Middle School Bible Lessons - Old Testament John Knox Institute

Leviticus is the third of the five books written by Moses. Inspired by God, it is a word that should be viewed as seriously as the other books of the Bible. Its importance can be seen, not only in that it too is inspired, but in the period of time it covers and its subject matter.

When answering a question about who would be saved, Jesus related what would happen to some of those that confessed him with the mouth: “I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity” (Luke 13:27). Why were there some that were told to depart, even though they made a confession of Jesus Christ? It was because their walk in life was contrary to their confession. In another place, Jesus stated that a tree is known by its fruits—“For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes” (Luke 6:44). The second half of Leviticus deals largely about the fruits that should be in the life of a believer.

The wicked are like Pharaoh, they do not respect the Word of the Lord. When Moses had come to Pharaoh, he told Pharaoh that the LORD had spoken to him and that Pharaoh was to let the people go and worship the Lord. How did Pharaoh react? Did he humble himself before the Word of the Lord? No. Pharaoh doubted the Word of the Lord - “Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go?” (Exodus 5:2).

Nine plagues came upon Egypt. Yet in those plagues the heart of Pharaoh had not been moved. The people remained in bondage. The tenth plague, the worst of all was about to come upon Egypt. This plague would result in the death of all the first-born. The cause of death was Pharaoh’s disobedience to the word of God. When God said, “let my people go,” Pharaoh said, “I will not let thy people go.” Rebellion against God has dire consequences. Paul speaks clearly about this, when he says, “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).

There is no clearer evidence of the need for the Spirit’s work upon the heart than Pharaoh. Repeatedly, Egypt came under the severe judgments of God. It was only after the tenth plague that Pharaoh relented and let the Hebrew people go. Was Pharaoh’s heart changed? Was he humbled before the Lord? No. Soon after the Hebrew children departed, he forgot the severe afflictions that came upon them. When the affliction is over, his anger is kindled again. Kindled, not only against the Hebrew children, but against God.

The Ten Commandments, given by God, are a display of His goodness and mercy. In Paradise, there was no need for the commandments to be written on tables of stone, for the law of God was written on the heart. However, when Adam transgressed the command of God and ate of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, the image of God, whereby man knew the law in his heart, became corrupt. We see how the knowledge of the law has completely deteriorated by the wickedness of the first world, the wickedness that followed upon a renewed world, after the flood, and when we look at the world around us.