Tzav צַו - Command!
Torah Portion: Leviticus 6:1-8:36
Leviticus 8:14–21
8:14 He brought the bull of the sin offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the bull of the sin offering. 15 He killed it; and Moses took the blood, and put it around on the horns of the altar with his finger, and purified the altar, and poured out the blood at the base of the altar, and sanctified it, to make atonement for it. 16 He took all the fat that was on the innards, and the cover of the liver, and the two kidneys, and their fat; and Moses burned it on the altar. 17 But the bull, and its skin, and its meat, and its dung, he burned with fire outside the camp, as Hashem commanded Moses. 18 He presented the ram of the burnt offering. Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram. 19 He killed it, and Moses sprinkled the blood around on the altar. 20 He cut the ram into its pieces; and Moses burned the head, and the pieces, and the fat. 21 He washed the innards and the legs with water, and Moses burned the whole ram on the altar. It was a burnt offering for a pleasant aroma. It was an offering made by fire to Hashem, as Hashem commanded Moses.
Today’s Meditation:
Verse 14 says they laid hands on the bull. Usually, laying hands on something or someone means some dedication or transference. Here it could be both. They are dedicating this great animal to Hashem, and they are “transferring” the sins of the people onto this sacrifice. Sometimes when people pray for me or others, they lay hands on us. I believe they are trying to transfer Hashem’s healing power, love, and grace to the person they are praying for. Just one word of caution, do not let just anybody lay hands on you. Be sure you know the person and trust them. They are helping Elohim’s power and plan to reach you.
Today’s Challenge:
Again, we are learning Hashem’s specific rules for sacrifice. They are carefully laid out, and nothing is to be missed when applying them. We need to examine the entire Torah in this manner. We are to follow things exactly, not carelessly. Pay attention to the details and learn to study each Commandment. I encourage you, as you read the giving of the Laws in Torah, to see how they apply to your life today and how you can follow them carefully and precisely as you are able. Torah is life. Breathe it in and try to obey it.
