20 September Leviticus 11

Been set apart

Leviticus 11:1-4 (NIV) “The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Say to the Israelites: ‘Of all the animals that live on land, these are the ones you may eat: You may eat any animal that has a divided hoof and that chews the cud. “‘There are some that only chew the cud or only have a divided hoof, but you must not eat them. The camel, though it chews the cud, does not have a divided hoof; it is ceremonially unclean for you”.

David Guzik, in the Enduring Word Bible Commentary posits this: “The dietary laws gave the Israelites an opportunity to demonstrate obedience to God. Overall, God’s intent was to make Israel a holy nation, separate from the other nations, obedient to God, not only to their bellies. Just as the first law God gave to humanity had to do with what could and could not be eaten, so these laws were given to Israel as a test of their obedience and separation to God. The dietary laws separated the Israelites from their Gentile, pagan neighbours. This limited the true fellowship and connection an obedient Israelite could have with the surrounding peoples who did not worship or obey Yahweh. As well, some of these animals declared unclean for eating were animals that were idolised in pagan religions.”

Furthermore, 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV) says: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. We too are not only a chosen race and a royal priesthood but also a holy nation. “Holy” means separated or set apart. Israel, as people of God, were referred to as a holy nation.

When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, we become part of God's holy nation. Through Jesus, we have been separated from sin. We are sanctified people, separated from what is unholy and devoted to God. When you were saved, it wasn’t just that your sins were forgiven. It wasn’t just that you were set apart from hell, you were brought into intimacy with God, reflected in a new relationship of obedience.

At my salvation, I was taken out of the kingdom of darkness and placed in the kingdom of God’s dear Son. Furthermore, I was taken out of death and put into life, I am God’s possession. We are a sanctified people called to be holy. We are a people set apart unto God, called to be set apart unto God.

The key to sanctification is developing a close and personal relationship with Jesus Christ. To truly become holy, you need to build this kind of relationship. This will compel you to seek such closeness with Christ so that it guides your actions.

In conclusion, being set apart as God's people is not just a title or a label; it's a call to live a life that reflects our intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. Just as the Israelites were given specific laws to demonstrate their obedience and separation from the surrounding nations, we, too, are called to live in a way that sets us apart from the world. Our sanctification is a process that begins with accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior and continues as we cultivate a deep, personal relationship with Him. This relationship transforms us, guiding our actions and aligning our lives with God's will. As a holy nation, we are God's possession, called to live in a way that honours Him, walking in the light of His truth and reflecting His holiness in all we do.