Leviticus chapter 1 is amazing. One reason being that God is the Speaker, all the way through those 17 technical verses! And His first item for discussion … is the “offering” (an act of worship by which man seeks to please God, to come near God) known as the “burnt sacrifice.” We often call it the “burnt offering” or sometimes the “whole burnt offering.”

And the Lord “up front” instructs Israel concerning the types of animals He will accept as appropriate for such a sacrifice. (Offering number one of five!) God to Moses: “Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock.” Leviticus 1:2, talk about getting down to business sin a hurry!

See the allowed categories?

Of the cattle, an animal like an ox (a “bullock”) is acceptable, quite expensive! (Leviticus 1:3-5)

Then (less expensive) a “lamb/sheep” or at times even (inexplicably) a “goat” is allowed! (Verse 10)

Finally, a little “dove/pigeon” might be acceptable! (Verse 14)

The sequence alone is beautiful! A rich man should bring an ox. But if not that wealthy, a sheep will do! And if the offerer is very poor, God smiles on even a little dove!

“Whosoever will may come,” regardless of their financial status! Hallelujah! That’s our gracious God!

This too … JESUS is certainly seen in each of these animals! (About all I have ever heard preached is Jesus as LAMB, certainly a wonderful Picture, but not the only picture!)

Jesus as OX? Yes, His mighty strength and endurance in service! He seemingly inexhaustible Ability to serve His Father! (Little sleep, little food, no “place to lay his Head” … yet always “about His Father’s Business!”)

Jesus as LAMB? Yes, in His innocence, humility and submission! (For example: “He was led as a SHEEP to the slaughter; and like a LAMB dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth.” Acts 8:32)

And Jesus as DOVE? Yes, in His purity and faithfulness! (The doves being clean little creatures, always faithful to his mate as well!)

Wow!

See how much we miss of the Intricacies of Jesus our Lord, His very Person and Work … by not studying these offerings in some detail?

Even the “goat” (???) slips into the “burnt offering” picture somehow! In verse 10, to be precise. (An animal usually associated with sin offerings!) And the burnt offering does NOT deal with sin. But rather with dedication, total surrender to the Lord! I think that … even though this is a Sweet Saviour Offering (smells “good” to Almighty God, something which the offerings related to “sin” are not said to do) … OUR GREAT GOD IS SO FORGIVING, SO LOVING, SO CLEANSING IN HIS PESON, IN HIS CHARACTER … THAT EVEN THE GOAT GETS MENTIONED IN THE FIRST OFFERING! “The Lord is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

God … always concerned about the lost!

Plus this, regarding the goat … the bigger the animal sacrificed … the more precise the Picture of Jesus appears to be!

The less valuable the animal … the less specific the details seem to be presented! Hence, the goat somehow got “mixed in,” but not in the highest level of sacrifices allowed! Somewhere in the middle!

At least that’s my observation, conclusion!

Jesus … Bullock, and Sheep/Lamb and Dove/Pigeon!

I long to know Him, consider Him, meditate on Him … in all those Capacities!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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One thing about these (five) offerings introduced in Leviticus’ first few chapters … they allow us to see JESUS in a much deeper way than ever before!

Some people (like the Jews of old) are content to know Jesus only as the Passover Lamb! Just as a way out of arduous Egypt, a way to enjoy “free” food (manna), and a way to a new home (Canaan).

But these offerings (including the burnt offering) reveal Jesus in much deeper (fuller) detail!

Showing how His Death on Calvary accomplished so much MORE than we’d ever realize apart from the study of these God ordained Rituals. Yes, herein we will get to know Jesus BETTER! Appreciate HIM more! Understand His Calvary Work … from a number of different perspectives!

I’m in favor of that!

Today I’d like to say something about the burnt offering (whole burnt offering), but this fact applies to the other offerings as well.

Jesus is pictured from three angles!

This offering has an offending Jew, the “offerer,” if you understand me. Then of course there is the “offering” itself, a little male lamb (for example), and thirdly there is a “priest” officiating, receiving the offering and obeying God’s specifics about how to handle the ceremony.

Wow!

Preacher Bagwell, Jesus as “offerer?”

