Exodus 4
Leviticus 4 explains the regulations for the sin offering. This chapter gives instructions for sins committed unintentionally by the anointed priest, the whole congregation, a leader, or one of the common people. Depending on the person’s role and responsibility within the community, different sacrifices and procedures are required. Through these regulations, the chapter shows how sin within the community must be addressed and how important holiness before God is.
1verseMoses answered, “But, behold, they will not believe me, nor listen to my voice; for they will say, ‘The LORD has not appeared to you.’”
2verseThe LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A rod.”
3verseHe said, “Throw it on the ground.” He threw it on the ground, and it became a snake; and Moses ran away from it.
4verseThe LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand, and take it by the tail.” He stretched out his hand, and took hold of it, and it became a rod in his hand.
5verse“This is so that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.”
6verseThe LORD said furthermore to him, “Now put your hand inside your cloak.” He put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous, as white as snow.
7verseHe said, “Put your hand inside your cloak again.” He put his hand inside his cloak again, and when he took it out of his cloak, behold, it had turned again as his other flesh.
8verse“It will happen, if they will not believe you or listen to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.
9verseIt will happen, if they will not believe even these two signs or listen to your voice, that you shall take of the water of the river, and pour it on the dry land. The water which you take out of the river will become blood on the dry land.”
10verseMoses said to the LORD, “O Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before now, nor since you have spoken to your servant; for I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.”
11verseThe LORD said to him, “Who made man’s mouth? Or who makes one mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Isn’t it I, the LORD?
12verseNow therefore go, and I will be with your mouth, and teach you what you shall speak.”
13verseMoses said, “Oh, Lord, please send someone else.”
14verseThe LORD’s anger burned against Moses, and he said, “What about Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Also, behold, he is coming out to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.
15verseYou shall speak to him, and put the words in his mouth. I will be with your mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what you shall do.
16verseHe will be your spokesman to the people. It will happen that he will be to you a mouth, and you will be to him as God.
17verseYou shall take this rod in your hand, with which you shall do the signs.”
18verseMoses went and returned to Jethro his father-in-law, and said to him, “Please let me go and return to my brothers who are in Egypt, and see whether they are still alive.” Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.”
19verseThe LORD said to Moses in Midian, “Go, return into Egypt; for all the men who sought your life are dead.”
20verseMoses took his wife and his sons, and set them on a donkey, and he returned to the land of Egypt. Moses took God’s rod in his hand.
21verseThe LORD said to Moses, “When you go back into Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the wonders which I have put in your hand, but I will harden his heart and he will not let the people go.
22verseYou shall tell Pharaoh, ‘The LORD says, Israel is my son, my firstborn,
23verseand I have said to you, “Let my son go, that he may serve me;” and you have refused to let him go. Behold, I will kill your firstborn son.’”
24verseOn the way at a lodging place, the LORD met Moses and wanted to kill him.
25verseThen Zipporah took a flint, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet; and she said, “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me.”
26verseSo he let him alone. Then she said, “You are a bridegroom of blood,” because of the circumcision.
27verseThe LORD said to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.” He went, and met him on God’s mountain, and kissed him.
28verseMoses told Aaron all the LORD’s words with which he had sent him, and all the signs with which he had instructed him.
29verseMoses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel.
30verseAaron spoke all the words which the LORD had spoken to Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people.
31verseThe people believed, and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had seen their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshiped.
Awareness of Sin and the Sacrificial Procedure
The passage emphasizes that when sin becomes known, a sin offering is to be made so that the person’s relationship with God may be restored. Different animals and procedures are specified for the anointed priest, the whole congregation, a leader, and common people. This shows that responsibility differs according to one’s role and influence within the community. Detailed regulations—such as applying blood in the sanctuary or on the altar, burning certain portions, and disposing of other parts outside the camp—show that sin is not merely a private matter, but something that affects the holiness of the community and the sanctuary.
Overall Meaning and Message
- Leviticus 4 awakens us to the holiness before God and the seriousness of sin. Even sins committed by mistake are not overlooked, and the process of atonement is required.
- The sin offering for atonement is also for the purification of the entire community, not only for individuals. Through this, our relationship with God is restored, and the community is maintained in health.
- The sacrificial system of the Old Testament emphasizes that forgiveness of sin comes from God’s grace.
Meditation Points
- How am I viewing the mistakes and sins I commit unknowingly, or without realizing it?
- I can think deeply about how my life affects the community, and what changes my repentance and purification might bring to those around me.
Try Applying It to Yourself
- You can learn an attitude of living that honestly acknowledges even small mistakes and wrongdoings and approaches God.
- Let’s start each day by not avoiding or ignoring sin, and by cherishing purity and restored relationships.
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