Leviticus 1

The Book of Leviticus has been the cause of many people who decided to read through the Bible to quit. Genesis and Exodus have plenty of interesting stories, but Leviticus is written more like a law book. Before you quit think of all we learn from this book. Leviticus emphasizes the holiness of God that Jesus will remind us, “Be ye holy as your father in heaven is holy.” We learn of the fragrant smell of a sacrificial offering and many other eternal truths will be gained by studying the book of Leviticus.

Chapter 1 tells about the whole burnt offering. Leviticus obviously follows Exodus. We are left in Exodus with the glory of the Lord filling the Tent of Meeting. Leviticus picks right up and has God calling to Moses from the Tent. God called to Moses from the burning bush and from Mt. Sinai, and now from the Tent of Meeting. I like the name for the Tabernacle. It is important to remember that the people of Israel were to go there to meet with God. Though many scholars believe that the sin offering may have been the first offering to be made, it is significant that the Book of Leviticus begins with the whole burnt offering. This offering was to be completely sacrificed to the Lord. No meal to follow for the Priests and the one making the sacrifice as there will be with other offerings.

It is significant for us to offer ourselves completely to the Lord. I heard that Luther Rice attended a worship service and when the offering plate was passed he did not have any money to put in and so he put a note in the plate that read, “I give myself.” Luther Rice went on to be one of our first Baptist missionaries. That is the spirit of the sacrifices. When the blood of the animal was spilling it would be a stark reminder that because of his sin he deserved to have his blood spilt instead of the animal. Of course, it took the spilling of Jesus’ blood to completely cover our sin.

“Please accept our gratitude for sending Jesus to be the ultimate sacrifice for us. Let us live a life completely devoted to You. I pray this in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.”