Day Thirteen: Understanding Blood and Sacrifice

Why is a BLOOD SACRIFICE necessary?

We have finished up learning about nine of the ten plagues that GOD sent to judge those who put other “gods” before Him. Please keep reminding your children that these are TRUE STORIES!

In the news today Richard Gray claims that, “The Biblical plagues that devastated Ancient Egypt in the Old Testament were the result of global warming and a volcanic eruption, scientists have claimed.” Gray goes on to further state that, “rather than explaining them as the wrathful act of a vengeful God, the scientists claim the plagues can be attributed to a chain of natural phenomena triggered by changes in the climate and environmental disasters that happened hundreds of miles away. They have compiled compelling evidence that offers new explanations for the Biblical plagues, which will be outlined in a new series to be broadcast on the National Geographical Channel on Easter Sunday.”

I don’t know about you, but this is ALARMING and UNBELIEVABLE! We MUST tell the TRUE STORIES to the generations, or Satan will be sure to tell them the FALSE STORIES!

Before we go on to the final plague – the death of the first born, it is important to learn a few things about sacrifices and blood required for an acceptable sacrifice.

Blood is important:

For sacrifice and

When a covenant promise is made.

Have you ever thought about a sacrifice? Many of us have not grown up experiencing the practice of sacrifice. We don’t need to sacrifice anymore, but why? Sacrifice is mentioned throughout the Bible. God created us with a need for worship which comes with sacrifice. Worship is what takes place when we deal with our sin and thank God for what He has done for us. We encountered sacrifice when Moses asked Pharaoh if he could make a three day journey to offer sacrifice. The Egyptians were offering sacrifices as well, but not in the right way or to the right God. Remember the flies around their sacrifices? They were worshiping to the god of this world rather than to the one true God. God judged by sending flies. Remember the ashes that came from sacrifice in the plague of boils? God judged their sacrifice to the false god by turning their ashes into boils. They were trusting in other gods and sacrifices for purification. God took what they offered up for cleansing and defiled them with it. Ashes today are still seen as a sign of atonement, but God’s requirement for repentance is this, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.” Psalm 51:17

What is a sacrifice? “The offering of animal, plant, or human life or of some material possession to a deity, as in propitiation or homage.” Dictionary.com

The idea of sacrifice starts all the way back in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve sinned. As soon as they ate the apple, they knew they had sinned and realized they were naked. Immediately, they sought covering for their sin. Remember – “The eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked, and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.” Genesis 3:7 Adam and Eve knew deep within that they were guilty of their sin and attempted to cover up.

Sin separates us from God,
but it doesn’t hide us from God.

God knew that relationship had to be restored; therefore, He came to them to provide the acceptable covering – one that involved blood! WOW . . . right from the very beginning, BLOOD was the required payment for sin! This was the first sacrifice.
Before Chapter 3 of Genesis is over, God covers Adam and Eve, “And the LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.” Genesis 3:21

Our sins today still require a blood sacrifice: “…all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Hebrews 9:22

Have you ever wondered what the blood is all about? We sing lots of songs in church that talk about the blood: There is power in the blood, Are you washed in the blood? The blood will never lose its power, and Nothing but the blood.

Blood is also an important requirement when a covenant is made, in fact, the actual Hebrew meaning for the word “Covenant” is “to cut and shed blood”. It is an unbreakable bond involving the total commitment of two parties. A covenant is forever.
When a covenant was made the two parties exchanged their coats representing their possessions, their belts representing their strength, and their swords representing their enemies. What’s mine is yours and what’s yours is now mine (Whittinghill).

The idea of “covenant” is seen in the world today:
1. In the legal world: Before one stands to testify in the courtroom, you must raise your right hand promising to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. “The arm was raised to God to show that the oath was witnessed by God....swearing ‘by Him who lives forever and ever’; and the blood showed that it was sealed by the life of the one who swore. When a messenger came in and told a message to the King they would sometimes raise the arm and cut the wrist to show that what they were saying was true and they backed it with their life” (Whittinghill).
A seal (notary) is used on legal documents to signify the blood binding the agreement.

“Marks on the body came to be a sign of commitment. This is why they made cuttings on the bodies in pagan worship. (Remember the priests on the altar in Elijah’s day cutting themselves to prove their sincerity and to provoke their god.)
This pervades many societies for years i.e. the marks on the cheeks of Indians ~ originally with blood, then with paint etc. Sometimes the Indians would cut the hand and the blood on their hand was then imprinted on the horse they would ride into battle. A red hand imprint proved the horse was theirs and that they were committed to the battle thus comes the expression “caught red handed” (Whittinghill).

2. The handshake of friendship – it is believed that the handshake comes from the idea of a covenant being made in friendship. When two came together as friends, they slashed their wrists and mingled the blood together to seal the covenant.

3. Marriage – blood is even shed when the marriage covenant is consummated. (Parents – you don’t have to go there with this one in your devotional time with younger children. Save this discussion for your teenagers, but they will be amazed at how important blood is to God even in the covenant of marriage).

The process of God’s covenant ~ God’s provision for relationship with Him:
Abraham was chosen to receive the Covenant of promise which involved the blood—a sinner became the friend of God.
“So He said to him, "Bring Me a three year old heifer, and a three year old female goat, and a three year old ram, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon." Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, and laid each half opposite the other…” Genesis 15:9-10

“And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the friend of God.” James 2:23

Moses was chosen to receive the Covenant of the law which involved the sprinkling of blood—a sinner became the friend of God.
“So Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, and said, "Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words." Exodus 24:8

"And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend." Exodus 33:11

The New Covenant was written for sinners like you and me – we too can become friends of God:
“While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins” Matthew 26:26-28.

“Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” John 15:14

The process of cutting a covenant involved specific requirements:
• Clean animal to sacrifice unto the Lord
• Cut / incision - in half (The Lord watch between me and thee)
• 2 stacks of meat with blood running through middle
• Parties walk a figure 8 saying, “The Lord do so to me and more” = if I don’t keep this covenant, I will be dead as these animals
• Cut wrist, strike hands, mingle blood
• Salt in wound to make a mark – seal reminding of privilege
• New name / one flesh (Abram = Abraham / Sarai = Sarah)
• Meal to celebrate

As we prepare to remember the Passover, it is important that we remember the reasons for the blood! The people were spared their lives only if the blood of the lamb was over their doors. The blood of Jesus Christ replaced the blood of animals. Jesus became our sacrificial lamb!

Read Hebrews 9 for the TRUE STORY of the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ

  "And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.”