My Right Ear, My Right Thumb, and My Right Big Toe May 7, 2023
Leviticus 14:28
In Leviticus 14, we read the instructions given to Moses, who gave them to Aaron the High Priest, the instructions for purifying and partaking in an offering of consecration; that means these were the proper preparations, the offerings prepared; and the right people performing a sacrificial offering to God, of separateness, and of holiness. To be in that role, he had to be clean. Not just sweat and dirt, but morally clean. So eight days after he began the ritual...“The priest is to take the lamb for the guilt offering, together with the log of oil, and wave them before the Lord as a wave offering. He shall slaughter the lamb for the guilt offering and take some blood and put it on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot. Then the blood was placed on the tip of the priest’s right ear, the thumb of his right hand, and the big toe of his right foot."
Why do you think they were to put blood on their ear? The Hebrew word means to listen and obey. The blood was what sanctified the offering. And not only was it considered holy, but whoever was baptized or anointed by blood, their sins were forgiven and those individuals are also sanctified or holy. And if their sins were forgiven, then the life they now live, they live in Christ. (Even though Christ would not come to the earth for about 1500 years.) This was an Old Testament conversation but we can see how God always has a plan. And that plan would be revealed in the future. And God’s people are to be a holy people and a part of that plan. And, you and I are to be holy. Leviticus 11:4 …”and be holy, because I am holy.”
Isaiah 6:3 "Holy is the Lord Almighty"
Romans 12:1 "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing God – this is your true and proper worship."
Why the blood on the tip of the thumb? Do you know why? It is the thumb that allows us to hold onto things. And the things that we need to be a part of our lives, we need to hang onto those. And the things we need to let go from our lives, we need to live in a way that if God points out that we need to separate ourselves from these activities… no problem.
What kind of things should we allow God to separate from our lives? (Do you know how many people say…wow…I don’t know) Many, many years ago in a land far, far away I was working in my first career job. I was a jeweler. We sold high end jewelry. One day about lunch time two women came into our store and they were pointing at different pieces on the counter. I was quiet and let them do all the talking to one another. I overheard one of the women say to the other…”Why don’t you put this on your prayer list, the Bible says "He will give us the desires of our hearts”. And somewhere in the next few seconds I must have lost my mind. With nothing else said, I responded…"Love not the world neither the things that are in the world…if anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." I’ve never seen such a shocked look as those two women had on their faces. They never said a word. They simply looked up at me in disbelief and without a word turned and walked out of the store. I never told my bosses about that.
The world He is speaking of is not this planet called earth. He is referring to the mindset of the people on the earth. The value system of this temporary dwelling place. As believers we do not share common understanding with most of earth’s residents. Most people think this is a pretty cool place. I think the same thing. I just don’t think it’s as cool as heaven is going to be. And I am certain that this life is better with him than without Him. But this world is our mission field, it is our harvest field. There is nothing wrong in enjoying beautiful mountain ranges, a star studded night sky, or magnificent rivers. There is nothing wrong with enjoying a good meal, as long as everyone gets to eat. There is nothing wrong with having nice clothes to wear, or having a nice home to live in. Just remember those clothes used to be worn by stalks of cotton and a silk worm’s cocoon. And remember that house used to be what clothed the forest till they cut it down and built your subdivision. Everything we have once belonged to someone or something else. And everything we have, will once again, belong to someone else. Remember in life, it's not what you have…it’s what has you.
And then He spoke of the right big toe. I don’t know how many of you have considered the value of your big toe. But your big toe is an important part of life. In the New Testament, it uses the expression to mean …”to walk”.In the Old Testament we read where Enoch and Noah walked with God. God's call to Abraham was ‘walk before me and be blameless”. In the New Testament we read “If we walk in the light as He is in the light we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all unrighteousness.
The ear is to hear what God says…to listen to God and obey
The thumb allows us to hold on to what is holy and right
And the toe allows us ….to walk.
Sanctification… total surrender of our lives to God.`
Sanctify is to set aside for a holy or godly purpose.
May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful. And He will do it.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24