Even Unawares

Leviticus 4 & 5

(4:1-2) The Lord said to Moses, Say to the Israelites, When anyone sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord's commands--

(4:13) If the whole Israelite community sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord's commands, even though the community is unaware of the matter, they are guilty.

(4:22) When a leader sins unintentionally ... he is guilty.

(4:27) If a member of the community sins unintentionally ... he is guilty.

(5:2) Or if a person touches anything ceremonially unclean, ... even though he is unaware of it, he has become unclean and is guilty.

(5:3) ... Even though he is unaware of it, when he learns of it he will be guilty.

(5:4) ... Even though he is unaware of it, in any case when he learns of it he will be guilty.

(5:17) If a person sins and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord's commands, even though he does not know it, he is guilty and will be held responsible.

(5:5) When anyone is guilty in any of these ways, he must confess in what way he has sinned ...

The Book of Leviticus is the record of all the technical aspects of the different sacrifices, and in later chapters of all the various and sundry protocols to do to take care of many different circumstances they may confront. 

What I realized in going through these two chapters, is that God's standards never change, never waver, never vary, even if we're not even aware of them. God designed this World to run and operate like clockwork. Even extreme environmentalists preach an essential doctrine of "human hands off, let Nature take care of itself." They just don't recognize that it's God's Plan that works, when you take sin out of it. But we always have to "throw the monkey wrench into the works," then we wonder why all of our "good ideas" don't work out the way we'd planned.

Even when we're not cognizant of the ways God designed this Earth to "run," it still "runs" according to His Plan. Then when we violate His rules, we suffer the consequences. How much better to read the "Manufacturer's Instructions" and follow them in our attitudes, reasoning, and actions--and realize the successful outcome of our endeavors.

O my Father, search me and know me and reveal to me my sin that is still lurking in my heart and mind and attitudes, so that I may confess the truth of what I've done. Then I will be able to follow Your ways of righteousness in every aspect of my life, in Your wisdom and power and authority.

May Your will be done on this Earth, the same way it is done in Your Heaven, my Lord and my King.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!