Leviticus 6

Leviticus 6 continues God’s instruction to Moses.  It begins talking about things that happen between people.  “When anyone sins by betraying trust with God”.  Sounds like an issue between God and man doesn’t it?  But read on and you find out that this betrayal occurs when we sin against one another.  God calls out five areas where this happens:

1. “Deceiving his neighbor regarding something entrusted to him
2. Robbing
3. Cheating
4. Threatening
5. Lies…swears falsely”

Sin happens when we do not obey God’s laws in how we relate with one another.  Not only can sin happen when we disobey God intentionally, or fail to do things we should, but it also happens when we do not live appropriately with those around us.  God holds us accountable for how we live with each other.  We aren’t just to live right in relationship with God, but with everyone in our patch. 

 When a wrong is committed there is more to being set free from that sin than simply the sacrifice.  God is clear that restitution and restoration is His standard here.  He tells Moses that the people must “return” what they have taken and make “full compensation….add twenty percent….hand it over” in addition to the sacrifice that needs to be made.  There is a price for sin.  And in God’s direction here, the price comes with a 20% penalty attached as well.  I don’t claim to know how that applies to us today, but I do know that God pays attention to how we live and treat one another.  I do know there is a price for sin, a sacrifice is required, and that we need to pay for that sin and make things right.  Most importantly I know God is in the restoration business of making people whole.  He wants relationships fixed, people to be restored, and life to go on.  Jesus died to give us that opportunity – to be freed from the chains of sin – but also to be able to get our life back on track and our relationships restored and back in order.  God also tells Aaron to “Keep the fire burning on the Altar continuously. It must not go out.”  The need for sacrifice was 24X7X365 – sin happens and needs to be dealt with.  We need to deal with the sin of our life through a relationship with Jesus, and also get after the hard work of restitution and restoration so we can complete the process of making relationships whole.  Is there sin in your life you need to address with another person?  It doesn’t just go away by ignoring it.  It needs to be dealt with so you can be set free!