Leviticus 2

It was a great privilege for Israel to be given a way to relate to God through sacrifice and offering. The law told them how they could do that. The list of offerings included only one that did not involve the shedding of blood, since it was an offering from the field, and not an animal sacrifice.

The first time that a human being brought an offering of the field, God did not accept it. Because of this first, very serious rejection, this revelation of an acceptable grain offering was very important. What would make a grain offering acceptable to God?

Anyone bringing a grain offering should bring “fine flour” sifted of any impurities. This reminds us of the analogous perfection of any offering of the herd or flock, which needed to be without blemish.

The grain offering should have oil on it. Consider the change that comes about in flour through the addition of oil. Oil was used in the tabernacle for anointing, and was later used to set apart men to be kings. The Bible speaks of oil in connection with gladness. See Psalm 45:7 and Isaiah 61:3.

The fine flour offered to God needed frankincense on it. This aromatic spice could be eaten, and would give the grain offering a distinctive smell, but this spice was all used in the portion that went to the Lord, and not to the priests.

The grain offering was not a private religious ritual. The worshiper was to bring it to the priests in front of the tabernacle. A “memorial portion” including a handful of the fine flour and oil together with all of the frankincense would be burned on the bronze altar as an aroma pleasing to God.

The rest of the grain offering would be given to the sons of Aaron. This food for the priests was part of the system, not merely as a provision for their bodily needs, but as “a most holy part of the Lord's food offerings.”

This grain offering could also be presented to the Lord as a finished baked product, either as a loaf or as wafers, both unleavened. In either case, a memorial portion would be burnt on the altar before the Lord, and the remainder would be given to the priests. God and his priests would “eat” together.

The grain offering could not include leaven or honey, unless the grain offering was an offering of firstfruits not to be burned on the altar. No explanation was given for these prohibitions. Leaven was referred to elsewhere in the rituals of the Old Testament as a symbol of sin, and honey was at times associated with the covering over or hiding of something that was evil and truly bitter.

While leaven and honey were prohibited in an offering that would be placed on the bronze altar, salt was required of these offerings. “You shall season all your grain offerings with salt.” This salt was spoken of here as the “salt of the covenant.” In the New Testament the people of God were to be the salt if the earth. Their lives and words were to be gracious, “seasoned with salt.” See Colossians 4:6.

Finally a grain offering of firstfruits could be made before it was made into fine flour. This was an expression of the beginning of a season of fruitful productive work. The first portion would be given directly to the Lord with oil on it and all the frankincense.

From the beginning, mankind was to work the ground as a gift from God. After sin entered the world, it was very good news, not only that there would still be life through childbearing, but that there would also be work, despite the sweat of the brow and the thorns and thistles.

God wanted Israel to work with a recognition that He was the owner of the land, and that the gift of fruitfulness came from Him. A willing recognition of this was expressed through the grain offering, whether in association with other offerings or at the beginning of a new harvest.

Yet despite the God-given blessing of labor and food from the land, the Israelites sensed the futility of their efforts. God's people had eternity in their hearts, and they were looking for an offering that would not perish.

Christ, the Bread from heaven, has secured for us an eternal home. All of His labors were perfect. His offering was of the finest flower, without any of the leaven of sin. He had the fullness of the oil of the Holy Spirit in all His thoughts, words, and actions. Every offering of His mouth was seasoned with salt. Even when He spoke a necessary word of correction was for the purpose of His grace, calling the offender to see sin for what it was and to sweep the leaven out of the house.

His grain offering of a life of true spiritual work had the fragrant aroma of an acceptable plea to God for our eternal well-being. In Him we have been granted meaningful labor in a world that is not perishing, and even now our labor in the Lord here below is not in vain.