Leviticus, chapter 25

This is the day that the LORD has made and we shall rejoice and be glad in it. Thank you LORD and may You continually lead and guide us into the abundant life that You gave us in the name of Jesus, Amen. Thank you LORD.

As we draw close to the end of Leviticus, I believe we can agree that it is a beautiful book filled with the instructions and the commands of the LORD on how the children of Israel would conduct their lives and serve God when they got to the promised land. God used the years in the wilderness to prepare them for where they were going, the journey ahead in the promised land. When one becomes born again, they depart from the ways of the world, how the world thinks and does things because they are now reconciled to God through a personal relationship with Him found in Jesus Christ. This is the reason Jesus says His own are not of the world just like I am not of the world (John 17:16). The children of Israel had experienced so much bondage for so many years that it had a physical, spiritual and emotional impact on their lives. A lot of their thinking had to be transformed and renewed and in a way God was doing it through His laws and commandments that He gave through Moses. When one becomes born again, there is a departure from "Egypt", the world's way of thinking and doing things to the wilderness where one is renewed in their knowledge of God. Romans 12:2 AMP says, "And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focussing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you]."

In chapter 25 of Leviticus, the LORD is speaking to the children of Israel and reminding them to obeserve the Sabbath when it came to the promised land that they would be living in. After six years, the LORD God did not expect any of His children to work in the seventh year as He wanted to give the land rest. Genesis 1:26 speaks of the dominion that God has given to us over the fish, birds of the air, cattle and over all the earth. A part of this dominion is taking care of the things that God has entrusted you with like the land, the animals, etc. This chapter is a reminder that in taking care of the land and allowing it to rest for a whole year as seen is a way of man exercising his dominion over the land.

In the seventh year when God's people and the land were at rest, God never failed to meet their needs. In fact, as the people rested, God tripled their supply. Leviticus 25:20-21 (NKJV) says, "And if you say, "What shall we eat in the seventh year, since we shall not sow nor gather in our produce?" Then I will command My blessing on you in the sixth year, and it will bring forth produce enough for three years."

As the chapter continues, the LORD further instructs His people to take care of the poor among them by living with them, making sure they do not charge them usury, or lend them food for a profit (Leviticus 25:35-37) or even make them slaves. The LORD also cautioned His people to take care of the strangers that lived among them as well since they were also once strangers in the land of Egypt.

God reminded His people of His Majesty, who He is and how He rescued His people as seen in Leviticus 25:38 (NKJV) that says, "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to give you the land of Canaan and to be your God."

I believe the LORD often shared this reminder with His people because sometimes the human nature moves on too quickly from the answered prayer and the great things that God has done for them and onto the next thing.

May we always be people that remember the goodness of God and the good things that He has done for us in the past and that He continues to do now concerning our lives in the name of Jesus, Amen. Thank you LORD.

I'll end with this Word found in Deuteronomy 1:31 (NIV)

"...in the wilderness. There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place."

Amen, thank you LORD.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO READ THIS CHAPTER IN YOUR BIBLES!

Invitation to salvation: The best gift that Jesus gave us is receiving salvation and eternal life which is a personal relationship knowing God as our Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. 

If you would like to receive this free gift of God's salvation, please say this prayer with me:

"I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that God sent His One and only Son who died for my sins and was raised from the dead so that I could have eternal life." Amen

If you just said this prayer, GLORY TO GOD, you are now a new creation in Christ Jesus! In case you have not already, please prayerfully consider becoming a member of a church and get WATER BAPTIZED!