Leviticus 16-20: Set Apart

The Children of Israel were aware that not just anyone could approach the Most Holy God.  They remembered very well what happened to Aaron's two sons, Nadab and Abihu, when they were irreverent.  With this in mind, Aaron received instructions from the Lord on how to make atonement and carefully followed all of God's instructions for what was to becomes part of the Israelite law, the day of atonement.  "This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month you must deny yourselves and not do any work—whether native-born or an alien living among you because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the LORD, you will be clean from all your sins.  It is a sabbath of rest, and you must deny yourselves; it is a lasting ordinance. Lev 16:29-31 NIV

But it was not enough to make sacrifices of atonement for their sins.  The people of Israel were also told to separate themselves from those who were not God's chosen people, and from practices that were not the practice of a godly people.  They were not to put together two disparate forms.  They were not to accept the practices of the heathen.   They were to be honest and loving.    Not following these commandments was sin and the punishment for sin would be death and separation.  " 'Keep all my decrees and laws and follow them, so that the land where I am bringing you to live may not vomit you out.  You must not live according to the customs of the nations I am going to drive out before you. Because they did all these things, I abhorred them.  But I said to you, "You will possess their land; I will give it to you as an inheritance, a land flowing with milk and honey." I am the LORD your God, who has set you apart from the nations.' " Lev 20:22-24 NIV    They couldn't have it both ways.  They couldn't mix the holy and the profane. They couldn't feast on the promised milk and honey and the enjoyments of other nations at the same time, no matter how tempting or innocent they appeared.