The Five Offerings Of Leviticus Part 4: Lamb Or Goat Offering

The Lamb Or Goat Offering.

Leviticus 1:10-13

¹⁰ And if his offering be of the FLOCKS, namely, of the sheep, or of the goats, for a burnt sacrifice; he shall bring it a male without blemish.
¹¹ And he shall kill it on the side of the altar NORTHWARD before the Lord: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall sprinkle his blood ROUND ABOUT upon the altar.
¹² And he shall cut it into his pieces, with his head and his fat: and the priest shall lay them in order on the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:
¹³ But he shall WASH THE INWARD AND THE LEGS WITH WATER: and the priest shall bring it all, and burn it upon the altar: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord.

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Greater Participation.

In this offering, we begin to see some participation on the part of the one offering the animal.  The offerer does the killing before the altar, then the priests sprinkle the blood ALL AROUND THE ALTAR.

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As you read above, altar speaks of God's holy requirements of man.  Blood sprinkled ALL AROUND the altar at the base depicts an understandung that the blood of Jesus satisfied ALL God's holy and righteous claims on sinful man and that even the lowest, most sinful person can be forgiven.  He finished the work:  WE BENEFIT!

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Bigger Revelation.

This worshipper has a bigger revelation of Jesus as a result and a greater appreciation of the blood.  Blood poured out on the North side points to the fact thar Israel's ENEMIES came from that direction.  This person understands he is protected from attacks of the enemy.
But though his revelation and understanding is bigger, like sheep, who are timid and submissive, they are still a little bit afraid of God, though not nearly to the same degree as the "doves."

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The Difference Between "Spot" And "Wrinkle."

The lamb must be "without spot (or blemish)."  Though  the Law required the animal to be "without spot," it does not say, "without wrinkle.  What's the difference?     
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Spots come with birth; wrinkles happen later.  Jesus was "born without blemish," and walked through life on this earth "without wrinkle."  When He died, it was His sinless life which qualified Him to die on our behalf.  
Our perfect sacrifice, Jesus, was BOTH: Without spot OR wrinkle!

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Fat, Entrails And Washing.

After the sheep or goat was killed, the priest gutted the animal and placed the HEAD and its FAT on the altar to be burned.  Then he did something very strange:  He washed the ENTRAILS and the LEGS with water.  Why? 

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Head speaks of intelligence.  Jesus has complete "knowledge" of the Father's will.  In fact, no one knows it better.  Fat, on the other hand, produces energy.  Jesus has both the knowledge of God's will and the energy to carry it out.  But what's the washing all about? 

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The root word for "inward parts" is the same as the word for "heart and kidneys."  Water, in Biblical typology, depicts the word of God.  Jesus has His Father's word in His heart, His inward motivations and outward actions are motivated by the word of God.....and He has the legs to carry it out!

That is so unlike you and I.  Try as we might, we begin with the best intentions but soon fizzle out.  Like Paul, our dilemma is the good we know we should do, we don't; and the evil we try not to do, that we do!  WE NEED A SAVIOR!

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(Bronze Altar with four horns.)

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For The Whole World.

Notice the four horns of the altar in the picture above?  Horns speak of authority and, as you already learned, the altar speaks of God's claims on sinful man.  The four horns depicts the cross on which Jesus died which is efficacious for all four points of the world:  North, South, East and West.  His death availed for everyone!    

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What a good Father we have!  He wants everyone to be saved and forgiven of all their sins!

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This study is continued in Part 5.  We'll be discussing the bullock as a burnt offering!