Leviticus 1, 6:8-13, Num. 28:1-8, Lev. 17:8-9, Lev. 2, 6:14-23, Num. 15:1-21
Ryan: It is often very difficult for us to relate to the myriad offerings made by the Israelites day in and day out. They are almost beyond most modern Christians’ comprehension. My NIV Study Bible has a nice little chart in it that breaks down all the different types of offerings, with the requirements for each along with each one’s purpose. Of the five main types of offerings (burnt, grain, fellowship, sin, and guilt), the one that is most like our “offerings” today is the grain offering. Most churches today take up an offering each week that takes the form of a freewill monetary donation. As far as the offerer is concerned, this offering represents a “voluntary act of worship; recognition of God’s goodness and provisions; devotion to God.” If that description sounds accurate to you, then you may be surprised to learn that that is the exact purpose that the NIV Study Bible prescribes to the grain offering (p. 151). Three of the remaining offerings–burnt, sin, and guilt–are no longer necessary for us, as each of those were for the purpose of atonement for different types of sin (among other purposes). The last one, fellowship, would likely be included also in our freewill monetary offerings today, though theirs included a fellowship meal as well (our church actually does include a fellowship meal most Sundays immediately after the worship service).
Samantha: Like the Passover sacrifice of the family pet, er…lamb, the burnt offering from the herd had a similar connection to the person offering it as a sacrifice. The instruction from God read, “He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him” (Lev 1:4). From today’s perspective it seems creepy to be touching the animal as it is being killed. Growing up I was witness to a cow being killed for a future dinner, but there was no laying on of hands. Through a Bible commentary I learned that the touching was symbolic for the transfer of sin–the person was giving their sin to this animal whose blood would be shed, and that blood would atone for their sin. Not only were they “transferring” their sin, they were watching something die in their place. The animal was their substitute on the bronze altar, being consumed by fire for the Lord. In the New Testament, Hebrews 8-10 shows us how what happened at the tabernacle was foreshadowing: God sent His son Jesus to be our substitute and how He took our sins upon himself on the cross so that he could die once for all. What an amazing sacrifice!
Tags: Discipleship, Salvation
