Leviticus 1:1-17
And the priest shall burn it on the altar,
on the wood that is on the fire. It is a burnt offering,
a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord. – Leviticus 1:17b
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=leviticus%201&version=ESV
Starting today, the whole church will be reading through the book of Leviticus together. In the book of Exodus, just before Leviticus, the Israelites had been rescued from slavery in Egypt and were entering the Promised Land. And so, the main purpose of Leviticus is to instruct the Israelites on how they were to respond to God’s calling:
“You shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” (Exodus 19:6)
Thus, the book of Leviticus is structured around two main themes:
– Chapters 1–16 focus on ceremonial laws that reflect Israel’s identity as God’s kingdom of priests.
– Chapters 17–27 focus on ceremonial laws that shape Israel into a holy nation for God.
Leviticus is not just about maintaining social order among God’s people. More importantly, it is about preserving their pure faith and distinct calling to belong wholly to the LORD. It teaches them how to live out their calling, to be a “kingdom of priests” and a “holy nation.”
Leviticus opens by detailing five main types of offerings, revealing the mystery of how God communes with His people. These ancient rituals were not just religious ceremonies for the Israelites. They also foreshadowed Christ’s work of redemption and offer important spiritual lessons for us today.
The burnt offering (Olah) is the first and primary sacrifice described. It reveals the essence of true worship, which is total consecration. The Hebrew word for “burnt offering” means “that which goes up,” vividly portraying the image of smoke rising up as the sacrifice is consumed by fire on the altar. What sets the burnt offering apart from other sacrifices is that the entire animal was to be burned. No part was kept for the priest or the one offering it. This complete offering symbolizes total surrender to God without reservation.
When the worshiper laid his hand on the animal’s head (Leviticus 1:4), it symbolized not only the transfer of sin but also a personal identification and offering of life. It was a way of saying: “This offering represents me. I am fully giving myself to God, just as this sacrifice is fully offered.”
God allowed people to offer different kinds of animals based on their financial ability. There were bulls, sheep, goats, or even turtledoves and pigeons (Leviticus 1:3, 10, 14). This shows that God values the heart behind the offering, not its monetary worth. In God’s eyes, a poor person’s turtledove and a rich person’s bull have the same value if offered with sincerity.
Today, the burnt offering challenges us to move beyond mere outward religious activities to a life of wholehearted dedication. True worship is not about how many church activities we attend or how much we give. It is about whether we place our whole life on the altar for God.
Reflection:
Consider your faith life today. Through attending Sunday worship, joining small groups, serving, reading Scripture, and praying. Are you growing in your willingness to obey God? Are you pursuing a life of holiness? Do you love the Lord more deeply? Are you increasingly willing to offer your money, talents, and time to serve God?
Prayer:
Lord, may the fire of the burnt offering ignite my lukewarm heart, so that I may become a living sacrifice, holding nothing back, wholly offered to You. I believe that a life fully surrendered to You will be pleasing in Your sight and bring true satisfaction to my soul.
In the name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen.