More seemingly random commands, many of them new. What were these about? Can you discern God’s purpose or heart revealed in these commands? In my mind, it would be presumptuous to think that I would be able to figure out God in every command He issued to His Old Testament people. I won’t try to; no one would want to read such a long post anyway. One way, however, these varied commands speak to me is their revelation of God’s concern for all aspects of our lives. That reveals His love for us! So while we may feel like trudging through these commands, let’s instead treasure them for demonstrating to us all the little ways God shows us that He loves His people.
But can we see some overall principles in these commands?
God is sovereign over His creation, and we must submit to His sovereignty. Sometimes that may appear unfair to us. God doesn’t claim to be fair, and that generally works for the benefit of His people.
God’s presence in our midst requires decency. He addressed the baser issues of human existence, but He didn’t want to have to step on them as He was in their midst! He loves us, is willing to have fellowship with us despite these ugly realities of life that come with us, which He finds indecent. In order to enjoy relationship with Him, God’s people must deal with their indecencies decently. Does that speak to you of ways in which we will be distinct from our culture today?
God expects His people to be faithful to fulfill what they say they will do. They are not to be stingy, but to show mercy to the needy. God expects His people to conduct business justly and conduct themselves with justice.
God was not sanctioning divorce in His provisions for it here. It was not part of the plan for marriages that He established when He created Eve, and He reveals elsewhere in Scripture that He hates divorce. Jesus said that He permitted divorce because of the hardness of people’s hearts – sin. Again, we see God making provision for undesirable realities of life in a sin-cursed world.
God is concerned for poor people, that they be able to maintain their lives and their dignity in their need. He had some ingenious ways to provide for them. Can they shed light on our culture’s provision for the poor, or even our own charitable practices?
Many of these commands differentiated His Law from the laws and practices of other ancient cultures, distinguishing His people as more decent, more just, more merciful, more good, more orderly, more faithful and more joyful. Aren’t these lovely characteristics for God to promote in His people? Don’t they speak of happiness? What does that teach you about God, and about His desire for you?
When God would bring them into the Promised Land, He planned that they would live in the blessings of abundance. They were commanded to make a point of remembering where they came from, recognizing His abundance, and rejoicing in it on a regular basis. Do you do that?
Part of the observance commanded was to ask for God’s blessing as He promised their forefathers. Think about that: He had promised to bless them, but they were commanded to ask for that blessing as He had promised. Note what else He promised them at the end of chapter 26. We have many promises given to us as God’s people; do we realize that we have to ask God to give us the wonderful things He has promised us?
He reinforces that these many, varied and sometimes seemingly random commands were to be not only known, but done. Done carefully, with enthusiasm and thoroughness. Their observance of these commands wouldn’t be a part of their lives, but their whole way of living in conformance to God’s ways. In response, they would be God’s treasured people. Imagine what that would mean to them, to be treasured by God. Do you treasure anyone? Then your feelings for and actions toward them will reveal to you somewhat of God’s feelings for you and actions toward you, for His New Testament people are as treasured to Him as His Old Testament people. That is worth thanksgiving to God today! Is it worth your living in conformance to His ways?