Tag: God

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Are you going to eat that?

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by David Trinks on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Leviticus 11.

At least once a month, lunch at the fraternity featured, “BLT – down all the way!” as Randy would mimic his favorite New York deli. I have to admit that we Gentiles made sure our Jewish brothers witnessed how much we enjoyed bacon as they settled for other leftovers.

I’m not saying they were devout. I only ever saw them go to synagogue on Yom Kippur. They didn’t eat pizza for the first three days of Passover week before they caved. None of my Jewish friends could explain the story of Hanukkah in December. But they drew the line at bacon and rare roast beef. I know, that’s not blood in rare roast beef, but that’s what they claimed they were avoiding. I would imagine they grew up in homes where those foods were avoided. (We Christians weren’t especially devout at college, either.)

Leviticus 11 is filled with dietary laws. Pork was unclean and off-limits for Israel. Swimming fish were fine, but shellfish was prohibited. It was OK to east locusts, crickets, and grasshoppers. What about lizards? Nope. No roadkill, either.

I find it interesting that holiness, at least in this context, was determined by your choice of food and contact with a dead animal. In hindsight, we know that may of these rules were for health reasons. They distanced God’s people from the pagan culture around them, who didn’t have as many regulations.

I read with interest those restaurants shut down by the health department. Sometimes, I’ll think, “Didn’t we eat there just last week?” I try not to think about that.

As New Testament believers, no foods are off limits (Acts 10). But I still try to distance myself from artificial sweeteners, chemicals, and processed food, along with too much fast food. I feel better, and feel better taking care of a body the bible calls a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19).

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Injured on the job?

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Image by Matthias Grießhammer from Pixabay

A “through the bible” devotion from Leviticus 10.

I paid for my room and board at my college fraternity house by washing lunch and supper dishes each weekday. It wasn’t an exciting job, but some of the brothers and I found ways to make it fun.

One fun game involved stabbing at an empty milk jug with a large chef’s knife. I know what you’re thinking. No, it never crossed our minds that this was a stupid thing to do. When my friend Bob attacked a a jug, the tip of the knife caught on the edge of the metal counter, so that his hand slid up the blade, slicing all four fingers on his hand. After a bloody trip to the emergency room later, we were all a little wiser. It’s all fun until someone gets hurt, right?

“Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective firepans, and after putting fire in them, placed incense on the fire and offered strange fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. And fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord” (Leviticus 10:1-2).

Ordination of the priests lasted a week (Leviticus 8:33). The job was important. But if you keep reading chapter 10, God reminds Aaron, that you didn’t drink when you were performing priestly duties. Is that what happened with Nadab and Abihu? Was their blood alcohol over the limit? Were they under the influence?

Theirs was a tough lesson to learn. The same fire that had consumed the burnt offerings (9:29) now incinerated two of Aaron’s sons. The Lord gave specific instructions for the burning of incense in the tabernacle. Here’s the first addendum: show up sober.

A friend of mine in new home construction told me that many of his crew was high or buzzed when they showed up for work each morning. Yep, those were the guys working up on the roof or on the ground brandishing nail guns and circular saws.

By the grace of God, I never had any pastoral work-related injuries. Although, I did climb a few ladders to work on a few roofs.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

What a mess

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Image by starline on Freepik

A “through the bible” devotion from Leviticus 8.

Shortly after beginning my first job after college, I found a church that was very welcoming and encouraging. It wasn’t long before someone asked this twenty-something if I’d be interested in teaching the high school Sunday School class. I had no experience. But I was closer to their age, so they figured I could relate to to the teenagers. I I asked, “When would I start?”

“This Sunday.”

I had no experience, training, or curriculum. But now I had my first church ministry experience. It’s not the best way to fill a teaching slot. But how many church volunteer positions have been filled by someone who said, “If no one else will do it, I will”?

My prayer was simple. “God, don’t let me mess this up.”

The consecration or ordination of Aaron and his sons to be priests is complicated. It involves specially crafted clothing, ritual washings, and animals for slaughter. It’s messy. By the time it’s over, everything is covered in oil and blood. It takes a long time. The whole ceremony was done in public and lasted seven days.

