“What does God want from us?”
That’s a question that many people ask. And as they look at this passage, they seem to find that answer. God wants our obedience. And so they put their focus on the laws of God and try their best to obey them.
But unfortunately, by focusing on the law of God, they find themselves overburdened and discouraged because they find that they can’t keep the law perfectly no matter how hard they try.
But as I look at this passage, I see the answer to another question: “What does God want for us?”
What does God want for us? I think the answer is found in verses 12–13, where he said,
I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people.
I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians; I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high. (Leviticus 26:12–13)
What is God saying here about his desire for us?
First, he’s saying he wants a close, intimate relationship with us. One where he walks closely with us every day. One where we look up to him in love as his people, and he looks down at us in love as our God.
Second, he desires us to be free. That’s why he broke the Israelites’ bondage to the Egyptians. And that’s why he broke us out of bondage to sin and to Satan’s kingdom.
And third, he desires us to walk with heads held high.
No longer walking in the shame of sin. No longer wondering whether God accepts us and loves us.
But walking with heads held high because our sins have been atoned for and we have a right relationship with our God.
This is where a relationship with God starts.
Not with our own efforts to obey God’s commands. But by God breaking into our lives, setting us free from bondage to sin and the shame that comes from it. And by him walking in close communion with us.
As we walk with God as his people, and as we follow him, we find blessings in our lives. What blessings?
- We find God’s provision in our lives, with him meeting our every need. (verses 4–5)
- We find God’s peace. (6)
No longer do we need to fear what the future holds for us. Because we know God holds the future.
- We find victory. (7–8)
In our battles against sin, and our battles against Satan and his demons, we not only win, but win overwhelmingly.
- We find fruitfulness in our lives. (9–10)
In our families, in our work, and in the ministries God gives us, we bear much fruit for God and his kingdom.
- We find God’s presence in our lives. (11–12)
As God has said, he will never leave us or forsake us.
That’s what God wants for us.
How much less of a burden would obedience be if we would focus on God’s desire for us and on what he’s already done for us?
We obey God not to free ourselves from sin. We obey God not to earn his love. We obey God because we’ve already been set free and have received his love.
And if we focus on and remember that, obedience no longer becomes a burden, but a joy. As 1 John 5:3 says,
This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome.
Moment to Moment (Bible blog) 
2 replies on “God’s desire for us”
where does the bible say the year of jubilee begins the day after the day of atonement?
Excellent question. It’s been a while since I wrote this article, so I’m not sure what I was thinking at the time, since Leviticus 25 clearly states that the year of Jubilee started on the Day of Atonement. The only thing I can think of is that the trumpet was blown at the end of the Day of Atonement, at least according to commentaries I’ve seen. So the announcement of the Year of Jubilee via the trumpet came after the sacrifice of Atonement was made. That may have caused my confusion in thinking the Year of Jubilee started the day after the Day of Atonement. Change to the article will be made shortly. Thanks.