Leviticus 17:11
For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life. (NIV)
Today’s Reading: Leviticus 17:1-16 and Hebrews 10:1-14
In Leviticus 17, God seems to be parenting again. The Israelites were sacrificing their animals to goat idols. This was likely the Egyptian false god Pan. Pan was a half-goat, half-man demonic being. God tells Moses that anyone found sacrificing their animals anywhere other than at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting would be cut off from their people. God uses this opportunity to also teach the Israelites a lesson – or at least it was a reminder of a lesson.
As we’ve covered many times already and as the Israelites would be reminded daily, the life of the creature is in the blood and it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life. “For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life” (Lev 17:11). On this side of the cross, it is clear that God had created the world order so that Jesus would be necessary. And this Scripture would only be fulfilled by Christ.
The author of Hebrews tells us, “But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (Heb 10:3-4). God set up the tabernacle and all the different offerings to simply be a reminder that the blood of animals doesn’t actually take away sin. As soon as the Israelites sacrificed an animal, they would sin again and have to sacrifice another one. Over and over for their entire lives they would never get rid of their sin.
The full meaning of “the life is in the blood” would only be revealed in Jesus. “Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me;” (Heb 10:5). It was the plan from the beginning.
I always say that God didn’t have a plan B. God didn’t create the world and have plan A of us living in the Garden of Eden forever. Then when Adam and Eve sinned God had to come up with plan B. His plan all along was that his creation would sin then Jesus would put on a body and come to earth and die for us. “Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll— I have come to do your will, my God’ ” (Hebrews 10:7).
When Jesus showed up on earth and shed his blood on the cross, he was the perfect sacrifice. Only a perfect being could atone for our sins and Jesus was the only perfect being able to do it. Just as physical life is in the blood of animals, eternal life is in the blood of Jesus. And God gives everyone a chance to accept the sacrifice of Jesus through faith and be saved.
“God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus” (Rom 3:25-26).
Christ in the Old Testament 
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