By the time it was over, Jesus was covered in blood, too. The bloody sweat of his prayers stains the ground in Gethsemane. Streaks of red drip down his face a crown of thorn. Blood spattered everywhere as he is beaten and then nailed to a cross. Blood and water spurt from his chest as a spear pierces his heart. It’s messy, as it should be, for he is a priest, too.

Want to see people get upset? Just make a mess at church. Well-meaning members go ballistic when there are crumbs in a pew, a coffee stain on the floor, fingerprints on a window, and unflushed toilets. Just imagine if Aaron or Jesus showed up!

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Oops.

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Sven Brandsma on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Leviticus 4.

“Did you take out the trash?” “I forgot.”

“How did the dog get out?” “Oops.”

“Did you eat all of that?” “I didn’t know you wanted some.”

“Why are these cookies burnt on the bottom?” “I didn’t hear the timer go off.”

“If a person sins unintentionally” (Leviticus 4:2). This chapter covers all the “I forgot,” “Oops,” and “Was I supposed to do that?” moments in life. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a priest, the entire congregation, a leader, or anyone else, it must be dealt with. Yes, there’s a sin offering for that.

You and I would brush off the above offenses with a quick, “I’m sorry.” Most unintentional sins won’t fall into the categories of murder or theft, so how bad can they be?

Back then, such sins cost you an animal and required a meeting with the Lord through a priest. Any sin is a big deal in the presence of a holy God. Most of the sins Jesus died for unintentional sins. You and I may not have many “big” sins, but we have an extensive collection of “little,” unintentional ones that need forgiveness. And our Savior takes care of them all at the cross.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Let’s do lunch

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Anastasia Shuraeva on pexels.com

A “through the bible” devotion from Leviticus 3.

One of my favorite things to do with the church preschool was to eat lunch with the students. The table was short and the chairs were tiny but my lunch was much like theirs: a sandwich, some fruit, something sweet, and sometimes a little bag of chips. Sometimes I would wait to eat with the teachers, who had their lunch during nap time. Those were the best times to connect with everyone at the school.

The peace offering of Leviticus 3 is like having God show up for lunch. This sacrifice wasn’t about sin, but about the peace they already had with God. Paul wrote, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). People of faith, trusting God’s promises of salvation, can enjoy some food together with the Lord. As someone who enjoys eating, I like this chapter of Leviticus.

There are some important instructions to take note of. The fat around the entrails, the kidneys, and the long lobe of the liver are God’s. Apparently, those fatty parts were the best parts, and of course, God always gets our best. You like bacon, right? That’s fatty. (I know, they didn’t eat pork. But I do.) How about butter? Fatty. A ribeye steak is delicious because it’s nicely marbled with fat. Cheese? You get the idea.

Oh, and don’t eat the blood, either. Blood is about life in the bible, and life belongs to the Creator. So the blood is his, along with the fatty parts.

I wonder what God would think of school lunches?

  • Imagine the all-knowing God looking at his lunch tray and wondering, “What kind of meat is this?”
  • Do you think he would trade something in his lunch for something in yours?
  • If he brought his lunch to school, what kind of lunchbox do you think he would have? If he bought his lunch, would he be excited about pizza day?

God is great. God is good. Let’s do lunch! (I told you Leviticus would be fun!)

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Pancakes!

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Luke Pennystan on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Leviticus 2.

When the grandkids spend the night, I ask them first thing in the morning, “What do you want for breakfast?”

“Pancakes!”

I knew they would say that. That’s why I’ve already got the batter mixed up and the cast iron pan is heating up on the stove.

But a few weeks ago, I leveled up and asked, “Do you want pancakes or waffles?”

“Waffles!”

I had a feeling they would say that. So now I get to have fun with the new round non-stick waffle iron I found on eBay.

I chuckle when I read the second chapter of Leviticus. “When anyone brings a grain offering” it sounds like they’re baking a loaf of bread, making pancakes, or cooking waffles for God!

