Exodus 29:37 “Seven days you shall make atonement for the altar and consecrate it, and the altar shall be most holy. Whatever touches the altar shall become holy”
Does the thought of animal sacrifice bother you? It can be really difficult to read the Exodus account and not consider the volume of animals slaughtered in ritual sacrifice before the Temple.
How can a loving holy God allow innocent animals to be killed?
We must remember, the sacrifice of animals wasn’t God’s original plan, the loss of life is a result of mankind’s failure and serves as a remembrance of the consequences for sin. Sin is an offense against God’s holiness, a rebuke of God’s authority and power, and mankind deserves death. Mercy revealed God’s patience while the animal sacrifices became a way for people to atone for sin. But the sacrifices did not change the position of the heart, they only sanctified the body.
There was an altar that stood outside the camp and also before the temple. It contained the fire and bore the sacrifice. The smoke rose up before God and was pleasing before Him.
Do we see that in life? All selfish works, and all this corrupt world will one day be consumed by fire. Will our sacrifices be counted as holy before the Lord or a pleasant aroma or will they be defiled and be a repulse to Him?
1 Peter 2:4-5 “As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
What can be offered to God that will be found worthy? What can we give that He does not already own?
As the priest was consecrated before God to offer the sacrifices, God’s people are made worthy to stand before Him as well. Each person who has been atoned for by the blood of the Lamb is made holy before God. Jesus became the Altar by which His people are sanctified.
Hebrews 13:10-12 “We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood.”
For those who hold onto tradition, or attempt to justify themselves by good works, they have no place in God’s camp. They cannot partake of God’s table because they are not holy. Unless the Lord has sprinkled His blood upon them and anointed them with the oil of His Spirit, they remain impure.
When conviction turns into obedience, there is transformation.
Psalm 96:8 “Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts!”
What can we offer to the Lord that would be acceptable?
Psalm 116:12-14 “What shall I render to the LORD
for all his benefits to me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the LORD,
I will pay my vows to the LORD
in the presence of all his people.”
The cup of salvation belongs to God, and only He can lift it up. His blood was poured out upon the altar, and so He made holy all who partake of Him. He became the pleasing sacrifice before the throne of God.
Today, the sacrifices have all disappeared. The temple is in ruins and the old order of priestly ritual has changed. Jesus became the high priest who entered into the holy place and sprinkled His blood upon the mercy seat. And yet the sacrifice of worship is still alive and well.
Romans 12:1 “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”
Serving the Lord is more than identifying as a christian. It requires sacrifice. For those called by the name of Jesus, they are now slaves to God’s will. The Kingdom of God is living and active, and the Spirit of God leads and directs in the Way. Following God’s commands is the minimum, walking in boldness as a testimony of His faithfulness is the expectation.
To follow Jesus requires everything. All that we are, all that we have is His. If there is anything we are trying to hold onto, we will certainly be tested as to whether we will trust Him or choose our own way.
When you give it all to Him, it will rise up to Him like a pleasing sacrifice…and you will be blessed.
U.T. 