You Want Me to Do What?

“Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.” Leviticus 19:2 (NIV)

“Leviticus?” my granddaughter scoffed. “That book doesn’t even make sense. Who reads Leviticus?” She said it like she’d just bitten into a lemon.

“Yes, Leviticus,” I smiled. “Want to play a game while we read? Let’s see how many ways this ‘boring’ book points to Jesus. Spoiler alert: it’s more than you think.”

She rolled her eyes in that classic preteen mix of drama and protest. “Okay… but if I fall asleep, don’t wake me up.”

I grinned and handed her the Bible. “Deal. But if you start snoring through the mildew regulations, I’m posting it to your stories.”

Let’s be honest, Leviticus isn’t a fan favorite. You won’t find many social media posts or decorative pillows inspired by its verses. With burnt offerings, mildew inspections, and priestly regulations, it can feel outdated, overwhelming, or even irrelevant.

But what if Leviticus isn’t a list of dry laws—but a book of radical grace?

When God gave Israel the Law, they had just been delivered from 400 years of Egyptian slavery. They were free—but not yet formed. Spiritually immature and morally untrained, they didn’t know how to live as God’s people.

So, God didn’t leave them guessing. He gave them a way to live in relationship with Him. Leviticuswasn’t about rules for rules’ sake—it was about relationship. God was saying, I’m holy, but I want to live with you. Here’s how we can make that happen.

That’s grace.

God didn’t rescue Israel and send them on their way. He stayed. He camped in the middle of them in the Tabernacle. He wanted to dwell in their midst—and the laws, rituals, and sacrifices made that possible. This wasn’t about earning God’s love but learning how to respond to it. This was a training ground for hearts learning to worship, obey, and walk with a holy God.

The book of Leviticus is proof that even when people fail, God’s desire for relationship doesn’t end. He offers a path for restoration. That’s not just ancient history. That’s the heartbeat of the gospel.

That’s the story of redemption.

As followers of Jesus, we no longer live under the Levitical law. We don’t bring animal sacrifices to the altar. Jesus fulfilled the law, not by discarding it, but by embodying it. He became our once-for-all sacrifice. He is our High Priest. Through Him, we are forgiven and made holy.

But God’s call hasn’t changed: “Be holy, because I am holy” (Leviticus 19:2). Peter repeats this in the New Testament (1 Peter 1:15–16). Paul summarizes it this way: “The entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” (Galatians 5:14).

We don’t meditate on the Law to burden ourselves with guilt. We read it to understand the heart of the God who saved us. Even now, God invites us to live differently and to reflect His holiness in a world that desperately needs light.

Some parts of Leviticus are difficult. Some may challenge modern sensibilities. But all Scripture is God-breathed and points us to His character. When we encounter tough passages, we can lean into God’s character. We can wrestle with the text without walking away from the Author.

So yes, my dear granddaughter, you can read Leviticus. And as you do, watch for Jesus. Listen for grace. Ask God to reveal His heart—and your calling to live as His holy child.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for drawing near. Even when we fail, You make a way back. Help me not to skip the parts of Scripture I don’t understand, but to seek You in them. Teach me to be holy as You are holy—not by rule-keeping, but by walking closely with You. Amen.