The One Year Chronological Bible - Week 8 Reflection Questions

Week 8 (Feb 16-22): Numbers 8:1-9:14 & Leviticus 1:1-19:37

As you read through these passages of the Bible, reflect upon these questions individually, through journaling, in pairs, or in small groups...

1. The Levites were dedicated after undergoing a process of cleansing.  How do we understand and/or practice the act of cleansing in faith today?
2. In dedicating the Levites, God claimed them as his own in place of the firstborns that God did  not take from Israel during the tenth plague in Egypt.  Do we have any modern equivalent to this sense of the first belonging to God?  If so, what is it?  If not, what would be ways that we could practice this type of dedication?
3. As we read through Leviticus, how are we to understand its content and relate it to today?
4. In Leviticus, there is significant time spent on the various offerings and how to do them.  One example is the sin offering.  The priest made an offering on behalf of the people.  What connections do you see between this ritual and the work, ministry, and/or sacrifice of Jesus Christ?
5. Leviticus 5:1 says, "If anyone sins because they do not speak up when they hear a public charge to testify regarding something they have seen or learned about, they will be held responsible."  One can be guilty for remaining silent.  Have there been times when you knew something but did not speak up?  What happened as a result of your silence?  How could you have acted differently?  Are things that you could do to make things right now?
6. In Leviticus 7: 28-38, we read that a portion of the offering belonged to Aaron and the priests.  They did not have land and did not farm in the same ways as others did due to their preistly responsibilities.  In this way, God provided for their needs through the contributions of others.  In what ways is this similar or different to our modern system of Sunday morning offerings and salaried pastors?  Are there ways in which our modern approach limits or inhibits ministry comparatively?
7. Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, went against God's commands in offering unauthorized fire and they died.  This led Moses to say to Aaron's other sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, "Do not let your hair become unkempt and do not tear your clothes, or you will die and the LORD will be angry the whole community." How are we to understand these types of requirements and the corresponding punishments?
8.  Much time is spent in Leviticus detailing the rules related to clean and unclean including animals.  After reading, Leviticus 11:1-47, turn to Acts 10:9-22 and read about Peter's vision.  In what ways to Leviticus 11 inform you understanding of Acts 10?  Of Peter and his spiritual growth in this passage?
9. One might wonder why so much time is spend on being clean and what all this has to do with faith.  Why are the priests the ones who make determinations that today would be made by doctors?  At the end of Leviticus 11, we read, "I am the LORD  your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy."  Does this statement inform you understanding of the purpose for remaining clean?  If so, how?  Is there a modern day equivalent to this standard?
10. What parallels do you see between the explanation of the "scapegoat" in Leviticus 16:10, 20-22 and our modern use of this term?
11. Leviticus 17:11-12 tells us that the blood is where the life of an animal is and that the blood has been given to us to make atonement for ourselves.  Atonement literally means "at-one-ment" with God.  How does this passage inform and shape our understanding of Christ's death bringing about atonement for us?
12. Read Leviticus 19:18 followed by Matthew 22:36-40.  Jesus quoted Leviticus in naming the most important of the commandments.  We often write off Leviticus as outdated, irrelevant and boring.  What does it mean for us to know that Jesus was familiar enough with Leviticus to quote it?  How might we approach Leviticus with fresh eyes?
13. Leviticus 19:33-34 states, "When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them.  The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born.  Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt.  I am the LORD your God." There is much debate and discussion around our modern realities of immigration.  How does this text speak into or inform a faithful response to such circumstances?


 May the Lord bless and shape us through our individual reading and corporate study of His word this year.