Cost of Sacrifice: The Burnt Offering
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The Old Testament Points to the New
The Old Testament Points to the New
We talk about the Old Testament and a lot of people aren’t sure of it’s purpose. We talk about the fact that it is the law, but then we say that Jesus came so that we would not be under the law anymore. Matthew 5:17
17 “Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.
So why do we need to know about the Old Testament if Jesus satisfied the Law? We need to know the law because it points to Jesus.
Galatians 3:19-26
19 Why, then, was the law given? It was added for the sake of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise was made would come. The law was put into effect through angels by means of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator is not just for one person alone, but God is one. 21 Is the law therefore contrary to God’s promises? Absolutely not! For if the law had been granted with the ability to give life, then righteousness would certainly be on the basis of the law. 22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin’s power, so that the promise might be given on the basis of faith in Jesus Christ to those who believe. 23 Before this faith came, we were confined under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed. 24 The law, then, was our guardian until Christ, so that we could be justified by faith. 25 But since that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for through faith you are all sons of God in Christ Jesus.
The Law was there to show us how to live until Jesus could come and provide a perfect, in-flesh, example.
Abraham Understood Sacrifice
Abraham Understood Sacrifice
Tonight we’ll look at a figure from the OT who understood sacrifice. Abraham made many sacrifices for God. Pop Quiz: Can anyone point to examples of Abraham’s sacrifices?
Hebrews 11:8-17
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and set out for a place that he was going to receive as an inheritance. He went out, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he stayed as a foreigner in the land of promise, living in tents as did Isaac and Jacob, coheirs of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
11 By faith even Sarah herself, when she was unable to have children, received power to conceive offspring, even though she was past the age, since she considered that the one who had promised was faithful. 12 Therefore, from one man—in fact, from one as good as dead—came offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky and as innumerable as the grains of sand along the seashore.
13 These all died in faith, although they had not received the things that were promised. But they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth. 14 Now those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they were thinking about where they came from, they would have had an opportunity to return. 16 But they now desire a better place—a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He received the promises and yet he was offering his one and only son,
Left his home with family, servants, and possessions
Let Lot pick which way to go
Declined Melchizadek’s offer of wealth after killing the other kings
Burnt offering when God made His covenant with him Genesis 15:9-10
9 He said to him, “Bring me a three-year-old cow, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.”
10 So he brought all these to him, cut them in half, and laid the pieces opposite each other, but he did not cut the birds in half.
These animals were in the prime age for selling/eating. He could have made a lot of money by selling these animals, but God called for them as a sacrifice. Not only a sacrifice, meaning you had to kill them, but a burnt offering meaning you could not eat them after.
Just as things seemed to be going well for Abraham… God called for him to give his son as a burnt offering.
The OT point to the NT
The OT point to the NT
God may call us to sacrifice (up to) everything for His kingdom, even stuff that we’ve worked hard or waited a long time for. Isaac was the promised son, and Abraham had waited 40+ years for him. Once he was given the son he had waited so long for, and been so obedient to God for, God asked for him back… Have you ever been required, or felt called, to give up something you had worked hard for? Waited for?
The purpose behind the test was to see whether Abraham feared God to the point he would not withhold the thing he held most dear from Him, his long-awaited son.
Although God may not test our faith in the same way, Abraham’s life teaches us about the cost of obedience— great and complete sacrifice. It leads us to ask ourselves what fuels our sacrifice, no matter the cost.
Abraham relied upon God’s guidance to lead him through uncharted territory when He commanded him to leave his land and people and go to an unknown place.
When Abraham was called to sacrifice Isaac, he had already spent decades walking with the Lord with some incredible encounters to recall.
As you look over your life and think about the sacrifices God called you to make, remember how God led and guided you along the way.
Recount His faithfulness to provide when you were unsure if your seemingly limited supply would be enough. Part of the Hebrew people’s worship included remembering what God had done for them. As people of God, praise and thanksgiving should also be an integral part of our worship and prayer.
Some find journaling a helpful way to chronicle what God has provided us under His sustaining care. When we look at God’s provision as evidence of His faithfulness, any sacrifice required of us is giving back to Him what is already His.
Hebrews 11:17-19
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He received the promises and yet he was offering his one and only son, 18 the one to whom it had been said, Your offspring will be traced through Isaac. 19 He considered God to be able even to raise someone from the dead; therefore, he received him back, figuratively speaking.
Abraham was willing to sacrifice the life of his son, the lineage that he had been promised, and his covenant with God because he was called to. What are we called to sacrifice?
Old Business
Old Business
Old Business
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