Leviticus 4 - Steve Wiggins Daily Devotional

“Now the L_rd spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to the children of Israel, saying: If a person sins unintentionally against any of the commandments of the L_rd in anything which ought not be done, and does any of them, if the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, then let him offer to the L_rd for his sin which he has sinned a young bull without blemish as a sin offering.’”

There is a breakdown, a great dilemma that mankind is faced with. Here is the dilemma: Everyone sins, yet we are called to be “holy” (set-apart) by a Holy G_d whose standard is “perfection”. Furthermore, a sinful man has the job of atoning for the sin of a sinful nation; a sinful “high priest” has the unfortunate duty of interceding on behalf of that sinful nation before the presence of perfect holiness. Long before the Mosaic law, a man named Job articulated his personal need for an intercessor:

“For He (G_d) is not a man like me, that I can answer Him, that we can take each other to court. There is no one to judge between us, to lay his hand on both of us. Let Him take His rod away from me so His terror will no longer frighten me. Then I would speak and not fear Him. But that is not the case; I am on my own.” Job 9:32-35

Isaiah also spoke of a need for a go-between between man & G_d:

“Jacob, why do you say, and Israel, why do you assert: “My way is hidden from the L_rd, and my claim is ignored by my G_d”? Isaiah 40:27

“He saw that there was no man – He was amazed that there was no one interceding; so His own arm brought salvation, and His own righteousness supported Him.” Isaiah 59:16

What makes Yeshua so much more superior (than any human high priest) is that, by virtue of His atoning work on the cross, He alone has satisfied G_d’s requirements for mankind. He has reckoned both G_d’s gracious mercy with His righteous judgment. Consider these verses:

“Yeshua has also become the guarantee of a better covenant.” Hebrews 7:22

“For this is good and exceptable in the sight of G_d our Savior, Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one G_d and one Mediator between G_d and men, the Man Messiah Yeshua, Who gave Himself – a ransom for all, to be a testimony at the proper time.” 1 Timothy 2:3-5

“For this is the kind of high priest we need: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He doesn’t need to offer sacrifices every day, as high priests do – first for their own sins, then for those of the people. He did this once for all when He offered Himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak, but the promise of the oath, which came after the law, appoints a Son, who has been perfected forever.” Hebrews 7:26-28

Blessings,
~Steve Wiggins, Associate Leader, Worship Leader
Shuvah Yisrael
Daily Devotional, Monday, April 14, 2014