We see animal-blood sacrifice right from the beginning of the Bible when God kills an animal to clothe Adam and Eve just after they have sinned and eaten from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The fact that God had to kill an animal to clothe them and that animal-blood sacrifice is later shown to be a way to approach God, suggest that God himself initiated the idea of animal sacrifice.[1] Later we see God accept Abel's animal sacrifice but reject Cain's crop sacrifice which seems to further indicate that animal sacrifice was a religious ritual that God himself started.[2] When Noah comes out of the ark he also offers a blood sacrifice and of course Abraham later continues the tradition.[3]
As many have noted, the Old Testament is the New Testament concealed. While the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed. The offering of a blood sacrifice for sin was a foreshadowing of Christ's death for the sins of man, therefore we can infer that God is the one who started the blood sacrifice right in the Garden of Eden. God killed an animal, we assume a lamb, to clothe Adam and Eve after they had sinned, as they would no longer be able to live in the paradisaical Garden of Eden.
After Noah, God confirms the animal sacrifice with Abraham, when he tests his faith and asks him to sacrifice his son Isaac.[4] You will remember that after Abraham passes the test, God provides a ram, caught in the thicket as a sacrifice.[5] As Abraham and Isaac were climbing the mount, Isaac observes that they have no sacrificial lamb with them. Abraham relies, "My son, God will supply himself a lamb for a burnt offering."[6]
At the time of the Exodus of the children of Israel from Egypt, God again commands them to kill a sacrificial lamb the night before they leave. They are ordered to take some of the lambs blood and paint their door posts, so that when the angel of death passes over to smite the first born in Egypt, he will pass-over them and they will be safe.[7] While the Children of Israel are camping in the desert, God gives them various sacrificial commandments and procedures to fulfill. The Day of Atonement was especially important with special animal sacrifices.[8] Back at Mount Sinai Moses had sprinkled the people with blood from the sacrifices, and had said, "Behold the blood of the covenant which the Lord has made with you." [9] On the Day of Atonement there is some similar sprinkling of blood to cleanse the sanctuary and the congregation. Today we still sing the famous Christian song written by Elisha Hoffman in 1878: "Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?"[10]
The pagan practice of child or human sacrifice found in other cultures is an imitation of God's plan. The Devil can only try to imitate God and falls grossly short, as much as he may try. Just like with the Flood Legends from around the world, the Bible contains the true account of the worldwide flood, while these other legends show a watered down or "telephone" version. The pagan version of sacrifice that we see in the Aztecs and in many other cultures represent the Devil's imitation.
Interesting enough, the God of Moloch was associated with wealth as parents sacrificed their child in the hope of Moloch's financial or material blessing on their lives. In today's modern society, we use abortion to prevent unwanted children, who may cause economic difficulties to the parents or parent, or to society in general. Spiritually, the practice of abortion could be paralleled to the worship of Moloch, the God of wealth and material blessings, a sad commentary on the so called modern world.[11]
Have you accepted Jesus into your life, the sacrificial lamb slain from the foundation of the world?[12] He promises to cleanse you of your sins and purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.[13]
[1] Genesis 3:21
[2] Genesis 4:4-5
[3] Genesis 8:20-21
[4] Genesis 22:2
[5] Genesis 22:13
[6] Genesis 22:8
[7] Exodus 12:1-7
[8] Leviticus 16
[9] Exodus 24:8
[12] Revelation 13:8
[13] Hebrews 9:14
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