Leviticus 8:18-21 – From reconciliation to dedication

The sin offering described in Leviticus 8:14-17 for the priest brought about his reconciliation with God. That was only the foundational offering. Reconciliation with God must first take place if we are to enjoy His approval. For us, Christ became our sin offering. In Him, we are reconciled with God.

Having offered the sin offering the priest then made the burnt offering. Moses would officiate the burnt offering. Taking one of the two rams that Aaron and his sons had brought, Moses would make them lay their hands on the head of the ram. He would then slaughter the ram and take the blood of the ram and sprinkled around the altar. The ram would then be cut into pieces and offered up the head and the fat in smoke to the Lord. Verse 21 tells us that “after he had washed the entrails and the legs with water, Moses offered up the whole ram in smoke on the altar.” This was a burnt offering offered up as a soothing aroma to the Lord.

The burnt-offering indicates the complete dedication of the lives of the priest as God had prescribed. In these verses, it was the priests that came with the offering like any worshipper. Moses was the one who performed the sacrifice, a role usually done by the priest. For us, we have been reconciled to God through Christ who became our sin offering to God. It is but only the beginning part that initiates our walk with God. Like the priest, we need to dedicate ourselves to Him. Remember, we are all members of the royal priesthood. We are called out of darkness so that we can declare the excellencies of Him who has now planted us into the Kingdom of His marvelous light. Let us be wholly dedicated to the task. He is worthy of it all!