Leviticus 20 - Steve Wiggins Daily Devotional

“You must not follow the statutes of the nations I am driving out before you, for they did all these things, and I abhorred them. And I promised you: You will inherit their land, since I will give it to you to possess, a land flowing with milk and honey. I am the L_rd your G_d who set you apart from the peoples.” Lev 20: 23-24

Here’s a joke for you.

Q: What did the fool say just before he died?
A: Hey y’all! Watch this!

Q: What did his best friend say, just before he died?
A: Aw, I could have done that!

It has been said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over-and-over, expecting different results. Doesn’t that sound like us? The L_rd saves us, and yet many turn back and start sinning in the same ways that made us recognize our need of salvation!

G_d instructed Israel that He was going to deliver them into Canaan. He told them how he would drive out the Canaanites; and He told them WHY the Canaanites were being driven out: their sinful ways.

That information, alone, should have been enough to teach Israel to honor the L_rd, insuring their perpetual possession of the Promised Land. G_d went further and instructed the Israelites to separate themselves from the ways and beliefs of the Canaanites.

Why would Israel turn to the ways of Canaan’s former inhabitants? Perhaps, it is because of their concept of “blessing”. Perhaps, they got into the land and conditions were harder than they thought they might be. I think this may have been the case, because G_d informed the children of Israel the Promised land would be “flowing with milk & honey”.

I have four children. I am aware of the fact that milk does not flow from a mother until after the painful delivery of the baby. I have also never seen honey harvested without having to contend with nagging, stinging bees.

Could it be that G_d was telling Israel that Canaan would be fruitful, but it would take nagging, stinging, painful work? Doesn’t that remind you of the joy we receive, after we employ the discipline of living holy and separate lives, unto G_d, in our generation? But isn’t discipline what being a “disciple” is all about? We must never lose sight of the goal of our laboring, to please the Lord and to enter-in to the place He has prepared for us, hearing His great “Well done!”

Blessings,
~Steve Wiggins, Associate Leader, Worship Leader
Shuvah Yisrael
Daily Devotional, Wednesday, April 30, 2014