Introduction
This time, we’re going to start diving deeper into allegory. I’ve included a few footnotes [in brackets] but this isn’t an essay so don’t expect everything to be referenced.
Anyway, here’s the second verse...
Leviticus 1:2
My Meditations
- Moses was a priest[1]. As such, he had a divine duty, commanded by God, to teach the Lord’s people. The Apostle Paul best conveyed the weight of this burden when he said “woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!”[2]
- The Lord tells Moses to say “If...”. God grants his people the freedom to choose. He does not force anyone to bring this offering. Neither does God force us to bring him any offering even when such things may be justly required of us. Those who wish to offer, are to do so of their own free will.
- So why then the Lord name what to offer? Surely it’s because God loves us. Without instruction, anyone could offer anything. The pagans commonly practiced human sacrifice. But God says to offer cattle, beasts which cannot talk. God gives further details about which beasts to offer to help us learn things.
- The herd refers to beeves, i.e. oxen, bulls, cows, etc. These animals are strong. The flock refers to sheep, goats, lambs, etc. These animals are weak. So God shows us that he accepts both the strong and the weak in spirit who would offer their lives to him.
- These sacrifices also depict Christ, who has the strength of the herd, but the meekness of the flock.
- The bullock is the animal to which Moses likened Jacob’s son Joseph when blessing the tribes[3]. Moses speaks of this as the blessing of Him that appeared in the bush[4] and says that blessing will come upon the head of Joseph, the crown of the Nazarite, which of course is a prophecy about Christ.
- It is well known that Joseph was a type[5] of Christ. By likening Joseph to a bullock, Moses showed how the Lord Jesus would be sacrificed even as the bullock is sacrificed.
- The bullock is also a Hebrew symbol of power. So this is showing how the powerful One[6] would be slain.
- Moses described the tribes of Joseph’s two sons as the bullock’s two horns. As his younger son would be greater than the elder[7], this pair of brothers has often been compared to the peoples of the Old Testement and the New. So as the bull is sacrificed, it may be seen here that all who would be saved must die with Christ, no matter when in time they walked upon the earth.
So what do you think?
How have these meditations inspired you? Do you have any of your own to add? Even if you found this useless, please keep the comments positive and encourage others where you can.
Thank you all for taking the time to read this. Please be sure to upvote and follow so we can continue this journey together.
Prior Meditation Link
Leviticus 1:1
Footnotes
[1] Psalm 99:6
[2] 1st Corinthians 9:16
[3] Deuteronomy 33
[4] i.e. God, in the burning bush which was not consumed (Exodus 3)
[5] i.e. a character whose life events in many ways prefigured the Lord Jesus
[6] i.e. the Lord
[7] Genesis 48
The End
So you know this is the end, here’s a simple puzzle:
Which way is the school swimming?
(click image to enlarge)
Post your answer below :)
~~~Boring Details~~~
The information and opinions contained in this post are entirely my own thoughts but of course they may be based upon what I’ve heard others say through the years.
Image credit for the Hebrew picture goes to: i.ytimg.com/vi/_S8R1HO75AE/maxresdefault.jpg
Image credit for the verse picture goes to: bibleencyclopedia.com/kjvsmall/KJV_Leviticus_1-2.jpg
According to the best of my knowledge, I’m allowed to use these under fair use laws.
The fish image I created and uploaded myself.
It's good to know about the sacrificial system that God set up for Israel. It shows the holiness of God. But it has nothing to do with us today as Christians.
Thank you for your comment but don't we believe that all scripture is given by inspiration of God and that it is profitable? Didn't all these things happen unto them for examples and weren't they written for our admonition?