Yes, “to fulfill all righteousness” He came to earth and took on a body like mine (without sin, of course), identifying with me. He came “under the Law,” as Paul preached in Galatians 4:4-5. “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”

Another verse might help as well. “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit OFFERED HIMSELF without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Hebrews 9:14, Jesus as “offerer!”

Jesus took my place at the foot of the brazen altar and assumed my sin(s)! He offered HIMSELF as a sacrifice, a propitiation to God the Father … on our behalf.

And yes, certainly Jesus as “offering!”

This is of course the easiest to comprehend! Jesus IS the Lamb! Jesus IS the innocent little Dove of Almighty God! Jesus IS the big strong OX (BULLOCK) Who came to earth to both serve and to die for lost sinners.

(Those three categories of animals just mention … the three “levels” of the burnt offering! Three more “Views” of our dear Lord and His work on Calvary!)

Listen to John the Baptist one day … “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the LAMB OF GOD, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29

Then Jesus as “priest?”

Certainly so! He IS our great High Priest yet to this day! He is the One Who presented His Own Blood to the Father on our behalf, in our stead! Read part of Hebrews 9:12 here … “By his own blood he (Jesus) entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” The “Holy Place” in Heaven, I believe.

Wow!

I am already seeing Jesus in a deeper way!

And our study of the offerings has just begun!

Come back tomorrow.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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In God’s first Speech in Leviticus, He emphasizes the “burnt sacrifice.” (We often refer to this rite as the “Burnt Offering.”) The verb “to offer” in Hebrew (“qarab”) means “to come near!” This is the whole purpose of the Levitical sacrificial System … coming near to God, fellowshipping with the Lord!

Let’s listen to God instruct Israel … If a man chooses to offer the “burnt sacrifice” to Me! Yes, verse 3 of chapter 1 of Leviticus: “He shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.

I am so impressed! “Of his own voluntary will!” (Now the “sin offering” is another story altogether! It is NOT voluntary! But compulsory! Because we all sin, of course.)

God wants us to approach Him, to adore and worship Him … because we LOVE Him. Not because He has beaten (coerced) us into such a decision, frame of mind! (Not a command here, the whole burnt offering … just an invitation!)

Wow!

Yes, the worshipper is to bring a little lamb (or a dove if he is poor) or an ox (bullock) if he is wealthy! And then three things will ensue …

The animal will be killed! (Not by the priest, but by the one bringing the sacrifice!) This is a visual picture of the fact that the “wages of sin is death!” Verse 5: “And he shall kill the bullock before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron’s sons.” Oh, the horrible cost of sin! I believe this is a picture of our being saved by Jesus’ Death … of our applying the blood (collected and sprinkled by the Priests) to our lives, our hearts. It is also a Picture of Jesus as Sacrifice … the Price He paid for our salvation!

DEATH!

Then the priests, continuing their holy work … “And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put FIRE upon the altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire: And the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar.” Leviticus 1:7-8

Next … “And the priest shall burn ALL on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.” Verse 9 of Leviticus chapter 1.

This innocent lamb (or dove or ox) gave ALL … to the Lord in worship! It is a picture of total CONSECRATION! Total dedication! This is a potent symbol of a person selling out totally to the Lord! (And where we get the hymn about our being “All on the Altar!”)

First … bloodshed, typifying salvation!

Second … fire, the altar (meat being turned into “smoke,” called a “sweet smell” in the nostrils of Almighty God.) He loves (takes pleasure) in our total yielding to Him!

Then third … (though it is not recorded until Leviticus chapter 3) … the Peace Offering, which illustrates (enacts) our being in harmony, FELLOWSHIP (at peace) with God our Creator and Redeemer!

Wow!

In communion with God (at-one-ment, the very idea behind blood atonement) … the goal of God’s loving Heart from the very beginning!

Bloodshed … Consecration … Fellowship!

That’s forever God’s order of progression!

And these Offerings in Leviticus’ early chapters portray this sequence again and again!

Are YOU saved, washed in the Blood of Jesus?

Are YOU totally ALL on His Altar of sacrifice laid? Consecrated?

And then (consequently) are YOU today living in Harmony/Communion with the Lord Jesus Christ?

