The offerings brought pleasure to God. Based on God's pleasure with the offerings, He accepted (approved) those offerings (Leviticus 1:3), granted atonement (1:4), and forgave sins (4:20). Why were the offerings so special to God? What gave them their pleasurable quality?
Within the descriptions of the offerings, several characteristics emerge that reveal why God was pleased. First, God was pleased because the people were giving to Him something of value. What they were giving cost something. Whether it was the first of their crops or an animal from their herds, those who offered would have received benefit from keeping the resource for their own needs. A "gift" of something that someone does not want or care about is a meaningless gift; however, a gift given to the point of self-deprivation shows the sincerity of the gift and makes it special.
Second, God was pleased because the offerings required effort from those who gave them. There was a personal investment of time and care in preparing the offering. Those who offered had to observe the animals for some time to make sure they were free from defects. They had to separate out the quantity of flour or oil, as well as any accompanying spices. They had to bake the cake. They had to examine the produce and gather the grain. They had to take their offerings to the priests. The offerings were not mindless or effortless, but required those who offered to be involved in the process.
Third, God was pleased because the offerings demonstrated obedience. The instructions for the offerings were very precise. Sometimes a particular type of animal was specified. Different offerings were prepared in different ways. Some offerings were to be presented at particular times of the year or under specific circumstances. Grain offerings were to be prepared without leaven and were to be combined with oil. More fundamental than following the specific procedures was the fact that the very bringing of offerings was in obedience to God's instructions. By obediently yielding to God's commands, the people showed their humility and submission to God.
Fourth, God was pleased when His people took deliberate steps to maintain a healthy relationship with Him. In particular, the offerings for sin and guilt demonstrated willful intention to make things right with God. These offerings were clear acknowledgements of the wrong that had been done. They were purposeful steps in obtaining forgiveness, clearing the offense with God and man, and pursuing unbroken fellowship with God. God was pleased with the steps of restoration and pleased with the sincere heart that desired such restoration, even when there was a cost involved.
It was not the simple fact of the offerings that brought pleasure. The book of Malachi attests to that. Motivated by custom, the people in Malachi's day continued to sacrifice, but their offerings were not received by God. "'I am not pleased with you,' says the LORD of hosts, 'nor will I accept an offering from you'" (Malachi 1:10).
Offerings were pleasing to God when they were sincere, from hearts of devotion, and when that devotion prompted careful obedience to God's instructions. There were some who tried to bring offerings on their own terms. They wanted to make their own adjustments based on their preferences or wisdom, rather than on what God had asked. Perhaps the most notable of these was the offering of strange incense by Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1-3). Far from pleasing God, this offering brought His harsh displeasure.
While God is pleased only with offerings according to His instructions, He is not unreasonable or unfeeling. God was particularly sensitive toward the poor people who did not have sufficient resources to offer the same offerings as others. God made provision and allowances for the restrictions of poverty. In place of a lamb, God allowed poor people to substitute pigeons. If they couldn't even afford the two pigeons, they could bring a handful of flour (5:7-11). In one case, in considering what was within a person's means, God even said, "He shall offer what he can afford" (14:31).
No Christian should feel intimidated or incapable when it comes to being able to offer something meaningful to God. God is pleased with a gift of value, a gift that requires effort, a gift that demonstrates obedience, and a gift that reveals a heart desire for a relationship with God. The practical display of those gifts will vary greatly from person to person, but any Christian can give something pleasing to God if he will give it from a loving, willing, submissive, and tender heart.
Jesus Himself recognized the emptiness of ritual sacrifices (Hebrews 10:5-6,8). In their place, Jesus offered what He knew would be pleasing to God. "Then I said, 'Behold, I have come (In the scroll of the book it is written of Me) to do Your will, O God'" (Hebrews 10:7).
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise" (Psalm 51:17).
"Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship" (Romans 12:1).
"Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased" (Hebrews 13:15-16).
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