Read the Bible Through in a Year: Day 177
Leviticus 7-9
Leviticus 7: Leviticus Chapter 7 discusses the topics of trespass offerings, peace offerings, and the wave and heave offerings. It begins with instructions about how a priest is to conduct a guilt offering. God said that the priest must first kill the animal presented for the guilt offering and then sprinkle its blood around the altar.
After that, the priest was instructed to remove the fat from the animal along with the kidneys and liver. All of these things were to be brought to the altar to offer to the Lord. Finally, God said, only the priests could eat the guilt offering.
Leviticus Chapter 7 also discusses rules for fellowship offerings, which were a way to show gratitude to God. Along with the sacrifice, God said to bring unleavened bread, oil, and fine flour.
God also told the people that they should eat the meat for the fellowship offering on the same day in order to show thanks. He said that none of the meat should be left until the next morning. Also, they should not eat any meat that has touched something that was unclean or else they would be separated from their people.
More Instructions for Fellowship Offerings
As Leviticus Chapter 7 concludes, God told Moses that each person should present their fellowship offering to the Lord individually. They should bring the fat to the priest who would then present it to God. The priests could then keep the breast of the animal for themselves.
In addition, the person making the offering should also give the right thigh from the animal to the priest as a gift. God said this was their share of the fellowship offerings.
Leviticus 8: In Leviticus Chapter 8, the Lord told Moses to consecrate Aaron, Moses’ brother, and Aaron’s sons. God told Moses to take Aaron and his sons along with a young bull, some oil for anointing, two male sheep and a basket filled with bread that was unleavened. Moses was instructed to gather up all the people and bring them to the entrance of the tabernacle.
Moses followed God’s instructions and he told the people gathered around that the Lord told him to do this. With that, he washed his brother and nephews. He dressed Aaron in holy robes including an ephod, a piece of clothing that was worn by a high priest. Moses also equipped his brother with a breastplate which had holy items in it. He then crowned Aaron.
Moses then used holy oil to sanctify the temple and everything in it, including the altar and the vessels that were on the altar. After doing this, Moses clothed Aaron’s sons. Aaron and his sons later blessed the young bull which was being offered up for sins. Aaron slaughtered it so Moses could use its blood to sanctify the altar. He then burned some of the bull’s internal organs, but burned the flesh of the bull and its dung outside of the camp.
Aaron and his sons then blessed one of the rams and Aaron slay it. Moses used its blood to sanctify the altar. The other ram was also killed, but Moses put some of its blood on his brother’s right ear, his right thumb, and the big toe on his right foot.
He did the same thing for Aaron’s sons. Moses also made offerings with the bread and with the rest of the ram and then sprinkled the holy oil and blood on Aaron and his sons. He told them to boil the flesh at the tabernacle’s door and eat it with the bread.
Leviticus 9: Leviticus Chapter 9 details the ministry of Aaron and his sons and the appearance of the Lord to the people of Israel. It begins with Aaron and his sons beginning their journey into priesthood. Moses, who led them through the process, explained to them the proper way to begin their ministry. He instructed them to bring a sin offering and a guilt offering to the Tent of Meeting.
According to the instructions Moses received from God, a perfect male calf should be sacrificed for a sin offering and a ram should be sacrificed for a burnt offering. Moses then instructed them to tell the Israelites to make a series of offerings in order to seek atonement.
The Israelites were to bring a variety of different animals for sacrifice to the Tent of Meeting. They were also to bring a grain offering that was mixed with oil to the altar. As Moses performed the proper ritual, the entire Israelite community was to stand in front of the Lord and ask for His forgiveness.
Aaron also conducted some of the sacrifices as he asked for forgiveness on the community’s behalf. Once all of the offerings were completed, Aaron and Moses proceeded to lift their hands and bless the people that stood before them.
The Glory of God Appears
After the people had been blessed by Moses and Aaron, the light of the Lord appeared for all to see. In addition to the light, God sent fire down from Heaven that ignited the offering at the altar. The Israelites were overwhelmed with the glory of God after witnessing such miraculous events. They shouted with joy before falling to their knees to give thanks and praise to God.
What stood out to you in today’s readings? Put your thoughts or questions in the Comments and let’s learn and grow together.