Last week, we saw how the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle that God had Moses and certain Israelites construct. The altar of sacrifice was now in place, the priests were given instructions, and man’s rebellion, sin, and wickedness now had a place in which it could be dealt with–atoned. However, a problem still remained. To think that a man in his or her sin could just come into the place where the glory of God dwelt is akin to one thinking that a round trip plane ride to the sun and back would be possible. The elements of the sun would simply melt anything that got within a certain proximity of its surface. The elements of the sun and the elements of the plane on the way to the sun simply wouldn’t interact well–to say the least. The sun would simply dissolve it. This is a good way to think of God’s holiness and man in his sin. Man just can’t come into God’s presence the way that he is…he must be changed (to be seen later in the biblical narrative) or there must be certain things in place, otherwise man would be ruined, decimated, and dissolved by God’s holiness. The two intrinsic natures simply would not interact. Therefore, man must have a way to deal with approaching God…a way to come into His presence and offer a sin sacrifice as a substitute for himself and those within his community in the newly constructed tabernacle on the newly built altar and mercy seat. See also Adam and Eve being removed from the Garden of Eden. Their sin separated them from God, and it’s no different in the biblical narrative with Moses preparing God’s people for their new life as a community of representing God to the nations. At this point in the biblical narrative, however, God is making a way that will point to the ultimate way that God will deal with sin, evil, and restoration of man in his sin to God forever–the light of the world is just beginning to break over the horizon…but not yet.
And so, Moses and the Israelites have built and prepared the Tabernacle, but something was still wrong–man needed to know how to approach God. Thus,“…the Lord called to Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting…Leviticus 1:1″ Moses couldn’t approach God and offer a sin sacrifice for himself and the people…yet. Although the Israelites could walk through the Tabernacle while building it, they can’t now because God’s presence has filled it with His glory. Every single detail that went into the construction of the tabernacle (hence why God’s Spirit filled certain people in the process) prepared the way for God in His holiness to fill the tabernacle and accept sacrifices for sin. God is now making a way for people to be in a relationship with Him where there was otherwise no way…
Thus, why we have the book of Leviticus! This book shows us how God made a way for a sinful people who He directed on building the meeting place (Tabernacle) to be in a right relationship with Him by showing how to approach Him and to deal with their sin. Now that God’s presence has filled the Tabernacle, the people need to know how they can approach Him without being killed. Hence, the book of Leviticus. Amazing. Maybe you’re wondering why the Tabernacle was needed…there are many reasons, but the video below sheds light into the primary reason…God dealing with humanity and their sin…
Atonement video…
Sin must be dealt with, and God instructs Moses on how this is to be done–for a time. But it’s not ultimate…God completely deals with sin through Christ, and this is yet another reason why Christ had to die…
— June 16, 2017