Journal Through the Bible: Week 17 Thursday

Leviticus 1:1-3:17

Now that the tabernacle furnishings and the clothing for the priests were ready for service, the priests themselves had to be made ready by the giving of detailed instructions for the various sacrifices and feasts. God does things decently and in order. There are no shortcuts! Taking liberties with God's prescribed methods means facing His anger by judgment. There is ONLY ONE WAY to God and He is the One that provides it.

Does God make any promises in this passage?

• God promised to accept the burnt offerings as a sweet savor that would cover loathsome sins (see Proverbs 13:5)
• God promised that meat offering would be a memorial that would be accepted for its sweet odor.
• God promised that a peace offering would be accepted as a sweet smell.

Are there any references to Jesus?

• The burnt offering pictured the sacrifice of Jesus' blood as a payment for sin. (We are to be the salt!)
• The meat offering pictured the sacrifice of Jesus by the purity of the offering: it had no leaven
• The firstfruits offered as a meat offering were a picture of Jesus' resurrection. He was the firstfruits of those who had won over death.
• The peace offering was a picture of Jesus who is our peace with God.

Are there any references to future events?

• The most obvious thing that stands out to me in all these passages about death and sacrifice is that someday there will be no more death of anyone or anything and that we will meet our Sacrifice face-to-face. A world without death following our resurrection with the One who overcame death and won the victory for us is the antithesis of what was being taught and drilled into their brains by these constant sacrifices.

Does God issue any commands?

• God commanded Moses to tell the people to voluntarily bring a male without blemish from their cattle, sheep, or goat herd or fowls for the burnt offering and place his hand upon it (signifying that he was asking God to accept him and his offering) before killing it before the LORD.
• God commanded Moses to instruct the priests to sprinkle the blood of the burnt offering upon the altar, and to skin it and cut it into pieces before placing it on the altar and burning it. This was the way to offer an animal sacrifice.
• God commanded Moses to instruct the priests to sprinkle the blood of the burnt offering upon the altar, to tear off the head, pluck away the crop and feathers, and cleave it open but not totally separate it before burning the birds offered for the burnt offering.
• God commanded Moses to tell the people to offer fine flour, oil, and frankincense to be burnt as a memorial on the altar for a meat offering and for the use of the priests.
• God also commanded that an offering of unleavened cakes made of fine flour mixed with oil or unleavened wafers with an oil spread could be given as a meat offering. This unleavened bread could either be baked in an oven or made in a frying pan. All were to be seasoned with salt.
• God commanded that part of the firstfruits with oil and frankincense should also be offered as a meat offering.
• God commanded that a peace offering sacrifice be without spot or blemish. This could be a male or female of the herd or flock. The blood was to be sprinkled upon the altar, the kidneys and liver removed, and then the offering was to be burnt.
• God commanded that they not eat the fat or the blood.