How does Exodus 29:38's daily offerings symbolize Christ's sacrifice for our sins? Setting the Scene - God instructs Israel to bring a continual burnt offering—two lambs every day—to keep the altar perpetually active (Exodus 29:38–42). - This rhythm of sacrifice stood at the heart of Tabernacle worship, anchoring the people’s relationship with the Holy One. Key Verse “Now this is what you are to offer on the altar regularly each day: two lambs that are a year old.” (Exodus 29:38) Daily Lambs and Daily Need - Sin was not an occasional problem; it was constant. A pair of lambs every sunrise and sunset underscored Israel’s ongoing need for atonement. - Romans 3:23 reminds us, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” explaining why an unbroken sacrificial rhythm was required. Morning and Evening – a Pattern of Perpetual Grace - Twice-daily offerings bracketed every Israelite day with mercy. • Morning: fresh forgiveness greeted each new beginning. • Evening: cleansing closed the day’s failures. - This continual pattern points forward to Christ, whose once-for-all sacrifice covers every hour, past and future (Hebrews 10:12). Unblemished and Uninterrupted – Christ’s Perfect Offering - The lambs had to be “a year old”—prime, healthy, without defect (cf. Exodus 12:5). - Jesus is repeatedly identified as that flawless Lamb: • John 1:29 – “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” • 1 Peter 1:18-19 – redeemed “with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.” - Unlike the priests who grew tired and aged, Christ “lives forever to intercede” (Hebrews 7:24-25), giving a continuous efficacy that the daily lambs only pictured. The Whole Burnt Offering – A Life Given Fully - Burnt offerings were consumed entirely by fire; nothing was held back (Leviticus 1:9). - Jesus likewise offered Himself “in totality”—body, soul, and will—on the cross (Philippians 2:8). - The rising smoke symbolized worship ascending; Christ’s sacrifice rose as “a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:2). Daily Offerings Fulfilled Once for All - Where Israel’s altar never rested, Calvary’s altar speaks one decisive word: “It is finished” (John 19:30). - Hebrews 10:10 – “By that will, we have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” - The shadow of continual lambs ends in the substance of a single, sufficient Savior. Living in the Reality of the Fulfillment - Assurance: We no longer wonder if the next sacrifice will be enough; Christ is enough—eternally. - Access: The veil once shielding God’s presence is torn (Matthew 27:51); we draw near “with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith” (Hebrews 10:22). - Adoration: The unending gratitude Israel expressed morning and evening now flows from our hearts in worship that “continually offers God a sacrifice of praise” (Hebrews 13:15). |
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