The word “offering” occurs OFTEN in the book of Leviticus. Now I obviously have a good idea of what that word means in English but sometimes looking at its derivation is helpful to me. This time was no exception. John MacArthur says that this Hebrew word is derived from the verb to bring near and literally means “that which one brings near to God.” The fact that the Israelites could approach to present their gifts to God speaks much of His mercy. I love that! Sacrifice and offering then are not about losing but gaining by drawing closer to God. He increases and we decrease. He is magnified and we are not. It is not about loss but about love. It is stepping into the very footsteps of Christ.
He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.—Jim Elliot
The sacrifices in the Old Testament foreshadowed Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice on the cross by which those who believe are once and forever reconciled to God. Because of His mercy, lovingkindness and grace, I can draw near to Him. As I meditated on this, these verses from Micah came to mind...His words speak my heart.
6 With what shall I come before the LORD,
And bow myself before the High God?
Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings,
With calves a year old?
7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,
Ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8 He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the LORD require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?—Micah 6:6-8
Oh Father! I want to know the blessedness walking undefiled in the way...of following hard after You...of delighting to do Your will. Blessed are those who keep Your testimonies, who seek You with all of their heart. Direct my ways, Father, to keep Your statutes! Thank you that despite all my rebellion and sin, You do not forsake me but instead bid me in my weakness to draw ever nearer to You.
Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.—Hebrews 4:14-16
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.—Romans 12:1
5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said:
"Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,
But a body You have prepared for Me.
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin
You had no pleasure.
7 Then I said, 'Behold, I have come—
In the volume of the book it is written of Me—
To do Your will, O God.'"
8 Previously saying, "Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them" (which are offered according to the law), 9 then He said, "Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God." He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.—Hebrews 10:5-10
And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified....18 Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.—Hebrews10:11-14;18
