Leviticus 1-4

“ … the priest shall burn it on the altar for a pleasing aroma to the LORD. And the priest shall make atonement for him, and he shall be forgiven” (4:31).  The various kinds of sacrifices, both animals and grain, created a “pleasing aroma” to the Lord.  God had called the Israelites out of Egypt, protected them in the desert, and gave them instructions about how to live as His holy people. The blood of animals itself couldn’t remove sin (Heb 10:4); instead, God was pleased with the Israelites’ obedient faith and forgave them. 

“He shall be forgiven” (v31). Our forgiveness and acceptance into God’s family isn’t based on our search for God, but on His loving search for us.