- “If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd … to make atonement for you.” The offering spoken of in chapter 1 is called the burnt offering and is intended for atonement. What is the context that requires a person to offer a burnt offering?
Needing to be cleansed so as to be right with God (and enjoy his favour?) and able to come before the Lord.
- “If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, you are to offer a male without defect. You must present it at the entrance to the tent of meeting so that it will be acceptable to the Lord. You are to lay your hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on your behalf to make atonement for you.” The key emphasis is that the offering must be acceptable to the Lord; the offering is defined by the recipient, not the offeror. How would this affect your own offerings to God, be they service, gifts, worship, praise or even participation—what you do or sacrifice or give unto the Lord? Do you think the requirement that the offering be without defect means “no mistakes”, “sincerity”, “excellence”, “integrity” or something else?
Well, clearly I need to know what he wants of me; “trust and obey” is key. Sincerity at least, integrity at best.
- Notice that there are options available for the burnt offering: bulls, sheep or goats, birds. What do you think is the reason for options? What does this tell you about God?
Not everybody has one or the other or can afford. He wants people to come to him. The actual offering is not so important although it conveys meaning. God is not so hung up on the procedures but we must know that it is not trivial and life (blood) is demanded.
- “You are to lay your hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on your behalf to make atonement for you. You are to slaughter the young bull before the Lord, and then Aaron’s sons the priests shall bring the blood and splash it against the sides of the altar at the entrance to the tent of meeting.” Notice that the burnt offering is very personal. The offeror participates in the slaughter of the offering. What do you think it suggests? As Christians we accept our Lord’s death as the atonement for our sin. What would the personal nature of the act of offering a burnt offering mean to you?
It is personal. You are slaughtering the animal to atone for your sin. You are not allowed to let someone else do it and shield yourself from the process. There will be cries of pain and fear. You must know the anguish of death and you will know what it means to kill and take a life. You know the animal is innocent and you are guilty yet you kill because this is what is required for your atonement. Perhaps you might even feel sorrow for the animal being sacrificed on your behalf.
Clearly, at some level, I must be aware that I am one of those who caused his death for my own selfish benefit. The song below is a good reflection on Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice but it fails to register the notion that I, as one who accepted his sacrifice on my behalf, was a cause of his death as well, not just those who clamoured for his execution before Pilate.
Verse 1
His robes for mine:
O wonderful exchange!
Clothed in my sin,
Christ suffered ‘neath God’s rage.
Draped in His righteousness,
I’m justified!
In Christ I live,
For in my place He died.
Verse 2
His robes for mine:
What cause have I for dread?
God’s daunting law
Christ mastered in my stead.
Faultless I stand
With righteous works not mine,
Saved by my Lord’s
Vicarious death and life.
Chorus
I cling to Christ,
And marvel at the cost:
Jesus forsaken,
God estranged from God.
Bought by such love,
My life is not my own.
My praise, my all,
Shall be for Christ alone.
Verse 3
His robes for mine:
God’s justice is appeased.
Jesus is crushed,
And thus the Father’s pleased.
Christ drank God’s wrath
On sin, then cried “‘Tis done!”
Sin’s wage is paid;
Propitiation won!
Chorus
Verse 4
His robes for mine:
Such anguish none can know.
Christ, God’s belov’d,
Condemned as though His foe.
He, as though I,
Accursed and left alone;
I, as though He,
Embraced and welcomed home!
Chorus