Show notes:
400 years after Abraham, God’s people were a great nation but they were slaves in Egypt. In his covenant faithfulness, God delivers his people and makes another promise to them:
Exodus 19:4-6
You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.
God promised that Israel would be:
- his treasured possession
- a kingdom of priests showing God to the nations
- a holy nation set apart for God
These promises were conditional on Israel obeying God’s commands.
The big question of the Bible:
How can sinful people live in covenant relationship with a holy God?
The Day of Atonement
The sacrifical animal
- the High Priest sacrificed an animal without blemish or defect as a substitute for the people, cleansing them from their sins
The scapegoat
- the sins of the people were symbolically placed on a goat which was then led out to the wilderness
How does Jesus fulfil the Old Testament sacrificial system?
- Jesus is both the High Priest and the sacrificial Lamb
- his sacrifice is sufficient to cover our sins once and for all
- he is our scapegoat who places our sins on himself and takes them away
Because of Jesus, we can now be God’s treasured possession, set apart and sharing Jesus with those around us.
Bible verses mentioned: Exodus 19:4-6, Leviticus 16, Hebrews 9:1-14, John 1:29
Additional resources:
The Day of Atonement, Ligonier
The Theology of Sacrifice, Fred Zaspel
Leviticus Scroll series, The Bible Project podcast
Listen to the podcast episode here
Cover artwork by Laura Saunders @laurajaneart
Download the free A Holy History booklet here
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