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HAND ON THE BURNT OFFERING
THURSDAY, APRIL 4
Leviticus 1

Romans 10:9

 

“And he shall put his hand upon

the head of the burnt offering…”

 

HAND ON THE BURNT OFFERING

 

There are many reasons for the laying on of hands in the Bible. Elders are called to lay hands on those who are sick and pray for them. Baptism involves the laying of hands, as does the ordination of elders, missionaries and ministers to start off their ministries. These all obtained their understanding and significance from the Old Testament practice of the worshippers’ laying of hands.
 
To “lay the hand” on the burnt offering equals identification. The worshipper identified himself with the unblemished animal that he brought willingly. To lay the hand does not mean to lightly touch the animal. It means to place the hand on top of the animal’s head and lean forward pressing down on it. In this way, the pressure of identification is emphasised. The worshipper had to realise that it was an expensive animal that he was willingly sacrificing because of his sins against God. If not for this sacrifice, he would have to pay for his own sins, which is not possible. The only payment is for him to be cast into hell.
 
He knew that his sins against the holy God could not be atoned for by his good works, even though good works were ordained by God. For example, he knew that the sacrament of circumcision could not save him even though he was circumcised on the eighth day. He knew that keeping the Passover feast religiously would also not save him. He could be saved only by the sacrifice of the unblemished animal that he must offer by faith. He had to look forward to the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who would die for him in the future.
 
The laying on of his hand by faith must be meaningfully done from the heart. The LORD knows when the heart is right. Then the offering would be accepted and sins forgiven. It is like a sinner today confessing with his mouth and believing in his heart that Jesus died for his sins and rose from the dead for his justification. It is a sincere substitutionary identification.
 
MEMORISATION: Leviticus 1:4
PRAYER: I thank Thee, Father, for Christ Jesus who is my burnt offering sacrifice, who suffered and died for me. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.

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