The book of Leviticus gives specific instructions on what God required from the Israelites to offer and how they were to make these offerings . I wonder why the book did not begin with the Fellowship Offering. But It was God’s divine plan to begin with the Burnt Offerings🔥
📝 Moses’ two books – LEVITICUS and NUMBERS , begins with the phrase “The Lord spoke to Moses”. Let us ponder :
🌈 ” The Lord is speaking “
He is the originator of these regulations , and thus, it establishes His authority.

🌈 ” The Lord is speaking from the Tent of Meeting “
It shows that His presence was among his people. It was important for the Israelites to know that the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob was with them. We too need to know that our God is with us.

🌈 ” The Lord is speaking to Moses “
It was His business and Moses ought to listen .

🌈 ” The Lord is speaking to Moses to give His instructions to the Israelites “.

📌 The Instructions for the Burnt Offerings :

~ Presentation of male animals without defect ( 1:3,10). Male signifies greater value , vigor and fertility.

~ Placing of hand on the head of the animal by the worshipper ( 1:4) . By this the concern person is identified and its reason for his offering.

~ Slaughtering the animals before the Lord ( v 1:5,11,15) . The Lord needed to witness the worshippers’ act of obedience or giving .

~ Splashing the blood on the altar ( 1:5,11;15) . It confirms the sacrifice visible .

~ Skinning or plucking the feathers and tearing the animals ( 1:6,12,16-17)

~ Washing the internal organs and the legs by the worshippers ( 1:9:13) . The blood was to be handled separately , so that no blood be left on the flesh while burning . We need to cleanse all the wickedness from our hearts ✒ Mark 7: 20–23

~ Burning the animal completely on the altar ( 1:9,13,17) . A picture of complete devotion to God. Nothing to be kept for the worshippers’ use.

📌 The sacrifice properly offered was an aroma pleasing to the Lord ✒ (1:9b,13b,17)

💕 Beloved, in OT a valuable animal was completely burnt as an offering to God . But in NT , we are encouraged to offer our bodies as LIVING SACRIFICES , an offering completely devoted to God. We are to God the aroma of Christ ✝

💫 Jesus – the Lamb without defect had voluntary and wholly gave his life on the Calvary Cross to redeem the mankind.
In him we have redemption through his blood.. ✝️

Glory to God 🙏
✍🏽 Mark Boje
Arunachal Pradesh, India 🇮🇳