So, what's the difference?

Read Leviticus 20-25.

The specific instructions continue regarding sexual purity, service and worship.  Again, one living today would ask why all these details are here. 

1. They had no guidelines how to live for the LORD and please Him. 

2. What they did know was mixed with a pagan Egyptian culture that worshipped many gods of creation rather than the Creator.

3. God wanted them to be different than the nations around them.  He wanted them to represent His nature, His character, and His word in such a way that others would want to worship Him also.

"You shall be holy to me, for I the LORD am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine."  (20:26)

So, God tells them what to do and what not to do in order to demonstrate those differences.  Each of those differences would prove to be personally and nationally beneficial to them.  God's commands were not to be seen as restrictive but liberating.

Imagine a culture where people treat each other with respect, dignity and justice.  Imagine a culture that does not sacrifice their children to please a made up god, nor violate each other.  Imagine a culture that enjoys atonement for their sin and forgiveness.  Imagine a culture blessed by the Living God of Heaven because He is pleased with them.  Imagine a culture that stops at prescribed times during the year to celebrate the goodness of God's grace to them.   

The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 6:16-7, "For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, 'I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  Therefore, go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.'  Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God."