What's next?

If you managed to Zip with us across the Old Testament for four months, I hope you have gained insights into God who is the great I AM: the dynamic God at work in the past, present and future. A huge thanks to all bloggers, your blogs have been inspiring and you have reached online audiences from about 15 different countries with more than 6 thousand blogviews. Bless you for sharing your reading experience. So what's next?

To those who intended to blog but ran out of courage, focus or energy. Chin up. The point of WORD Up is to set fairly difficult challenges so that we are motivated to block off time to achieve it together. Set up your own more manageable challenge and gather a group of friends to do it with you at another time.

If you were just a random reader, you could be more. You could challenge your friends to read Old Testament books which they have never read before in community and work out how to apply the bible to their lives today. You could use the material on this blog to do challenges of your own over a month/ weekend away. You could use the material and challenge your group on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, What's app and Youtube. Remember the more the format or medium of material is reused, retwittered and reworked to fit the lifestyle of your group the better. However, the principles of good biblical interpretation and the content of the bible (whichever version you use) must remain the same.

Engage with the text and let the words point you to fresh insights into what God is saying to you as a group. Ask questions, research answers and record what you learn....this interpretative community is what will make what you are doing different from other efforts to put the bible online using social media like these ones on Twitter. Wrestling with biblical text is engaging with an author who chooses who reveal Himself, there is a sense of the amazing in the experience. The Old Testament contains some of the most puzzling but revealing stories about God's relationship with his people. Seeking to know God more through His revealed works is one of the most exciting adventure of life.

:) Until next summer.

Days 17-18, Leviticus 18-27: Living separately, and in remembrance

You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived, and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you. You shall not walk in their statutes. You shall follow my rules and keep my statutes and walk in them. I am the LORD your God. 

(Lev 18:3-4)

This statement sums up the essence of Leviticus, and the reason for the rules. They weren't just any nation, and they were not to just live like any nation. They were God's nation, and were meant to live as a witness to the nations around them - not copy the immorality and injustices seen in other nations.

The rules herein contained are a mix of sexual morality, care for the poor, truth, spiritual separation and loyalty, and due respect.

Evidently, the phrase 'uncover the nakedness of' is a euphemism for sexual relations. The first section is basically summed up by 'don't sleep with your relatives' to use today's euphemism. There is however a quick glimpse of the proper relations between husband and wife. In 18:7-8 we see that the 'nakedness' of the father is the mother's 'nakedness' and the nakedness of the step-mother (father's wife) is the father's 'nakedness'. In other words, the nakedness or sexual activity of each in a marriage belongs to the other partner - a beautiful description of the sexual intimacy and two become one in marriage.
Intimacy during menstruation was also forbidden - this seems to be due to the ceremonial cleanliness rituals that Israel was to keep to mark them as separate from other nations.
Bestiality, homosexuality, and adultery are also all forbidden - all practices of the nations that were there before Israel, and practices which contributed to God's judgement upon the previous nations.

The rules relate not only to physical actions, but inward attitude. Respect for parents and for God is important. Love is to be shown to all, no matter their circumstances - whether they know it or not. Some may say it doesn't matter to curse a deaf man, but God hears it. The rule is not 'you can do wrong if you can get away with it', but 'do right whether you can get away with it or not, whether people see it or not'. The heart attitude is as important as the action.
We see more descriptions of how Israel is to be separate from the spiritual practices around them - not marking themselves like the pagans did in rituals, not seeking spiritual 'guidance' from people who claimed (rightly or wrongly) to be able to contact spirits/demons.

Rejection of God's rule and law brought about severe punishment - the death penalty was appropriate for such deliberate rejection of God and His standards. Whether it was going after foreign gods, killing children for sacrifices, cursing their parents, or sexual immorality, God did not take disobedience lightly. Israel was His people, and He their ruler - He is Holy, therefore they are to be holy (separated) to Him. The emphasis on God's Holiness, and our call to holiness in response is equally present in the New Testament - we live in a different political structure, and are not bound by ceremonial laws, but we are still called to live in obedience to God, imitate His character, and separate ourselves spiritually to Himself.

