Reading

• Ex. 29:1-31:11, 18

Devotional

As part of the covenant with Israel, GOD told Moses to have the priests offer numerous animals as sacrifices unto Him. In order for the children of Israel to have a covenant relationship with GOD they had to continuously kill animals and offer them as sacrifices before GOD. This was a very bloody, messy, gruesome and unpleasant process. Why would GOD require animal sacrifices? Let’s consider two reasons:

1. By sacrificing the innocent animal in GOD’s prescribed way, it transferred the guilt from the person offering the sacrifice onto the innocent animal. This was required in order for GOD to have a relationship with the guilty sinner.
2. The gruesome process served as a continuous reminder of the ugliness and severity of sin, and therefore encouraged people to avoid sinning.

But the blood of animals could not permanently take away sins (Heb. 10:4), and that’s why Jesus had to die on the cross. Only the innocent blood of a perfect, sinless person was pure enough to take away the sins of the world. Thankfully, Jesus was that person. He lived a perfect, sinless life and He laid down His life for the world. Jesus lived under tremendous pressure because He was mankind’s only chance for redemption. Yet GOD knew this before He created the world. He knew that we would sin and that He could come to pay our debt.

Hallelujah! Praise GOD! Thank you Jesus!