Leviticus & Why God Does Not Fit in a Box
I’ve always wondered why it is a human tendency to try to fit God in a box. What purpose would a-god-small-enough-to-fit-in-a-box serve? Why on earth would we like to want to tame God?
I guess, we would like to use God for our own purposes. We would like to say how things should be run in our own lives. We would like to be God. That’s our human sinful nature right there.
Our God is wild and holy. There is no way we can use him. Leviticus is one of the books in the Bible that tells us that there is no way we can ever put God in a box.
Leviticus shows us that, even though, God is holy and wild, he is not a distant god. God is everywhere and he profoundly cares for us.
“I’ll set up my residence in your neighborhood; I won’t avoid or shun you; I’ll stroll through your streets. I’ll be your God; you’ll be my people. I am God, your personal God who rescued you from Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians. I ripped off the harness of your slavery so that you can move about freely.(Leviticus, 26:11-13. MSG)
We are called to become holy as God is holy. That’s the message of Leviticus that is told us again and again:
Make yourselves holy for I am holy. (Leviticus 11:44, MSG)
Be holy because I, GOD, your God, am holy. (Leviticus 19:1, MSG)
Do what I tell you, live what I tell you. I am GOD. (Leviticus 22:31, MSG)
God’s name is qualified by the adjective “holy” in the Old Testament more often than all other qualities or attributes combined, says Sam Storms. God truly is holy. There is no way you can put that kind of wild spirit in a box. But how do we become holy? That’s a whole other theme for next week. But it is the work of the Holy Spirit in us. Paul guides us this way:
So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. (Romans 12:1-2, MSG)
Gracious God,
Thank you for being wild and holy!
Help us to always keep you holy.
Work in us so we could become holy like you.
Thank you for being ever present in our lives.
Let us feel your presence now and always.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Q4U: Have you ever tried to keep God in a box? What did God teach you?
Be blessed, dear sibling in Christ! Be bold as you venture out in the world. Our Father is an awesome, wild and holy God!
Photo courtesy of Brendan Sceroler
6 thoughts on “Leviticus & Why God Does Not Fit in a Box”
I am glad He does not fit in a box! My relationship with Him is so out of the box..people who put Him in a box don't think He can do the impossible that is why most put Him in a Box.
I guess maybe one day they will open their eyes and see how Big He really is. God bless you my dear.
Thank you so much, Desiray!
Yes, I agree: If you think nothing is impossible to God …there's no way he would fit in a box.
I thank God for you, Desiray. Stay blessed!
Hi,
I just hopped over from high calling blogs.
This post really caught my interest 🙂
I'm looking forward to reading more of your reflections on Scripture.
Michelle
Michelle,
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment! So great to connect with you. I visited your wonderful blog and felt right at home. Looking forward to getting to know your better. Abundant blessings!
Tonight, I was looking for one of your enlightening tweets :). I am so glad I came over read your blog Mari-Anna. This week I can truly say I saw God not fit in a box while watching a bitter-sweet story play out for one of my FB friends. Thank you for sharing.
JoAnne,
So good to hear from you. Thank you for sharing your God-not-in-a-box story. It is good to keep our eyes open for God's active presence in our lives. May God richly bless you!