Tuesday, April 5, 2011

no "knock-offs"

"You shall say to the Israelites, 'This shall be my holy anointing oil... it shall not be used in any ordinary anointing of the body, and you shall make no other like it in composition..."
(Exodus 30:31-32)

God gives Moses the precise mix/recipe for the most sacred anointing oil to be used in the temple by the priests (note: it involved liquid myrrh, cinnamon, aromatic cane, cassia, and olive oil).  Later, God gives the mix/recipe for powdered incense, too.  In both cases, God stipulates that the people are NOT to attempt to reproduce it for any other purpose than worship.  In fact, those who do, shall be "cut off from the people!"

We live in a copy-cat society.  Designer clothing, shoes, handbags, accessories, etc. are purchased by the wealthy... and somewhere in Asia, knock-off versions are being created & sold worldwide.  It's a huge (and illegal) industry.  Why was God so quick to stipulate against it?

History has shown that we humans are so hungry for spiritual blessings, we'll often do/try anything.  "Holy relics" were a hit during the Middle Ages ("Hey, buddy... want to buy a piece of the cross Jesus was crucified on?!?  It'll bring you power!").  We love to wear our crosses on our necks & put the fish stickers on our cars, today.  Could it be that God knew we'd try to exploit/use the holy oil & incense for our own purposes?  That what was meant to honor God IN WORSHIP would soon become a personal "spiritual shield" we'd wield, will-nilly?

Some things are best left alone.  There are no "generic" brand spiritual short-cuts.  No knocks-offs en route to the Kingdom of God.  But that's hard for us to hear, isn't it?  We're not used to waiting.

"Lord, make me patient.  Help me wait for Your timing & plan with my life.  I don't want to rush or take a short-cut for the route You have for me.  AMEN."

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