The Answer is Always More Jesus

Israel had a problem in Leviticus. It seems they were not at all completely sanctified to God and His worship. Even after all he had done for them, they still worshipped false gods. They will continue this throughout the time of Joshua and Judges. It is a sad reality in Israel's history...

Here in Leviticus 17 God lays down some interesting instructions concerning sacrifices.
Leviticus 17:3–4 (ESV) If any one of the house of Israel kills an ox or a lamb or a goat in the camp, or kills it outside the camp, 4 and does not bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting to offer it as a gift to the LORD in front of the tabernacle of the LORD, bloodguilt shall be imputed to that man. He has shed blood, and that man shall be cut off from among his people.

There is to be no killing of animals outside the camp. God's people are to bring their animals to the tent of meeting where God dwells and offer the gift first to the Lord and enjoy it in fellowship with the priests. 

Leviticus 17:5–6 (ESV) This is to the end that the people of Israel may bring their sacrifices that they sacrifice in the open field, that they may bring them to the LORD, to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and sacrifice them as sacrifices of peace offerings to the LORD. 6 And the priest shall throw the blood on the altar of the LORD at the entrance of the tent of meeting and burn the fat for a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

The reason is stipulated in the next verse:

Leviticus 17:7 (ESV) So they shall no more sacrifice their sacrifices to goat demons, after whom they whore. This shall be a statute forever for them throughout their generations.

In the ancient world and in many ways still today, the face of a goat has often represented demons or satan. I can remember when demon study was common in the 1980s, I saw many drawings of goat-headed evil spirits. I don't know why. But it seems it was nothing new to consider this particular animal as some sort of satanic emblem. Here is Israel, shortly removed from Egypt by God's strong hand and they are sacrificing to goat demons! 

Can you imagine this? These are God's newly saved people. They have tested and tried him, they have challenged Moses and rebelled constantly. They have failed to believe God at important moments of their redemptive history. And here now we learn on top of all of that - they are into demon worship!!!

What on Earth!

Yet God in grace and mercy gives them a command with a firm warning. This practice is to stop. But it's important for us to note that God doesn't simply say, "Stop it." He actually prescribes for them a ritual practice concerning their sacrifices. He says, "Bring them to me!" He says, "I want you to sacrifice and enjoy worship in My presence, not in the wilderness to demons." It may be difficult for 21st Century readers to see this, but God is showing us how demonic involvement is finally and fully broken. It is broken when we come fully to Christ. 

You see, Christ is the new and final Temple. This humble tabernacle in the wilderness where God dwelt among Israel is preluding the final Tabernacle of the Son of God (See John 1:14). God is showing us that the way out of any evil practice is not to simply try to "stop doing it." The only way out of evil is through more of Himself and He is most manifest in the person and work of Jesus Christ His Son. Jesus alone is the one who saves. And the answer to your addiction problems, and your self worth problems and your anxiety problems and your self-image problems and your evil desire problems is not going "cold turkey" on destructive practices. It is to come to Him. It is to enjoy His presence and to eat with Him. It is to be in His presence where we find our greatest joy and the pleasures we were made for!

The answer is always more Jesus.