Daily Devotions
Exodus
"Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God." 2 Corinthians 3:5
THE SECOND SACRIFICE
The second sacrifice involved a ram. This particular sacrifice was different in significance from the first one.
“You shall also take one ram, and Aaron and his sons
shall put their hands on the head of the ram; and you shall
kill the ram, and you shall take its blood and sprinkle it
all around on the altar. Then you shall cut the ram in pieces,
wash its entrails and its legs, and put them with its pieces
and with its head. And you shall burn the whole ram on the altar.
It is a burnt offering to the LORD; it is a sweet aroma, an offering
made by fire to the LORD.”
EXODUS 29:15-18
The Book of Leviticus was written especially to explain the manner and the significance of sacrifices offered to the Lord. We derive the following from Leviticus:-
1. The idea of atonement
It should not surprise us that there would be similarities in meaning in the different types of offerings made. Similar to the first offering a burnt offering would also have the idea of atonement included.
“If his offering is a burnt sacrifice…
It will be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him…”
LEVITICUS 1:3,4
2. The idea of gratitude and love
The burnt offering is endearingly called “a sweet aroma” for the following reasons:-
a) It represented Entirety
The offering is given in its entirety to the Lord. The significance of this offering focuses on the willingness of the worshipper to give himself entirely to the Lord! It may well be said that this is a very special kind of love offering to the Lord. It is most fitting to offer such an offering in the context of the consecration of the priests.
b) It is reminiscent of Noah’s offering
The most significant thing that Noah did when he stepped out of his ark, was to offer a special worship of thanksgiving to the Lord. This offering must have come out of a heart full of gratitude, thanksgiving and love. The Lord’s acceptance of such an offering rendered it “a soothing aroma”.
“Then Noah built an altar to the LORD…
and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
And the LORD smelled a soothing aroma…”
GENESIS 8:20-21