February 10 – Reading 41

FEBRUARY 10 – Reading 41

by John Pra | February 10

“A PLEASING AROMA”
(Leviticus 1:1 – 3:17)

“…he shall offer a male without blemish… And the priest shall burn all of it on the altar, as a burnt
offering… with a pleasing aroma to the Lord.” – Leviticus 1:3b, 9b

Congratulations! If you’ve been reading through the Bible with us this year you’ve completed the first
three books. Now I must warn you, this is the crash and burn moment in your journey – Leviticus! It is a
strange book for us in the 21st century. Talk of animal sacrifices, strange laws about skin disease and
mildew and eating or touching the carcass of flying insects with four legs, unless those legs have joints
with which to hop.

However, as W.A. Criswell writes, “Leviticus is one of the most important books of the Old Testament.
Without an understanding of the principles of atonement and holiness found in Leviticus, much of the
New Testament has no foundation on which to rest.”

And Rob Morgan states that, “Leviticus is one of the most Christ-centered and Messianic books of the
Old Testament… packed with pictures and prophecies about the Lord Jesus Christ.”

To start, God called Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting, telling him to speak to the people
of Israel regarding sacrifices, offerings, and feasts. Then, sixteen different times in Leviticus (three times
in chapter one), we read that these sacrifices and offerings are “a pleasing aroma to the Lord” – a sweet
smell. What this means more literally is that the offering received God’s approval or acceptance – He
was satisfied.

1,500 years later, the writer of the New Testament book, Hebrews, states that the law (Leviticus) is but a
shadow of good things to come.

“For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 Consequently, when
Christ came into the world, he said,

“Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,
    but a body have you prepared for me;
6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings
    you have taken no pleasure.

(Hebrews 10:4-6)

What Moses writes in Leviticus looks far into the future. Ultimately, the aroma that pleases the Lord is
Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for our sins. Isaiah states that it “pleased” or “satisfied” the Father to crush
his Son (Isaiah 53:10). The apostle Paul says, “…Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering
and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:2).

So as you plod through some of these seemingly irrelevant chapters, don’t quit! The glory of Jesus is
being revealed to us in the shadows.

Pray for…

• A heart of gratitude for Christ’s fragrant sacrifice that secures our redemption.
• Those of us who have received the Word of God, have embraced Jesus as our savior, and as the
  “pleasing aroma of Christ,” that we would spread this sweet scent to others by sharing the
  gospel with those who are lost.
• A life that is a pleasing aroma to God and that our thoughts, actions, and worship would be
  acceptable to Him and brings glory to His name.