Lev 1:3 'Let him offer a male without blemish; he
shall offer it of his own free will at the door of the tabernacle of meeting
before the LORD.
God says "Cursed" is a man who does not
offer his best to him. We need to question ourselves if we are offering our
best to God. In Leviticus 1 -5 we see the different types of offerings God
commanded people to give. We can see an important pattern in these offerings.
1. Male without blemish, 2. To bring to the tabernacle's gate and 3. Keep
the hand on the animal's head.
We should understand that God is very particular about three
factors here.
1.
What are we bringing to God.
2.
Where are we bringing it.
3.
How are we bringing it.
For us Christians, we give many stuff to God. Primary items
we give are Money, Time, Life, Family and Praise& Worship. We'll
have to think about what, where and how these offerings are given to God.
We shall get in detail of the burnt offering mentioned in Leviticus 1 for our
meditation today.
1. Male without blemish
Whatever we give to God should be the best. If it is not the best
we have, the bible says we are cursed. He expects us to spend time in
considering or making the selection. If we think there is any problem in the
offering we make, we should stop there.
Even when we worship at church, if our worship is not completely focused
on God, or is not the best we are able to give, it becomes completely
worthless.
The gifts are supposed to be pure and clean. Remember, their intestines
and legs which contact any kind of dirt are to be washed before
sacrificing.
Aaron's sons tried to add their content to the fire. They were
consumed by the fire. The fire burning inside us during our worship should be
pure from God. If otherwise, we will be consumed.
2. At free will
The gifts we give to God should be our full complete will and
heart. Jesus wanted us to love our God with "all our heart, all our mind
and all our soul". This is very important. Unless we love Him and
remember His sacrifice for us, we'll not able to give with our free will. Unless
we give with our complete will, the gift becomes completely worthless.
2 Cor 9: 7 - God is very happy with a cheerful giver.
2
Cor 8 : 5. The Macedonian church was poor. But they were generous. The
reason for this is because, they first gave themselves up to God. Second came
the money and other show of generosity etc.
As we read in Mathew 19:21, the young man is expected
to give up all his treasures. Jesus was pointing at his love for money.
Again, when we worship, if our will does not exalt God
completely lowering the self, it becomes worthless.
3. At the tabernacle's gates
a)
This implies that we give the sacrifice to God
and let God do his part. We do not get to explain or even assist in
using the gifts. When offering ourselves, we do not get to choose what we ought
to do. But, its God who decides and uses us according to his will. Our will
stops at submitting ourselves to God.
Ps 46:10 - In times of
trouble, stop struggling and know that I am God.
John 12:26 - If anyone
serves me, will follow me. This means "follow quietly. No questions
asked..."
This also explains the necessity of
trusting in God. A requirement for Faith. Prov 3:6 - Trust in the Lord
and he'll make your paths straight.
b)
This also displays our actual position.
However big we can be. Kings or filthy rich men, politicians everybody gets to
stand outside. There is nothing good in us unless God uses us.
James
2:10, Rom 6:23, Rom 2:11 (KJV only), Rom 3:10.
c)
A public proclamation. Otherwise, only the
Levites can witness this. The slaughter should happen so that everybody can see
that your gift (or yourselves) completely belongs to God. Examples are Aaron
& Son's anointing at the entrance of the tent. (Lev 8:3 onwards). A
Nazirite after his period would shave his hair off in the entrance of the tent.
(Num 6:18)
4. Slaughters at the gate
The gifts we present to God have to lose their pride and become zero.
The life in them, the ability to decide on its own should be lost completely. The
gifts also lose their shape and dignity. Our worship and other gifts
should be like that. Lowering ourselves to the lowest extent. When we come to
God, we should remember that we have nothing good in ourselves.
Mat 16:24,25.
Gal 5:17 : Flesh vs Spirit.
5. Lays his hand on the animal
This denotes an act of substitution. The gift we are offering is
just a substitute of ourselves. All the pride in us have got to be slaughtered
and killed before God accepts. Our worship also needs to be on the same pattern.
"Father, during this worship, I am offering myself completely to
you for your use. This sacrifice of worship denotes that I belong completely to
you."
Again a public proclamation that this animal substitutes me in the
offering. Everybody listen, I am the one to be killed, but this Animal is being
slaughtered instead.
Even though it is out of context, it is our duty to always proclaim the
gospel. Jesus was killed instead of us. We have to
remember him always.
Rom 12:1 - Bodies as a living
sacrifice.
Without
blemish, with your complete will, with humility and slaughtered at the gate.
