For many people, the Old Testament seems just that—old. It goes back at least 5,000 years. How could anything that ancient possibly be of interest to us today? Well yes, there are a few exciting stories such as Noah and the flood, David and Goliath, and Daniel in the lions’ den. And the book of Genesis does peer into the mists of pre-creation. But honestly, can all those pages of history and prophecy really say anything relevant to us today?

Take the book of Leviticus, for example. Whoa, all those lists of rules and descriptions of ceremonies. If it weren’t the Bible, I’d be tempted to say out loud, “Boring!”

But wait a minute, let’s hear what Origen said. Origen was born about 185 A.D. in Alexandria on Africa’s northern coast. He loved God so much that he wanted to be a martyr for his faith, just like his dad. When Origen was seventeen, his father was executed for being a Christian. Origen was ready to walk out the door and give himself up to the authorities too, but his mom hid his clothes and stopped him.

Of course, God was in control of these events. He saved Origen for a special assignment. A bright young man, he became the head of a Christian school at age eighteen. He taught, preached, and became possibly the most prolific of all Christian scholar-writers.

At this time, scriptures were scrutinized as to whether they should be officially included in the New Testament. Many people wondered about how the gospels and letters written by Paul, Peter, and others, related to the Old Testament. Origen believed that the whole of the Old Testament was a prophecy concerning Christ and that Christ was the key to understanding the Old Testament. For Origen, everything the ancient Hebrews experienced and practiced had a deeper meaning that pointed to Christ. In fact, Origen said the Old Testament was written expressly for Christians.

If Origen is right, then we can read even “boring” Old Testament books such as Leviticus, dig deep into the past, and find amazing revelations of the Savior. For example, in Leviticus, we read over and over about how precious and meaningful blood is to God. God forbid his people to eat the blood of sacrificed animals. “The life of every creature is its blood,” He said. Blood sprinkled on Aaron the priest consecrated him to God. And blood sprinkled on the altar paid, or atoned, for the sins of the Israelites. Here is a picture from the past detailing the meaning of God’s plan to pay for our sins through Jesus’ blood shed in death.

In Leviticus, we also learn about what went on “outside the camp” when the Israelites journeyed to the Promised Land. Bodies of animals sacrificed as sin offerings were burned there. People with contagious skin infections lived in isolation there. People relieved themselves in a certain area. Blasphemers were stoned there. People who were ceremonially defiled because they had touched a dead body passed allotted purification days there. Even though there were designated clean areas outside the camp, too, it was mainly a place of disgrace.

This place foreshadows Jesus’ going “outside the city” of Jerusalem to die for us. Knowing what went on outside the camp in Leviticus deeply enhances our picture of where Jesus died and its disgrace. We also see His deep humility and love for us, which made Him go there.

In Leviticus, we get another glimpse at the crucifixion of Christ as we read how a person could be pronounced “healed” from an infectious skin disease. Once the priest examined the person outside the camp and saw he was clean, he called for two live birds, some cedar wood, scarlet yarn, and hyssop (a brush-type plant). One of the birds was killed over a clay pot full of water. Then he took the live bird along with the other items and dipped them into the blood of the dead bird. He sprinkled this blood seven times on the healed man and pronounced him clean. Then the live bird was let go in the open fields.

What a picture of Christ’s death on the blood-stained cross, refusing the vinegar-soaked hyssop, in order to make us clean, take away our sin, and give us freedom in Him!

Plowing through what seems to be boring, repetitive or esoteric passages in the Old Testament will only yield rich treasures for the persistent seeker. It’s like finding forgotten photographs of long-gone family members at the bottom of an old trunk in the attic. People from the past you knew only by name now look you in the eye.

It’s like getting a telephone call from a brother you thought was dead.

It’s a surprising and emotional experience to see the face of Jesus smiling at you from old verses you neglected for too long. I was caught off-guard. I read Leviticus and it made me cry.

Copyright © by Carol Brinneman Share