Quick Note – Leviticus 26:11-12 – This Greatest Blessing

Leviticus 26:11-12 – “I will make my dwelling among you, and my soul shall not abhor you. 12 And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people.”

A few years back I watched Gone with the Wind, one of the all-time greatest movies to ever be made.  This movie is on the top 100 lists of movies that people should watch before they die of so many different lists that it isn’t even funny.  This three-four hour movie was released in 1939 and starred both Vivian Leigh and Clark Gable, two of the greatest actors/actresses during that time, and some would argue of all time.  The movie is centered on the life of Scarlett O’Hara, a Southern belle who had fallen madly in love with a man named Ashley Wilkes.  Unfortunately for her, Ashley was already happily married with another woman.  Scarlett would then get into a total of three different marriages (since her husbands would die one after the other) all the while still loving Ashley.  Her third marriage was to a man named Rhett Butler who actually loved her dearly, but instead of returning that love, she still constantly had her eyes on the married Ashley (who really did not love her).  Of course, like any normal man, this type of behavior, led to jealously, and Rhett, unable to take it any longer, left just as Scarlett realized her mistake and called back to him to return.  But by that time, it was too late, the damage had been done, and Rhett was already gone.  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gone_with_the_Wind_(film)).  Scarlett had spent her whole life longing for the one thing that she couldn’t have and didn’t realize the blessing she had right in front of her.  She is a perfect example of how many people today, especially Christians, get caught up chasing after the temporary things of this world while forgetting the greatest blessing they could ever have right in front of them – the presence of the LORD.  In our passage today, God reminded the people of Israel that one of the greatest blessings they could have was His presence in their lives.

In Leviticus 26, the Lord presented the people of Israel with a choice to obey Him and reap the multiple blessings He had in store for them (vs. 3-13) or disobey Him and reap the curses (vs. 14-39).  The numerous blessings ranged from bountiful harvests to victory over enemies to multiple children to protection.  There is clearly no doubt that these were blessings that any nation would desire, especially a one that was about to enter the Promised Land.  But interestingly, God did not stop this list at material blessings but extended it to something even more valuable – the spiritual blessing of having His presence in their lives.  In vss. 11-12, He finishes the list of blessings with this statement, “I will make my dwelling among you, and my soul shall not abhor you.  And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people.”  God would dwell among them.  Imagine that, having the presence of God before you all the time – watching over you, guiding you, comforting you, and even just being there with you.  Imagine the security you would feel, the love you would feel, the power you would feel just knowing that you were backed by the God of the universe.  And even more than that, they would be considered His people, not just a random object, but His treasured possession.  He would also be their God, a personal God; the Creator and God of the Universe, Yes! but also one intimately associated with them.  That last blessing was actually the best and most important one, as demonstrated by Moses’ statement in Exodus 33:15, “And he said to him, ‘If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here.’”  This happened right after the people had worshipped the golden calf (Exodus 32), and God let them know that instead of Him personally guiding them, He would instead send an angel.  They would still be given the protection and guidance, just not His direct presence any longer.  But Moses knew that what set the people of Israel apart was not just a ton of blessings from God, but it was His presence among them, and he would not let it go.  He begged Him for it, and God went with them.

As Christians, we have been promised God’s presence in our lives.  We find it throughout Scripture from the end of the Great Commission in Matthew 28:20, “…and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world,” to the promise of the Holy Spirit in John 14:16-17, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.”  It is even found in other passages like Hebrews 13:5, “…I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  God has promised His presence in our lives.  But it is sad to see, that many Christians do not hold this blessing dear and instead continue to vie for the things of this world.  They long for more money, nicer houses, better careers, and even on the spiritual side, a growing ministry.  They live their lives as if they are still empty and missing something, when the greatest blessing has already been given to them – God’s presence.  They are covetous of the world and all its material blessings, when they have a personal relationship with the Lord of the whole universe.  Let us take heed of this great blessing we have and obey, for God will not tolerate sin His presence; therefore, we must follow Him and live in a way that will glorify Him.  The relationship we have with Him must be treasured like the incomparable gift it is.  Rejoice and be content that you have this greatest blessing.