“The burnt offering”
A sweet savour unto the LORD. —Leviticus 1:13
Read Leviticus 1
Burnt offerings in the Old Testament illustrated the atonement made for sin. Those who came to the Tabernacle with their burnt offerings did so of their own accord, and the offerings made by individuals varied greatly. Those who were well off offered larger male animals, without blemish, the best of the flock. If you were less wealthy, you were allowed to offer a male sheep or a goat. The Lord also accepted the meager offering of the poor, which consisted of turtledoves or some young pigeons. The poor were not in danger of being looked down upon because of their smaller offerings.
Now imagine – a man stands at the door of the Tabernacle with his offering. One could not commune with God without an offering. As the man presents his offering, he lays his hand upon the animal. By this gesture he offers his sacrificial animal unto God, and seeks to bring his guilt to the Lord. We cannot imagine that such a man would stand at the altar with a proud disposition. In-stead, he has been humbled and has become nothing in himself. He has brought his own death sentence to God, after which he hears that it has been received as a sweet savour unto the Lord.
This man was obedient to the commandment of God, and his offering pointed to the sacrifice of Christ.
What is the purpose of the burnt offering?