God is Calling - Leviticus 1

 

Leviticus 1 – God is Calling                                                

 

God called to Moses out of the tabernacle.  No longer is He speaking from the top of Mount Sinai, as when He gave the commandments.  “Called” doesn’t mean those who only hear, it means those who have heard and responded.  None are excluded except those who exclude themselves.  Anyone can come to Christ if he chooses to come. There must be a need and a desire. 

Two types of animals were used for the Israelites burnt offering.  Cattle and Sheep.  The animal must be a clean animal and it must be domesticated, obedient to man.  Christ was the obedient servant.  He came to minister, and He was obedient unto death.  The burnt offering was the only offering that was made by those who wanted to approach God.  It was totally consumed on the altar; nothing remained but ashes. The sacrifice was to be male, which speaks of strength.  It was to be without blemish which means the animal was to be ideally perfect.  This speaks of the perfections of Christ.. “In Him is no sin.” It was to be offered willingly.  Because of the atoning death of the animal, the sinner was received by God. The animal had to be offered, not in life, but in death.  Only Christ’s death can save the sinner. The minute you and I come through the death of Christ, the way to God is open.  No one has to come to Christ, but if you want to be saved, then you will have to come to Christ.  God has no other way.   “…. No man comes to the Father, but by me.” John 14:6. 

At the door of the tabernacle the offering is sacrificed.  It could be done nowhere else.  We do not make the terms by which we come to God.  God makes the terms.  The only righteousness which God can accept is the righteousness of God which is through faith in Christ Jesus. 

When the man went in and put his hand on the head of the animal that was to be slain, he was selecting the animal to take his place. That is what Christ did for us.  When you accept Christ, you select Him as your Savior.  Every sacrifice had to be slain.  Either the sinner, or the priest acting for the nation, killed the animal.  There was no forgiveness apart from the shed blood of the animal.  Only the blood of Christ can cleanse us from all sin.  The blood represented life and the sprinkling presented it to God. The offering was to be cut in pieces so that it would be exposed and burn quickly.  Poverty was no excuse for not bringing an offering to God.  A bird could be brought in place of an animal. When our Lord was born, His parents offered turtledoves.  His parents were poor, and He was born in poverty. No matter how poor we may feel, or how little we think we have to give to Him, He will receive what we have and bless it.