As a special example of separation, the priests in Israel receive further instruction. They are God's representatives to the people, and are to be an example spiritually, morally, and ceremonially. There is also a high standard to serve in the Temple - descendants of the priests who had physical imperfections/disease could share in the provisions for the priests, but could not serve. Their physical 'perfection' seems a symbol of spiritual perfection demanded, much like the offering of unblemished animals for sacrifice, which are also detailed.

In addition to civil rules, there were also prescribed feasts/holidays to remind the people of Israel about all that God had done for them. The Sabbath, as a weekly day set aside for God. The Passover, reminding of the escape from Egypt and the protection from judgement by the blood. The Feast of Firstfruits and Pentecost (Feast of weeks/fifty days)  - recognising the Lord of the Harvest, and giving thanks for His provision. The Feast of Trumpets, a call to worship the Lord, and repentance. The Day of Atonement, the offering for the sin of the whole nation. The Feast of Booths, remembering the wanderings in the wilderness, and God's provision there. All a reminder to us of the importance of remembering all that the Lord does for us. Remembering regularly, and thanking and praising Him for His provision, both physical and spiritual.

After some arrangements for the continual supply of oil for the lamps and bread for the table in the Tabernacle, we see again a couple of civil rules. To blaspheme God, the Head of Israel, was punishable by death, as this amounted to treason. In other matters, the punishment should fit the crime - life for life, injury for injury. It was not to be like other systems where minor infractions could exact devastating punishment - judicial punishment was limited to the severity of the crime.

In the rules concerning the Years of Jubilee, and Sabbath years, we also see both a reliance upon God's provision, and a care for the poor. By taking a break from working the fields for a year, they relied on God providing through the plants that reseeded themselves. It also provided means for the servants/slaves to leave their masters if they desired, and return land to people that had sold it to cover hard times. Following on from this theme, the poor were to be helped, and not exploited - if the poor asked for help, then the Israelites were not to make a profit off the loans.

The book of Leviticus concludes with a reminder of blessing for obedience, and the judgement for disobedience. Even in disobedience, though there is room for confession and return to God - and we know from later history just how many times this occurred. In this section, it is noteworthy that here is the warning fulfilled later in the Babylonian captivity - 26:34 speaks of enforcing the Jubilee rest for the land (70 years captivity for all the years that the Jubilee was missed), and 26:23-24 speaks of the sevenfold increase in judgement if repentance is not forthcoming (490 years that Daniel is told about after the 70 years pass without full repentance).

Finally, vows are covered, and provision made for redeeming vows made if the original can no longer be offered. This section shows the solemnity of promises made to God, and this can also be applied to the solemnity of promises in general. Unlike some of the Judges (such as Jephthah), there is always a way out of a unwise promise, however. Because of the promise made, breaking it requires adding 20% to the value of it in substitute, in this way the arrangement is still given due solemnity, but allows escape from unwise promises. Similarly with tithes - if the person greatly desires to keep the tithe for the Lord, he can redeem it with something else, but add 20% value to its valuation. The underlying purpose of tithing is respect for the Lord, in acknowledgement that all is His. Again, today, we are not bound by a tithe (the word means 1/10th), but the principle of acknowledging the Lord's provision for us as we steward His resources is still important.

Holy God, we would remember Thee, and live in the light of Your love for us - living in obedience to You, and in holy separation unto You. Help us O Lord, by Your power, to live thus. We thank you for Your Holy Spirit, Who calls us to remembrance of the things we know of You, and empowers us to live for You, to Your glory. This world is Yours, and we are Thine, O Holy God. Amen.

