Any Israelite or any alien living among them who eats any blood—I will set my face against that person who eats blood and will cut him off from his people. For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life. (Leviticus 17:10-11, NIV) |
I won’t be speaking of how horrible (or possibly yummy) blood can taste, or about blood transfusions and the Bible’s take on it. I read this twice today, and it just so happens to catch my sight…
God was clear-cut in His prohibition of blood to the Israelites. The pentalty? Being cut off God’s sight- excommunication- death. If blood from sacrifices absolved the sinner, the priest, the musicians, the aliens, and the people as a whole, why should it be logically dissolved into our bodies? All animal life runs by blood; if blood stops flowing through the body, the animal ceases to leave. Who will be careless enough to transgress upon the blood of atonement?
(Go figure, this was one of the four recommendations given to the Gentiles as the result of the Council of Jerusalem-with no fornication, food sacrificed to idols, and strangled meats.)
There should be no waste upon the sacrifices. As such, there should be no blood wasted upon such sacrifices. God commanded every bit of blood for His Glory-isn’t He the giver and taker of life?
That blood cleared up many, but it wouldn’t last…