Exodus 28&29

While reading these chapters today I am struck by how complex was the act of sacrifice for sin. From the color of thread for the priests’ robes to the amount of grain used in an offering, the ritual had a lot of detail to follow. I sit here wondering why God demanded so much in order to forgive the sins of Israel.

Why blue robes, pomegranates, gold bells, breastplates and jewels? Why bulls AND rams AND lambs? Why blood on the earlobe? I find myself wanting to know the significance of every detail.

Jesus has become our high priest and our perfect sacrifice, according to the New Testament. His work at the cross didn’t do away with what we read today. It completed it.

Maybe God made the rituals so complicated for Aaron to show us how seriously God takes sin. God doesn’t take sin lightly… nor should we. What Jesus did on the cross was complicated and detailed. And it fulfilled God’s requirements once and for all.

We no longer need to sacrifice bulls, but blood is still required for the forgiveness of sin. No amount of bulls’ blood can wash sins away completely. It took the precious blood of Jesus to accomplish that.

Holy God, your requirement for the forgiveness of sin is complicated and detailed. I thank you that, because of Jesus, those requirements are fulfilled. May we accept your forgiveness and realize what it cost Him to provide forgiveness for us. May we not take for granted His precious blood.