“ For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.” - Leviticus 17:11

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This might be uncomfortable reading for some as it touches on things that we prefer not to see in our daily lives, and things we might not even want to think about, as regards our life, mortality, Christianity and the authenticity of scripture…. blood, sacrifice, ritualism…

It’s all very well to see it in the movies, where under the guise of “action”, “grindhouse”, or “horror/thriller” genres, violence and gore are sometimes pushed to cartoonish extremes…. because…. it’s just a movie, the people aren’t really dying, and it’s fake blood  —- but to those experiencing or who have experienced this carnage in real life…. those are memories they would rather not have or relive!

But what do we do with the scripture we opened with?

—— What kind of a God says a thing like THAT?——

A practical, down to earth, Holy, Just and loving one….  let’s take a look !!!

We have several concepts in this one verse. 

Blood, flesh, life, altar, atonement, soul, gift, God, & Israel ( not all humanity, but a principle is being established ).

Observe the structure…. It opens with a statement(!) about where the life of the flesh is located/supported. The blood.

 In todays world you might associate life with your heart, lungs, brain, nervous system etc… but it’s not that simple is it? Without blood, everything dies really quick. Cut a jugular and you have just minutes to live before you bleed to death. Blood is required to be donated —- even with todays technology we cannot make artificial blood, just as we cannot create life by mechanical/chemicsl/electrical means.

Next, we have the use ordained for it. 

Given to Israel as a COVERING —- the word for atonement is the word “Kafar” -  to cover (specifically with bitumen); figuratively to expiate or condone, to placate or cancel: - appease, make (an) atonement, cleanse, disannul, forgive, be merciful, pacify, pardon, to pitch, purge (away), put off, (make) reconcile (-liation) —- for their souls.

Next, we have the one and only location for its ordained use. The altar. 

If we look at the verse in context ( Lev 17:1-15 ) we see that it opens with forbidding the Israelites from spilling animal blood on ANY altar EXCEPT at the the one and only Tabernacle. 

Prior to this Law being given, the Israelites had been sacrificing to many gods in open fields, and they were also eating blood —— this section of the Law condemns the historical practices, and completely and logically aligns with the first commandment — worship no other Gods but the True One. The injunction against eating the blood of animals is also front and center in this section of the Law, and TIED TO THE SAME REASONING. 

Blood :: Life. 

“ And whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, which hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he shall even pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust. 

For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off. “ - Lev 17:13, 14…. Clearly holding sacrosanct the blood of any beast or animal ( that may be hunted for food ) and REPEATING Blood::Life  three times again !!!

Lastly, note the linkage and DIFFERENTIATION between life and SOUL. Yes blood is a wonderful and precious life sustaining organ ( one of the most pervasive and unique in the whole body )… and we share a common bond with animals…. but even precious as it is, it pales in significance with the value of our SOULS.

When blood is being offered, it is LITERALLY satisfying the Life for Life requirement in the exacting balances of Gods judgment against sin being worthy of death!

Yet even these sacrifices could not remove our sins from us, they just covered them from His sight so that He could continue to be gracious to Israel…. till the perfect sacrifice, whose blood would be sufficient to cover ALL mankind’s sins would come!

Yes you heard us right, all mankind will ultimately be reconciled to God, however, some will have to make their own payments instead of having their debts forgiven… and it is a choice that they choose to make, in the face of the full revelation of the Word of God and His Gospel!

Blood is a living sacred thing, and eating dead blood is not good for you, neither is drinking it “live”. That’s not how it works and it’s going to make you sick, and pass on viruses and germs from animals to humans ( seeing that now) . Here we have the practical God who designed LIFE, us, and blood, speaking.

The blood of every animal ( including man ) is sacred, and that’s why we have Capital punishment in the scriptures. That’s why animal blood is either to be offered or buried. If offered, there is only ONE acceptable altar … not many. Here is the uniqueness and exclusivity of the Gospel for you …. there is only One name given to people whereby we might be saved. That’s a Holy God!

It was given to Israel as a gift, just as Christ is given to us without any strings attached. Israel could NEVER invent anything which God would find acceptable, so HE made a way and gave them a path to reconciliation. Here is Grace and kindness personified.

Lastly, ANY blood was acceptable, from birds to bullocks, from animals which were destined to be eaten ( some were totally consumed by fire ), giving access to all, rich and poor, to justice and acquittal in the court of the LORD.

But peerless above all is our Saviour, who shed His blood , ( which is the —ONLY THING— that REMOVES our sins forever )  …. and invites us to demonstrate and participate (symbolically) in THAT ALTAR through the sacrament of Holy Communion, to symbolize Gods love to todays generation,  just as the Levites symbolized He who was to come so long ago!

Hallelujah!