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Leviticus 1:3 - The offering that goes up in smoke

Good morning friends,

An unusual Saturday morning without Men's D.

Here we are in Leviticus.  It has been a long time since our offering was in the shape of an animal.  So we tend to overlook this book.  But the sacrificial system points to Jesus.  So we really do need to learn from ancient writings.

Blessings

Jeff

Offering - qurbān: A masculine noun meaning an offering, a gift. This is the most general term, used eighty times in the Old Testament, for offerings and gifts of all kinds.

Burnt offering -‘ōlâ; feminine active participle of 5927; a step or (collectively, stairs, as ascending); usually a holocaust (as going up in smoke): — ascent, burnt offering (sacrifice), go up to.

In English, we have noun(offering) and adjective (burnt).  But Hebrew has a word for offering and another for burnt offering. A visual term.  An offering that goes up in smoke.  

The only permissible place to make this sacrifice is the door of the tent of meeting.  It time, effort and preparation to do this the way God commands.  If there were 100,000 family units and 1% wanted to sacrifice each day, that would be 1000 animals.  And the tribes were spread out.  So the family out on the edge of the camp would have a bit of a walk just to get to the tabernacle.  Then there was going to the place where the pillar of fire and smoke was, getting close to God's presence. 

In this offering everything is burnt.  There is no tangible benefit for making this offering.  

God is giving the positive requirements of the first two commandments.  No other gods, no images or likenesses.  Know what not to do, but what is it that I am supposed to do.  

Instruction - Personal preference is not considered in offering.  Only certain animal in certain place in a certain way.  God decides what is acceptable.  I don't have to experiment to see what He wants.

Thanksgiving - The God who reveals what is pleasing and acceptable.  From what You provide for Your people, You graciously accept offerings.

Confession - Not always diligent in considering offering.  I don't have the visual concept of offering going up in smoke.

Petition - Make us aware of Your zeal for Your own worship.  We gather to meet with You, not necessarily with others.  We can rejoice in seeing the offering of others going up in smoke.

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