 The Lord called Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting, saying, 2 “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When any one of you brings an offering to the Lord, you shall bring your offering of livestock from the herd or from the flock.
3 “If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer a male without blemish. He shall bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting, that he may be accepted before the Lord. 4 He shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him. 5 Then he shall kill the bull before the Lord, and Aaron's sons the priests shall bring the blood and throw the blood against the sides of the altar that is at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 6 Then he shall flay the burnt offering and cut it into pieces, 7 and the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire. 8 And Aaron's sons the priests shall arrange the pieces, the head, and the fat, on the wood that is on the fire on the altar; 9 but its entrails and its legs he shall wash with water. And the priest shall burn all of it on the altar, as a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord. 10 “If his gift for a burnt offering is from the flock, from the sheep or goats, he shall bring a male without blemish,11 and he shall kill it on the north side of the altar before the Lord, and Aaron's sons the priests shall throw its blood against the sides of the altar. 12 And he shall cut it into pieces, with its head and its fat, and the priest shall arrange them on the wood that is on the fire on the altar,13 but the entrails and the legs he shall wash with water. And the priest shall offer all of it and burn it on the altar; it is a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord. 14 “If his offering to the Lord is a burnt offering of birds, then he shall bring his offering of turtledoves or pigeons.15 And the priest shall bring it to the altar and wring off its head and burn it on the altar. Its blood shall be drained out on the side of the altar. 16 He shall remove its crop with its contents and cast it beside the altar on the east side, in the place for ashes. 17 He shall tear it open by its wings, but shall not sever it completely. And the priest shall burn it on the altar, on the wood that is on the fire. It is a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord. Meditation God’s sovereign grace gives ground for His people to return to relationship with Him. Beginning where Exodus ended, following the cloud of glory that descended into the newly erected tabernacle (Exodus 40:34-38), Leviticus clears a space for God’s people to return to the garden place of fellowshipping with our Creator. God speaks and His people listen (1-2). The Lord “speaking to Moses” begins Leviticus and is mentioned more than 30 times overall! The Divine dialog incorporated regulations for right relationship including sacrifices, priestly regulations, purity laws, holiness codes, and atonement- All direction from God later fulfilled by the Word of God made flesh, Jesus Christ. Through the sacrifice of Jesus our Great High Priest, believer’s sin is atoned for as they are made holy, free to confidently return to relationship with our Redeemer. Burnt offerings are the first of five unique provisions God graciously gives His people, all managed by priests (5, 7, 9, 11). Burnt offerings come from the herd (2), the flock (10), or a single bird (14). Burnt offerings were personal and costly, totally consumed by fire from the altar. One hundred percent of the offering atoned for sin (4), an accent for prayers and a pleasing aroma to the Lord (9,13,17). The comprehensive consumption of the offering points to the complete death of Jesus, the ultimate atonement for sin. By one single sacrifice Jesus Christ makes believers eternally holy (Hebrews 10:10) and through His work believers not only return to relationship but also wholly surrender our lives as living sacrifices for Him (Romans 12:1-2)! Richly Dwelling -What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the path the Lord creates for His people to return to relationship with Him through sacrifice? -How does the clear fulfillment of this invitation through the person and work of Jesus clear a way for you to return to relationship with God, no matter how far you have strayed? -Where do you need to embrace this invitation, from your heart? Be specific. Key verse The Lord called Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting, saying, 2 “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them…
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