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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