The answers (all three) should be YES!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Here it is, the first of 858 verses in Leviticus: “And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying …” Leviticus 1:1

And the Lesson this Line of Scripture teaches is stupendous! (Latin: “stupere” meaning “to be wondered at!”)

First of all, let me mention that three verbs are used here; “called” and “spake” and “saying.” (I have underlined them in the verse as it appears above.)

And these are not only three different words (though meaning basically the same thing) in English … but three different verbs (as well) in Hebrew! That is unusual!

And the Speaker here? In each instance the verb has as its Source the same Person, He being God Almighty! The “LORD,” our Text says, Jehovah God!

And once He begins talking … He speaks virtually throughout the rest of Leviticus! The Book’s twenty-seven chapters! Leviticus in specifically written (one can say with accuracy) by God our great Creator and compassionate Redeemer.

Back to verse 1. “And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying …”

In Hebrew, “called” is “qara.”

“Spake” is “dabar.”

And “saying” is “amar!”

And the “point” of this all?

Leviticus is the Book of the Bible in which God’s perennial desire (to fellowship with His people) comes to fruition. I mean after mankind had so fallen into sin!

This is Fellowship/Communion restored!

This is God and man in harmony, once again.

This is God living in His Tabernacle … then and inviting men and women to come meet Him at His front door, the gate of the Tent where the brazen altar will be placed, where blood will be constantly and systematically shed!

Sinners cleansed … to meet God in sweet Oneness!

But none of this will happen … until God first SPEAKS! Until God tells us HOW to approach Him!

And SPEAK He does … in Leviticus’ very first Line!

Speaks using three different verbs!

Speaks and speaks and speaks … with specifics about meeting Him and staying in fellowship with Him!

Let’s thank the Lord today for that first verse … GOD HAS SPOKEN!

COMMUNION WITH HIM CAN BE RESTORED! AT HIS INSTIGATION … AND WITH OUR COOPERATION/OBEDIENCE!

Amen!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

By the way, God is till speaking, these thousands of years later! “God hath in these last days spoken unto us BY HIS SON (JESUS), whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.” Hebrews 1:2

Praise the Lord!

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The Book of Leviticus begins with the Tabernacle completely built, according to God’s precise specifications. BUT … no man has yet entered the Tabernacle!

Remember how Exodus ended: “So Moses finished the work. Then a cloud (Shekinah Glory) covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. AND MOSES WAS NOT ABLE TO ENTER INTO THE TENT OF THE CONGREGATION, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.” Exodus 40:33-35

In fact, nobody (no human being) enters that Holy Place until Leviticus chapter 9 … absolutely amazing in a way! (Especially when considering how God “longs” and “seeks” His people, to be in communion/harmony with them.)

Let me show you this epochal “Leviticus” event: “And Moses and Aaron WENT INTO THE TABERNACLE OF THE CONGREGATION (MEETING), and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people.” Leviticus 9:23

But it took nine chapters of God’s “INSTRUCTIONS, PROCEDURES” for this life-changing entrance to occur, to be made possible!

So … what happens in Leviticus chapters 1-9 … prior to this “going into” the Tabernacle, this Tent of Meeting?

This … Five Offerings, five Sacrifices, five Rituals (involving either grain or animals) must be learned then practiced to prepare man (to cleanse and sanctify humanity) for this Meeting with God! This Dwelling in God’s Presence!

Then (still) Aaron as High Priest (thus the entire institution of the priesthood in/through him) must be consecrated as well!

And these are the things that dominate Leviticus 1-9. (Chapter 10 also relates but in a way we shall discuss later.)

Preparing Israel to come before God!

To worship Him!

To know His Glory!

To walk in His ways, with His “Smile” upon them!

So … get ready.

The upcoming Lessons are going to be a little “technical,” but essential! Because they teach us (even living thousands of years later, and even under a different dispensation) principles for living in God’s Presence, with acceptance and delight!

The Trajectory …

From being barred from God’s Presence … “No man could enter.”

To being a part of the God-human (sweet, indescribable) Communion, that precipitated Creation in the first place! “And they entered in!”

How so?

Blood, bloodshed!

Sin atoned!

God’s Righteousness, Holiness satisfied!

Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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