Read: Leviticus 8-10
Focus Verse: “Them Moses said to Aaron and his 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 with the whole community. But your relatives, all the Israelites, may mourn for those the LORD has destroyed by fire.” (10:6)
Devotion: Woah, Eleazar and Ithamar just watched their brothers get burned to death for disobeying God and they are told they can’t mourn over their dead brothers!? That’s harsh, right? This seems so confusing to me, and more study is required, but I have a hypothesis! The optimist in me see this as; Eleazar and Ithamar are now priests and closer to God than anyone, so when face to face with God, in God’s presence, there is no mourning. That is how I’m choosing to read it today. In the presence of our Lord there is no mourning. Don’t get me wrong, we all know the shortest verse in scripture, ‘Jesus wept’, by no means am I suggesting we should never mourn, cry, or lament. God himself wept! What I’m saying is when we are one day in God’s glorious presence worshipping at his feet in heaven, there will be no more mourning.
Pray: LORD help me live in your presence, free from mourning. I know there are times where it is ok to cry, ok to admit I’m upset, but God help me to keep my focus on You and to be filled with Your peace. Amen.
Additional Scripture: “Give your burdens to the LORD, and He will take care of you.” (Psalm 55:22)