He Holds Us Up!

He shall put his hand on the head…Leviticus 1:4

The transfer of sin to the sacrifice was not a mere touch. His hand was pressed upon the head of the animal. The Hebrew word for shall put carries the idea of “leaning, or sustaining, or pressing; as in to support oneself.” The psalmist uses this same word many times variously translated. Psalm 3:5: I lay down and slept. I awoke, for the LORD sustained me. Psalm 37:17: For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the LORD upholds me. Psalm 88:7: Your wrath lies heavy upon me, and You have afflicted me with all Your waves. Selah.

The one bringing the sacrifice before the Lord DID NOT merely pat the animal as if to say good-bye. He leaned against the head of the sacrifice saying: “I have sinned against God.” In doing so, God accepted the offering on his behalf to make atonement for him, Verse 4. 

This is living faith. The physical act of leaning illustrates the essence of faith. Leaning on Jesus. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him, 2 Corinthians 5:21. God, on our behalf, transferred our sin upon His only begotten Son. By faith, we enter into full communion with God through Jesus. We are justified by faith. Having become the righteousness of God in Him, 2 Corinthians 5:21.

By faith, sin was transferred to the animal sacrificed upon the altar of God. By faith, our sins were transferred to Jesus upon the cross of Calvary. There is no greater love!

For this reason, we gather in the name of Jesus to give praise to God our Father who provided a way out of our sinful past. Again, we look to the Psalms, “Uphold me according to Your word, that I may live; and do not let me be ashamed of my hope, Psalm 119:16. There it is, that same word used in Leviticus 1:4. Rightfully translated uphold me. The more we lean upon Jesus, the more He holds us up!