The Bible in a Year
“For I am the Lord that brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God; ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.”
Leviticus 11:45
As we continue our journey through the Scriptures, Leviticus often feels like a difficult stretch of road. Its laws and regulations can seem distant from modern life, especially when they concern dietary restrictions and ritual boundaries. Yet embedded within these commands is a clarifying word from God that reaches far beyond ancient Israel and into the daily faith of every believer. Leviticus 11:45 is not merely a conclusion to a list of instructions; it is a declaration of who God is and how His people are meant to live in response. In this single verse, God speaks of His power, His purpose, and His precept, weaving together redemption, worship, and holiness into one unified calling.
God begins by reminding Israel of His power: “I am the Lord that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt.” This is not repetition for its own sake. Throughout the Old Testament, God repeatedly anchors Israel’s identity in their deliverance. Egypt was not only a place of physical bondage; it represented domination by false gods and oppressive systems. The plagues, the Passover, and the crossing of the Red Sea were not random displays of strength but deliberate acts revealing that the God of Israel alone holds authority over creation and history. Each confrontation with Pharaoh’s gods exposed their powerlessness. Israel did not free themselves through strategy or strength; they were carried out by the mighty hand of God. Remembering this power was essential, because obedience flows from gratitude, not fear.
Yet God immediately moves from power to purpose: “to be your God.” Deliverance was never the final goal; relationship was. God did not rescue Israel simply to improve their circumstances but to claim them as His own people. Worship, not comfort, was the central aim. Moses’ repeated appeal to Pharaoh—“let my people go, that they may serve Me”—reveals that salvation is always directed toward devotion. This truth challenges how easily we can view God’s blessings as ends in themselves. Health, provision, freedom, and opportunity are gifts meant to draw our hearts toward honoring God. As theologian A. W. Tozer once observed, “The essence of idolatry is the entertainment of thoughts about God that are unworthy of Him.” When we enjoy God’s gifts without orienting our lives toward His glory, we subtly replace worship with self-interest.
Finally, God states His precept: “Be holy, for I am holy.” Holiness is not presented as a cultural preference or religious trend; it is a response to God’s character. The Hebrew word qadosh speaks of being set apart, distinct, and devoted. God’s holiness is not merely moral purity; it is His complete otherness, His utter faithfulness to His own nature. When God calls His people to holiness, He is inviting them to reflect His character in the world. This calling is not softened in the New Testament. Peter echoes this command directly: “As He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct” (1 Peter 1:15–16). Holiness may not be popular, but it remains central to faithful living.
What makes this command livable is its foundation. God does not say, “Be holy so that I will accept you.” He says, “Be holy because I am your God.” Identity precedes behavior. Israel was already redeemed before the law was given. In the same way, Christian obedience grows out of grace, not the pursuit of it. Holiness becomes an act of trust—believing that God’s ways lead to life, even when they run against the current of culture or convenience. It is lived out not only in visible actions but in quiet choices, unseen integrity, and daily surrender.
As we read Leviticus within the larger story of Scripture, we see that God’s pronouncements are never arbitrary. They are shaped by His saving power, directed toward His worshipful purpose, and sustained by His holy character. This verse invites us to examine how we respond to God’s deliverance in our own lives. Do we remember His power only in moments of crisis, or do we allow it to shape our daily trust? Do we receive His blessings as opportunities to honor Him, or as resources for ourselves alone? And do we pursue holiness as a burden, or as a grateful response to belonging to a holy God?
For a deeper exploration of holiness in Scripture, see this helpful article from Ligonier Ministries:
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/what-holiness
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