Day 22: Numbers 21-26 - Destruction and Deliverance

These chapters are I suspect amongst the oddest in Christian scripture. There's a talking donkey, extreme warfare, the angel of the Lord (visible only to a donkey, initially), various prophecies, false gods, sexual immorality, and a summarised census of Israel. I guess given the name of the book we might have expected the last item on that list, though perhaps nothing else.

There's lots to think about, but I'll just comment briefly on 'conquering' in the text. How are Christians to read such violent passages? Take as an example, from chapter 24, part of what seems to be in some sense, or in part, a messianic prophecy - "He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the sons of Sheth".

In both the old and new testaments, deliverance is achieved through bloodshed, through warfare or something similar. The old testament describes the temporal physical judgement of rebellious nations, while the new describes the eternal judgment of rebellious individuals. It would be a bleak picture indeed were it not for what I take the centrepoint of the Bible, which describes the end to the requirement for bloodshed, the cross. Following this event, no temporal bloodshed is necessary for purification or the achievement of religious purposes, as God-made-man has shed His own blood on behalf of rebellious individuals.

There's plenty more to say of course, but in general the most helpful way to read violent texts in the old testament that I've found as a Christian, is to see them in light of Christ's ultimate sacrifice. The actions of Israel in entering the promised land are not a direct model for us (and it's a bad idea to simply spiritualise the stories and use them as bizarre moral or life lessons abstracted away from their context)), but the messy history of the people of Israel, who were bought out of slavery and through trials by God, reflects light on the struggles and nature of the true Israel, Jesus, who purchased freedom for His rebellious enemies. Violence is not the final answer, but it was a now-finished part of God's plan to overcome evil.

Genesis 1-3 : Dichotomies

First of all, sorry this post was a lot later than it should have been. I am still nursing the after effects of the Chinese New Year :)
It is interesting that I am starting my section with the 9 of the most challenging chapters of the Bible to me.

Genesis 1: The story of creation.
It is interesting that the Big Bang Theory was proposed by a Belgian priest, George Lemaitre, after being inspired by Genesis 1, and theorizing that the Universe did in fact have a beginning. As someone trained in the field of science for the past 16 years, it is somewhat difficult to reconcile the accounts of Genesis 1 with the scientific discoveries. I have heard many different interpretation of Genesis 1 (the Day-Age, recreation, the 6-day creation), mostly in an attempt to reconcile the apparent disparity between what we know about the origins of the Universe and the accounts in Genesis 1. In the end, whether or not Genesis 1 is meant to be taken literally or allegorically, the only thing that really matters to me in Genesis 1 is that God made everything in the universe, and we belong to God.

Genesis 2: The first pair
I taken a special interest in 2013 after reading some articles regarding gender roles (in church in particular).  As an outsider (not female) ironically both easy to make judgements on what are the gender roles for women and girls, but at the same time difficult to understand the implications of such judgements. Just a few days ago, I met up with some of school friends, and we got into discussion on this after reflecting on a friend's adjustments to a newly married life. We went into discussions on family life, parenthood, and other things married couples should be concerned about. It was really easy to give opinions from a guy's perspective as only one of my friends' wife joined us (their 2 year old daughter isn't old enough to give her own opinions yet :) ) In the end, while it was easy for a guy to say what is the characteristics of a Biblical wife, and mother and of the perfect woman, what is more important for the guys is to know what it means to them to be a Biblical husband and the right man for the wife.

One new term that I learnt from my study on gender roles came from Genesis 2, which was the Hebrew term "Ezer Kenegdo" which is rendered in KJV as help meet. Literally, Ezer means a helper, a support, to make you strong, to save, and Kenegdo means appropriate for or fitting to. This term is a little disconcerting to me, as for a very long time as it implies that there is someone suitable that would make , it challenges my desire to settle down and start a family, against what is possibly a call to singlehood for me. Looking back I know that I am where I should be now because my past relationships did not work out, and looking forward it would be financially irresponsible for me to start any relationship with the intention of settling down and starting a family anytime in the near future, which puts me somewhat at peace with my dating situation. (Ironically, my friend's wife made me pose underneath a sign that said "I will not die until I get married" during our meet-up). To be honest I really wish I know what are God's plan for me in this area, and I mostly laugh it off with a joke whenever my friends ask me about my own plans, but to paraphrase Gen 2:24 I guess that how it is in a Biblical marriage, that the hopes, dreams and plans are no longer my own, but are one with the spouse and in God.

