I've found myself thinking, "Why all the blood and mess? Isn't there some other way God could have chosen to maintain the relationship between he and his people?" I imagine many of you have wondered some of the same things.
Thankfully, today's reading had several embedded jewels that God placed in the system to make it clear what was behind all of this. I'd like to point out Leviticus 1:4 as a representative:
"Lay your hand on the animal's head, and the Lord will accept its death in your place to purify you, making you right with him."
So according to this verse, the whole reason all this was done was so that both parties - the individual and God - would know that this animal was dying in the place of (literally, "in atonement for") the person bringing the sacrifice. It was a bloody exchange...
Apparently, sin is a very serious thing to God. It caused harm to their relationship with him; it fractured their relationships with each other. God's holy nature is not content to allow sin to live on unaddressed. Maybe that bothers us, but you and I aren't perfect - God is, and he merits the right to demand such a response to such waywardness. So, instead of their own death which should have been the outcome, God in his mercy allowed another to die in their place. They placed their hands on the animal's head to be sure they understood this, and somehow I imagine the point was very clear.
The animal lover in me fires up in anger over the whole system; it just seems crazy. Why should an innocent animal have to die? I've never enjoyed seeing animals die innocently or appropriately. Sometimes life requires this, but it's never been enjoyable for me.
Still, if the system operated the same today, I'd bring the animal and lay my hands on its head and watch it's slaughter and subsequent burning. I'd be sickened for the animal, but I'd be alive and thankful before God...
Those who know the whole story are well aware that Jesus Christ, God's Son, died a similar death on our behalf. In faith, we lay our hands on Christ's head and he dies in our place. His bloody death is counted sufficient, making us right with him. I'm sickened for Christ, but I'm alive and thankful before God...
Thank you, Lord God, for accepting your Son's death for me. He did not deserve it; I do not deserve to receive your mercy because of His sacrifice. Thank you that I am alive before You...
Lookin' Up, Pastarod
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5 comments:
Rod,
I really appreciate your comments on what it has been like to read about bloody sacrifice after sacrifice, and I will say more in a moment, but right now I want to see if I know how to post a comment!
I was also struck by all the blood and what seems to be violent in our culture. But then I thought of the sacrifice that Jesus took on for our behalf. I thought that when the people saw what was happening to Him, those who had followed the customs of purification and sacrifice would have recognized this spotless lamb laying His life down for us. I am thankful for what Jesus did for me so that my sins can be forgiven... and so happy we don't have to sacrifice animals anymore -yuck!!
I have a question? Why was manna needed in the wilderness when they had their own flocks and herds with them? Just wondering!
That's a good question about why they needed manna in the wilderness, since they had their own flocks and herds with them, and truthfully, I don't necessarily know. But, I think it has something to do with the high number of people in their bunch (we'd learned a few weeks ago that they were over 2 million!) and their reliance on these animals not only for occasional food but also milk and whatever else. They're going to need these flocks when they get there (rather than eat them all up). So, my point is it seems God provided this grain-like manna as their primary staple for their journey. Remember, they don't at this point in the narrative have any expectation that they'll be in the wilderness for the proverbial "forty years," but it's going to happen soon enough and that failure of faith on the people's part will indeed make God's provision of the manna all that more important.
Anyone else have any thoughts?
I've always thought of *correct me if I'm wrong* mana as God's provision. Yes they had the flocks but they needed something for the daily nutirional intake. God provided all of their sustanace including the quail that they had after complianing that mana was not enough. So symboilc and litteral at the same time. :-)
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