The different categories of offerings – from unintentional sin offerings, to repayment offerings and fellowship offerings – are listed here and the appropriate sacrifices specified.

Each different offering requires a different attention to complex detail. It gives a bit of a clue to the unknown complexity of the world that even the tiniest thing is deeply symbolic and has a specific meaning to God.

As Jesus says, even the sparrows cannot die without God noticing.

So even though it is a little mystifying to read, it is also fascinating to see how everything we do gains a reaction from God, who expects a corresponding reaction from us.

Thankfully now we can call the blood of Christ over ourselves for redemption. I don’t know how we’d go with all this stuff without him. Probably make the Israelites look absolutely shining despite their mistakes.

Dear God, Thank you for your deep and mysterious love of the world despite all our sins. It is so deep and high and mysterious that to know it all would be too much for me. Help me to see you enough to be able to teach my children to love you. In Jesus name’ Amen.