Burnt Animal Smells Good || Leviticus 1:3-9 || A Year of Leviticus #2

Welcome to Day 2 of our “A Year in Leviticus” devotional series. We’re going to slow things down in 2025 and spend the year in the book of Leviticus. The goal of this series is to understand its historical context and see how we can apply its teaching today.

Today, we’re focusing on Leviticus 1:3-9. I am continuing the discussion on the ritual sacrifices and why these were important to God. I am also hitting what the burnt offering is all about.

Leviticus 1:3-9

NASB	NLT	VOICE
3 If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer a male without defect; he shall offer it at the doorway of the tent of meeting, so that he may be accepted before the Lord.	3 “If the animal you present as a burnt offering is from the herd, it must be a male with no defects. Bring it to the entrance of the Tabernacle so you may be accepted by the Lord.	3 If you are bringing a burnt offering from your herd, then you are to pick an unblemished bull. No diseased, weak, or injured animals are allowed. Offer it at the entrance to the congregation tent so that I can accept it.
4 And he shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, so that it may be accepted for him to make atonement on his behalf.	4 Lay your hand on the animal’s head, and the Lord will accept its death in your place to purify you, making you right with him.	4 The person offering the sacrifice shall place his hand on the head of the living animal, and the offering will be accepted to atone for the person’s sins.
5 Then he shall slaughter the bull before the Lord; and Aaron’s sons the priests shall offer up the blood around on the altar that is at the doorway of the tent of meeting.	5 Then slaughter the young bull in the Lord’s presence, and Aaron’s sons, the priests, will present the animal’s blood by splattering it against all sides of the altar that stands at the entrance to the Tabernacle.	5 You shall slaughter the young bull in My presence. Aaron’s sons, the priests, will offer the blood and splatter it around the altar at the entrance of the congregation tent.
6 He shall then cut it into its pieces.	6 Then skin the animal and cut it into the animals.	6 You shall the skin the burnt offering and cut the animal up into pieces.
7 And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire.	7 The sons of Aaron the priest will build a wood fire on the altar.	7 The sons of Aaron the priest will place fire on the altar and arrange the pieces of wood.
8 Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall arrange the pieces, with the head and the suet, on the wood which is on the fire that is on the altar.	8 They will arrange the pieces of the offering, including the head and fat, on the wood burning on the altar.	8 Aaron’s sons, the priests, will place the head, the fat, and individual pieces of the sacrifice on the altar as the wood burns.
9 Its entrails, however, and its legs he shall wash with water. And the priest shall offer all of it up in smoke on the altar as a burnt offering, an offering by fire as a soothing aroma to the Lord.	9 But the internal organs and the legs must first be washed with water. Then the priest will burn the entire sacrifice on the altar as a burnt offering. It is a special gift, a pleasing aroma to the Lord	9 Wash the animal’s organs and legs with water so that unclean elements are not included in the offering. The priest will offer up the whole burnt offering on the altar, and the smoke of the offering will rise and be a pleasant aroma to Me.

The one presenting the sacrifice follows these protocols:

• Bring a male animal with no defects (no diseases, no weaknesses, no injuries)
• Place the animal at the entrance of the Tabernacle.
• Lay your hand on the animal’s head.
  • God accepts its death to purify you.
• Slaughter the young bull in the Lord’s presence.

The priests receiving the offering follows these protocols:

• They will splatter the animal’s blood on all sides of the altar at the entry of the Tabernacle.
• The animal is skinned and cut into pieces.
• They will build a wood fire on the altar
• The head and the fat of the animal are arranged on the wood for the fire.  
• The internal organ and legs are washed and then burned in the fire on the altar.

The burnt offering is complete.

What did the sacrifice teach the people? By requiring animals without defect and the holy priests, they learned about the great respect for the holy God. By demanding obedience in following these protocols, they taught the importance of following God’s law. By requiring an animal of high value, they showed the high price of sin and showed the sincerity and intentionality of our commitment to God. By their nature, sacrifice required the use of all our senses in worship, encouraging a full-body response to God.

Sacrifices were both required and voluntary. Overall, the sacrificial system provided a combination of requirements for reconciling our relationship with God, while also presenting opportunities for an intentional, heartfelt response of gratitude. Why were these offerings very detailed? It’s shows God’s intentionality and purpose in his own teaching. Starting from scratch as they adjusted to a new life outside of their bondage to Egypt, God taught them a new way of life. The goal was to cleanse them from the pagan (non-Yahweh) and restoring his chosen people to a true relationship with him. The strict details kept the Israelites from slipping back into their old lifestyles. Additionally, each law painted a graphic image of the seriousness of sin and God’s mercy in his forgiveness of sin.

The first offering God teaches about is the burnt offering. A person that sinned brought an animal with no defects to the priest. This isn’t because God is arrogant. The unblemished animal symbolized the moral perfect demanded by God and the perfect nature of the ultimate sacrifice found in Jesus. The person laid a hand on the head of the animal – symbolizing the person’s complete identification with the animal. The priest would sprinkle its blood on the altar. The person’s sins were symbolically transferred to the animal, making the person’s sin disappear. The animal (excepts for its blood and skin) is burned on the altar, finishing the dedication and repentance to God. However, this wasn’t meant to be the end.

God asked each person to have an attitude of repentance; to intentionally work towards not committing the sinful behavior again. The outward acknowledgement (the sacrifice) and the inner acknowledgment (repentance) were to work together. It’s important to remember the neither the sacrifice nor the repentance caused the sin to be removed. God alone forgives our sin, and this will continue in our relationship with God because God is one of forgiveness.

The unique part of this sacrificial nature was that Israel was not alone in it. Other groups of people did this to try and please their gods. Some even practiced human sacrifice, which was strictly forbidden by God. (God has a high value for his human creation, see Genesis 9:6). However, the meaning of the sacrificial system for God’s chosen people was clearly different from their pagan neighbors. The Israelites sacrifice animals to respond to their consequences from God, and to also provide a substitute for the punishment the sinner deserved. The sacrifice showed faith in God and the commitment to following his laws. The system foreshadowed the day when the Lamb of God would die and overcome sin once and for all.

Today, we learned that these sacrifices taught his chosen people the importances of worship, obeying God’s law, committing to the relationship with God, and enveloping all parts of yourself in that relationship. The sacrifices were needed at times and voluntary at others, offering a chance for reconciliation and gratitude. The offerings are very detailed to help his chosen people remove their old ways from Egypt and solidifying their relationship with the one true God. The burnt offering was introduced to us today. Showing that offering an unblemished animal as a substitute you’d identify with would purify you of your sin and make you right with God. It didn’t stop there too. We also need to make an intentional effort not to commit the sinful desire again.

Next time, we’re talking about Leviticus 1:10-13 and digging into the pleasing aroma to God. Until then, stay blessed.

• Associated Scripture
  • Lev 1:3
    • Hebrews 9:14
  • Lev 1:4
    • 2 Chronicles 29:23-24
  • Lev 1:5
    • Leviticus 1:11
    • Leviticus 3:8
    • Hebrews 12:24
  • Lev 1:6
    • Leviticus 7:8
  • Lev 1:8
    • Exodus 29:13
  • Lev 1:9
    • Genesis 8:21
    • Exodus 29:17
    • Ephesians 5:2