Let’s review, so as to get the broad view of our steps from book to book. Old then New Testament and back again.
Genesis: The beginnings, the origins, the seed in the garden.
Romans: The foundation truth of Christianity. How God can receive sinners and yet remain holy and true.
Exodus: The going out. Redemption by the blood of a lamb. Deliverance by the water of the Red Sea from the power of Egypt.
Acts: The going out. The believers were separated by the blood of Christ from the world. The power of Satan against us has been destroyed — unless the Lord allows it.
Leviticus: In the wilderness, God told Moses to build Him a Tabernacle where God could be worshipped. He gives instruction about sacrifices, offerings, feasts and in general, the worship of God by the priests. Worship of God is the first purpose of our being saved. The first eight chapters tell us of different sacrifices of animals. Each offering is an individual picture of the work of Christ on the cross — except the meal offering.
Chapter 1 The burnt offering. It is a picture of the cross of Christ, as seen by God. It is not of Christ dying for our sins. He gave Himself completely to God as a sacrifice (John 13:31-32). This animal was completely burnt (except the skin, 7:3). It is called a “sweet-smelling savor offering.” The death of Christ for God was the delight of God the Father (Phil. 2:9-10).
V.3, 10, 14 Three different kinds of animals or birds could be offered, depending on the wealth of the person who wanted to bring the offering. He wasn’t forced to bring it. In Old Testament days amongst the Israelites, the more faithful a man was, the more wealthy he became. The more faithful and obedient a believer is to God’s Word, the more he understands it. We cannot understand the scriptures by our intelligence (1 Cor. 1:21). Only through the conscience and the heart (Rom. 10:10; 2 Cor. 4:6).
V.1 Nothing was left for the priest to decide. It was a case of obeying. Every believer today is a priest (1 Peter 2:5). So this book is instruction, physically for them, spiritually for us. May we desire to learn the meanings.
V.3-9 The first section tells us of a person who brought a large animal for a burnt offering. An illustration of a believer today who well understands that Christ came to die for God first and foremost. He realizes that God now finds all His delight in this Man — Jesus. He may be an older believer who has grown into this knowledge. This is one view of Christ’s death. Really, it is God’s view. Not as the sin-bearer here, but dying for the glory of God. There are rich rewards for you if you come to realize what the burnt offering means.
V.4 God accepts this offering and transfers His acceptance from the animal to the person who offers it. What it means to us is Christ has been accepted as the Man into heaven. We are accepted in Him (Eph. 1:6).