BibleProject | One Story That Leads to JesusSample

Today’s reading takes us to the end of Leviticus. Congratulations! Watch the video to review what you’ve learned from this complex, ancient law book that demonstrates God’s determination to be with his people. Every time Israel betrays him, accuses him, ignores his instruction, or violates their agreement with him, God refuses to let them go. Instead, God reveals the first steps of Israel’s path that will ultimately lead humanity back into the intimacy once shared between God and humans in Eden.

Leviticus concludes with Moses calling Israel to be faithful to their agreement (or covenant partnership) with Yahweh. If the Israelites follow through on their agreement, God says they will enjoy the blessings of Eden. They will be fruitful and multiply—their tree branches sagging under the weight of abundant fruit and their storehouses bursting at the seams.

However, if they choose to violate the agreement, they will experience disaster and removal from the land. God’s justice means that his people will face the consequences of their actions when they rebel, but his mercy causes him to pursue them and restore them every time they go astray because God longs to be with his people.

The Israelites have learned how to dwell with God’s holy presence. But they’re still camped in the middle of the wilderness, living in tents with no home of their own. What’s next for these wandering people?

Reflection Questions

• What have you learned about God’s grace and holiness from the regulations in Leviticus?
• Leviticus contains many laws, rituals, and symbols that can feel confusing to 21st-century readers. Which parts of Leviticus do you understand more clearly after reading through the book? What questions do you still have?