Upon Becoming Worthy of Death

Scripture: Now the son of an Israelite mother and an Egyptian father was among the Israelites. A fight broke out in the camp between the Israelite woman’s son and an Israelite man. Her son cursed and blasphemed the Name, and they brought him to Moses. (His mother’s name was Shelomith, a daughter of Dibri of the tribe of Dan.) Leviticus 24:10-11

Observation: Israel has been liberated from Egypt through 10 unfathomable miracles, taken across the parted sea, sustained and provided for as a people-group of approximately one million, witness to the great pillar of fire and great cloud of presence, and spoken to from a mountaintop. They have now built the tabernacle and the Lord has visibly shown up, made it his dwelling place, and publicly struck dead those who defile it. And now, with all that done ... a man blasphemes the Lord.

The point is that, at this moment, there is absolutely, positively no possible way for anyone to doubt both the existence of the Lord, and his goodness toward the people. They have literally seen and heard is powerful presence. They have been supernaturally cared for through undeniable and amazing miracles. Yet this person speaks against the Lord, apparently triggered by a human conflict. His punishment will be as one would expect ... death, as this is clearly a conscious effort to separate one's self from the Lord, and the Lord will make this an example for all the people. Unlike others, he won't even have his name recorded. In addition, the Lord now starts to re-iterate and build upon the laws he has given them, for the people cannot seem to figure out how to simply obey the most simple of instructions.

Application: To me, the most shocking part of this the idea that someone who has witnessed everything that has occurred would blasphemy the Lord. Then again ... so many people do this every day, and I myself knowingly violate the Lord's instructions regularly.

We do this again and again. we have witnessed the Lord's love and power, his mercy and blessings, his justice and authority, and then we sin. I commit sin knowing it is sin ... sure, I feel bad about and ask for forgiveness, acknowledging my failure and joyful that Jesus exists to offer such forgiveness ... but I still do it.

I have seen the Lord's greatness, witnessed his miracles, received his love firsthand, heard his voice, experienced his presence, and then I do wrong. I should be sentenced to death, and my name erased from the world. The fact everyone else falls into the same category doesn't change this fact. I am worthy of death, and unworthy of salvation. This is, of course, what makes the Lord's grace all the more amazing.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your love and grace. I know I do not deserve, and I could not earn it. May I never judge others for their failures to obey, for I am the worst of the sinners and I know it. Again I say, thank you, my Lord. Amen.