Grain Offerings Give Thanks to The Lord
November 21, 2021
Commentary
The grain offering was a gift of thanks to God. It reminded the people that their food came from Him and that they depended on Him for their lives. The offering could be presented in several forms: fine flour, oven-baked cakes, cakes baked in a pan or on a griddle, or crushed roasted grain (vv. 1–16). The priest placed only a portion, called the “memorial portion,” on the altar to be burned for the Lord. The rest was given to the priests for their use. This simple offering taught them to recognize God’s goodness and remember His daily provision.
The grain offering was to be prepared with fine flour and mixed with olive oil. Leaven, or yeast, and honey were not allowed in the offering. Leaven can picture sin, while honey represents natural sweetness that can eventually spoil. The offering was also seasoned with salt, which preserves food from decay. Salt can remind us of permanence and points to the lasting nature of God’s covenant. These details help us see that God desired worship that was pure, faithful, and dedicated to Him. He wanted His people to approach Him with sincere hearts and thankful lives.
Because the grain offering was prepared by the worshiper, it represented the work of our hands. Animal sacrifices provided atonement and reminded the people that human effort cannot pay for sin. The shedding of blood showed that a life had to be given. The grain offering, however, reminded them that after atonement, what they do for God matters. It expressed gratitude to God as their provider and showed that their daily work could be offered back to Him. Even a poor person could bring this offering. God was pleased not simply by the value of the gift, but by the worshiper’s heart, gratitude, and dedication. Our ordinary work can become an act of worship when we offer it faithfully to God.
Application
Am I truly thankful to God for His daily provision? Do I recognize that my work, abilities, and opportunities come from Him? Am I offering my time, work, and resources to God with a sincere and willing heart? Is there anything in my life I need to give back to Him? How can I turn my ordinary work into an act of worship and gratitude?
Leviticus 2:1–16 (NET)
1 “‘When a person presents a grain offering to the Lord, his offering must consist of choice wheat flour, and he must pour olive oil on it and put frankincense on it. 2 Then he must bring it to the sons of Aaron, the priests, and the priest must scoop out from there a handful of its choice wheat flour and some of its olive oil in addition to all of its frankincense, and the priest must offer its memorial portion up in smoke on the altar—it is a gift of a soothing aroma to the Lord. 3 The remainder of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and to his sons —it is most holy from the gifts of the Lord.
4 “‘When you present an offering of grain baked in an oven, it must be made of choice wheat flour baked into unleavened loaves mixed with olive oil or unleavened wafers smeared with olive oil. 5 If your offering is a grain offering made on the griddle, it must be choice wheat flour mixed with olive oil, unleavened. 6 Crumble it in pieces and pour olive oil on it—it is a grain offering. 7 If your offering is a grain offering made in a pan, it must be made of choice wheat flour deep fried in olive oil.
8 “‘You must bring the grain offering that must be made from these to the Lord. Present it to the priest, and he will bring it to the altar. 9 Then the priest must take up from the grain offering its memorial portion and offer it up in smoke on the altar—it is a gift of a soothing aroma to the Lord. 10 The remainder of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and to his sons—it is most holy from the gifts of the Lord.
11 “‘No grain offering which you present to the Lord can be made with yeast, for you must not offer up in smoke any yeast or honey as a gift to the Lord. 12 You can present them to the Lord as an offering of firstfruit, but they must not go up to the altar for a soothing aroma. 13 Moreover, you must season every one of your grain offerings with salt; you must not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be missing from your grain offering —on every one of your grain offerings you must present salt.
14 “‘If you present a grain offering of first ripe grain to the Lord, you must present your grain offering of first ripe grain as soft kernels roasted in fire—crushed bits of fresh grain. 15 And you must put olive oil on it and set frankincense on it—it is a grain offering. 16 Then the priest must offer its memorial portion up in smoke—some of its crushed bits, some of its olive oil, in addition to all of its frankincense—it is a gift to the Lord.
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