God’s Heart for the Vulnerable

The beginning of Leviticus 19 opens with a terrifying command: “Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy” (Leviticus 19:2). Israel is getting to know the God of their rescue. They are fresh out of slavery in Egypt and need to understand who God is. Here, he reiterates his character and instructs his people to imitate him. Be holy. A non-negotiable to this is how they care for the foreigner in their midst. Do not mistreat them, but treat them as native-born. This is radically different from the gods of the Egyptians who have enslaved them. God shows compassion toward the vulnerable. Israel is to be a light to the nations as they share his love...