Old testament animal sacrifices

[Paul Cowan]

I am not sure how much discussion can be generated here, but I am trying to reread the OT and understand all the animal sacrifices God demanded. God killed the first animal to clothe Adam and Eve. Later he told Abraham to sacrifice the goat in the bush. Later He told Aaron to start killing goats, sheep, birds to atone the sins of the people.

Why?

I understand the people sinned. We still do and Christ has atoned for us once and for all. But back then, why did blood have to be spilt from animals? Surely not to "appease" an angry God.

He told Aaron to sprinkle with his finger water then blood on the corners of the altar.

Why?

Was this just ceremony? What is the cleansing nature of animal blood or blood in general to sin?

Paul

[Father David Moser]

Paul

Viewing the practices of the Church as those things which are for us "healing" remedies for sin, we can then extend that "medical model" viewpoint back to the OT practices and look at the animal sacrifices (as well as some of the other OT "legalistic" practices) as a form of a "band aid". Although the sacrifices could not heal the soul from the effects of sin, they were given as a balm to mediate and soften the effects of sin on the soul, allowing time for the human race to develop to the point where it was ready for the coming of the Messiah who would strip the bandages off and heal the wounds that they covered.

Also it is important to remember that most sacrifices were of a communally healing nature. When a person offered a sacrifice of a lamb or a bull or grain or whatever, the altar was the "barbecue pit" and the animal was cooked, not disintegrated. (there are a few times when the sacrifice was burnt entirely, but that was not the usual practice.) The cooked sacrifice was then given to the one who brought it who was then obligated to share it with the rest of the community in some kind of a common meal. This practice would have a tremendous effect on healing the divisions in a community that are inflicted by the sinful actions of one of its members.

Another important point is that the blood is most closely identified with the soul. The blood was considered to contain or be united with the soul in some way so that when one consumed the blood of a creature (or even of a person) then he would somehow absorb the qualities of that creature. For the Hebrews, the sacrifice (and now the Kosher laws for butchering and food prep) ritual drained the blood from the animal so that they did not pollute the soul with the bestial qualities of their food.


Fr David Moser

[Herman Blaydoe]

Isn't it somewhat interesting that the idea of sacrifice is often part of most primitive belief systems? Of course several of those used HUMAN sacrifice instead of animal sacrifice, but we certainly have plenty of evidence of animals and/or plants offered to deity. The idea of sacrifice meant that a person had to give up something, part of his crop, his herd, his money, or even his life in recompence for the gifts or favor of the deity. It is not hard to see that this was a deformed interpretation of the "cost" of sin. OT sacrifice therefore had a teaching purpose. It seems to this simple mind that God was implanting the idea that life had VALUE in that a price needed to be paid. How wonderful that it was His intention all along to pay that price Himself!

[Paul Cowan]

Thank you Fr. David for the imagery of the BBQ picnic and the communal healing as a result. That went a long way with me. And Herman for the idea of tithing, though I think this was also already being done. The "cost" of sin and value of life hits home.

As a little child who will never get tired of saying "why" I do have another.

Why did God demand substitutionary death? How easy is it today (and then) to say, "oops, I sinned, here kill this little bird and I will be forgiven." What was the repercusion to the person that committed the sin other than having to find this animal or buy it to sacrifice?

I can envision a line of thousands of people all with a goat to offer up for their sins for the past year only knowing they will have to start raising or saving up to buy another goat for next years' sins they may or may not be willing to stop. Was there remorse amoung the people or was this just an annual thingy they had to do to stay in good graces with the clan leadership?

I know they were waiting for the Christ, but the imagery of God dictating animals to kill only perpetuates the idea of "an angry God".

In Christ,

Paul

[Nina]

Yes, Paul, like you say the humanity was waiting for the Lamb of God to be sacrificed: Christ. Usually we read about lambs, doves (Presentation of Christ at the Temple) etc. being sacrificed; all these animals have characteristics which we compare to virtues, that can lead us to deification. Lamb is meek, doves are pure etc. Although lower than us (some and especially the domesticated) animals are so humble compared to us. In regards to the feast of Christ's entrance into Jerusalem, Metropolitan Hierotheos explains that St. Andrew of Crete says that "just as the colt, without resisting, followed the Disciples who untied him and led him to Christ, so also man must become a domestic animal, like the colt, in the simplicity of our will. Man must subject himself without resistance to the one who has assumed his spiritual guidance in Christ, and in this way become Christ's colt, free of any bestial irrationality." (p. 194) The Feast of the Lord

The fall of Adam made the animals and the entire creation suffer. I have read somewhere that at the moment of the Fall, the entire creation wanted to attack and devour the human for the sin he introduced in Eden. However God did not allow it.

Also an offering meant that these (animals, food) and everything belonged to God. He gave everything to the man and made the man administrator of His creation. Sacrifice meant that to God belonged the very best from the fruits which he gave to man and of the man's work. Envy about offering to God was the reason for the first death on Earth.

In addition to being a sacrifice (because of the hard work it entailed during those times to raise an animal and to harvest product during hardships, droughts, wars etc) the offering of the animals/fruits, was a thanksgiving. God did not only give those gifts originally to humans, but His Divine Providence did not stop from caring and providing for the people always.

[Kusanagi]

I am not sure how much discussion can be generated here, but I am trying to reread the OT and understand all the animal sacrifices God demanded. God killed the first animal to clothe Adam and Eve. Later he told Abraham to sacrifice the goat in the bush. Later He told Aaron to start killing goats, sheep, birds to atone the sins of the people.

Why?

I understand the people sinned. We still do and Christ has atoned for us once and for all. But back then, why did blood have to be spilt from animals? Surely not to "appease" an angry God.

He told Aaron to sprinkle with his finger water then blood on the corners of the altar.

Why?

Was this just ceremony? What is the cleansing nature of animal blood or blood in general to sin?

Paul

From what i read animal sacrifice is symbolically of Christ being Sarifice as Christ was lead like a lamb to the slaughter an innocent one sacrificed for many.
Also at that time the people were doing animal sarifices to pagan gods so it was turning something which they are accustomed to from bad to good but to help them focus on the real God, not that God has any need for these sacrifices.

[Paul Cowan]

From what i read animal sacrifice is symbolically of Christ being Sarifice as Christ was lead like a lamb to the slaughter an innocent one sacrificed for many.
Also at that time the people were doing animal sarifices to pagan gods so it was turning something which they are accustomed to from bad to good but to help them focus on the real God, not that God has any need for these sacrifices.

I agree with your first sentence, but not the second. Moses took the people out of Egypt and was teaching them the Law before they came into contact with "pagans". (If I remember correctly). Why would He take a pagan custom and make it Holy rather than to do something Holy to begin with?

Paul

[Kusanagi]

Here we go i misread from St Justin.

sacrifices were made to God so the people can turn their focus to God and not become idol worshippers.

[Herman Blaydoe]

Um, well, technically speaking, the Egyptians were "pagans" as well, and various religions existed long before the people of Israel were slaves in Egypt. In fact the first animal sacrifice is described in Chapter 4 of Genesis, one generation from Adam--the "respected offering" of Abel.

Holy Scripture does not clearly explain why God instituted animal sacrifice, but it does pretty clearly say that He did institute it. Perhaps what the pagans were doing WAS "holy" but twisted from its original purpose? We humans are good at that.