Genesis 3: The entrance of sin
I won't sugar coat it, the concept of sin challenging to me. One key aspect was on the tree of knowledge of Good and Evil.

Days 13-16, Leviticus 1-17: Theocratic rule, sacrifice and cleansing

Leviticus is first and foremost a law, a legal code for living in a theocratic society as God's chosen people. It was written for Israel, and therefore the rules written in that time for Israel as a theocratic nation cannot be applied indiscriminately. However, this is no excuse for ignoring this text - after all the things of Scripture were written for our learning. Much can be gleaned from this book - from the character of God, the offerings pointing to Christ, the intermingling of worship, atonement, thanksgiving, repentance, remembrance, justice and mercy.

In the temple sacrifices and the rules for the priests, we can see the importance of purity. Daily washing, washing any time the lavar was passed, and the sacrifice first for the priest's sins before he made offerings. These physical actions were there as spiritual lessons - purity is not a once only thing, but continual; also that one must deal with his own sin before helping others deal with their sin.In the new covenant, we are now also priests, with direct access to God, through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Though the physical signs are not required, yet the purity of life and continual cleansing our lives of sin is of utmost importance. Like the priests, we approach and have the privilege of standing in the presence of a Holy God - His very nature abhors sin and keeps us from Him. Also like the priests, we represent God to others, and we cannot encourage others well if we are unwilling to put the effort into cleansing our own life - we cannot be self-righteous, as we too rely on the sacrifice of Christ.

There are many lessons that can be drawn from the different types of sacrifices prescribed. Burnt offerings, sin offerings, meal offerings, trespass offerings. The amounts that were burnt, the portions that were burnt, or given to the priests, where the blood was scattered. There is not time to go into them all here, but as I was reading through I noticed particularly that the sacrifices were a mix of offering for sin, and praise. Thankfulness, and repentance. They were a pleasing aroma to God, if brought with a pure heart.

Concerning the strange fire that Nadab and Abihu offered, we are reminded of the import of obedience. In some ways the sacrifices and offerings were worthless, because they in themselves never took away sin. Obedience in life was more important than the ritual sacrifices - as is repeated many times in later books. Yet the sacrificial system was at the same time very important - to not follow the rules was to reject God as Ruler. Even worse was the act of rejecting God's prescribed offering for their own ideas of a suitable offering - trying to gain acceptance from God by their own efforts. It may not be incense we offer nowadays, but the temptation to offer God what we think is best is still a temptation to which we all fall prey at times.

In the rules concerning cleansing, we see a mix of symbolic cleansing, and practical health instructions. The people came from Egypt, where archaeologists and historian tell us that many of the 'remedies' proposed involved fecal material and many other unsanitary items. God knows what is best, and protects His people both practically from the spread of disease, and spiritually by marking a difference between them and the nations around them - making it harder for them to mix with and be corrupted by the idolatrous worship.

In the last part of the section under consideration, we see the sacrifices prescribed on the Day of Atonement - Yom Kippur. The amazing picture of Christ presented by the two goats - one sacrifice that died for sins and the blood presented before God for acceptance. The other goat bearing the sin of the people far away. Christ fulfils perfectly both of those roles. As with many of the other sacrifices, again we see the high priest making atonement first for himself. This part Christ did not need to fulfil - the other high priests were sinful and required atonement for themselves. The Great High Priest required no atonement for Himself, but was perfect, without defect or blemish.

