READ LEVITICUS 1
Leviticus is a challenging and intricate book containing laws that may not appear relevant to modern Christians. Hasn't Jesus released us from the obligations of the Law? However, considering that all of Scripture is inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16), and that God seeks to reveal Himself through the entirety of the Bible, there must be something valuable for us to learn here, right?
Although we no longer require burnt sacrifices for atonement, thanks to Jesus' sacrifice, we can still observe God's character reflected in this chapter. It is noteworthy that God provides His people with choices regarding the animals they offer as sacrifices (v. 2), If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock. While this detail may not seem significant to us now, separated from the practices of burnt offerings, it holds great importance. In a herding society, sacrificing an animal would have been a significant financial burden for many, as some individuals might not have been wealthy enough to own a flock. However, notice that the LORD allows them to offer a sacrifice from the herd (cattle), the flock (sheep or goats), or even birds as burnt offerings.
What does this reveal about God's character? It indicates that even in the times of Leviticus, God was interested in welcoming all who desired a relationship with Him. The invitation was open to anyone willing to bring their offering in obedience. God's character remains unaltered from then to now; He is the same God in the Old Testament as He is in the New Testament and beyond. The entirety of Scripture emphasizes this truth! God has always extended His grace to all humanity; we witness it in Leviticus and read about it in Paul's writings, referencing the prophet Joel, in Romans 10:13, For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Jesus serves as the ultimate offering now; He represents our offering to God and demonstrates that God offers Himself to us. Let us not reject this generous offer.
QUESTIONS
1. Consider the last time you pondered Jesus as our sacrifice to God. Take a moment this week to contemplate and jot down your reflections on how this impacts your life.
2. Are there any obstacles preventing you from embracing Jesus as the sacrifice for your sin? Identify it. If you have a reliable Christian companion, arrange a meeting to converse about it.
3. How can you deepen your connection with God this week? Allocate specific time slots and follow through with it!