Leviticus 9

The moment God shows His glory

And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of meeting, and came out and blessed the people. Then the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people, ~ Leviticus 9:23

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if God’s glory broke into an ordinary day of your life? Leviticus 9 gives a powerful picture of what happens when God’s people prepare themselves, offer what He asks, and step into their calling with courage. Even though this chapter describes a specific moment in Israel’s history, the pattern of obedience, surrender, and expectation still speaks to God’s people right now. God still responds when His people prepare their hearts, come before Him with humility and trust Him fully.

1: Preparation invites God’s presence

Aaron and the priests spent days preparing themselves before they ever stepped into ministry. Their obedience created a place where God’s glory could dwell.

Preparing your heart might look like choosing to pray before your day begins instead of rushing into responsibilities. It could be choosing quiet time with God before you make a big decision.

Here are some ways you can begin applying this truth in your life:  Start your morning with Scripture, praying before a challenging conversation, and setting aside distractions when you know God is speaking to you.

A personal experience of mine is when I felt overwhelmed at a time that I didn’t start my day in prayer. I kept trying to manage everything on my own, but the moment I returned to meeting with God early each morning, peace replaced pressure. Preparation made room for His presence again.

2: Obedience positions you for God to move

Aaron offered exactly what God commanded, nothing more and nothing less. He followed God’s instructions even though the moment was weighty. Obedience still opens doors for God’s power to work in a believer’s life.

Obedience might be forgiving someone even when emotions are messy, or giving when money feels tight, or serving when it feels inconvenient.

Some practical ways to apply this passage include reading God’s Word with willingness to follow what you read, choosing to walk in integrity (Doing what you say you are going to do when you say you are going to do it), and responding quickly when God prompts your heart.

A personal experience of mine is when the Holy Spirit nudged me to take a step of faith that felt uncomfortable. I could have ignored it, but when I obeyed, God provided in a way I could never have arranged on my own. Obedience unlocked what I had been praying for.

3: Expectation prepares you to witness God’s glory

The people gathered with anticipation. They did not treat this moment casually. They came expecting God to show Himself strong, and He did.

Expectation might be praying not just with words but with belief that God will answer. It might be entering a church service ready for God to speak instead of just attending out of habit.

Some practical ways to apply this passage include thanking God for what you have not seen yet, worshiping with your whole heart, and writing down prayers so you can watch God fulfill them.

A personal experience of mine is when I needed God to move in a situation that looked impossible. Instead of giving up, I began thanking Him each day for what He was doing behind the scenes and what He was going to do. That shift changed my outlook, and in time, He answered in a way that left me in awe. Expectation prepared me to recognize His glory when it appeared.

Today I want to encourage you to prepare your heart, obey what God is asking of you, and expect Him to show His glory in your life. God still responds to surrendered hearts. He still reveals Himself to those who trust Him. As you step into these practices, you will begin to see His hand moving in ways you never imagined.

Today’s scripture reading: Leviticus 9

1 It came to pass on the eighth day that Moses called Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel. 

2 And he said to Aaron, “Take for yourself a young bull as a sin offering and a ram as a burnt offering, without blemish, and offer them before the Lord. 

3 And to the children of Israel you shall speak, saying, ‘Take a kid of the goats as a sin offering, and a calf and a lamb, both of the first year, without blemish, as a burnt offering, 

4 also a bull and a ram as peace offerings, to sacrifice before the Lord, and a grain offering mixed with oil; for today the Lord will appear to you.’ ”

5 So they brought what Moses commanded before the tabernacle of meeting. And all the congregation drew near and stood before the Lord. 

6 Then Moses said, “This is the thing which the Lord commanded you to do, and the glory of the Lord will appear to you.” 

7 And Moses said to Aaron, “Go to the altar, offer your sin offering and your burnt offering, and make atonement for yourself and for the people. Offer the offering of the people, and make atonement for them, as the Lord commanded.”

8 Aaron therefore went to the altar and killed the calf of the sin offering, which was for himself. 

9 Then the sons of Aaron brought the blood to him. And he dipped his finger in the blood, put it on the horns of the altar, and poured the blood at the base of the altar. 

10 But the fat, the kidneys, and the fatty lobe from the liver of the sin offering he burned on the altar, as the Lord had commanded Moses. 

11 The flesh and the hide he burned with fire outside the camp.

12 And he killed the burnt offering; and Aaron’s sons presented to him the blood, which he sprinkled all around on the altar. 

13 Then they presented the burnt offering to him, with its pieces and head, and he burned them on the altar. 

14 And he washed the entrails and the legs, and burned them with the burnt offering on the altar.

15 Then he brought the people’s offering, and took the goat, which was the sin offering for the people, and killed it and offered it for sin, like the first one. 

16 And he brought the burnt offering and offered it according to the prescribed manner. 

17 Then he brought the grain offering, took a handful of it, and burned it on the altar, besides the burnt sacrifice of the morning.

18 He also killed the bull and the ram as sacrifices of peace offerings, which were for the people. And Aaron’s sons presented to him the blood, which he sprinkled all around on the altar, 

19 and the fat from the bull and the ram—the fatty tail, what covers the entrails and the kidneys, and the fatty lobe attached to the liver; 

20 and they put the fat on the breasts. Then he burned the fat on the altar; 21but the breasts and the right thigh Aaron waved as a wave offering before the Lord, as Moses had commanded.

22 Then Aaron lifted his hand toward the people, blessed them, and came down from offering the sin offering, the burnt offering, and peace offerings. 

23 And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of meeting and came out and blessed the people. Then the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people, 

24 and fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. When all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.

Journal:

• What is one area of my life where God is asking me to prepare my heart more intentionally?
• Where is God calling me to take a step of obedience today?
• What am I believing God for that requires renewed expectation?