Leviticus Chapter 2
The grain offering brought to the Tabernacle was accepted as an offering of thanksgiving to God for all that He had done for them. It was never considered as a substitute for a blood sacrifice nor was it meant to be an atonement for sin.
A commentator suggested three reasons why people brought a grain offering to the Tabernacle. (1) Grains and things that grow are of great necessity and benefit to man, and it is appropriate to honor God with such things. (2) Even the poorest could offer a grain offering, and God wanted to open the door for the poor to bring offerings to Him. (3) This brought necessary and helpful grain and other produce to the priests. [Matthew Poole]
The grains had to be beaten and sifted to remove all the impurities and to break them down into a fine flour. Frankincense, an expensive oil, was added to the flour (grains) to produce a nice smell when it was burned. The remainder of the grains that were not burned as a sacrifice became food for Aaron and his family. But there was always a strict requirement that there not be any leaven (yeast) added to this offering.
I recently listened to a podcast where a man talked about his discovery of God’s delight in shared meals. In fact, most celebratory festivals throughout the scripture involved food and feasts. As I listened to him talk about how many different occasions a meal was the center of special occasions in scripture, I thought back to these beginning times when God instituted a means for us to show our gratefulness for the food that He provides. Of course, in our modern times we celebrate our gratefulness to God during the Thanksgiving holiday.
Let's Reflect
1. According to verse 3, how did God view the offering of thanksgiving brought to His tabernacle in the form of a grain offering? This certainly places an importance on God’s desire for us to be thankful to Him.
2.What did they mix with the flour to produce a bread type mixture?
3. Leaven was a picture of sin. Once a little sin gets in, the whole lot is spoiled. What other item besides leaven was not permitted to be added to a grain offering? God did not permit this item to be added because it was often a substance offered to pagan gods.
4. They could bring honey when they offered a gift of their first-fruits of harvest to the Lord. Instead of using honey to sweeten the flour they were to use what substance? This substance was known for its purity, and it was used for preserving and it was expensive, so it cost them something to include this item.
5. A grain offering could also be brought as a first-fruits offering. This differs a little bit from the grain offering first discussed in this chapter. The first was an offering of just general thankfulness to God. The second is a representation of giving God what is harvested first from the fields. This second type is a bit more scary for the giver because he did not know for sure if there would be more harvest to come for himself and his family. But God wanted them to sacrifice by giving Him their first-fruits whether it was livestock or grains. God promised to bless them when they sacrificed the giving of the first-fruits. What can you think of in your life that you could offer God as your own personal first-fruits?
Devotionals
