Page 85 - Pentateuch

hits a snag and overturns within sight of their village, the people will live under a pall of
anxiety until the ceremony can be repeated next year. But if the little boat vanishes around
a bend of the river, the entire assembly will raise their arms toward the sky and shout,
“Selamat! Salamat! Selamat!” (We’re safe! We’re safe!). 100

In Christ, and in Christ alone, we have a message of good news that speaks to all peoples. We have a Savior
who can represent us, not as an animal but as a human (Heb. 2:14-17). At the same time, he is God’s
precious Son, a sufficient sacrifice for anyone who would ever believe in him. Conscience can only be stilled
when it is connected to God by faith in the great sacrifice of Christ. “How much more, then, will the blood
of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from
acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God (Heb. 9:14).”
“Leviticus ends on the priceless privilege of pure acts of adoration and devotion to one’s God, motivated
not by any promise of prosperity in return (in fact, you will be 20 percent poorer!), but simply by one’s love
for the LORD and his sanctuary. Chapter 26 has articulated God’s vows to people. It is appropriate that
Leviticus follows this with a chapter about people’s vows to God. At the heart of religion are holiness and
promise and commitment; God to me, mine to God.” 101 Yet once again, a person’s commitment to God,
even his special commitment, is calibrated with God’s rest. A piece of dedicated property returns to the
original owner in the Year of Jubilee (27:23-24). Resting in God is more important than the human will to
commit something to God. We are not strong enough to make such commitments. We must find our rest in
God.

100 Richardson, 114-115.
101 Hamilton, Handbook, 293.
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