OCT 6

Leviticus 1
Memorise Hebrews 10:10
“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many”

When we read parts of the Bible like Leviticus 1, it is hard for us to fully picture and understand what was going on during that time. The whole practice of offering up animal sacrifices is so far removed from anything that we have experienced, and as such we find such portions dry and hard to interpret. To better understand this passage, we must read it from the perspective of a Israelite in those days, and how it was significant to them.

For the children of Israel, the whole system of offerings and sacrifices was integral to their religious lives. It was something that every faithful Israelite would be faithful to keep, and would have an intimate knowledge of how it ought to be done. However, it is not the how that we are interested in, but more the why.

God did not institute these offerings just to give the Israelites something to occupy their time, or because he desired them to give up things that were valuable to them so it could be burnt and offered to Him. They were given as a foreshadowing of Christ. As Hebrews 9:1 clearly tells us, the law and its sacrifices were given as a shadow of good things to come. Through the giving up of the unblemished clean animals, Israel would learn to look forward to the coming lamb of God who would take away their sin once and for all. Through the shedding of the blood upon the altar, they would know the significance of blood that was shed, and that only through that can their sins be cleansed and washed away. When they burnt the offerings, it was to be completely burnt up, and they would realise that a sacrifice to God was to be whole and complete. When the smoke of the offering ascended to heaven, they would know that it was to be a sweet savour unto the Lord, pleasantly received by Him for an atonement for their sins.

This they had to do continually, day after day, week after week, year after year. They would realise that the blood of bulls and goats could never fully atone for their sins. Each time they did it, they would be reminded that they are looking forward to the coming Messiah who would offer once sacrifice for sins for ever, and that is Jesus Christ our Lord.

Thought: Jesus Christ is our burnt offering, our peace offering, our sin offering.
Prayer: Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief.