READING: Numbers 3-4
God is holy. Period.
We heard that theme throughout the book of Leviticus, and now that truth confronts us again in the book of Numbers — though in a different way. Moses and Aaron and his sons (the priests) were to take care of the sanctuary, and “anyone else who approached the sanctuary was to be put to death” (Num 3:38). The Kohathites were responsible for transporting the holiest articles of the Tabernacle, but Aaron and his sons were to oversee their work because handling the holy articles wrongly would bring death. Indeed, even wrongly glancing at the holy things (which were to be covered) would bring death: “But the Kohathites must not go in to look at the holy things, even for a moment, or they will die” (Num 4:20). The holy places and holy things that represented God were to be approached and handled properly — or judgment was severe.
Here’s where the enemy enters the story. One of his strategies is to entice us to become comfortable with the holy — so much so that we would dare take holiness lightly, approach the holy while living in our uncleanness, and assume that our flippant attitude doesn’t matter. When we view the holy as routine, we’ve forgotten what holiness is all about.
We fail here more often than we might care to admit. We seek God in prayer while clinging to our private sin. We go to His Word on Sunday and take the devil’s bait on Monday. We stand among the people of God, rejoicing about our relationship with Him even while having broken relationships with those same people.
We often approach the holy while living in deliberate unholiness. That’s way too comfortable.
ACTION STEPS: Consider these steps today:
- Take a few minutes to contemplate the holiness of God. He is perfectly righteous. There is no stain in Him. We cannot come near Him apart from His grace.
- Evaluate whether you take holiness too lightly. Be honest.
- Repent if needed.
PRAYER: “God, You’re holy. Remind me that I can approach You only because of Your mercy."
TOMORROW’S READING: Numbers 5-6
