For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood. 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. 17:11-14).
And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good (Gen. 1:25). God is the creator and ultimate controller of all life. The mysteries of life and death are known by Him and Him alone, and He is sovereign over all. See now that I, even I, am He, and there is no god with Me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of My hand (Deut. 32:39). The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: He bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up (I Sam. 2:6). The laws of blood sacrifice covered in Chapter 17 of the Book of Leviticus were designed in part to underscore this fundamental truth.
For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls. Blood is the essence of life. God created the physical form (human and animal) in such a manner that blood is the key element that ties it all together. The circulation of blood through the body (flesh) provides lifesustaining oxygen and nutrients and removes toxins and wastes. Remove the blood, and the flesh can no longer support life. Extensive research has been done in an attempt to synthesize this life-bearing fluid to no avail—nothing created by mankind has been able to duplicate its properties.
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. Life is solely the possession of God. Blood is the spiritual representation of life; therefore, blood itself belongs to God. By maintaining control of how, when, and where blood was shed and disposed of, God reaffirmed His right of sovereignty over life and death.
Blood was also the means through which God provided atonement. Under the law of substitutionary sacrifice, the blood of the innocent (animal) covered the sins of the guilty. Life was given to and received by God as payment for life otherwise forfeited to sin. It was vital, then, that the sanctity of the blood (representing the sanctity of life) be respected.
He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace(Heb. 10:28-29)?
Thought for Today: Our relationship with God is built on faith alone, but how He expects us to demonstrate that faith will take many forms.
Christ Revealed:Through two goats used on the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:8). The slaying of the first goat typifies that our peace with God was restored by the blood of Christ (Rev. 5:9).
Word Studies:16:12 censer = incense holder; 16:19 hallow it = dedicate it only for God; 16:29 stranger = alien; sojourneth = stays, lives temporarily; afflict you souls = humble yourselves; 17:4 cut off = excommunicated; 18:18 vex = irritate, to be a rival to; 18:20 carnally = adultery; 18:21 seed = descendants.
Pray for Staff:Gilbert Palafox • Government Official: Sen. John Hickenlooper (CO) • Country: St. Kitts and Nevis (51,538) Caribbean • Major Language: English • Religious Freedom • Anglican; Other Protestant; Roman Catholic • Prayer Suggestion: Remember that God hears and answers our prayers (Is. 65:24).
Optional Reading Mark 10