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In lodge to understand the idea of sacrifices and offerings, we must go dorsum to the very beginning of the Bible. By Genesis 4, the first sons, Cain and Abel, were practicing an early form of sacrifice: "After Cain brought some crops from the land equally an offering to the LORD. Abel likewise brought some choice parts of the firstborn animals from his flock. The LORD approved of Abel and his offering, only he didn't approved of Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry and was disappointed" (Gen 4:iii-five). From the starting time, offerings and sacrifices mostly expressed two attitudes: gratitude and repentance. In the case of Cain and Abel, afterward history of sacrifice might pb the states to think that God's rejection of Cain'south offer was considering it wasn't a blood sacrifice, but the text doesn't indicate such a conclusion. Cain's offering was casual and perhaps devil-may-care; Abel'due south was costly. Cain brought "some crops"; Abel presented "some choice parts." Cain's response to God'south correction revealed his heart.

HEART Cede

This emphasis on attitude over performance appears again and once again throughout the Bible. God repeatedly confronted his people over their persistent tendency to go worship incorrect fifty-fifty when they got the offerings and sacrifices technically right. The prophets had this problem every bit a central theme in their preaching. Hosea reported God's words: "I want your loyalty, not your sacrifices. I want you to know me, not to give me burnt offerings" (Hosea 6:vi). Samuel had to rebuke Male monarch Saul's efforts to cover his defiance with sacrifice: "Is the LORD as delighted with burnt offerings and sacrifices every bit he would exist with your obedience? To follow instructions is better than to sacrifice. To obey is improve than sacrificing the fat of rams" (one Sam 15:22). We find the healthy expression of this mental attitude in David's psalm of repentance: "The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. O God, you do not despise a broken and sorrowful middle" (Ps 51:17).

Sacrifices and offerings were an important part of worship. When Israel was feed from slavery in Egypt, God spent significant fourth dimension educational activity the new nation non just their individual responsibilities only likewise how they could part before him as an obedient corporate people. The numerous sacrifices and offerings prescribed past God might at beginning appear to do good God, who needs zip; in reality, all these worship actions ultimately benefited those who worshiped. The framework for sacrifices as detailed in Leviticus 23 had as its foundation the sacrifice of a day each week-the Sabbath. God gave his people 7 days from which he expected them to return one day of laurels to him- the day of rest. As Jesus afterwards explained, the Sabbath was modeled by God in creation fifty-fifty though he needed no rest, in club that humans might eventually empathize the healthy benefits of working upward to half dozen days just resting on the seventh. In Jesus' brief words, "The day of worship [Sabbath] was made for people, non people for the day of worship" (Marker 2:27).

SUBSTITUTIONARY Atonement

The thought behind sacrifice, particularly blood sacrifice, required the substitution of one life (the animal) for another (the worshiper or the people). A sacrifice was necessary because of sin. Failure to obey God or deliberate efforts to disobey God created an criminal offense or debt that could non be settled by mere amends. The harm was every bit existent as a cleaved window; forgiveness for throwing the rock doesn't prepare the shattered window. The sacrifice became the payment for the window-a symbolic settling of accounts-and an assurance of the forgiveness God was willing to requite. This elaborate system prepared God's people and the residual of the world for the grand sacrifice of God'south own Son, once on the cross, as payment and settlement of sin. His death demonstrates and guarantees God'southward forgiveness, paying the debt for our criminal offense. "God had Christ, who was sinless, accept our sin so that we might receive God'south approval through him" (2 Cor 5:21).

The various sacrifices and offerings sometimes involved burning of the fat from animals as an incense to God, but the meat and other edibles that were brought were used to feed the priests and Levites as well as to serve in the communal meals during the festivals. And then, for case, the opening chapter of 1 Samuel shows a Jewish man named Elkanah coming to Shiloh with a yearly cede: "Whenever Elkanah offered a cede, he would give portions of information technology to his married woman Peninnah and all her sons and daughters. He would also give one portion to Hannah considering he loved her, even though the LORD had kept her from having children" (1 Sam ane:iv-5). The animal was offered, but the meat was shared afterward the sacrifice.

This was also symbolic of Christ'due south cede. We have the dual, priceless blessing of a Savior who willingly sacrificed himself on our behalf and yet whose fellowship we can savor at present and forever since he, though dead, rose from the grave. The sacrifice of Jesus, painful though information technology was, made our eternity infinitely delightful because we get to spend it with him.