In chapter 17, we see that only one place of sacrifice was acceptable - there was provision for people to kill animals for sacrifice elsewhere, but the fat and the blood must be brought to that one place of sacrifice and present it before the Lord. Similarly, there is only one path to God, through our Saviour Jesus Christ. As He said: "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one cometh unto the Father but by Me." (John 14:6)

Done is the work that saves,
Once and for ever done;
Finished the righteousness
That clothes the unrighteous one.
The love that blesses us below
Is flowing freely to us now.


The sacrifice is o’er,
The veil is rent in twain,
The mercy-seat is red
With blood of Victim slain.
Why stand we then without, in fear?
The blood of Christ invites us near.


The gate is open wide;
The new and living way
Is clear, and free, and bright,
With love, and peace, and day.
Into the holiest now we come,
Our present and our endless home.


Enthroned in majesty
The High Priest sits within;
His precious blood, once shed,
Has made and keeps us clean;
With boldness let us now draw near;
That blood has banished every fear.


Then to the Lamb once slain,
Be glory, praise, and power,
Who died, and lives again,
Who liveth evermore;
Who loved us, cleansed us by His blood,
And made us kings and priests to God! 


William H Havergal

Day 17 - Lev. 18-22 - Sex, Laws, Sin, and Separateness

A bunch of instructions to Israelites about how to live in light of the freedom God has procured for them. Not instructions for 21st Century NZ, not directly anyway, though many of the same principles will apply to us given us sharing our humanity and our Creator with these Israelites - or that's how I read the laws in Leviticus anyway.

Leviticus 18 is awkwardly detailed and repetitive; I think it's okay to acknowledge that parts of God's word are more accessibly written than others. The main message in any case is that Israel was not to be like the nations they were replacing, in particular with regards to their expressions of sexuality. The next chapter has various rules on how to organise one's actions are interactions. As a whole they strike me as rather humane; some are a bit odd and seem mostly about emphasising Israel's distinctiveness, but only one strikes me as reflecting a different moral vision to the kind that would appeal to most in our society - I'll let you guess which one, near the middle of the chapter.

Child sacrifice was the epitomy of the evil actions of the former inhabitants of the land Israel had taken over. It's a pretty horrendous thing. The close link between 'religious ' or spiritual issues like mediumship and more practical things like sex and family life are interesting, and challenge our culture's separation of spiritual and ordinary life. Sin deserves death, we're told - it's not a nice message, but if it's true it's probably worth knowing.

The priests had particular additional rules; the central point of this that I take away being that mediating a relationship with God is a tough job - I'm glad I have someone to do it for me, who unlike the priests of Leviticus is perfect.

Day 15 - Lev. 8-10 - priests & fire

A series of priest-related events lead up to the appearance of the glory of God at the end of chapter 9. Various offerings for the priests and the people must be presented before the assembled people can look on the glory of God and live to speak of it. There is a clear distance between God and man, and the relationship available, such as it was, had to be mediated by men chosen to stand in the gap and ensure that the gravity of sin was recognised and symbolically dealt with. God's presence was in the tabernacle and the people were outside, and woe to anyone who did not respect the distinction! Though I tend to forget, our God is a consuming fire; and contrary to the sense of some worship songs (or what I get out of them anyway), that term doesn't just mean He makes us feel good or particularly devoted sometimes.

In response to God's fire on the offering, the assembled people were overjoyed - the offering was accepted and God was with them. Perhaps surprisingly given all the blood around, this was not a completely solemn occasion - the proper relationship between reverence and joy is worth thinking about! Likewise perhaps, we can rejoice in Christ's sacrifice and boast in the cross, while recognising its tragedy and pain and the seriousness of our sin which caused it.


Aaron's sons tried to add something to the prescribed offerings, for whatever reason. They were treated as blasphemers and consumed by God's fire. Nothing can be added or taken away from God's covenant with His people; God's holiness or separateness requires obedience. This runs directly against our culture's emphasis on self-rule, self-expression and freedom, but if anyone has the prerogative to run counter to culture, I guess it's the Creator of the universe.