Leviticus 2-3 What We Can Learn From Yeast, Honey, Salt, Fat, and Blood

Along with the burnt offering, Israelites had two other voluntary offerings they could make.  The grain offering consisted of bread or the ingredients used to make it.  The person offering it was acknowledging God’s bounty in providing the good things of life, my commentary said.

Such an offering could never contain yeast or honey, and always had to include salt.  Although the offeror prepared the offering at home, God, being all-knowing, would know whether these instructions had been followed or not!

The fellowship or peace offering was handled much like a burnt offering, but instead of the animal being consumed by the fire, parts of the animal were burned on the fire, parts were kept by the priests, and the rest was returned to the offeror to be used as a feast with other Israelites.  One law was included in these instructions:  “You must NOT eat any fat or blood.”  Those parts belong to the Lord, and no matter whether the food was being prepared as an offering or for a meal at home, they were not to eat the fat or the blood.  My Bible says, “This law will continue for people from now on.”  God probably wanted us to understand that these parts were not good for us.

Father, You are wise and all-knowing.  Even in simple things like these, our sin-nature will react and say, “Throw some yeast or honey in, or leave out the salt, and see if God notices or does anything!”  Or even, “If He says not to eat the blood or fat, then I’ve got to try it!”  That’s the very nature of sin – rebellion against God – and even if we’d gain nothing from it, it still infects our thoughts and actions.  Father, please help me to remove such thoughts the instant I feel them coming in.  Don’t let me explore the what-ifs of sin, even in my thoughts.  The devil is regularly trying to establish a foothold in my life, and I don’t need to be aiding my enemy!

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford