The Few, The Proud, The Chosen

      These chapters of Leviticus are a bit unsettling—the L‑rd hits a little too close to home. We are sometimes like the Marines—proud to wear the uniform but perpetually kvetching (grousing) about the training. We forget that the identification badge, being known as believers, does not come without a cost. 

      For instance, we observe the case of the man who blasphemed the L‑rd's name (24:10-15). This man used the L‑rd's name as part of a curse. Today, this would not even rate a one-line mention in one of our newspapers. Back then, it was in bold headlines on the front page, “A Man Blasphemes the L‑rd's Name and Is Stoned to Death!” Capital punishment seems to be a harsh punishment in response to this man’s action. Yet, we don’t know his attitude. If he committed the sin with a rebellious heart, severe punishment was required (Numbers 15:30-36).

      The L‑rd expected Israel to adhere to a higher set of standards than the nations around it. Otherwise, it could not be light in darkness. Yeshua makes the same point: unless our lives convey a greater degree of godliness than our unbelieving neighbors, what purpose are we really serving (Matthew 5:13-16)? This was particularly true in the case of the priests. If we examine some of the qualifications the L‑rd lays down for the priests, most of us would sigh, "Phew, I am glad that the L‑rd did not create me to be one of the Levites." Those of us who serve in leadership would do well to re-read this passage regularly (21:1-22:16).