Its entrails, however, and its legs he [the priest] shall wash with water. Leviticus 1:9a
Which is your least favorite book of the Bible? Mine is Leviticus. All the blood and gore of the sacrifices turns my stomach.
Of course, Jesus Christ is foreshadowed in each of the sacrifices. Somehow, I needed to look beyond the sickening to the symbolic. I found deep spiritual significance in the details that have helped me take a closer look.
The first sacrifice God described in the book of Leviticus was the burnt offering. Since it is the first one, it must be important to God. So, I slowed my reading to look for the symbolism. The burnt offering symbolizes our complete devotion to God. For this sacrifice, the animal is cut into pieces, the entrails and legs are washed, then all the pieces are placed on the altar.
The animal’s entrails are a picture of our inner man being renewed daily by the washing of the water of the Word. The legs are symbolic of our walk with the Lord. Our walk also needs to be bathed in the Word of God if we are going to offer ourselves fully to Him.
Reflecting on this symbolism helped me look past the bloody details to find treasures hidden in His Word. Be encouraged to take a closer look at your least favorite book of the Bible. I would love to hear your fresh perspectives.