Highlights In Today's Reading:
Once again the Lord said to Moses: Speak unto the children of Israel (4:2). In today's reading we discover how people guilty of sin can approach the holy Creator God who, in His marvelous mercy, has provided forgiveness for sin and eternal life through Christ!
The first offering presented before the Lord was the Sin Offering. It had to be first. It was not a "sweet savour offering" because sin is detestable to God. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the Commandments of the Lord . . . which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them: If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the Lord for a Sin Offering (4:1-3). The required Sin Offering for a priest was equal to the sacrifice for the entire nation. When the Israelites offered the Sin Offering, they were forgiven because it looked forward to the time when Christ, our sin bearer, would die on the cross and be the final sacrifice for all sin (II Cor. 5:21).
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lust thereof (Rom. 6:12). This offering was never a sweet savor unto the Lord for it was to satisfy the judgment of God upon our sin nature. The Trespass Offering was offered for specific acts of wrongdoing against either God or man as well as unknown offenses. The offender was just as guilty before God for trespasses committed in ignorance. God commended His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died (on the cross) for us. . . . being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life (Rom. 5:8-10).
This reveals how foolish it is to depend on one's conscience and how vital it is that we read and be instructed by the Word of God. How can one keep from sinning against the Lord if he does not know what His Word calls sin?
If the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken (make spiritually alive) your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you (Rom. 8:11).
Thought for Today:
To obtain forgiveness we can't shift blame onto others but must each confess our own sins (I John 1:9).
Christ Revealed:
Through the body of the young bull which was burned without the camp (Lev. 4:12). This pictures Jesus as He suffered without the gate (Heb. 13:11-12).
Word Studies:
4:20 an atonement =act of reconciliation; 5:2 unclean =defiled as stated in the Law; 5:8 asunder =in two parts; 5:10 manner =law, ordinance; 5:17 bear his iniquity =bear the consequences of his sin; 5:18 thy estimation =valued by you; 6:14 meat =grain; 6:18 statute =ordinance, rule; 6:28 sodden =soiled.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for Arabic International Shortwave Broadcasts for the month of February sponsored by Mary Hoffmeyer • English International Shortwave Broadcasts sponsored by Helayne Abrams • Staff: Dr. John A. Hash • Government Official: Sen. John Cornyn (TX) • Country: Andorra (78,000) in the eastern Pyrenees between France and Spain • Major languages: Catalan and French • Official freedom of religion • 93% Christian; 5% non-Religious; .6% Muslim; .9% Other • Prayer Suggestion: Seek the Lord's forgiveness with a repentant heart, knowing that God will graciously receive you (Hos. 14:1-2).
Optional Reading: Mark 5
Memory Verse for the Week: Matthew 5:5-6
