How does Leviticus 26:11 connect to John 1:14 about God's presence? God’s Heart to Dwell with His People • Leviticus 26:11: “And I will make My dwelling place among you, and I will not reject you.” • From the opening chapters of Scripture, God desires nearness to the people He created (Genesis 3:8). • In Leviticus 26, the promise is covenantal: obedience brings the blessing of God pitching His “tent” right in the middle of Israel’s camp, assuring acceptance rather than rejection. Echoes of the Tabernacle • Exodus 25:8: “Have them make a sanctuary for Me, so that I may dwell among them.” • The Hebrew behind “dwelling place” (Leviticus 26:11) is mishkan—“tabernacle, tent.” • God’s presence rested in a movable tent, centered among the tribes, foreshadowing a deeper, more personal indwelling still to come. Fulfillment in the Word Made Flesh • John 1:14: “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” • The Greek verb translated “made His dwelling” literally means “tabernacled.” John intentionally links back to mishkan language. • Where Leviticus promised, the Incarnation delivers: God Himself, in human flesh, walks Israel’s dusty roads, sharing meals, touching lepers, speaking forgiveness. From Fabric Walls to Human Flesh 1. Old Covenant: a tent of skins and linen signified holiness yet imposed separation; only the high priest entered the Most Holy Place once a year (Leviticus 16). 2. New Covenant: Jesus embodies that sanctuary (John 2:19-21). 3. Result: glory once hidden behind a veil is now visible in the Son—“full of grace and truth.” The Present Reality for Believers • 2 Corinthians 6:16: “We are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will dwell with them and walk among them.’” • Ephesians 2:22: believers “are being built together into a dwelling place for God in His Spirit.” • The same covenantal presence promised in Leviticus and revealed in Christ now indwells every redeemed heart by the Holy Spirit. Looking Ahead to the Ultimate Dwelling • Revelation 21:3: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will live with them.” • The trajectory moves from tent to flesh to a renewed cosmos where no sin or sorrow bars fellowship. Key Takeaways • Leviticus 26:11 sets the promise; John 1:14 declares its milestone fulfillment. • God’s presence progresses: camp → tabernacle → temple → Christ → Church → New Creation. • At each stage He draws nearer, honoring His word, never abandoning His people, until the final day when the promise and the presence are perfectly, eternally one. |
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