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The Dangerous Gift of God’s Presence

Episode 4
1hr 4m
June 20, 2022
In the second movement of Leviticus, Aaron and his sons agree to the terms of their covenant with Yahweh, signing up to be the gatekeepers of Heaven and Earth. But then Aaron’s sons offer unholy fire before Yahweh—and then they die. What’s going on here? A seven-day ceremony of consecration and celebration ends with everything going terribly wrong. Join Tim and Jon as they kick off the second movement of Leviticus, discussing the theme of holiness and a very difficult part of the story.
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Show Notes
Episodes

QUOTE

God wants to install a new human representative to steward and care for the Eden spot, the Heaven and Earth spot, right in the center of his people. He gives them everything they need to succeed, and they blow it. … That same fire that came out and ate the offering a few sentences ago comes out from before the presence of the Lord and eats them, and they die in the presence of Yahweh.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Moses ceremonially purifies the priests and “offers” them to God—a symbol of total devotion and surrender—and he puts blood on Aaron’s right earlobe, right thumb, and right big toe. This represents the loyalty of Aaron and his sons to Yahweh in all that they hear and do and how they walk.
  • After their consecration, Aaron and his sons sit at the doorway of the tent of meeting, feasting on consecrated bread. They momentarily embody the ideal humanity: dwelling and feasting in Yahweh’s presence as gatekeepers of the crossover between Heaven and Earth.
  • The death of Aaron’s sons can feel harsh to us, but they had agreed to the terms of a covenant. Only a day after signing on to be the highly responsible people who represent Yahweh to the people and the people to Yahweh, they profane Yahweh’s holy space.

Inaugurating the Priesthood and Tabernacle

In part one (00:00-15:55), Tim and Jon recap the story of Leviticus we’ve covered so far in this series. Leviticus (like the rest of the Bible) is all about God and humanity dwelling together, and here we find the terms Israel must abide by to play host to Yahweh.

For the first time since the garden of Eden, Yahweh is preparing to dwell in physical proximity to humans in the tabernacle. It’s far more limited than the garden—the space itself is limited, and Israel’s means of engaging Yahweh are limited too. However, Israel doesn’t see those limitations as a bad thing; getting to host Yahweh is cause for celebration.

In the first movement of Leviticus, the narrator describes the five offerings Israel regularly made to Yahweh. In this episode, we kick off the second movement of Leviticus, where we’re tracing the theme of holiness. The second movement begins with the seven-day inauguration of the Levitical priesthood and the tabernacle. The eighth day should have been a day of massive celebration, but instead, something goes terribly wrong, re-alienating Israel from Yahweh.

Echoes of Genesis

In part two (15:55-23:5), the guys dive into the second movement of Leviticus (Lev. 8-16). Leviticus is already at the center of the Torah, and these chapters are at the center of Leviticus. It’s the center of the center—the heart of the story of the Torah. And this section is all about how God wants to install a new human representative to care for the place where Heaven and Earth meet—in this case, the tabernacle.

Unfortunately, God’s chosen representatives blow it after just seven days, and Yahweh must deal with the fall out. If that sounds familiar, it’s because it’s supposed to. Here we encounter one of the melodic refrains of the Hebrew Bible: In response to human folly, Yahweh de-creates and then recreates (similar to the first several chapters of Genesis, where human violence results in Yahweh de-creating and purifying his world with a flood). But God always saves a remnant (like Noah and his family) that emerges from de-creation and atones for the sins of the many with a sacrifice. This melody is so prominent in Leviticus 8-16 that even the narrator’s word choice utilizes vocabulary from Genesis 1-9.

The Eighth Day

In part three (23:52-50:02), Tim and Jon begin discussing Leviticus 8-10, which is connected to Exodus 28-29 (the description of the garments worn by priests). The priestly garments were designed to shine and sparkle, making priests look god-like when they wore them and playing up their role as images of God.

