Getting Close

Weekly Torah Lesson

Parasha: Va Yikra “And He Called”
Torah: Va Yikra 1:1 – 6:7

After the Tabernacle was erected on the 1st of Aviv, 2449, Avinu called Moshe into the Tabernacle and began instructing him regarding the procedures for the sacrifices. There are four broad categories of sacrifices: ascent-offerings, Wholeness-offerings, sin-offerings, and guilt-offerings. Avinu first taught Moshe the procedures for ascent-offerings.

*** “And Avinu said to Moshe, “When someone brings a sacrifice” Leviticus 1:2
The notion of sacrifices seems to run counter to our conception of Avinu: Avinu has no need to consume or be bribed by our sacrifices. Yet we see in this section of the Torah that Avinu not only accepts sacrifices but explicitly sets down the procedures for them, giving every indication that He actually wants them! In fact, the Hebrew word translated as sacrifice or offering “ korban” means “getting close”. Although we generally associate sacrifices with atonement for sin, the first sacrifices mentioned in this section are voluntary offerings, which an individual brings to Avinu not to atone for sin but out of the desire to draw closer to Him. Of course, some of the sacrifices are indeed sin-offerings. This indicates that Avinu calls out to all of us to draw close to Him not only to the guiltless among us but also those who are moved to repent from their sins and enjoy a closer relationship with Avinu.

*** “And Avinu called to Moshe, and spoke to him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying, 2 Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, If any man of you bring an offering to Avinu, you shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock.

If Avinu was calling us to “come closer”, why did He tell us to bring an animal?
An important requirement in the process of “drawing near” is that a human being that has sinned or is spiritually unclean cannot stand before Avinu. The human would cease to exist.
It is mandatory that atonement be made for the human before he approaches Avinu. This atonement was accomplished through the shedding of an animal’s blood. A life was required before an atonement was granted.

*** “‘For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’” (Le 17:11 )

Approximately fourteen hundred years later, Yeshua inaugurated a new priesthood with new sacrifices which depended on His own sacrifice to provide that atonement that is still required when one is drawing near.

*** “through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of Avinu.” (Ro 5:2 )

*** “11 But Meshiach came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Meshiach, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to Avinu, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living Avinu? 15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. 16 For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives. 18 Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood. 19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which Avinu has commanded you.” 21 Then likewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. 22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. 23 Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Meshiach has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of Avinu for us; 25 not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another — 26 He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, 28 so Meshiach was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” (Heb 9:11-28)