Leviticus begins with Moses instructing the people regarding the burnt offering. For the Israelite who makes the offering, there’s a motivation stated in verse 3: “that he may be accepted before the Lord” (1:3). It’s easy to get caught up in all the details of Leviticus – lots of offerings, here: burnt, grain, peace, sin – and make no mistake, the details are important. Again, it is necessary that we approach God in the manner he instructs us. Also, it is vital to understand the motivation presented here: the burnt offering is given so that the giver may be accepted before the Lord. Some facts . . .
Fact: God is holy and Israel was not.
Fact: Because Israel was not holy she could not come before God.
Fact: To approach God Israel must be holy (11:44).
Fact: A way to God must be found.
Fact: God himself provided that way: by the blood (17:11) and by the burnt offering, which was a “pleasing aroma to the Lord” (1:17).
Fact: Of ourselves, we are not holy.
Fact: We cannot come to God unless a way is provided.
Fact: That way has been provided. Leviticus and its teaching on the sacrifice and atonement for sin points Israel toward the One who himself will be the way. Jesus to Thomas: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
Fact: For both Israel and ourselves (Romans 3), Jesus the Christ is the answer to our predicament.
Fact: Grace! Grace! It is all of grace! “Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!” (Grace Greater Than Our Sin, Julia Johnston, 1911).
Oh, to approach the throne of God and to be accepted there as sons and daughters! “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).