vaYikra (and 'God' Called)

1) Leviticus 1:1-6:6 [5:26 TANACH]

People usually think I am crazy when I share that Leviticus is my favorite book in the Bible. Check out my Leviticus overview page of this book on the Parashah Project website. Please note that where you see different chapter or verse notations within [brackets] that indicates a different numbering system from the Hebrew text (Tanach) than the traditional English versions. Also, click on the image below for an excellent overview video of this book from the Bible Project:

The Hebrew word in the picture above is vaYikra which is the Tanachian title of this book. In Hebrew, vaYikra means “and He called” and is the first word in this 3rd book of the Bible. It is interesting that the book starts with the conjunctive “and” implying that this is a continuation linking with what came before. Here is what came before in Exodus 40:34-35…

Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

What is repeated in this passage? Verse 34 describes the relationally climactic moment when “the gory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.” The Creator came into Creation on top of a mountain and then descended to dwell among us in a house built by human hands.

…and He called…

God called to Moses from within this house—this House obediently built by Israel at God’s instruction with the visual aid God gave to Moses of a pattern shown to him on the mountain (see Ex. 25:9, 40; Heb. 8:5). The first time God called (vayikra) to Moses to come near was from a burning bush (Ex. 3:4). This time God calls (vayikra) from inside the newly constructed Tabernacle, nested within the Most Holy Place (Holy of Holies).

God called to Moses.

The voice of God is powerful. God called to Moses to come, learn, and lead others back into the intimacy of relational depth with God. As it was in the garden so it will be again. The Tabernacle was the bridge to bring Heaven back to earth so God could dwell among us and we could dwell again with God. Relational consummation.

Let me take this opportunity to formally welcome our new subscribers! For some reason, this week we had more newcomers that I’ve ever had since I started this Substack blog. So…welcome to our new community members journeying deeper together into relationships of love with God and others.

Now let’s look a little deeper at what comes before this “and” conjunction that begins the book of Leviticus. Exodus 40:36-38, the final 3 verses in the 2nd book of the Bible says,

(36) In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; (37) but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted. (38) So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the Israelites during all their travels.

What word do you see repeated in these verses?

For more juicy RD4KB (Relational depth for Kingdom breadth) “cloud” nuggets about God’s Presence to guide and protect His people see Exodus 13:21-22; 14:19-20, and 14:25.

For more juicy RD4KB “cloud” nuggets about how all these events were intentionally designed to help the masses trust the Messenger to eventually guide all humanity (only a faithful remnant, actually) back to its Creator see Exodus 19:9, 19:16; 24:15-18; 33:9-11; 34:5-7, and 34:34-38.

OK…if you didn’t click on any of these above links, please just at least slow down enough to ask God how He is “calling” YOU to draw near to Him in holiness. To support you in drawing near to hear His voice on this RD4KB journey…check out this 5 min 59 sec video on holiness. Clink on the image below to explore the core theme of Leviticus as God “calling a priesthood to draw near in holiness” and using the sun as a metaphor for the power and illuminating Presence of God who is the Holy One of Israel.

This week’s portion is focused on giving you the building blocks of the sacrificial system from the perspective of Gods portion—what God “gets” from the earthly Tabernacle sacrificial system that was patterned after the Heavenly Tabernacle where God is enthroned. Specifically, you will read about the five main types of offerings (i.e., burnt, grain, peace, sin, and guilt).

Next week we will revisit these same five types of offerings but from a different perspective—man’s portion. Next week it will be from the perspective of the portion that goes to man, rather than God. Specifically, this means that next week we will look at things through the perspective of the portion of each offering that goes to the priest who served at the earthly Tabernacle. Don’t worry, I’ll try to help you overcome a lot of confusion about this sacrificial system to help you see it as the relational pathway back to God that all points us to Yeshua—the ultimate sacrifice and the Great High Priest!

If this blog has blessed you, please consider sharing it with a friend who may need some scriptural scaffolding on their journey of RD4KB!

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Readings for the Week:

Torah: LEVITICUS 1:1–6:7 [5:26 TANACH]
Prophets: ISAIAH 42:21–44:23
Apostolic Writings: HEBREWS 10:1–18

Click HERE for the online Parashah commentary.

Shalom,

Thomas