FoundationsSample

Verses like this are where Leviticus gets a bad reputation. It might seem barbaric to talk about splattering blood around the altar. It might seem beneath us to skin and cut up an animal for sacrifice. It might even be hard to read. But as we've talked about this week, we need to read this through the lens of imagery. What was God trying to teach his people through the rules and regulations here?

When we feel a little repulsed by the blood talk here, we need to remember why it was necessary. Sin earns death. That's the consequence of sin. But God, because he loves us, doesn't want any of us to have to experience that death ourselves. He wants us to be saved, just like he wanted his people here in Leviticus to be saved. But he also wants to be just; he won't break his own rules.

So, he created a way for the consequence of sin to be dealt with: an animal would die in place of a person to atone for some of their sins. It didn't solve everything, but it was a temporary solution while God waited for the right moment to introduce something better.

Think it Over: How can you regularly remember what God has done for you?