In Leviticus 8, Moses ceremonially purifies the priests and “offers” them to God—a symbol of total devotion and surrender, not unlike the offerings themselves. Moses puts blood on Aaron’s right earlobe, right thumb, and right big toe, representing Aaron’s and his sons’ loyalty to Yahweh in all that they hear and do and how they walk.

After their consecration, Aaron and his sons sit at the doorway of the tent of meeting and feast on consecrated bread. There, all Israel can see them as they momentarily embody the ideal humanity: dwelling and feasting in Yahweh’s presence as gatekeepers of the crossover between Heaven and Earth.

On the eighth day, Aaron and his sons begin their work, and fire from Yahweh consumes their first offerings (Lev. 9:24). It’s a moment of great celebration—Yahweh has accepted their offerings! And the God who was once unapproachable is now approachable.

However, if you’re picking up on the storyline of the Bible, you won’t be surprised to know the celebration doesn’t last long. Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, enter Yahweh’s presence with incense and die.

Wait—why did they die? On the heels of Yahweh’s detailed instructions for his own worship, Nadab and Abihu concoct their own liturgy and take up a role that, for now, had been reserved for Aaron.

Unholy Fire

In part four (50:02-01:03:48), Tim and Jon further explore the death of Nadab and Abihu, which, at first glance, can feel harsh to us.

Leviticus 10:3 Moses then said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke of when he said, ‘Among those who approach me I will be proved holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored.’” Aaron remained silent.

Aaron’s sons had agreed to the terms of a covenant. Only a day after signing on to be the highly responsible people who represent Yahweh to the people and the people to Yahweh, they profane Yahweh’s holy space. Aaron’s silence is notable and reminds us of Abraham’s silence when God requests the life of Isaac. Their silence acknowledges God’s justice in his judgment of human sin.

Right after this, Yahweh makes a new rule that the priests are not to get drunk before entering his holy space, implying that Nadab and Abihu’s foolishness was because they were drunk.

Referenced Resources

  • Art and Faith: A Theology of Making, Makoto Fujimura
  • Interested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.
  • You can experience the literary themes and movements we’re tracing on the podcast in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.

Show Music

  • “Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS
  • “Adieu” by Evil Needle
  • “Drowning In You” by L'Indécis
  • "Covet" by Beautiful Eulogy

Show produced by Cooper Peltz. Edited by Dan Gummel and Tyler Bailey. Show notes by Lindsey Ponder. Podcast annotations for the BibleProject app by MacKenzie Buxman and Ashlyn Heise.

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Scripture References
Exodus 32
Genesis 3
Genesis 1
Genesis 1-3
Genesis 8:20-22
Exodus 28:2
Leviticus 10:1-2
Genesis 3:17-19
Genesis 12
Exodus 17
Exodus 28
Leviticus 1-7
Genesis 4-5
Genesis 6-9
Leviticus 11-15
Exodus 28-29
Leviticus 16
Exodus 40
Genesis 22:1-19
Leviticus 10
Genesis 4
Genesis 37-50
Exodus 11
Psalms 133
Genesis 1-9
Leviticus 1:1
Leviticus 17-27
Leviticus 8-16
Leviticus 9:24
Exodus 17:6
Exodus 16:13
Genesis 3:8-24
Leviticus 7
Leviticus 25-27
Leviticus 25:1
Leviticus 10:4-5
Leviticus 8
Genesis 1:14-15
Leviticus 8:23
Leviticus 9:22
Genesis 9:18-24
Leviticus 10:3
Leviticus 10:8
Leviticus 10:10-11
Ezekiel 44:18
Exodus 40:34–35

