DEVOTION – DAY 197

Leviticus 1:3-5 “Burnt Offerings”

 

Lev.1:3-5 If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, you are to offer a male without defect. You must present it at the entrance to the tent of meeting so that it will be acceptable to the Lord. You are to lay your hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on your behalf to make atonement for you. You are to slaughter the young bull before the Lord, and then, Aaron’s sons, the priests shall bring the blood and splash it against the sides of the altar at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

 

The book of Leviticus begins with details given by God through the prophet Moses, to His people on the various types of sacrifices they had to make before Him. The first sacrifice was a burnt offering as described in the above verses. A burnt offering was required every morning and evening before the tent of meeting where the altar was placed. The tent of meeting was God’s dwelling place amongst His people during their years of wandering in the wilderness. The sacrifice of a young bull was necessary as atonement. God was teaching His people that in order for their sins to be forgiven, innocent blood had to be shed. To kill an innocent young bull was a vivid reminder that something had to be killed and the splashing of its blood on the side of the altar is another visual reminder of the shedding of blood. The animal sacrifices were God’s preparation for His people to look forward to the sacrifice and shed blood of His Son, Jesus Christ who would come to atone for the sins of mankind.

 

This idea about sacrificing animals and to offer some form of sacrifice to atone for sins of human beings is found in many religious practices around the world across many other religions. Everyone knows that when they do something wrong, they will feel guilty and they expect to be punished. In order to avoid punishment, they try to make up for their wrongdoing. I recall that when I was young, I helped my mother slaughter a live chicken by slitting its neck with a sharp knife and drained its blood. The chicken was cooked and the chicken and its blood were offered to the idols. It was a vivid image for me to know that an animal had to die as penance to idols.

 

But in reality, the animal sacrifices can never atone for anyone’s sins nor earn God’s favor. And the sacrifice of animals was required twice daily as set out in Lev.1:3-5. The only true sacrifice that could atone for the sins of mankind was the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. He, who is fully God and fully Man is able to satisfy God’s demand for justice for the sins of mankind, and to reconcile fallen man to God, the Father.

 

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we thank you for the matchless gift of your Son, the Lord Jesus, whose death on the cross atoned for all our sins. Please help us to live our lives in ways that will always honor His great sacrifice to redeem us. In the name of the Lord Jesus, we pray. Amen.

 

Questions

  1. When you have done something wrong in the past, what are some ways you try to remove the guilt of your own wrongdoing? Share.
  2. The Bible tells us that without the shedding of blood, there is no remission for sins. What should be your response when Jesus had shed His blood to atone for your sins?
  3. What changes will you make to the way you live to in order to honor Jesus’s great sacrifice to save you from God’s wrath for your sins?