We're reading through the scroll of Leviticus. Israel is in the wilderness. They've made a covenant with God, and God has given them a sacred tent where He will dwell with them a new Eden.

And after all the instructions, we've reached the moment we've been waiting for, the inauguration of this tabernacle and of the Levitical priests.

It's a massive seven-day party, a celebration of what Yahweh has done for His people. And at the end of the week, fire comes out from God's presence and consumes everyone's offerings.

It's intense and it's wonderful.

The divine fire eating the gift of Israel is a good thing because it brings blessing and co-munion between God and His people.

Awesome! This is like the Garden of Eden on the first day. What a great setup.

But later that day! Yeah, later that day, Aaron's two sons. They're priests, but they decide that they're going to go into the most holy place and they're going to go in on their own terms.

These two guys, who represent all those people, just decide to remake the liturgy by doing what's good in their own eyes.

They bring an alternative liturgy dishonoring God, and that same fire that was so wonderful.

That same fire that came out and ate the offerings comes out and eats them and they die in the presence of Yahweh.

We've been here before. God appoints a people to represent Him and instead of trusting God and following His commands, they choose death.

It's Adam and Eve at the tree. It's Israel on Mount Sinai making the golden calf. And here, at the inauguration of the tabernacle, the priesthood fails.

God wants to install a new human representative to steward and care for the Eden spot right at the center that his people.

He gives them everything they need to succeed and they blow it.

I'm John Collins. This is Bible Project Podcast and today Tim McE and I begin the second movement of the Leviticus scroll.

We look at this difficult story. We trace the pattern of election and failure and we ask what is Yahweh to do.

Thanks for joining us. Here we go.

Hey Tim. Hey John. Hello. Hello. And welcome to Leviticus.

Yep. That's a way to greet somebody. Hello and welcome to Leviticus.

Welcome to an ancient scroll that describes a priestly tech manual.

Yeah. Otherwise known as a priestly tech manual for ancient Israelites.

Yes. Now, however, we've been a few episodes into this and you've been making this really wonderful case.

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