The grain offering is different than others. A person plants a field, harvests the grain, grinds and sifts it into fine flour. They mix it with oil and bake it in the over, on a griddle, or in a pan. It’s the work of your hands from cultivation to preparation. It’s not a sin offering. It’s a grateful reminder of and response to God’s provision.

Later in the chapter, we learn that no leaven or honey is to be used. Pagans used honey in their offerings. Leaven symbolizes sin. Animal offerings are to be without blemish. Grain offerings need to be pure, too.

But don’t forget to include a pinch of salt. Salt is not just for taste. Salt was not only of value, but it also represented purity and preservation. A lasting covenant with a holy God is precious!

I love to hear the words, “I made you some cookies!” I’ll stop whatever I’m doing to eat one. I like knowing that God feels the same way.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Roadtrip

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Carolina Rincon on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Exodus 40.

Where do you feel closest to God? It could be a church building. But would that be an empty sanctuary, or one filled with people?

I’ve experienced both. Sometimes it was an early Sunday morning before anyone else arrived for worship. Just me and God. Other times, God was there in a room full of people gathered for worship.

Some feel close to God on a clear, starry night. Or on a path through the woods where there’s little to hear other than their own footsteps.

I’ve felt close to the Creator holding a newborn in my arms. Or sitting next to someone taking their last few breaths on earth.

When Moses set up the tabernacle, “the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle” (Exodus 40:34). God was as close as he could get, day and night, living in a tent set up in the center of all the other tents of the nation of Israel.

Can you imagine God living in an RV? He’d be hooked up for the night just like everyone else. All those sacrifices being burnt on the altar? It’s the aroma of meat on his grill wafting through the campground. The lampstands are his camping string lights. You might run into him at the camp store or in the laundry room.

I love picturing God on the road with his people.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Good job!

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com

A “through the bible devotion” from Exodus 36-39.

“I bought a table (chair, shelf, credenza, or other piece of furniture). It’s arriving tomorrow.”

I know what that means. It means a box full of furniture parts packed in cardboard and styrofoam that I will be putting together.

I make these moments into a game. I know how most of the boards and hardware fit together. But how quickly can I complete the project?

Bezalel and Oholiab and a team of craftsmen have projects to assemble in Exodus 36-39. Reading these chapters is like watching them assemble tables and altars, curtains and garments, poles and bases, and incense and oil.

When they were finished, we read, “According to all that the Lord had commanded Moses, so the people of Israel had done all the work” (Exodus 39:42).

What? They followed God’s instructions? They were obedient? That doesn’t happen very often. Moses even says, “Good job!” (He blessed them for it in verse 43.) I’ll bet he was relieved after the whole golden calf thing a few chapters before.

Do you think you’ll ever get a “Well done, good and faithful servant?” Only by the grace of God.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Wow, that’s bright!

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by asim alnamat on pexels.com

A “through the bible” devotion from Exodus 34.

In an episode of Friends, Ross decides to whiten his teeth to look his best for a date. But he leaves the whitening substances on for a whole day, and his teeth turn unnaturally white. No matter what color shirt he tries, none of them distract from the brightness of his teeth. Somehow he makes it through dinner without opening his mouth. But when his date turns off the lights, the black lights in the room make his teeth glow insanely white! (Check out the clip here.)

Just like Moses’ face after he’s been speaking with God.

“Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because of his speaking with [God]. So when Aaron and all the sons of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to approach him (Exodus 34:29-30). Moses had to put a veil over his face after he had been talking with God, so people could look at him.

We know Moses had a unique relationship with God. “Since that time no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face” (Deuteronomy 34:10). But do you think someone can tell that I’ve spent time with God? I think so.

The prophet Isaiah said, “Arise, shine; for your light has come, And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you” (Isaiah 60:1). When Jesus, the “light of the world” comes, he’s not the only one who shines. Our lives reflect his brightness, in the positive, merciful, and helpful things we do.

Wouldn’t it be something if suddenly a whole lot of people needed sunglasses because God’s people reflected so much of his light?