The more we study the Bible, the more we can see that God’s Word contains one central message: Grace. My Sunday evening class has been studying the Old Testament sacrifices and offerings found in Leviticus. Yes, there is a lot of blood being offered to God in order to have sins forgiven, but we’ve also learned that these sacrifices, while commanded by God in the Law of Moses, are the means by which sinful people can experience God’s grace.
Perhaps the best example is found in Leviticus 7 where God explains the peace offering, also known as the fellowship offering. Again, an animal is sacrificed, its blood sprinkled on the altar to atone for the people’s guilt. However, not all of the animal is burned on the altar, as with the sin offering; only certain fatty portions of the animal are burned on the altar as an offering to God. The rest is shared with the priest and his family and among the family and friends of the one who brought the sacrifice. In addition to the animal sacrifice, there is also an offering of grain, in the form of bread and cakes, which are also shared with the priests and others.
The peace or fellowship offering is brought as a statement of thankfulness to God, and it is an opportunity for God’s people to celebrate their blessings with God and with others, especially within their families. Since the offering to God was fat portions of the sacrifice, it is understood to be offered out of the excesses of life, which are due to God’s blessings. So when God’s people wanted to thank God for his blessings personally, they had to offer a sacrifice, thus allowing them to have a relationship with God, and they were able to celebrate God’s blessings with their friends and family.
This sounds a lot like our celebrations of Thanksgiving, feasting with our families because of the blessings we have received. As we celebrate Thanksgiving with friends and family, let us remember the blessings that God has given us, especially his grace.