The Sacrificial System- Exodus 29:10-30

Today, we think of animal sacrifices as somewhat barbaric, but they were meant to depict the unrighteousness of people and remind us of God’s sacrifice in Genesis 3—when He covered the shame of Adam and Eve and promised that Eve’s descendants would receive life even though all people earned death by sinning in the way of their father, Adam. God made the first sacrifice and used the hide of the animal to cloth Adam and Eve, symbolically covering them in His own righteousness rather than their shame. Thus, God introduces animal sacrifice into Israel’s religious system. The priests were to symbolically transfer the sin of Israel to the animal. That animal was to be burned up and Israel was to be pure before God. Some of the sacrifice was to be sustenance for the priests because of their service. The priests were to be consecrated with the blood of the sacrifice. The people of Israel were to be sprinkled with the blood from the sacrifice. The blood of the sacrifice signified that the life of the animal was imputed to the people while the sin of the people was imputed to the animal and burned up. The animal was the people’s substitute, their atonement. People could not atone for their own sins. There must be imputation. But, an animal hardly seems perfect or willing enough to pay the price for human sin. That’s why Israel had to offer regular sacrifices on the altar. Only a sinless and willing person could atone for human sin. That’s why Jesus came. In the great exchange, the sin of His people was imputed to Him and HIs righteousness was imputed to us. He was pierced for our transgressions and iniquities. The Father was pleased to crush Him on our behalf. Sin is now paid for in full. We no longer need animal sacrifices to remind us of God’s work until the Messiah comes. He came, the perfect atonement for human sin. Those who confess with their mouths that Jesus is Lord and believe in their hearts that God raised Him from the dead will be saved. Those who do not will pay the consequences for their own sin. Animal sacrifices might have been barbaric, but needed until the advent of Christ. God had a purpose. Now, we have God with us. The skin of the animal no longer covers our shame. Instead, the blood of Christ has made us shameless.