Day #266 - The Sacrifice

The Presence - A Devotional for Living in Thanksgiving, Worship and Wonder

“Make the altar hollow, out of boards. It is to be made just as you were shown on the mountain.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭27:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Photo by Alicia Quan on Unsplash

Have you ever thought about what it would be like to be part of a family who brought a sacrifice to the tabernacle of Moses?

I can only imagine what it would be like for millions of Israelites to have families bringing sacrifices for sins to the tabernacle. The priests would be slaughtering hundreds and thousands of animals in a single day. Could you imagine an animal you raised or purchased being gathered up by your Dad to drag to God’s sacred tent for a sacrifice for your sins? 

“The Hebrew word for altar is "mizbeah," meaning "slaughter place." And truly it was a symbol of suffering, blood-shed, and death. The only approach to a holy God in His Tabernacle was by way of this object of wood and copper. The altar would have been of no avail without the offerings which were presented to God upon it. No Israelite could approach it without the sacrifices and the blood. "Without shedding of blood is no remission."” 1

“What significance does it have for us to-day? Here we see God's goodness and severity, HIS Love and wrath, His righteousness and peace. It is here that the heart of man and the heart of God are revealed, and atonement for sin is made. At this altar the innocent bore the judgment of the guilty, and God was reconciled with the sinner Who killed and shed the blood of the sacrifice. This "slaughter place" pictures the cross of Calvary, a vessel on earth which is the only way of entrance into God's presence. It depicts the Cross which is easily accessible to the world but towers over all the wrecks of time, the cross upon which the Prince of Glory died, where He was bound with the cords of love for lost humanity.” 2 

God gave specific instructions in Leviticus 1-8 for the types of offerings that were to be brought to the altar for the people of Israel that were fulfilled in the cross:

BURNT OFFERING……….CONSECRATION

MEAL OFFERING…………SERVICE

PEACE OFFERING………..FELLOWSHIP

SIN OFFERING…………….REDEMPTION (for the sinner)

TRESPASS OFFERING……REDEMPTION (for sin) 3

Jesus was the sacrifice that ended all sacrifice on the altar of the cross. His blood sacrifice paid for all our sin once and for all. We now have perpetual access to “the Presence” through the acceptable offering of Jesus the Lamb of God (Hebrews 9-10).

Lord Jesus, You are the ultimate sacrifice for my sin. Your offering has brought me into consecration, service, fellowship and redemption. I have peace with You and entrance into Your glorious presence. In Your  worthy name, amen. 

1 Lascelle, Ruth Specter; A Dwelling Place for God, p. 139

2 Lascelle, Ruth Specter; A Dwelling Place for God, p. 141

3 Lascelle, Ruth Specter; A Dwelling Place for God, p. 140