Volume 14: And He Called

And He Called

Leviticus is probably one of the most skipped books in the entire Bible. I understand why.

At first glance, Leviticus seems like a long list of sacrifices, laws, and instructions that don’t appear to have much to do with our lives today. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.

The name Leviticus comes from the tribe of Levi. Levi was the third son of Jacob and Leah, and generations later God chose his descendants to serve in the Tabernacle. Aaron and his sons, who came from the tribe of Levi, became Israel’s priests, while the other Levites assisted in the work of the sanctuary.

Why Did God Call Moses to Write Leviticus?

When the children of Israel fashioned a golden calf and turned to idolatry, Moses descended from the presence of God and asked: “Who is on the LORD’S side? let him come unto me.” Scripture records, “And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him” (Exodus 32:26).

From that tribe, God set apart men for His sacred service. Moses was called to be Israel’s deliverer, lawgiver, prophet, and covenant mediator, while his brother Aaron was appointed as Israel’s first high priest. Yet when the book of Leviticus opens—a book devoted largely to the priesthood, sacrifices, and worship—“The LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation…” (Leviticus 1:1).

Before there could be priestly ministry, there had to be divine revelation. Before the priests could faithfully serve the people, God first entrusted His Word to the mediator, establishing a pattern that reminds us true ministry always begins with hearing from God.

In fact, the Hebrew title of the book isn’t Leviticus at all. It’s Vayyiqra, which simply means, “And He called.”

That changes the way I read the entire book. God had already delivered Israel out of Egypt. He had already brought them through the Red Sea. He had already entered into covenant with them. Now He was calling His redeemed people to learn what it looked like to live in His presence.

That’s really what Leviticus is about. It is not a book about rituals. It’s a book about relationship.

God’s Holiness Hasn’t Changed

One of the biggest lessons Leviticus teaches is that God never lowers His standard. “Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.” (Leviticus 19:2)

God didn’t tell Israel to compare themselves with the nations around them. He told them to look at Him. God still requires that of us today.

Peter quoted this same verse centuries later when writing to NT believers (1 Peter 1:15–16), reminding us that the God who called Israel to holiness is the same God who calls His Church today.

Jesus didn’t come to redefine holiness. He came to reveal it perfectly. When we look at Christ, we see exactly what the holiness of God looks like lived out in human flesh.

Every Sacrifice Was Pointing to Jesus

One verse summarizes the entire sacrificial system: “For the life of the flesh is in the blood… it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.” (Leviticus 17:11)

If you’ve ever wondered why there was so much blood in Leviticus, here’s why: God was teaching His people that sin is costly. Every sacrifice preached the same sermon: the wages of sin is death.

But here’s what makes Leviticus so incredible. None of those sacrifices were the destination. They were all pointing to Jesus. The blood of animals could temporarily cover sin, but only the blood of Christ could remove it forever.

The cross didn’t replace Leviticus. It fulfilled everything Leviticus had been preparing us to see.

God Still Decides How We Approach Him

One of the saddest stories in Leviticus is found in chapter 10.

The sons of Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, had just been ordained as priests when they offered “strange fire” before the Lord—something God had never commanded.

Like much of today’s church, our problem is not a lack of passion—it is a lack of holiness. We have traded consecration for cultural acceptance. We want to look, sound, dress, and entertain like the world. Yet God declared, “Ye shall be holy unto me… I have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine” (Leviticus 20:26). “Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). “Be not conformed to this world” (Romans 12:2). “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord” (2 Corinthians 6:17). God never called His people to fit in. He called us to be set apart.

Jesus said the Father is seeking those who worship Him “in spirit and in truth.” Real worship isn’t built around the strange fire of our personal preferences. It’s built around God’s truth.

Jesus became our great High Priest so we could come boldly before the Father—but always through Him, never on our own terms.

God Wanted His People More Than Their Sacrifices

This may be my favorite lesson from Leviticus. The sacrifices were never the final destination. They were God’s appointed means of dwelling among His people while pointing forward to the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ. God’s presence was always the goal.

Throughout Leviticus, God established a rich system of offerings that included the Burnt Offering, Grain Offering, Peace Offering, Sin Offering, Trespass Offering, Wave Offering, Heave Offering, Drink Offering, Firstfruits Offering, Freewill Offering, Vow Offering, and Thanksgiving Offering. None of these were man-made traditions to be replaced with money. Each offering was divinely appointed by God to reveal His holiness, teach His redemptive plan, and foreshadow the perfect and final sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Every offering, priest, feast, cleansing, and Day of Atonement answered one question: How can a holy God dwell among sinful people?

John answers that question. “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…” (John 1:14)

The God who once filled the Tabernacle with His glory came to dwell among us in Jesus Christ. Leviticus was pointing there all along.

Every Part of Life Belongs to God

Leviticus doesn’t just talk about the way we assemble on Sundays. It talks about families, business, justice, money, sexuality, compassion, the poor, and the stranger.

Focusing solely on church attendance diminishes what it means to be a follower of Christ. God wants complete submission—discipleship demands a committed lifestyle, not merely a Sunday service.

Again and again God says, “I am the LORD.” In other words, there isn’t a part of life where He isn’t Lord. Either He is Lord of all or He is not Lord at all.

Paul echoes that same truth when he writes, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Following Jesus isn’t something we do only on Sunday. He is Lord over every conversation, every decision, every relationship, and every part of our lives.

Don’t Skip Leviticus

For many believers, Leviticus has become the Monday-through-Saturday of the Bible. Don’t be one that speeds through it just to arrive at the “weekend” of the New Testament, assuming Leviticus has little to offer.

When we skip Leviticus, we are not merely skipping a book—we are skipping one of the clearest revelations of God’s holiness, His justice, His mercy, and His plan to point every sacrifice toward Christ.

What many people see as a book of rituals is actually one of the clearest pictures of Jesus in the entire Old Testament.

Every sacrifice points to Him. Every priest points to Him. Every feast points to Him. Every drop of blood points to Him. Every law reminds us why we need Him. And maybe that’s why the Hebrew title isn’t Leviticus. It’s “And He called.” Because God is still calling.

He’s calling sinners to repentance, believers to holiness, His Church back to His Word, and all who will listen to draw near through Jesus Christ.

So the next time you begin reading Leviticus, don’t rush past the very book that helps us see the heart of God and hear Him still calling everyone who is willing to draw near.