Leviticus 18:1-18 NKJV
18 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘I am the Lord your God. 3 According to the doings of the land of Egypt, where you dwelt, you shall not do; and according to the doings of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you, you shall not do; nor shall you walk in their ordinances. 4 You shall observe My judgments and keep My ordinances, to walk in them: I am the Lord your God. 5 You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the Lord.
6 ‘None of you shall approach anyone who is near of kin to him, to uncover his nakedness: I am the Lord. 7 The nakedness of your father or the nakedness of your mother you shall not uncover. She is your mother; you shall not uncover her nakedness. 8 The nakedness of your father’s wife you shall not uncover; it is your father’s nakedness. 9 The nakedness of your sister, the daughter of your father, or the daughter of your mother, whether born at home or elsewhere, their nakedness you shall not uncover. 10 The nakedness of your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter, their nakedness you shall not uncover; for theirs is your own nakedness. 11 The nakedness of your father’s wife’s daughter, begotten by your father—she is your sister—you shall not uncover her nakedness. 12 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s sister; she is near of kin to your father. 13 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother’s sister, for she is near of kin to your mother. 14 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s brother. You shall not approach his wife; she is your aunt. 15 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law—she is your son’s wife—you shall not uncover her nakedness. 16 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother’s wife; it is your brother’s nakedness. 17 You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter, nor shall you take her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter, to uncover her nakedness. They are near of kin to her. It is wickedness. 18 Nor shall you take a woman as a rival to her sister, to uncover her nakedness while the other is alive.
Egypt and Canaan were filled with the worship of false gods and practices detestable in the sight of the Lord. God’s message to His people is clear, do not live like the world around you lives.
God’s ways are always better than the ways of this world. Whenever we walk in the statutes of the Lord there are wonderful blessings for our life and our relationships. This is part of the Lord’s design in calling a people unto Himself.
Sadly, as the young nation of Israel would demonstrate in the years ahead, sin causes us to gravitate to the ways of the world rather than the ways of God. The law is given to God’s people as a guide for holy living and for a mirror that shows us our sin and our need for a Saviour. Thus, life and salvation does not come through obedience to the law.
The full design of God’s blessing for His people can be found in the New Covenant established by our Saviour, Jesus. He is the man who kept the Law of God perfectly and then laid down His perfect life as a sacrifice for our sin. Through the merits of Christ and faith in His atoning sacrifice, we are made partakers of His life and salvation. For those who trust in the completed work of Christ, God’s Word tells us, “you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now you have obtained mercy (1 Peter 2:9-10).
Let us pray: Almighty God, Heavenly Father, of Your tender love You gave Your only-begotten Son, that believing in Him, we would have eternal life. By your Holy Spirit, keep me steadfast in this one, true faith unto eternal life. Amen.