Lately I’ve been reading through the end of Exodus and the beginning of Leviticus. Chapter after chapter, I’m seeing dying cattle, sheep and goats, smelling the stench of blood, fire, meat, and dung, and hearing the awful crack of bones. Truthfully, it’s grossing me out. The other times I’ve read through the Old Testament, I normally come to terms with the ickiness of this section by reminding myself, “Jesus died once for all so we don’t have to do these kinds of sacrifices any more.” But a few questions still linger.
Back in Genesis, God created man in His image, breathed His living Spirit into us, and all was great in the world. Then Adam and Eve sinned. God had warned them that by disobeying Him the consequence would be death (Gen. 2:17). Why did God set it up that way? I don’t know, but from then on, the death of something else was required for the sinful humans to continue living a half-life on this earth. Animal skins covered Adam and Eve’s shame (Gen. 3:21); the Levitical law set up animal sacrifices to cover sin and uncleanness; Jesus ultimately died so humans could live a perfect eternal life in Heaven. “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” (Hebrews 9:22).
But what does it say about God if not only animal sacrifices, but a single horrific human sacrifice, His own Son no less, was what God demanded? Does this make God blood-thirsty if He would only be satisfied with a blood sacrifice (an acquaintance asked me this once)? Why does the beauty of grace and salvation have to come through something so ugly and downright repulsive?
As I’ve talked with a few other people, pondered this more, and wrestled with these questions, here are a couple of my thoughts:
1. Sacrifices and blood are gross because death is repulsive to us. Blood in particular is a sign of life (when it’s still inside the body, being pumped through arteries and veins as it’s supposed to). God Himself speaks of blood when He says, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life” (Leviticus 17:11). Death is repulsive to us because we were created for life. Therefore, blood is also gross. So why did God require a gross sacrifice?
2. Sin is gruesome. I’m going to go out on a limb here and guess that God is far more repulsed by our disobedience than I am by cute little birds being dipped in each other’s blood. After all, the Father did turn His face away from His own Son when Jesus had all our sin on him on the cross. God wouldn’t require something repulsive if He hadn’t already been pushed away, separated from us by something far worse than a bunch of little lambs – the chasm of sin.
3. Butchers do this every day. Maybe it’s not so gross. This point won’t help vegans and vegetarians, but for anyone that loves a good steak, the scenes of sacrifice in the temple might actually be a little more acceptable. Plus, the priests were supposed to kill the animals in the most humane way possible (i.e. not make them suffer). It’s not animal cruelty.
4. These are livestock, not pets. Sacrificing a cow is kind of like taking your first paycheck of every month and burning it. It seems wasteful, but it’s that concept of giving the firstfruits to God. It makes a statement – “I’m not relying on my income (or my livestock), I’m relying on God to provide.”
Feel free to comment other ideas or insights you may have, or corrections if you think I’m way off!
