Eden to Eternity Vol. 1, Leviticus 1-9
Come along with me as I complete The Daily Grace Co.’s Eden to Eternity study!
This chronological Bible study requires us to dive into the 66 books of God’s Word while encouraging self-reflection and application. In the following posts, I intend to discuss the content, existing themes, and perceived messages throughout the Bible so we may dwell in scripture together.
I hope that together we can approach God's word with an open heart and fall more in love with Christ, who had our eternal salvation in mind all along!
3/66 | Author: Moses | Old Testament | Pentateuch/Torah | 1445 B.C. (estimated)
The book of Leviticus displays redemptive measures for the Israelites to take to access God's presence—since they enacted sinful behaviors that restricted this sacred, holy experience.
1. The Burnt Offering
"Then the Lord summoned Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting" (1:1). Moses was not allowed to enter, and thus, something had to change. Rather than the sinner losing their life, God implemented ceremonies and practices so an offering would incur the price of sin.
Burnt offerings were rituals employed to seek forgiveness.
The animal was to be approved of by the Lord at the front of the tent of meeting.
The animal is to be slaughtered before the Lord.
The priests were then to splatter the altar with its blood.
The body is to be cut and placed into the fire.
This may be foreshadowing, but an unblemished male was considered the most ideal of the herd for atonement and reparation.
2. The Grain Offering
A grain offering was a method of giving thanks.
Offerings mixed with flour, oil, and frankincense were said to have a "pleasing aroma" to the Lord (2:2).
Grain offerings are not to contain yeast or honey.
3. The Fellowship Offering
Similar to a grain offering, this was another form of thanking the Lord.
Male or female animals were acceptable but must be unblemished.
When presenting the offering, the fat of an animal is reserved for the Lord (3:16).
4. The Sin Offering
The process of the sin offering was explained based on who would be making the offering. For example,
An anointed priest was expected to offer a young, unblemished bull.
Leaders were to offer an unblemished male goat.
The common person was required to bring an unblemished, female goat.
If the entire community sinned and wanted to present an offering as a remedy, they would sacrifice a young bull after the elders prayed over it before the Lord.
If anyone were to bring a lamb to God, it was requested that it be an unblemished female.
5. Cases Requiring Sin Offerings and the Guilt Offering
Offerings must be made by anyone who:
Witnessed, overheard, or was aware of wrongdoing but did not testify
Made contact with something unclean (dead or flawed)
Made an oath but did not fulfill it as intended.
These transgressions resulted in defilement and iniquity, which could be forgiven with:
Female lamb or goat offering.
If these animals were not accessible, the offering could consist of two turtledoves, two young pigeons, or a handful of flour as a substitute.
If someone were to sin unintentionally, they must:
Offer an unblemished ram.
Present 1/5th of the value of the defiled holy thing.
6. The Burnt Offering, Grain Offering, and the Sin Offering
Financial sin or theft was to be dealt with by returning what was stolen plus 1/5th of the value, along with a guilt offering (ram) to God.
Burnt offerings were to remain on the altar throughout the night until the next morning.
The ashes were to be removed, but the fire was to remain active.
The priests had special garments for the steps of this process and changed accordingly.
Priests were to take a handful of flour (with oil and frankincense) and burn it as a grain offering.
Anything remaining aside from this portion was permissible for the priests (Aaron and his sons) to eat.
Grain offerings made by priests for themselves must be offered entirely and cannot be eaten.
The sin offering was regarded as "most holy" (6:25).
The priest who offers this offering can eat it, but he must not make contact with blood.
If the blood is to be used for atonement, no part of the offering must be consumed.
7. The Guilt Offering, Fellowship Sacrifice, Fat and Blood Prohibited, and the Portion for the Priests
The guilt offering was referred to as "especially holy" (7:1).
All the fat of an animal was to be presented, and the male priests were allowed to eat it in a holy setting.
Depending on the reason, the fellowship sacrifice consisted of one portion of unleavened cakes prepared with olive oil and leavened bread or cakes.
Freewill offerings were to be eaten within two days by the priests, but nothing after since they became repulsive (7:18).
Defiled meat (meat that comes in contact with anything unclean) was to be burned, not eaten.
Fat from ox, sheep, goats, or animal carcasses were not to be eaten.
Blood from animals or birds could not be eaten.
Priests were to present an offering if they wanted to make a fellowship sacrifice.
The right thigh of sacrificial animals was to be preserved for the priests, while the breast and fat were dedicated to the Lord.
The priests were also responsible for facilitating the fire offerings.
8. Ordination of Aaron and His Sons
Moses anointed Aaron and his sons in front of their community. A bull was then sacrificed as a sin offering according to the Lord's commands. Moses made a burnt offering and presented a presentation and ordination offering.
9. The Priestly Ministry Inaugurated
After Aaron and his sons were sanctified, they atoned for the sins of their community. The people were blessed. Moses and Aaron entered the tent, and "the glory of the Lord appeared" (9:23). Fire consumed the offerings, and the people reacted as they acknowledged God's presence.
The Daily Grace's Reflection Questions (p. 109, 111, 113):
How does Leviticus point to Christ's perfection?
How can we be a living sacrifice for the Lord? (Romans 12:1)
If you were like me the first time I read through Leviticus, your smile probably faded pretty quickly. Sacrifices? Blood-spattered altars? It is not the lighthearted material Christians ruminate on. However, there is an abundance of grace flowing through this book.
Leviticus highlights God's holiness when acknowledging that the Israelites could not exist in the same space as God due to their rebellious flesh. It also emphasizes the extent to which our loving Lord will go to be with us. In trespasses and defilement, God says, Let's try again. The consequences of sin were transferred to offerings that had to be spotless and carefully processed, approved by God every step of the way. Even then, they were reoccurring—there was no one and done for the Israelites until the lamb of life.
"[Jesus] is our perfect Lamb without blemish, who provided perfect atonement and declared us forgiven. He has done what we could not do. He has made every wrong right, and He has called us His own" (Eden to Eternity Vol. 1, 2022, p. 112).
Hallelujah! We are no longer bound to the rituals and procedures of regularly giving away personal valuables or resources as sacrifices since our sin was covered indefinitely. Jesus Himself said it on the cross: "It is finished" (John 19:30).
Like Romans 12:1 and 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 say, we are to please God by presenting our bodies as living sacrifices for the Holy Spirit to dwell in since we have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus. How might this substantial task be achieved? Depart from sin and worldly compliance like your life depends on it! Adhere to doing things that glorify God by simply partnering with Him. To seek Him is to find Him, and discovering Him is loving Him. Let our Almighty Alpha and Omega gloriously renew your heart and spirit.
Thank you, Jesus, for making us new and pleasing to the Lord!
Gratitude List:
Long-awaited packages making their way to our doorstep
Three-day weekends
Sharing wisdom/The love of grandparents
Fresh manicures
Scripture appearing when driving: thank you to the person who handwrote Isaiah 33:5-6 on their back window; it made me smile in traffic!
"The Lord is exalted, for He dwells on high; He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness. There will be times of security for you—a storehouse of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the Lord is Zion's treasure" (Isaiah 33:5-6, CSB).
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References
Daniels, K., Dickerson, T., Dickson, K., Hess, A., & Turner, S. (2022). Eden to Eternity (Vol. 1). The Daily Grace Co.
Leviticus Bible Timeline. Bible Hub. (n.d.). Leviticus 1 (biblehub.com)
Myers, R., & Williams, A. B. (2020). She Reads Truth Bible. Holman Bible Publishers.
