Leviticus 6 - The Cheaters Chastisement

In this chapter we learn that deceiving your neighbor is a sin against God (Lev 6:2). God lists a number of different ways that one could sin in this way. It may be we were not faithful in caring for something entrusted to us or it could be actual stealing from your neighbor. 

No matter how we have defrauded our neighbor we are to confess it as sin and make restitution with our neighbor by adding to the value of that which was taken another 20%. (Lev 6:5). Additionally the person was to present an offering to God to acknowledge the sin. 

We like to think that sinning against a neighbor is just one relationship affected, but the Bible tells us that God is also offended. Our neighbor is made in God's image as much as we are so the offense to the neighbor also becomes an offense to God. 

The restitution is more than just replacing the item, we are called to make things more than whole. The increase is to establish right standing between us and our neighbor. Placing value not just on the item taken but on the relationship as well. 

In the same way, when we sin against God we have damaged that relationship and betrayed His trust. We must do everything in our power to demonstrate our remorse to God. The sacrifice was a personal acknowledgment of the damage we have done in sinning and recognizing that sin's punishment is death. 

Jesus came to pay that punishment for us but since we still sin, we should come openly confessing before God in prayer asking for the forgiveness we desire. And we can know the benefits of 1 John 1:9 "if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

Let's make a practice of keeping short accounts with our neighbor and with God. Sin asks to be ignored, but God challenges us to look it in the eye and call it by name then walk away. 

May God richly bless you as you seek Him and as you serve Him.