Why Sacrifices?

In light of this week’s Torah portion Vayikra, I thought I would post this question someone wrote us about the sacrificial system for you to meditate on…

Question:

Can I ask you why YHVH asks for sacrifices?  If he cannot change, how can he change this system of death He gave? Some say he did change it, and Jesus/Yeshua did away with it.

My Answer:

In regards to the institution of the sacrificial system, I believe that the most profound way God could show man the heinousness of sin and how it leads to not only our death but the death of God’s Word made flesh is through the realization that our transgressions against the Great Law of Love are causing death… and the sacrifices of these innocent animals were meant to touch a chord in our heart… so that we will realize what our transgression is doing not only on a micro-level within nature and our personal lives but also the macrocosm of the universe…

“As the the whole of the cosmos groans with the pangs of our sins” (Rom. 8:22)

The way that we know that this is not God’s original design is the fact that it was not instituted before sin… and after sin and death are destroyed at the end of the Thousand Years there will be no more death of animals and no more sacrifices. But there was a beautiful plan from the foundation of the world that revealed the true selfless unconditional loving character of our God and that was in the lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8, 1 Peter 1:20) who freely lays down his life in an act of great self-sacrificing love to reveal the Father’s character.

The “word” as described in the parable is likened to seed that gives life if it falls in the fertile soil of a man’s heart. This seed has all the genetic material and DNA coding of its source, thus The Living Word gives New Life after the pattern and image of our Heavenly Father’s character from which it was patterned offspring… and this is willing to selflessly lay down its own life in love to give New Life… Just as every seed must fall from the Tree of its source and die to itself before it can give New Life.

These are very exciting glimpses of the Divine that we are plummeting!  The Father loves that you are sincerely praying to know him and His character on a deeper level than ever before!  King David was meditating on the same thing when he said,

“So great, O YHVH my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts: None can compare with you (David is glimpsing YHVH’s CHARACTER); I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told.  Sacrifice and offering you did not desire– but my ears you have opened — burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require.” (Psalm 40:5-6)

…and then this glimpse of God’s character inspires David to say in vs.8-9,

“I desire to do your will, my God; your Torah is within my heart. I proclaim your righteousness in the great assembly (David can’t help but proclaim the beauty of God’s character as it is only righteous there is no unrighteousness in Him!) see, I do not keep my mouth closed– as You know, LORD.

Psalm 51:16-17 further elaborates,

“You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.”

The prophet Samuel who anointed David as king over Israel said it this way,

“Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.” (1 Samuel 15:22)

The Hebrew word for a sacrificial offering is “Korban” and there is actually six different Korban offerings for different purposes and symbolizing different things…

1.  The burnt “oleh” offering –

for purification of the flesh from unclean thoughts, words and deeds.

2.  The grain “Minchah” offering –

represents us as the God’s Holy Harvest, fragrant with frankincense representing the prayers of His people ascending as a fragrant aroma and the flour was bound together by olive oil representing the unifying spirit of Hashem.

3.  The peace “Shelamim” offering –

representing the transference from the lack of peace in sin to perfect peace through God’s atonement for our sins through the Prince of Peace!

4.  The sin “Chetot” offering –

representing the Spotless lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!

5.  The guilt “Ma’al” offering –

representing our need to make things right with others such as unkind words, false testimonies, or forceful and unlawful possession of property as well as acts of passion. This was possible after repentance and after fulfilling the law of restitution that required where possible that the guilty individual restore completely the wrong and an additional 20%.

6.  and the heave “T’rumah” offering –

T’rumah means “a present or gift’ and was the portion of the offering that was given to the priest for food, representing our need to take care of the priests who serves on our behalf.

I hope this helps and want to thank you for your great questions as I believe God gave us minds after His likeness to question and search out the depth of all things… and after 6000 years to be able to finally return to a clear glimpse of our true Father’s character in contrast to all the lies, ignorance and deception that have maligned His holy name and perpetrated the greatest misconception in history!  May we be a voice crying out in the wilderness not only of the coming of Moshiach but also of the beautiful true character of our Heavenly Abba in these last days!

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Study by Rabbi Isaac. © Assembly of Called-Out Believers.
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4 Comments

  1. During the Torah teaching for this week, you said something very helpful to understanding why sacrifices were necessary. You said “God is not asking for sacrifices for himself because He is arbitrary and demands them nor because He needs them, rather he is saying look what I will do for you.” (to make atonement for you and forgive you).

  2. Praise be to Yah. Praise praise you Lord. I have to admit my father’s timing is perfect. As I continue to say that our God is the God of lots, and I don’t mean plenty; my heavenly Father amazes me again. I had the opportunity to view this post earlier and I got a check in my spirit not to. I just did and now have the confirmation for the results of the last time I spent time with Dad. And that is my key here. Pastor Isaac helps me see Torah the Way it was always intended. Thank you Abba. This is good, real Food of Life. Good to eat; better to apply. Father you know our hearts.

  3. John 13:7 You do not realize now what I am doing but later you will understand. I knew that there was a parallel between the offerings and the heart of HASHEM but I wasn’t sure how to make the connection. You have nooo idea how much revelation and confirmation I received from this. I unknowing received a revelation about the connection between The WORD and DNA not too long ago but then you took it to another level with the seed and the parallel with the role of ha-Maschiach on the cross and his ministry. Hallelujah!

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