Today’s reading was a 113-verse deep dive into clean vs. unclean. It explored animals, bugs, birds, fish, diet, clothing, childbearing, skin diseases, mildew, and quarantine. Details on what is clean and unclean, how to tell the difference, and what to do about it. One thing stood out to me: they can’t have bacon!
What is God doing? It is easy to see this and think God is all about dos and don’ts. But that’s not it! God is putting a difference between the clean and unclean. He is helping Israel understand their God, themselves, and their place in the world. He is calling out a people Holy to Himself, separating them from all the wickedness of the nations around them. This does not mean that Israel is better than anyone else. But it does mean their God is unlike all else!
What about us believers today?
Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:14–18, NLT)
What is this saying? It is not saying that we are better than unbelievers. It is not saying that we must separate completely and shun unbelievers. It is saying we are unlike unbelievers! It is saying our God is unlike them and unlike the god of this world! As God did to Israel in Leviticus 11-13, God is still calling out from the world and the wickedness around us, a people Holy to Himself. While these Levitical laws don’t apply today, why is God calling us to be Holy? Because Jesus was sacrificed on the cross for a special purpose!
He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds. (Titus 2:14, NLT)
Believers, rejoice! We are His people! We have been separated from the works and power of darkness unto doing good deeds! How the world needs us among them, yet unlike them, to show them our God, who is unlike all else!
…You are…God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9, NLT)
Today’s reading: Leviticus 11-13 | Tomorrow’s reading: Leviticus 14-15