February 16th

Numbers 8:1-9:14

Leviticus 1:1-3:17

God issued instructions concerning the Golden Lampstand and the Levites who would be used as assistants to the priests in the Tabernacle. God also reminded Moses that it was time for the people to commemorate the Passover Feast again. This memorial was very important as it reminded the people of what God did to bring them out of Egyptian slavery. Passover would become a perpetual statute for the Israelites.

Just as it is important for them to remember God’s protection and provision, so it is important for us to remember His goodness in our lives. What are some ways that you and your family remind yourselves of all that He’s done for you?

Today we also started the book of Leviticus. Let me just say up front that reading through Leviticus will be a challenge. It’s not full of action or deep spiritual truths, but rather it’s full of details about the sacrificial system and civil laws, both of which are foreign to us. However, though it may be tempting to skip over part or all of this book, I would recommend staying engaged. God does have good reasons for the detail, and there are hidden in those brutal descriptions many wonderful snapshots of our Savior and His cross.

For example, in the opening chapters, God describes the process of bringing acceptable offerings. They were to be Israel’s first and best, not the leftovers. Their animals were to be without defect, and their bread was to be made of fine flour without leaven. All of these are symbols of Christ’s sinlessness.

This book is bloody, no doubt. It portrays a violent system. It was a culture of death, of blood and guts, of animal sacrifice, and constant burning. I imagine the priests and their assistants were soaked in blood from all of the cutting and carving of animals. The ground was stained and the air was foul, but what was the point of it all?

God wanted His people to understand the seriousness of their sin and the holiness of His nature. They were unfit for His presence and to be made acceptable required blood spilled on their behalf. Something had to die for their sin. Thus, in those bloody scenes is the beauty of atonement, forgiveness, and redemption; and all of it, no matter how gruesome it seems to us, was pleasing to the Lord (Leviticus 1:9, 13, 17; 2:2; 9; 3:5, 16).

Daily Reflection

Today’s reading should make you grateful for Christ. First, you don’t have to sacrifice animals and stain your hands and clothes with blood. Second, you don’t have to do anything to make yourself acceptable to the Lord. You are made right with Him because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. The beauty of His blood washed you clean for all time. You are made right with God because of the bloody boards of Jesus’ cross. Because He died for you, you get to live with Him! Write a response to this precious gift.

“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on your behalf, so that you might become the righteousness of God...” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

BiAY.org | Day 47 — 318 Days to Go