Meet Marc Rose

Have you ever tried to watch a sport you did not know how to play? I have tried to watch cricket before—I’m clueless. My mind is entertained for a short period of time trying to figure out what is going on. Quickly though, my ignorance for the sport leads to boredom, and I change the channel in search of more familiar territory, such as a football, basketball, or baseball game. It is not that cricket is a boring sport—hundreds of millions of people around the world watch it! What makes it boring to me is my ignorance of what is going on. When I watch cricket, I do not have any appreciation for the drama that is unfolding before my eyes. For many Christians, Leviticus can be a lot like cricket. We might be intrigued by some of the novelty of it, but boredom quickly leads us on to the more familiar territory of the Gospel of John, the book of Romans, or the book of Philippians.  

As Christians, we cannot afford to skip any part of the Scriptures. We need to appreciate that the Scriptures lay out the story of God's work to redeem this broken world. Each person is a part of that story, but none of us is the entire story! We need to learn from those who have been part of the people of God before us. We are part of the fruits of their labor (Matthew 13:16-17; John 4:35-38).

Here are some tips to help you get your head in the game, as you prepare to dive into Leviticus:

1. Remember the context of the story. Exodus finishes with God's presence filling the tabernacle. Israel is getting a crash course in the holiness of God. Pay attention to what happens when people disregard the significance of God's holiness. GAME OVER.
2. Try to see it through the eyes of the original readers, not just your own. Try to imagine what their lives were actually like. Do some research.
3. When the specifics of God's commands do not make sense to you, trust in God's intention.