God's Fiery Smile

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Leviticus 9:1-5, 22-24

TO CHEW ON: "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." Leviticus 9:23

On the first day that the priests sacrificed animals to take the place of sinful people who deserved to die, Moses explained what God had said to him on the mountain. His brother Aaron was to be the person in charge of making these sacrifices. Helpers for Aaron were to be from his family or tribe - the tribe of Levi. They were called ‘Levites.’ They had to wear the special priest costumes we talked about on this day.

On the first sacrifice day, Aaron brought animals to pay for his sin. Moses told him how to make each type of sacrifice – the sin offering, the burnt offering, the peace or fellowship offering and the grain offering. Different animals were needed for each one. These animals had to be perfect male animals (goats, lambs, calves or oxen) from the peoples’ own flocks.

Choosing animals for sacrifice (Graphic courtesy CC-Art.com)

As Aaron and his sons brought and slaughtered the animals, the crowd watched. The sight of innocent animals dying reminded them how serious it was to disobey God.

At the end of the day, Moses and Aaron spoke a blessing on the people. Then God blessed them too – not in a peaceful way but with an awesome, fearful sign. As the people watched, God’s glory came down as fire. Bright hot flames simply appeared and consumed the animal parts still on the altar.

When the people saw it, they were happy. The fire showed that God had accepted the sacrifice. But they were also afraid. What kind of a God could send fire like this? The people fell on their faces in worship.

PRAYER: Dear God, thank You for showing us Your awesome power. Help us to know Your power too, and to respect and fear You. Amen.

MORE: God’s ‘Yes!’
After this first day of sacrifices, God said “Yes!” by sending fire. Of course God doesn’t always respond in such spectacular ways. Here are some other ways God showed the people in the Bible that He was there, right with them. Match the incident to the person who lived it (listed below). How has God sad "yes" to you?

1. God’s sent a rainbow to show He would keep a promise. (Genesis 9:11-13)
2. God sent helpers (angels) to get a family out of an evil city (Genesis 19:15)
3. God answered a prayer (Genesis 24:12-16)
4. God spoke in a dream (Genesis 28:10-17)
5. God gave a prisoner favor with the king (Genesis 41:39,40)

A. Abraham’s servant
B. Lot
C. Jacob
D. Noah
E. Joseph.

Answers

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.


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