Leviticus 20:1-5: a reflection

1The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2“Moreover, you shall tell the children of Israel, ‘Anyone of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners in Israel, who gives any of his offspring to Molech shall surely be put to death. The people of the land shall stone that person with stones. 3I also will set my face against that person, and will cut him off from among his people, because he has given of his offspring to Molech, to defile my sanctuary, and to profane my holy name. 4If the people of the land all hide their eyes from that person when he gives of his offspring to Molech, and don’t put him to death, 5then I will set my face against that man and against his family, and will cut him off, and all who play the prostitute after him to play the prostitute with Molech, from among their people.

In forbidding the horrific practice of child sacrifice to Molech, God adds a solemn warning not only against those who do it, but against those who look away. If the people of the land all hide their eyes from that person when he gives of his offspring to Molech, and don't put him to death, God says, then I will set my face against that man and against his family. To hide one's eyes from grave evil, to look away and do nothing, was itself a serious failure; the willful ignorance that turns a blind eye did not absolve them.

Notice the warning against hiding one's eyes from grave evil. It was not only the one who committed the evil who was accountable; those who hid their eyes, looked away, and did nothing were also warned. To turn a blind eye to grave evil done among them, as though not seeing it absolved them, was itself a failure God would reckon with. Willful ignorance, looking away from evil rather than confronting it, was not innocence; God warned against hiding one's eyes from the grave evil that called to be confronted.

That is worth taking to heart, for we too can be tempted to hide our eyes from grave evil, looking away as though it did not concern us. When grave evil is done around us, we can be tempted to hide our eyes, to look away, to pretend not to see, telling ourselves it is not our concern; but God warned against hiding one's eyes from such evil. To turn a blind eye to grave evil is not innocence; willful ignorance does not absolve us. Do not hide your eyes from grave evil around you, looking away as though not seeing it absolved you; God warned against such willful blindness. Refuse to turn a blind eye to grave evil, as though ignoring it made you innocent, as God warned the people not to hide their eyes from the evil done among them; for looking away from grave evil is itself a failure, and we are not absolved by willful ignorance, but called to see and not hide our eyes.

Lord, in forbidding the horrific practice of child sacrifice to Molech, you add a solemn warning not only against those who do it, but against those who look away. If the people of the land all hide their eyes from that person, and don't put him to death, you say, then I will set my face against that man and against his family. To hide one's eyes from grave evil, to look away and do nothing, was itself a serious failure; the willful ignorance that turns a blind eye did not absolve them. Show me the warning against hiding one's eyes from grave evil. It was not only the one who committed the evil who was accountable; those who hid their eyes and did nothing were also warned. To turn a blind eye to grave evil, as though not seeing it absolved them, was itself a failure you would reckon with. Willful ignorance was not innocence. Take that to my heart, for I too can be tempted to hide my eyes from grave evil, looking away as though it did not concern me. When grave evil is done around me, I can be tempted to hide my eyes, to pretend not to see, telling myself it is not my concern; but you warned against hiding one's eyes from such evil. To turn a blind eye is not innocence. Keep me from hiding my eyes from grave evil around me, looking away as though not seeing it absolved me; you warned against such willful blindness, Lord. Help me refuse to turn a blind eye to grave evil, as though ignoring it made me innocent.