Not only has God drawn a line that separates his people from those who reject him, he calls out with encouragement to those who are his to imitate him. “I am holy,” God tells Moses to share with the people, “they are to be holy as well.” In chapters 19 and 21 God provides some examples to help Israel understand how to live a holy life. Many of these examples we call “common courtesies” but some of them are examples of God’s grace. How many modern farmers would leave the outside of the fields for the poor to harvest? How do I apply that principle to my life as a computer administrator? The principle of providing the means for helping those who have lost their means or find themselves in need of assistance beyond their current abilities requires a sacrifice on both side of the need. I don’t know how big their grain fields were, but I’d guess that they may have been multiple acres. So the Israeli farmers were to give God a tenth and leave a little more in the field for the poor to reap. But his promise for their faithfulness was for much more than they gave up. That same promise is still true today.
Stuart
No comments:
Post a Comment