Deuteronomy 12-14

Moses is explaining to the Israelites that once they have settled in the Promised Land God would choose a place for His dwelling. In one of their cities God would direct them to build a more permanent tabernacle where the ark would rest and where an altar would be built for sacrifices. Once a year all Jews were to go that place to eat their tithe in the presence of the Lord.

Here’s what I noticed this morning. Moses told them that if they were blessed by the Lord, if their ten percent involved much grain, new wine and oil, and if the designated city was too far for them to carry everything, they were to sell their tithe for silver, travel to the city and buy their tithe’s equivalent and complete their sacrifice at the place God chose as a dwelling for His Name.

Moses doesn’t say… if you are blessed with too much to carry, then just do your own sacrificing at a more convenient place. Or he didn’t say if you have too much just bring what you can.

Once again I am reminded that there is no short-cuts to forgiveness. God requires us all to come to Him on His terms. We don’t go to the temple today because we have Jesus. And Jesus tells us that He is the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father except through Him. There just isn’t any other provision for the forgiveness of sin.

Dear Lord, I am thankful today that you painted this picture of your requirement for sacrifices in the Old Testament. Thank you that you are the same today as you were when these words were written. Thank you for Jesus. And thank you for providing the way to forgiveness through His blood. May we not be fooled into thinking there are any short-cuts.