The purpose of the burnt offering is to make atonement for the worshipper. The sacrifice appears to have two purposes, a propitiatory purpose (to stay God’s wrath) and an expiatory purpose (to cleanse from sin). The burnt offering indicated that God’s holiness was satisfied and that the offerer was now accepted. It also indicated that the offerer, in order to be accepted, had to completely surrender to God. One commentary says, “The central message of the offering is that a man cannot be accepted by the Lord without complete surrender and a laying bare of his egocentric nature before the Lord.”1
4 He shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.