We are in chapter twenty-four of Exodus with our word for today which is actually a phrase. עֹלָה whole burnt offering, sacrifice which is wholly burned, a kind of sacrifice that included the acceptable parts of the sacrificial animal being completely burned up. It is used 287 times in the Old Testament. Our word is always used to describe a sacrifice that was to be offered every day and every Sabbath and on other occasions. Numbers 28:3-4, 6, 10 Present to the Lord two lambs a year old without defect, as a regular עֹלָ֥הburnt offering each day. Offer one lamb in the morning and the other at twilight … This is the regular עֹלַ֖ת burnt offering instituted at Mount Sinai … This is the עֹלַ֥ת burnt offering for every Sabbath, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering. This offering had to be made where God designated. Deuteronomy 12:11, 13-14 Then to the place the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for his Name—there you are to bring everything I command you: עוֹלֹתֵיכֶ֣םyour burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, and all the choice possessions you have vowed to the Lord … Be careful not to sacrifice עֹלֹתֶ֑יךָyour burnt offerings anywhere you please. Offer them only at the place the Lord will choose in one of your tribes, and there observe everything I command you. We see a ram being used for this offering that is one year of age and without blemish. Numbers 6:14 There they are to present their offerings to the Lord: a year-old male lamb without defect לְעֹלָ֔ה for a burnt offering (Numbers 28:19, Leviticus 23:12). Trumpets were to be a part of this offering. Numbers 10:10 Also at your times of rejoicing—your appointed festivals and New Moon feasts—you are to sound the trumpets over עֹלֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, and they will be a memorial for you before your God. I am the Lord your God. Our word is used in the context of the miraculous way God began the burnt offerings by providing the fire himself. Leviticus 9:23-24 Moses and Aaron then went into the tent of meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people; and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. Fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed הָעֹלָ֖ה the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown. With the whole burnt offering we also see the instruction to throw the blood against the sides of the altar. Leviticus 7:2 The guilt offering is to be slaughtered in the place where הָ֣עֹלָ֔ה the burnt offering is slaughtered, and its blood is to be splashed against the sides of the altar (Leviticus 9:12). This is how we see our word used in our chapter today. Exodus 24:4-5 And Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord. He rose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. And he sent young men of the people of Israel, who offered עֹלֹ֑תburnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the Lord. The Holy Spirit takes all of this burnt offering sacrifice and blood thrown on the altar and ties it to Jesus the perfect sacrifice. Hebrews 9:19-22 When Moses had proclaimed every command of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people. He said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.” In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. I’ll close with this great summary. 1 Peter 1:2 who have been chosen ... through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
