Scripture: On the eighth day Moses called Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel, and he said to Aaron, “Take for yourself a bull calf for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering, both without blemish, and offer them before the LORD. And say to the people of Israel, Take a male goat for a sin offering, and a calf and a lamb, both a year old without blemish, for a burnt offering, and an ox and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before the LORD, and a grain offering mixed with oil, for today the LORD will appear to you.'” And they brought what Moses commanded in front of the tent of meeting, and all the congregation drew near and stood before the LORD. And Moses said, “This is the thing that the LORD commanded you to do, that the glory of the LORD may appear to you.” Then Moses said to Aaron, “Draw near to the altar and offer your sin offering and your burnt offering and make atonement for yourself and for the people, and bring the offering of the people and make atonement for them, as the LORD has commanded.”
So Aaron drew near to the altar and killed the calf of the sin offering, which was for himself. And the sons of Aaron presented the blood to him, and he dipped his finger in the blood and put it on the horns of the altar and poured out the blood at the base of the altar. But the fat and the kidneys and the long lobe of the liver from the sin offering he burned on the altar, as the LORD commanded Moses. The flesh and the skin he burned up with fire outside the camp.
Then he killed the burnt offering, and Aaron’s sons handed him the blood, and he threw it against the sides of the altar. And they handed the burnt offering to him, piece by piece, and the head, and he burned them on the altar. And he washed the entrails and the legs and burned them with the burnt offering on the altar.
Then he presented the people’s offering and took the goat of the sin offering that was for the people and killed it and offered it as a sin offering, like the first one. And he presented the burnt offering and offered it according to the rule. And he presented the grain offering, took a handful of it, and burned it on the altar, besides the burnt offering of the morning.
Then he killed the ox and the ram, the sacrifice of peace offerings for the people. And Aaron’s sons handed him the blood, and he threw it against the sides of the altar. But the fat pieces of the ox and of the ram, the fat tail and that which covers the entrails and the kidneys and the long lobe of the liver— they put the fat pieces on the breasts, and he burned the fat pieces on the altar, but the breasts and the right thigh Aaron waved for a wave offering before the LORD, as Moses commanded.
Then Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people and blessed them, and he came down from offering the sin offering and the burnt offering and the peace offerings. And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting, and when they came out they blessed the people, and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people. And fire came out from before the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the pieces of fat on the altar, and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.
Leviticus 9:1-24 ESV [Click here to read the entire chapter.]
Observation: Recapping Yesterday’s Daily Focus, the guilt offering required a ram sacrifice plus restitution to those harmed. Regardless of who sinned, the officiant only sprinkled blood on the altar of the burnt offering. Then, like the “common” sin offering, the priest ate the meat portion of the sacrifice, whereas, for all other sin offerings, he charred the meat outside the tabernacle over a wood fire. As for restitution, the guilty party must fully replace or restore value for the item plus twenty percent. Also unique to the guilt offering, the supplicant may pay a tabernacle tax of silver shekels equivalent to the value of the ram in substitute for the animal.
Today’s reading chronicles Aaron’s consecration offering. Having instructed Moses regarding the observance of the five primary offerings, Yahweh further elaborates on the priests’ wardrobe and their priestly offerings (6:8-7:38) and then instructs Moses to anoint the altar and Aaron and his sons (chapter 8). In chapter 9 (above), Moses summons Aaron, his sons, and the elders and outlines the ceremony, including sin, burnt, and peace offerings to the Lord. Aaron follows the script, which consists of him blessing the people. Yahweh then reveals his glory (Hebrew kabod) to Israel with fire that consumes the burnt offering and confirms his approval of the animal sacrifice. Appropriately, the people respond with enthusiasm (shouting) and fear (falling on their faces) to this climactic display of power (v.24).
Takeaway: While the supernatural fire from heaven initially invoked awe and wonder, Yahweh’s display of might over the natural order would also rightfully provoke reverent fear. Keeping this solemn occasion in focus and memorable, the bull of the burnt offering would continue to display flames for many hours as earlier instructions required the burnt offering to remain on the altar until morning while the priests maintained the fire (6:9). And the ongoing altar fire, located in the courtyard of the tabernacle, would harken this momentous miracle’s sight, sound, and scent, reminding future generations that God accepted them as his people: set apart to be holy as he is holy.
Our takeaway? Created with five senses better to apprehend an awareness of our Creator and his world, he continues to provoke our minds to make us aware of his presence by utilizing our sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. Through our receptors, he also invokes feelings that inspire us. Whether we gaze at a sunset, listen to a dramatic orchestral piece, or hug a newborn, our senses point us to our Creator and spur awe and wonder. And sometimes, they tell us how fragile and sinful we are, thus moving us from upright in shouts of praise to prostrate in repentant fear. But there is always an outcome of restoration and renewal. Whether rerouting Israel, reinstating Peter, or radically redirecting Paul, our Lord draws on our senses to help us remember that we worship a great God who keeps restoring and renewing.
Our part? As often mentioned in our devotions, we must follow the lead of the Holy Spirit to offer ourselves to God in spiritual worship (Romans 12:1) by aligning with our Father’s good, pleasing, and perfect will (Romans 12:2). Naturally, this requires much sacrifice of our time and resources. However, when we do so, the Holy Spirit will provoke our senses to discern that our almighty and gracious Lord is with us (Emmanuel) and has accepted our love-motivated offering of ourselves that brings joy to our souls.
Prayer: Father God, we thank you for the gift of your Son, who exemplified what it means to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice acceptable to you. And we thank you for your Holy Spirit, who leads us in offering ourselves as living sacrifices pleasing to you. Still, we are inconsistent and fall way short of the mark. So, please help us fully utilize our senses to discern your presence and submit to your will under the guidance of the Holy Spirit so that we might further discern your approval and joyfully and reverently worship you and your Son. Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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