Feb.2 - Leviticus 9 - 11

Before I begin, please pray for my dear brother - Carey Casey - CEO of the National Center For Fathering! He's recently been hospitalized due to a pulminary embolism and other complications - serious stuff! God has His hand on Him in a mighty way and he has much to do for the Kingdom! Please pray for healing!

What an incredible sight it must have been! Over 1 million people are given the incredible and awe-inspiring privilege of seeing God blaze His Holy Fire upon the brazen altar! As it consumed the burnt sacrifice, the scene must have been breath-taking as ALL THE PEOPLE shouted and fell face down on the ground in complete and utter amazement of God's Power and Glory! Oh...how I wish we would have a move of God in this country like Israel did just a few thousand years ago!!! Can you imagine what it would do? It would fire us up and remind us of the unlimited power of the Almighty!

In Leviticus 9 and 10, we read of immense JOY followed by a horrible TRAGEDY! As Aaron and his sons prepare the offerings - the sin offering (which was for unintentional sin), the burnt offering (which was for intentional sin), the peace offering (which represents thankfulness to God), and a grain offering (which pictures a heart that's devoted to God), were ALL required to be accomplished BEFORE GOD WOULD RESPOND! When Aaron and his sons finished offering these sacrifices before God, the FIRE from God meteorically fell and consumed the entire burnt offering in a matter of a nano-second! It also tragically consumed Aaron's two sons - Nadab and Abihu!

Why? Why would God commit such a horrible act? The simple answer is disobedience! God had prescribed EXACTLY how the incense was to be made, but Nadab and Abihu didn't listen. Like so many people today, they had a very lazy attitude toward God. They arranged a mixture of few things, but NOT the combination of fragrances God had required. Their half-heartedness towards complete obedience got them killed. God, in His fury toward their lukewarmness, consumed them right in front of their dad (Aaron) and the entire assembly of Israelites. One can only imagine how speechless the entire crowd must have been!!!

In the book of Revelation, Jesus addressed this attitude of lukewarmness! He said in Revelation 3, "you are neither cold or hot. I would that you be cold or hot, not lukewarm lest I vomit you out of my mouth!" God is grieved by half-heartedness! Half-heartedness leads to laziness towards obedience to God, and eventually leads to a sinful act or sinful heart. This is exactly what happened here in Leviticus 10 with Nadab and Abihu!

Listen! This is good stuff for us today! If we want God to move mightily in our lives, we need to bring before Him the same offerings Aaron did - that of repentence (for both intentional and unintentional sins), a thankful heart, and a love that says, "I'm commited to You, Lord!" The Bible teaches us in the Old Testament that God's eyes "are running to and fro across the earth looking for a man (or a woman) that He can show Himself strong in their behalf." Will you be that man or woman? God really wants to show Himself strong in your life? The question is, "Will you let Him?" Pray right now and invite Him to take full control of your life. Ask Him to show Himself strong in and through you!

Leviticus 9 and 10 is a powerful story for us today! Think about it. We serve the same God the nation of Israel did. And, He is "the same today, yesterday, and forever." Someone once asked me, "Where's the Lord God of Elijah, the miracle working God?" To that person I said, "Where He's always been, ON HIS THRONE!" He's ready today to work His miracle working power in your life TODAY...if you'll let Him and trust Him for it!

In Leviticus 11, God gives Israel their dietary laws - what they can and cannot eat:
- Land Animals - They can eat anything that has a split hoof and chews grass. However, they cannot eat camels, pigs, badgers, etc.
- Marine Animals - They can eat anything that has fins and scales! However, that means they'll miss out on a succulent lobster tail smothered in garlic butter, shrimp scampi, fried calamari, cajun-soaked crawdads.....I'm sorry I'm getting a little carried away!
- Birds - They can eat most kinds of birds, except vultures, falcons, eagles, ravens, sea gulls, etc.
- Insects - They can eat most kinds of insects as long as it has wings and has jointed legs for jumping - this includes locust, grasshoppers, crickets, etc. (YUK!!!!!) Who wants to eat this stuff anyway?
- Ground-Scurrying Things - Most kinds, except lizards, chameleons, etc. (YUK AGAIN!!)

Actually, God's dietary laws are fairly broad in what they CAN eat! But, I would still be bummed out over the inability to eat lobster and crab legs!!

I hope this blog was helpful! Let me hear from you. I'd like to know if any of these blogs are helpful or make any sense. Thanks, and have a God-enriched day!