God definitely was creating a new nation. Everything that he had forbidden the Israelites to do was the regular everyday practices of the Egyptians and Canaanites. These nations consulted the mediums and wizards; as well as committed adultery.
The Israelites would have to be different because their God was different than the local deities. The Lord told them: “You shall be holy to me; for I the Lord am holy, and I have separated you from the other peoples to be mine.” (Leviticus 20: 26)
The holiness of the people of Israel will be demonstrated for the types of priests they have, the types of offerings they present and the kind of celebrations they participate in, as well as their personal and family life styles. Everything was centered on God and his expectation instead of the traditions of the people or their human desires.
Today we are not that different from the Israelites in terms of choosing what will express our commitment to God and our lifestyle. There are many invitations around offering us to worship everything else but the real God, and to please ourselves rather than the only One who is worthy of praise.
How are our lives expressing God’s holiness?