This is going to be hard to believe, but I've studied the four offerings of the OT Law, all the way through in Leviticus, and yet STILL cannot get the what-fors. So, can someone help me get it?
So here are the four kinds:
1. Sin offering.
2. Burnt offering.
3. Peace offering.
4. Thanksgiving offering.
(Read Num. 6:13-15 if you haven't caught on to there are four kinds of offerings. And don't feel so bad, if you haven't, because I have missed this for decades. lol)
Three of them make senses. Sin because we must repent. Peace because we must make peace after repenting. Thanksgiving, because... well, he's worthy of thanking and who doesn't want to thank him when he gives us good things? But what in the world is the burnt offering for?
You do pose the most interesting questions
As far as I can tell the burnt offering was the most common of all, there were to
be continuous burnt offerings.
Years ago I was taught that the first mention of something in the bible is very
significant and points to its meaning later on.
The first burnt offering seems to have been made following the flood, it's interesting
that God smelled the aroma. I think in some way it may be representative of a reminder
to God of his promises - not that he is forgetful but that
maybe it is a reminder of the covenants and promises in place between God and man.
Kind of like a handshake. I suspect there is also an element of prayer there.
There are many promises in the bible, the promise of forgiveness, of atonement for
sin, the promise not to destroy every living thing again despite the sin - which was
pacified by the burnt offering. The promise to Abraham etc.
Genesis 8:20-21 NKJV
[20] Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal and of every
clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. [21] And the LORD smelled a
soothing aroma. Then the LORD said in His heart, "
I will never again curse the ground
for man's sake, although the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; nor
will I again destroy every living thing as I have done.
Genesis 22:8-18 NKJV
[8] And Abraham said, "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt
offering." So the two of them went together. [9] Then they came to the place
of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the
wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon
the wood. [10] And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
[11] But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said,
"Abraham, Abraham!" So he said, "Here I am." [12] And He said, "Do not lay your
hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God,
since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me." [13] Then
Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught
in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it
up for a burnt offering instead of his son. [14] And Abraham called the name
of the place, The-LORD-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, "In the Mount
of the LORD it shall be provided." [15] Then the Angel of the LORD called
to Abraham a second time out of heaven, [16] and said: "
By Myself I have sworn,
says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your
son, your only son- [17] blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply
your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the
seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.
[18] In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have
obeyed My voice."
Exodus 29:42-46 NKJV
[42]
This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door
of the tabernacle of meeting before the LORD, where I will meet you to speak with
you. [43] And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall
be sanctified by My glory. [44] So I will consecrate the tabernacle of meeting and
the altar. I will also consecrate both Aaron and his sons to minister to Me as priests.
[45]
I will dwell among the children of Israel and will be their God. [46] And they
shall know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them up out of the land of
Egypt, that I may dwell among them. I am the LORD their God.
Exodus 29:18 NKJV
[18] And you shall burn the whole ram on the altar. It is a burnt offering to the LORD;
it is a sweet aroma, an offering made by fire to the LORD.
Leviticus 1:17 NKJV
[17] Then he shall split it at its wings, but shall not divide it completely; and the priest
shall burn it on the altar, on the wood that is on the fire. It is a burnt sacrifice, an
offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the LORD.
There are many more versus which mention this sweet aroma to God in respect
of burnt offerings. This is just my theory anyway, maybe others will have different ideas.
By the way we have frequent burnt offerings in my kitchen.