Hidden treasures in unexpected places - part 2

In part one we looked at the meaning behind the tabernacle and how the pattern of the tabernacle is a pattern for creation.  In this post let’s take a look at Leviticus. It’s a book full of instructions about offerings and sacrifices. We don’t have to do this anymore so what relevance does it have? Have a read of Leviticus 1-7 and look out for the following:

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Burnt Offering (chapter 1) - this is killed, skinned and burnt up totally. It goes through the fire; fire symbolising God’s judgement. It is offered daily as a reminder of sin. You couldn’t go into the tabernacle without this offering. This shows us that we can’t enter God’s presence without going through judgement. The animal offered is a substitute – it goes through the fire instead of the sinful person. (Sound familiar?) The burnt offering is also a daily reminder of what was prophesied through Abraham about God providing a lamb for the burnt offering one day in the future on Mount Moriah (Jerusalem). When giving the sacrifice they put their hand on the animal as a sign of giving over their sin. We should lean on Jesus and hand our sin over to him.

Grain offering (chapter 2) – yeast free symbolises sin free, holy. Oil symbolises the Holy Spirit. Fine flour is crushed grain/seed. Seed also means offspring. Jesus is God’s offspring who was crushed for our sake. Some of the offering was burnt and some was kept to feed on. This offering tells us our salvation comes through Jesus suffering and obedience and reminds us to feed on him and draw strength from him.

Sin offering (chapter 4) – Blood is thrown all over the place for cleansing. This tells us about how sin defiles us. It’s not just us as people who need cleansing, all of creation needs cleansing. That is why there will be a new heavens and a new earth when Jesus returns.

Guilt offering (chapter 5) – this was not just about removing the feeling of guilt. Money is involved to show that there is a debt that we have incurred by our sin that needs to be paid. Because of Jesus our debt is cancelled.

Fellowship offering (chapter 7) – this offering was optional and was an offering that you were allowed to eat some of. It was like an invite to eat with God whenever you wanted and acts as a reminder of our future hope to be able to eat the wedding feast with God. This offering was covered in oil as a sign that the Holy Spirit also allows us to have fellowship with God. All the other sacrifices were about removing barriers to enable us to enjoy this fellowship with God. Do you have a desire to choose to spend time with God?

If you had an open invite to share a meal with God every day, would you?