Eating with God
Leviticus 3:1 (ESV) “If his offering is a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offers an animal from the herd, male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the Lord.
Leviticus 3:11 (ESV) And the priest shall burn it on the altar as a food offering to the LORD.
In the New Testament, this powerful reality is fulfilled in the death of Jesus. He becomes for us food and drink Himself through His death. We now have peace with God because of the sacrifice of His Son.
Romans 5:1–2 (ESV) Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Colossians 1:20 (ESV) and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
If you remember, at the last supper, Jesus declared the heart of God toward His own when He told the disciples: Luke 22:15–16 (ESV) “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
What does God seek with us? Fellowship. He desires peace with His creation. That is interesting since most of the time many humans run from God fearing He only wants to disturb their pleasure and self-interests.
Yet a close look at the stipulations for the peace offering reminds us that all of God's instructions are for our good. Here in Leviticus 3, God stipulates that no blood or fat was to be consumed in this meal. Leviticus 3:17 (ESV) It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, in all your dwelling places, that you eat neither fat nor blood.”
Today we have no shortage of facts telling us that these two items are bad for our digestive health. Pagan worship in the ancient world believed that drinking the blood of an animal gave one life, vitality and potency. Israel was told the truth by their God that what seems good would not help but rather harm them. God's interest was their welfare, not their demise! Through the instructions of the peace offering God is showing his loving care and desire to properly nourish His people.
I wonder what things we think are good for us now and strongly pursuing that God has warned us about in His Word not to chase? Sexual immorality seems to be common place today. Yet God's Word is filled with warnings about it. To our OWN detriment we ignore His Word, casting it off as out of touch and old fashioned. Yet those who hear and obey will see the prosperity of God upon their lives for ages.
Further instructions about the peace offering are given in Leviticus 7. Note another protective rule:
Leviticus 7:17–18 (ESV) But what remains of the flesh of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burned up with fire. 18 If any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offering is eaten on the third day, he who offers it shall not be accepted, neither shall it be credited to him. It is tainted, and he who eats of it shall bear his iniquity.
We know today that eating meat that has not been refrigerated after 2 days in very hazardous to our health. God is laying down instructions in the worship order of His people the best way to live and sustain their health! More over, God is hinting toward the resurrection. Jesus would not stay more than three days in that tomb. The death of Christ was ONCE and for all! We do not need to offer His blood and body again and again. We do not need to finish what Jesus finished.
Finally, it is important to remember that these offerings all happened in the Tabernacle - the place where every Israelite drew closest to God. The peace offering and its stipulations provide the clearest reality of God's loving concern for the long-term welfare of His people. We learn by reading Leviticus that those who draw near to God and fellowship with Him will enjoy the benefits of health and well being. Let us come to worship!
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