Note: This manuscript is taken directly from my current small group series at church on Exploring the Unseen: The Supernatural World of the Bible. Contextual references to other lessons have been retained.
Read Supernatural, chapters 7–8. Read and prepare to discuss Exodus 3:1–14; Leviticus 16:1–10; Deuteronomy 5:1–10; 7:1–11.
The “thought problem” this chapter is attempting to solve: We often treat the New Testament as a separate storyline from the old. When we keep things in perspective, and context, we remember that:
- There is still a supernatural context underlying our Christian experience.
- We are meant to bear God’s name and be a light to the nations to compel them to come back into God’s dominion
- The worship of hostile gods is the ultimate sin and we must be ritually separated from them at all costs
VIDEO: Holiness
What the Idea of “Holiness” Means in the Bible
Otherness of God – king of kings, lord of lords, God of gods, most high, etc. — the DCW gives “teeth” to something you already knew.
- The Big Picture
- A. The story of Abraham and his family in Egypt – God’s promise to Abraham appears unfulfilled as his descendants end up in Egypt, under the rule of Pharaoh.
- B. The powerful display of God’s power through the 10 plagues – God demonstrates His superiority over Egyptian gods through the 10 plagues, ultimately leading to the Israelites’ freedom.
- C. Israelites’ redemption and recognition of God’s power – Freed from Egyptian bondage, the Israelites begin to understand the true might of their God.
What did holiness mean? What was the concept behind it? Holiness did not mean being odd. Holiness was to be identified with the Lord, to be dedicated to God and to enjoy all the good things in life that come with being right with God. God wanted Israel to attract the other nations to come back to him (Deut. 4:6–8; 28:9–10). This is why the Bible calls Israel a “kingdom of priests” (Ex. 19:6) and “a light for the nations” (Isa. 42:6; 49:6; see also 51:4; 60:3). The entire nation inherited the position of Abraham to be a blessing to all the nations (Gen. 12:3).
Heiser, M. S. (2015). Supernatural: What the Bible Teaches about the Unseen World—And Why It Matters (D. Lambert, Ed.; pp. 71–72). Lexham Press.
Israelites could be disqualified (made “unclean”) from sacred space by a variety of activities and conditions. Having sex, losing blood, certain physical handicaps, and touching a dead body (human or animal) all rendered an Israelite unclean. Israelites were forbidden from eating certain birds of prey that ate from dead animals (e.g., vultures, hawks; Lev. 11:13–19) or animals that might be found on or inside a carcass (e.g., lizards, mice; Lev. 11:24–40). In these instances, uncleanness was not about morality but rather about association with loss of life and the incompatibility of that with God’s perfection. Even though the logic is simple, it feels foreign to our modern minds. Loss of blood and sexual fluids were perceived as the loss of that which created and sustained life. God was not to be associated with the loss of life but rather with being the giver of life. Requiring “purification” after the loss of such fluids was a reminder of God’s nature. Similar “purification” was required after being made unclean by contact with the dead. One could also be excluded from sacred areas in Israel due to physical imperfection or injury, in this case because such imperfection is incompatible with God’s perfection.
Heiser, M. S. (2015). Supernatural: What the Bible Teaches about the Unseen World—And Why It Matters (D. Lambert, Ed.; p. 79). Lexham Press.
- The Main Idea
- The Old Testament plotline involving more than meets the eye – The events of the Old Testament are part of a larger narrative that transcends the human experience.
- The goal of the New Testament is still the garden – The New Testament continues the story of humanity’s journey back to the Garden of Eden, illustrating the fulfillment of God’s plan.
- The inclusion of Gentiles into the family of Abraham – The New Testament expands God’s covenant to include Gentiles, breaking down barriers between Jews and non-Jews.
The apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 3 that believers have inherited the promises given to Abraham. Everyone who believes in Jesus is a child of Abraham through faith (Gal. 3:26–29). That means you and I are tasked with taking back the nations from the gods. It is our task to turn people under the spiritual dominion of other gods to faith in Jesus. We are God’s new human council on earth. And when we are glorified, we will join his divine family in the new Eden.
Heiser, M. S. (2015). Supernatural: What the Bible Teaches about the Unseen World—And Why It Matters (D. Lambert, Ed.; p. 74). Lexham Press.
- Digging Deeper
- God’s expectations for loyalty and obedience – God desires faith and loyalty from His followers, expecting obedience as an expression of that loyalty.
- The power and influence of gods in the Old Testament – Gods were believed to have real power and influence, with various stories illustrating their impact on human affairs.
- Prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:24), Egyptian magicians (Exodus 7:11)
- The severity of God’s response to human disloyalty in worship – God’s wrath is particularly harsh when it comes to idolatry, as He demands unwavering loyalty and worship from His followers.
- Knowledge in Action
- The sin of idolatry and God’s wrath – Idolatry is a particularly grievous sin that incurs God’s anger, setting it apart from other transgressions.
- The role of ritual and tradition in the Christian experience – Rituals and traditions are essential in maintaining a connection to faith, but their meaning and purpose must not be lost or misunderstood.
- The importance of spiritual commitments and loyalty – Believers must prioritize their spiritual commitment and loyalty to God, understanding that rituals and practices are expressions of that loyalty, rather than the means to achieve it.
We tend to think Israelites were in many ways more spiritually privileged than we are. After all, they had God’s presence right in their midst. They lived in a world where supernatural, cosmic geography was real. We tend to think we would be more spiritual, more tuned-in to God, if only we had what they had, if only those continual reminders of God were our reality.
The New Testament says they are.
We don’t need a tabernacle or temple to mark sacred space. Our bodies are sacred space. Paul calls our earthly bodies a “tent” (2 Cor. 5:4) because we are indwelt by the same divine presence that filled the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle and the temple (Rom. 8:9–11). Eventually our body, the earthly home of our spirit, will die, only to be replaced by a “house not made with hands” (2 Cor. 5:1–3), a heavenly dwelling—the new Eden, heaven returned to earth (Rev. 22:1–3).
Heiser, M. S. (2015). Supernatural: What the Bible Teaches about the Unseen World—And Why It Matters (D. Lambert, Ed.; pp. 83–84). Lexham Press.
