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It might be helpful, as you listen to these instructions today, to the separate sacrifices into at least three branches. One branch contains sacrifices that were designed to acknowledge Israel’s relationship with the LORD. Sacrifices of thanks, whether they were for specific events, or given out of simple gratitude, fall into this branch. Other sacrifices were required to recover purity, or cleanness, when someone did something or touched something that was unclean.

A third branch of sacrifices is the one of those required to atone for specific sins, whether against God, against others, or against society in general. This branch provides another insight into God’s character: that sin against another person, or against civil society, was a sin against God. Atonement was necessary whether these sins were intentional or not.

We begin our reading with this branch of sacrifices in Leviticus 5. Listen for God’s interest both in justice and in Israel’s holiness. Listen, also, for the additional step of confession, because this is the first time we’ve heard this idea in the Bible. This is another one where you’ll be hearing more.

At the beginning of chapter 6, we see another new idea for Leviticus: restitution. The sacrificial laws acknowledge both the divine and human victims of sin. It is not sufficient to rob, swindle, or oppress your neighbor, and then offer a sacrifice to make it go away. Here the order of response might be important: restitution is offered before the sacrifice is. You might hear about this again.

The LORD then turns His attention to how the priests should manage the altars and sacrifices. The maintenance of the fires, the consumption of the sacrificial food, the treatment of meat and fat, and the disposal of waste are all important to God. 

Listen also to how holiness and unholiness are transferred between person and object. This theme of being holy or unholy, clean or unclean, connect to Israel’s status as set-apart from the nations, and to the priests’ unique status as set-apart from the people. It will become even more pronounced as laws for everyday living are introduced.

Our verse for this week is Hebrews 11:29: By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned.

Leviticus 5 through 7. Now let’s read it!

Today, we reenter the world of sacrifices with a few reminders about this ancient system of worship.

First, for Israel, making sacrifices is about relationship maintenance. It isn’t about impressing God or achieving salvation. The grace of God had already been given by selecting Israel, out of all nations, as the LORD’s very own. Sacrifices were Israel’s way of maintaining its thanks and humility before the God who rescued it out of Egypt and made it a nation.

Following on that theme, these sacrifices were not performed because the LORD required food. This is unique. In the ancient Middle East gods were capable of controlling human armies, the weather, and your fate, but they could not feed themselves. This gave the humans some degree of power and manipulation over the gods.

Listen for how the LORD – Israel’s God – refutes this system, including who gets to eat the offerings after they’re cooked. Gifts are offered to Him, waved before Him, placed before Him, and even smelled by Him, but never consumed by Him. The LORD requires nothing from Israel. For this God, acts of grace always flow in one direction.

So it’s with this in mind that we once again reenter this world. Listen in Leviticus 3 and 4 as the following instructions and themes recur: how the blood is sprinkled on the sides of the altar; how sacrifices are a pleasing aroma to the LORD; even how the fat is treated for different sacrifices. Much is conjectured about the pragmatic purpose behind these specific instructions, but at their core this is about practicing obedience to a Holy God.

In chapter 4, we begin to see sacrifices that atone for specific sins. Notice that even unintentional violations require sacrifice. Listen for how the priests’ sin brings guilt, not only on themselves, but on the nation. Hear words like “atonement” and “forgiven” used regularly for the first time. You’ll be seeing these again.

Our verse for this week is Hebrews 11:29: By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned.

Leviticus chapters 3 and 4. Now let’s read it!

If you hear the word “Levi” in the title of this book, then you know what the book will be about. Aaron, the High Priest, and his sons, all of the tribe of Levi, were ordained by God to serve as His priests on behalf of the children of Israel. This book is about their work, and their work is to help the people of God maintain their relationship with God.

As we read the extensive legal code here, remember that this is part of an overall narrative that begins with a promise to Abraham and leads to the fulfillment of that promise. The law doesn’t stand on its own, only within a covenant that God has made with Israel. Ground all of this in light of the very beginning of His word to them: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” Likewise, remember the promised end: “Before all your people I will do marvels…all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the LORD, for it is an awesome thing that I will do with you.”

Remember also that salvation is not achieved by keeping this law. The Law is God’s instruction to Israel on how to maintain their part of the covenant, or how they can be faithful to Him as He remains faithful to them. Israel is constantly reminded that tit is “Holy,” or set apart, and adherence to the law is about maintaining a set-apart life.

There is little introduction here, except that Moses is called before the LORD to receive instructions. The very first commands have to do with burnt offerings. These offerings are to be the very best of the very best, whether bulls from the herd or sheep or goats from the flock.

Listen to how there is no distance between the person giving the offering and the animal that is given in his place. The same is true of the grain offerings; they require time and effort to offer. Sacrifices aren’t dropped off at the door for others to manage.

As we enter the reading I encourage you to just listen. The details reveal something about God and His expectations of His people.

Our verse for this week is Hebrews 11:29: By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned.

Leviticus chapters 1 and 2. Now let’s read it!

As we come to the end of the book of Exodus, I want to recount the journey thus far. The story begins with a Pharaoh who “knew not Joseph” enslaving the children of Israel. Their continued prosperity only angers the Egyptians further, and Pharaoh’s solution is to order the execution of every new male Israelite child.

Moses is rescued from this, grows up in Pharaoh’s court, is forced to flee, and then is commissioned by the LORD to return and lead Israel out of slavery. The LORD reveals himself through signs and plagues, and though the power of the LORD overwhelms his land, Pharaoh is unable to concede. The final tragic sign is a response to Egypt’s attempt to eradicate Israel years before.

The LORD then goes before the children of Israel, parting the sea, providing food and water, and leading them to the Mount of Horeb, or Sinai. Here His glory descends over the mountain, Moses ascends, and a covenant is offered, which the Israelites affirm. As you will see many, many times in the future, Israel’s faithfulness falters, they are called to repentance, and the LORD restores them.

At the beginning of this story, the LORD introduced himself to Moses as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He them claimed all Israel as His own, rescuing them, commanding them to trust Him, then to worship Him alone.

We now reenter the account of the construction of the tabernacle, where God will meet with His people. Chapter 39 records the creation of the priestly garments, according to the design we read in chapter 28. Still yourself here as the same details are recounted: the gold rings, the lace of blue, the bell and pomegranate, the signet engraved with “Holy to the LORD.”

All is brought to Moses for review. And he “saw all the work, and behold, they had done it; as the LORD had commanded, so they had done it. Then Moses blessed them.”

We close with a look at the dedication of this tabernacle. Exactly one year has passed since that night in Egypt that for Israel had marked the beginning of days. As the cloud had once covered the mountain, it now descends over the tabernacle… “in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.”

Our verse for this week is Hebrews 11:29: By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned.

Exodus chapters 39 and 40. Now let’s read it!