A Bloody Exchange...

This morning during my devotions I found myself growing tired of all the strange regulations God imposed upon the Hebrew people in the Old Testament books of Numbers and Leviticus. I'm in this section today because it's where Garland Church is in our All-Church-Bible-Read-Through, and I must confess some of this lately had seemed far away and irrelevant. And to top it off, a lot of animals have been losing their lives in macabre scenes as a result of the sacrifices God required of the people. There has been blood spattered everywhere...

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