10 Episodes

Episode 1
How God Reveals Himself in Leviticus
"Holiness" is a word we frequently associate with the Bible, but what does it mean? As we pick up the story from where we left off in Exodus, we find even Moses unable to enter God’s presence—and a whole bunch of laws about situations many of us have never considered. What is going on in the scroll of Leviticus? And why is it important? In this episode, join Tim and Jon as they dive into the first movement of the Leviticus scroll, where we’ll trace the theme of sacrifice.
1hr 5m • May 30, 2022
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Episode 2
What Is Atonement?
A God who wants nothing more than to dwell with humanity, a way forward to a repaired relationship between Heaven and Earth, atoning sacrifices meant to communicate grace (not punishment)—you’ll find all of this in Leviticus. While the laws governing Israel’s sacrificial system can be some of the most challenging parts of the Bible to read, they’re an integral part of the unfolding story of the Bible. In this episode, Tim and Jon discuss the surprising beauty of sacrifice and atonement in the opening movement of Leviticus.
1hr 14m • June 6, 2022
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Episode 3
What Did the Burnt Offerings Really Mean?
What is the significance of the offerings described in Leviticus? In this episode, join Tim and Jon as they walk through the five offerings ancient Israelites made to Yahweh and see how the purpose of these practices sound a lot like the teachings of Jesus. Even here in Leviticus, Yahweh’s hope for his people is the same: love God and love your neighbor.
53m • June 13, 2022
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Episode 4
The Dangerous Gift of God’s Presence
In the second movement of Leviticus, Aaron and his sons agree to the terms of their covenant with Yahweh, signing up to be the gatekeepers of Heaven and Earth. But then Aaron’s sons offer unholy fire before Yahweh—and then they die. What’s going on here? A seven-day ceremony of consecration and celebration ends with everything going terribly wrong. Join Tim and Jon as they kick off the second movement of Leviticus, discussing the theme of holiness and a very difficult part of the story.
1hr 4m • June 20, 2022
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Episode 5
Purity and Impurity in Leviticus
Childbirth, non-kosher food, sex, death, disease—they’re all considered impure in the book of Leviticus. In this episode, join Tim and Jon as they discuss the levitical laws of purity and impurity and how they create a way for humanity to share in God’s own life and form a surprisingly beautiful backdrop for Jesus’ miraculous healings.
1hr 6m • June 27, 2022
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Episode 6
What Is the Day of Atonement?
At the center of the center of the Torah is the Day of Atonement. What is the significance of this day the biblical authors have placed at the heart of the Torah? What does this day accomplish? And what’s with the sacrificial goat and the scapegoat? In this episode, Tim and Jon explore the Day of Atonement and the ultimate atonement accomplished by Jesus on the cross.
1hr 9m • July 4, 2022
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Episode 7
Why Is the Sabbath So Important?
Throughout the Leviticus scroll, Yahweh instructs Israel, “Be holy as I am holy.” But what does that actually mean? As we enter into the third and final movement of Leviticus, we’ll find that living holy lives had everything to do with how Israel treated others and utilized their time, a theme reinforced by the continual command to honor the Sabbath. Join Jon and Tim as they explore the wisdom we can find in these ancient laws.
1hr 9m • July 11, 2022
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Episode 8
What Israel's Feasts Teach Us
Are there specific times humans can meet with God in special ways? For ancient Israel, the answer was yes. In this episode, join Tim and Jon as they explore the final movement of Leviticus, talk about the Sabbaths and festivals ancient Israelites celebrated every year, and discuss the significance of rituals and liturgies that allow us to see our time as a significant part of God’s story.
1hr 1m • July 18, 2022
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Episode 9
The Law of the Blasphemer
Blasphemy, principles of restitution, jubilee, exile, and the mercy and justice of God—it’s all there in the final lines of the scroll of Leviticus. Join Tim and Jon as they talk about the great gift and responsibility of carrying Yahweh’s name and discuss the wisdom and surprising hope of the Law that’s finally fulfilled in Jesus.
1hr 9m • July 25, 2022
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Episode 10
What Does Leviticus Teach Us About Jesus?
How do you clean a tabernacle? What does “laying of hands” represent? Is the scapegoat a hyperlink to Cain and Abel? How was it even possible for Israelites to follow the law? In this episode, Tim and Jon respond to your questions about the Leviticus scroll. Thanks to our audience for your insightful questions!
59m • October 12, 2022
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