This hit close to home for me. Last week, a friend asked me about a false accusation she heard being spread about my husband and me. It didn't feel good. Although I knew there was nothing God was asking me to do to right the wrong, I entered a mental scenario where I could speak the truth and clear our names. It gave me a sense that even if it was only in my mind, there was at least some justice being done. God didn't ask me to go there mentally, but I went to this place that Crabb describes:
"The pain created by trouble carries us into the depths of our being where everything revolves around us, where there's no love for anyone else, where we feel only pity for ourselves and sullen disappointment in others. It's a place where we actually believe God has failed us, that He has given us a raw deal. We think we have an airtight case against Him that requires true justice to be our advocate." (Shattered Dreams, Larry Crabb)Thankfully, I didn't stay there long before I realized God was drawing me close to Himself through the pain and drawing me to love others well, "for one central purpose, to glorify God, to make Him look good to any who watch us live." (Crabb)
So, how did Aaron move on in the midst of his suffering and pain? How was he able to seek holiness in Leviticus 10:19-20 rather than seeking justice or protecting his two remaining sons or looking for a release clause from this priesthood thing?
I think these words quoted from David Shepherd in Shattered Dreams say it well,
"Faith as I'm growing to understand it more, is about looking beyond my circumstances to a person. To have faith in better circumstances, even in God creating better circumstances, is not true faith. I want to be the kind of man who can watch every dream go down in flames and still yearn to be intimately involved in kingdom living, intimately involved with my friend the King, and still be willing to take another risk just because it delights Him for me to do so. And my flesh shivers to think about it."
6 comments:
All I can say is YIKES! I'm afraid if I lived in the Israelite camp at that time, I would've been one of those who went down in flames for doing something God didn't instruct me to do!!!
How often do I do that today? Oh goodness!
Again, my tendency is to shiver when I read these chapters and think, "this is the God I follow?" But I have to remember, as Staci and Cici so succintly articulate: God's desire is to MAKE US HOLY, not burn us up in flames.
Lord Jesus, I pray that You would keep working on me, cleaning out the junk in my heart and my mind, to allow me to be a vessel used for noble purposes, giving off the sweet aroma of Christ! And when I face those "fiery trials" of discipline, help me remember that they are for my own GOOD! And praise God, that because of Jesus' sacrifice, I am NOT burned up in a moment!!!
Reading Leviticus again has reminded me of 10 years ago when I read through the Bible with my mother-in-law, who was not a believer and had not previously even owned a Bible. We were following a similar reading plan, and I had told John, "We are good through Genesis and Exodus, but we are going to lose her in Leviticus!" There was much prayer during the next few days as we read. When we had finished the book, I sent her my usual check-in email asking, "So what did you think?"
She said she had learned two things. Now, before I tell you what they were, you must know that my darling mother-in-law is much loved, but not really the sharpest tool in the shed. So, what God showed her was truly from Him.
That said...
She said she learned that:
1. God was really serious about sin.
2. God wanted you to come to Him on His terms.
I proceeded to ugly cry at that point...I knew that God was showing Himself to her, and that it was just a matter of time until His pursuit of her resulted in her salvation. I am happy to say it was true.
But, all that to say....this story is such a great illustration of that. This is one of the moments in our reading that I was sure would throw her....what kind of God is this? One that is Holy beyond our comprehension, and our sin is far more serious than we will know here in this life...and one that requires us to come to Him on His terms.
Aaron's sons' mistake seems so trivial when compared to their punishment, but when we remember that God was establishing His system of sacrifice with His people that would set the standard for their ability to approach the most High God, have their sins atoned for, and have an actual relationship with their creator, you can see how making sure it was done right was important. The seriousness of this training time for the people of God and His priests was paramount. God was saying, "Don't come up with your own great ideas...obey me carefully." It is a foreshadowing of "to obey is better than sacrifice" I Samuel 15:22, which we use alot with our kids when they are young. Don't come up with your own better idea, just do what I am asking you to do...that pleases me so much more. After you have learned to obey me and submit to me completely, then you are ready for Grace. God needed to impress His law on the hearts of His people, but He also needed to show the importance of what He was doing through the sacrificial system. Showing them the seriousness of their sin, the Holiness of God, their inability to keep the law perfectly, their need for forgiveness and a Savior who was a once-and-for-all, perfect, and eternal sacrifice.
Sin is really serious, and you apporach me on my terms.
Stories like this one make that abundantly clear.
God, would you help me to obey you carefully today? Would you help me remember your instructions, and seek to please you by obeying rather than doing what I think is best?
Staci...I will be praying for your situation with the gossip. Sooo sad. I know that the truth of your character will shine through, but no matter what...God knows and sees you. Seek to please Him alone. It is sooo hard to do this, and to remain silent when you are slandered or wrongly accused. I will pray for truth to be revealed, but if not, that God would be your comfort and strength. Love and big hugs...
All I can say is "Amen" and "Amen". Thanks for sharing ladies!
Amanda - I'm sure I'd be going down in flames with you. My independent streak has gotten me in trouble before...
Amy - It's amazing to me how God can speak so clearly today to both believers and unbelievers. I'm impressed that your MIL was willing to read through the Bible with you. This is a great example of the Word not returning void. Also loved the use of 1 Samuel 15:22 with kids. Hadn't thought about that!
All - I'd appreciate your prayers. I'm in major pain with a sinus infection and was up half the night. It's difficult to concentrate when my face feels like it's going to explode.
Wow, Staci, your last quote speaks to me tonight. I faced somewhat of a betrayal today. A dream went down. Is my faith in God creating better circumstances? I hope not but am afraid it is. I so want to wake up tomorrow & be more concerned with Kingdom Living & taking risks to love. My flesh shivers this freezing night not from the cold and I guess that's okay from what you said. But may my selfishness be way more on my mind&heart than my woundedness. I so want to please my Friend, the King. Loved that quote!
I'm back to double dip & say thank you to each of you for a word for me---sometimes I'm a slow thaw.
Staci, You & Eric are so full of Kingdom Living---makes me sad/mad what you heard. Not right! You guys so honor your Friend & friends. Cici, Praying for you, so sorry, and your kids keep right on, can't stop to be sick. Oh my! Amanda, Loved your quote: God's desire is to make us holy not burn us up in flames. Amy, Talk about risks---reading the Bible w/ your m-i-l is unbelievable to me---what kindness you showed to her. What faith! Y'all blew me away tonight to take a risk tomorrow.
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