Blood

Author: Joseph

Date: September 23, 2018

Throughout Israel’s journey in the wilderness they are instructed in how to perform sacrifices. Bulls, heifers, goats, sheep, lambs, turtledoves, and pigeons were sacrificed. Their blood was shed in the tent of meeting for the people to receive atonement from their sins. Why were these kinds of sacrifice required? Why did blood have to be shed in order for sins to be forgiven?

"Life for life."

God spoke to Moses, saying, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement” (Leviticus 17:11). Sin brings death to the one who commits it. The only way to recover from this penalty was to have a sacrifice of life made on behalf of the one who sinned. Life for life.

In the garden of Eden, Adam and Havah sinned against God by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They were warned by God that if they ate the fruit, they would surely die (Genesis 2:17). After sinning against God, instead of killing Adam and Havah, God offered a sacrifice on their behalf, and gave them garments of skins (Genesis 3:21). They were literally covered for their sins, and would wear their shame. Adam and Havah, after living in perfect peace, had to witness the life of an animal being taken away on their behalf. Death came into the world with their sin.

Blood contains the life of living things. It is so valuable that by its shedding a soul can be redeemed from the penalty of sin. This is why blood was required for sacrifices.

The life of blood is not to be taken lightly; it is what gives flesh its life. Blood is still shed to this day for many reasons, but it has become such common practice that we have forgotten its value and forgotten that it must be respected for containing life.

God commands His people not to take the shedding of blood lightly and that it is never to be consumed. We are to treat blood with dignity, respecting the life in it.

Do not take lightly that sin requires blood for atonement. Do not take lightly God’s mercy in using blood to redeem us from sin. Do not take lightly His forbiddance of its consumption. Blood – life – is holy to God and just as with all things holy, we are to be careful to treat it as such.

Bible Passage: Leviticus 17:1-16

Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB). www.lockman.org