“The Lord called Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting, saying, ‘Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When any one of you brings an offering to the Lord…’” (Leviticus 1:1–2 ESV).
Moses recorded that the Lord called to him from the tent of meeting and instructed him to speak to the people of Israel. The holy God who had descended in glory now spoke from the tabernacle, inviting His covenant people into ordered worship. The Hebrew word for “offering” (korban) literally means “that which draws near.” Thus, when the Lord said, “when any one of you brings an offering,” He was describing more than ritual sacrifice—He was describing a way of drawing near to Himself. The command assumed that worshipers would approach Him, but only in the way He prescribed.
Leviticus then described five primary offerings. The BURNT OFFERING (Lev. 1) focused on atonement and total consecration—complete surrender. The GRAIN OFFERING (Lev. 2) emphasized thanksgiving—grateful tribute from one’s labor. The PEACE OFFERING (Lev. 3) celebrated fellowship—shared communion with God. The SIN OFFERING (Lev. 4) addressed purification—cleansing from unintentional sin. And the GUILT OFFERING (Lev. 5-6) required restitution—making things right where wrong had been done. Together, these sacrifices formed a gracious system by which sinful people could approach a holy God through substitution, mediation, and obedience.
When we read these instructions, we recognize both the seriousness of sin and the kindness of God in providing a way to draw near. Yet Hebrews teaches that these repeated offerings were shadows pointing to Christ. “We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Heb. 10:10). Unlike the priests who stood daily offering the same sacrifices, Christ “offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins” and then “sat down at the right hand of God” (Heb. 10:12). Now we “have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus” (Heb. 10:19). Therefore, when we bring an offering today, we do not bring animals—we bring ourselves (Rom. 12:1), trusting fully in His finished work. Our worship, gratitude, fellowship, repentance, and restitution all flow from His once-for-all sacrifice. We draw near because He first drew near to us.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we thank You for providing a way for sinners to draw near. We praise You that Jesus fulfilled every offering and secured our redemption once for all. Teach us to offer ourselves fully to You in grateful, surrendered worship. In Jesus’ name, amen.