not to be eaten, but the life of Christ is ours to consume.
Set each other free (Chapter 15)
Moses then set a seven
year cycle for forgiving the debts of fellow Jews. It did not extend to the
indebtedness of non-Jews.
It did, however, extend
to slaves. They were to work six years and then be offered freedom with no
grudges. If, however, a slave chose to stay, his ear was to be bored through
with an awl to signify that. That too, spoke of the consecration of the heart.
It harks back to Paul’s
statement about being a “bond-slave of Christ”, for though freed, his heart was
forever bound to his redeemer – by choice.
The seventh year was a Sabbath year, a year of rest, but there is no fuller sense of rest than to surrender all and to give our hearts to him who paid such a price for us.
The seventh year was a Sabbath year, a year of rest, but there is no fuller sense of rest than to surrender all and to give our hearts to him who paid such a price for us.
(c) Peter Missing at bethelstone.com
