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- What attributes of God’s character does this passage reveal?
- How does the passage point to Jesus?
- How should the truth of this passage change me?
- How do the events of today’s reading help you better understand the grand narrative of Scripture?
Lev. 1
I’m sure all these different offerings tell a story, but I’m not sure what that story is. Like everything else related to the temple, I’m sure they are representative of Jesus, the work He did and does for us, and the relationship we have with God through Him.
Maybe, then, the burnt offering is like Jesus’ death on the cross. Jesus was the unblemished male God accepts on our behalf to make atonement for us. Unlike other offerings, the burnt offering was all for God. Which suggests to me that our atonement has nothing to do with us. Furthermore, it came before any other offering. So Jesus first gave all of Himself before anything we offer is acceptable to God.
Lev. 2
I don’t get the grain offering at all. There is evidently a difference between a food offering, given as a pleasing aroma, and a firstfruits offering, which can consist of grain but is not the same as the grain offering. Clear as mud. A food offering could not contain yeast or honey. Yeast makes sense, due to its association with our sin and pride. I am at a loss, however, on the honey. Furthermore, it seems any offering of grain had to contain salt. The text straight up tells us this has to do with the covenant with God. So maybe the yeast, honey, and salt requirements represent a pure and sincere heart that is fully devoted to God. I just don’t know.
Another interesting thing about the grain offering is that only part of the grain and oil and all of the frankincense belonged to God. God called this the memorial portion. “But the rest of the grain offering will belong to Aaron and his sons; it is the holiest part of the food offerings to the LORD.” (Lev. 2:3 & 2:10). So God reserved the holiest part for the priests. Perhaps that is indicative of how God offers His grace to us through Jesus’ sacrifice. So Jesus gave Himself as a sacrifice so that we could share in His righteousness. That is the holy part we receive when we offer ourselves to God through Christ.
Lev. 3
The fellowship offering was different from the burnt offering in that it could be either male or female and only part of it was offered to God. Also, it was burned on top of the burnt offering. That has got to be a picture of the fellowship we have with God because of Jesus. Jesus’ sacrifice, which we see in the burnt offering, is the foundation for that fellowship. The fact that the two offerings were burned together could indicate how we share in Christ’s suffering when we are in fellowship with Him. And maybe not eating any fat or blood is to remind us that our fellowship with God is not because of us. It was Christ’s suffering, not ours, that reconciles us to God.