Keeping up with the Bible reading isn’t always easy. I’m really glad you’ve continued this far. Hopefully, it’s becoming a bit of a habit now. What a great habit!

Todays’s reading is essentially about the sacrifices that need to be made during the repeating offerings and major holy days. You probably noticed that there is a lot of blood shed here. In the case of the Feast of Booths (29:12ff), there are 70 bulls slaughtered in the span of a seven days. Blood shed to purify, atone, and procure forgiveness. And yet, all the blood of bulls and goats spilled through all the centuries of the Mosaic covenant couldn’t match the blood of the Savior shed on the cross of Calvary (Heb. 10:4).

But beyond the sacrifices there is chapter 30 about the keeping of and the validity of vows. God was serious about vows that they took. Granted, there were exceptions, if the head of the family thought the oath unwise and acted quickly enough. But the meaning for us? I think the take-away for us has to be that God did and still does take our promises seriously. When we enter a covenant (a more serious version of an oath), God holds us accountable — expressed this way…

“How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.” And again, “THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.” It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:29-31, NAS95.

Following Jesus is clearly serious business and not something to take casually. Gladly, however, following Jesus is more than just an obligation; it is a joy and a privilege and the least we can do for Him who died that we might live.

See you tomorrow, Lord willing.