Leviticus 18:1-5
God starts with a reminder that He is their God (and they aren't). Therefore, it is His character that is displayed in the laws. They were not to forget that. Maybe all of mankind ought to remember that.
The Israelites were not to do according to the Egyptians. There can be no doubt they were aware of the Egyptian ways and they brought some of that wickedness with them. The Egyptians dynasties were well known for the near kinship marriages. They thought they were keeping their bloodline pure. There were probably many other sexually immoral examples from the Egyptians that they were to leave behind. Its possibly a reference to Ham, who is associated with the Egyptians. He was cursed by his father Noah when he saw his nakedness (Gen 9:22).
The land they were going to was a land defiled by the Amorites; particularly from their sexual immorality. Think of the men at lots doors while he offered hospitality to the angels. They were not to adopt the practices of the people in the land. They will be warned numerous times of the temptations they would face. They were to adopt God's plan of sexuality.
Leviticus 18:6-20
This list seems to be proof of man's wretchedness. It doesn't seem like God should have to tell them these things; however, these were the exact things they saw in Egypt and would see in Canaan. This list all seems to be focused toward the man.
This chapter details what God calls immoral relations. God says these are His judgments and His statutes and they were to keep them. God is also the same yesterday, today and forever. I don't think God has modernized his thinking and decided that these perversions are natural and normal. God says that homosexual relations are an abomination. Bestiality is a perversion. These things were going on in the land they came from and the land they were going to. It was all around them, but they were to understand it wasn't all right just because everyone was doing it. The land was defiled and God would bring his punishment against it and it would spew out its inhabitants.
Leviticus 18:21
It's hard to imagine anyone sacrificing their child to a God, not to mention that the sacrifice was one in which they were burned alive. Molech was reported to be a statue with its arms extended. The within the heart of the statue a fire was started. Once the arms were heated red hot, the child was placed on the extended arms. Once the sacrifice was burned, it would fall through the hands of the stature to the ground below.
There is some thought that Molech was associated with ancestral worship. This helps us understand why this god is specifically mentioned. Molech was seen as an underworld deity associated with the worship of the dead. The idea of this worship was contacting relatives that had passed on, seeking information, etc. God strictly prohibits any kind of necromancy. Apparently, the worshipers of Molech claimed some association with God. God repeatedly makes it clear He did not command any such thing.
And they built the high places of Baal which are in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire to Molech, which I did not command them, nor did it come into My mind that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.'
[The New King James Version (Je 32:35). (1982). Thomas Nelson.]
In our day and our culture, we don't sacrifice children to Molech, however, millions have been sacrificed to the god of self and convenience. The abortion procedures are more brutal, disgusting and evil that any offering to Molech. This kind of evil cannot go unpunished. The land is defiled, God will have His day.
Children were sacrificed to Molech during the reign of King Manasseh (2 Kings 23:10). Also, see Deuteronomy 12:31; 18:10 and Jeremiah 32:35.
I once again see the depravity of man displayed when God has to tell us not to burn our children in the fire.
Note from Dictionary of Deities and Demons:
Later writers built on the biblical, rabbinic and classical sources, including J. Milton (Paradise Lost), C. Dickens (The Haunted Man), G. Flaubert (Salammbô) and J. Michener (The Source), each by turns fascinated and horrified by the deity whom Milton termed "that horrid king besmeared with blood" (I. 392).
The Quran (Sura 43:77) depicts Malik as an archangel who governs the damned on behalf of Allah: " 'Malek', they will call out, 'let your Lord make an end of us!' But he will answer: 'Here you shall remain' " (trans. N. J. Onwood; Penguin classics; 3d ed. [Baltimore 1968] 150).
[Heider, G. C. (1999). Molech. In K. van der Toorn, B. Becking, & P. W. van der Horst (Eds.), Dictionary of deities and demons in the Bible (2nd extensively rev. ed., p. 585). Brill; Eerdmans.]
Leviticus 18:22-25
Homosexuality is an abomination to God. There is no end to man's corruption and sin. We must also be told not to breed with animals. It is perversion and the person defiles themselves. It is by these things a nation is defiled; God will punish the iniquity and the land will vomit out its inhabitants
Leviticus 18:26-30
The Lord labels this as a list, or category of abominations. There is no sacrifice for cleansing; one was cast out with no avenue for restoration. It is again noted that these abominations were done by those who were in the land prior to them, and why they were vomited from the land. It would happen to Israel if they did the same. How much would God allow before acting? This wasn't a line to flirt with.
Keeping the ordinances and statutes of God, kept one in the land. In many ways the bible conveys it to God's people; keep ourselves in Him and His word and He will keep us.
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