The Price of Freedom: Blood
Exodus 12:1-13[1]
7-3-05
Freedom—it’s a sweet word for us Americans. This weekend we are celebrating our political liberty. Aren’t you glad that we can come together like this and worship God without being afraid that some Gestapo is going to kick in the door and arrest us all? Aren’t you glad we can teach our children about God without fear that some official is going to take them away and indoctrinate them for the state? Think about how the Jews in Germany and Poland must have felt during WWII. Think about the terrible persecution the Tootsies have gone through in Rwanda. Life is good for you and me. It may not be perfect. There may be some trials and disappointments at times. But this weekend is a good time to put it all in perspective. This is a good time to praise God for our political liberties.
It is also a good time to consider the cost of liberty. What has our freedom in America cost? It has cost a lot. People have laid down their lives to make all this possible for you and me. What we are enjoying as a nation has not come cheap. Even today American blood is being shed in Afghanistan and Iraq to keep us safe. Political freedom is costly.
But if political freedom is costly—spiritual freedom is much more costly. The price of political freedom has been the blood of our soldiers (a very high price indeed). But the price of our spiritual freedom is even greater —it cost the blood of God’s own Son. Peter reminds us of this in his first epistle. 1 Peter 1:18-19 “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” No doubt Peter is thinking about Israel’s Independence Day—the Day of the Passover.
The story is told in Exodus 12. There God is freeing Israel from slavery in Egypt. The tenth plague is about to fall on the land. In that plague the firstborn of each household will die. But God provides a way of protection for His people. He tells them to sacrifice a lamb and put the blood of the lamb on the top and side posts of the door. Then He promises in Exodus 12:13 “...when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.”
There was one essential distinction that fateful night between the Israelites and the Egyptians. The blood applied by faith in obedience to God’s instruction made all the difference. God didn’t say I’ll review your works and decide whether you deserve protection or not. If He had done that, all of Israel would have been in big trouble. This is an awesome demonstration of God’s grace. God Himself provided the way of salvation. All they had to do was take Him at His word and do exactly what He told them to do. The blood applied to the door posts was the essential difference.
Of course, we know that the blood of those lambs was only a foreshadowing of the blood that would provide the eternal protection we all need. Jesus is the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world.[2] Our deliverance from bondage—our protection from destruction comes because His blood has been applied by faith to our hearts.[3]
I want to show you how God revealed this essential truth in Scripture. On the overhead[4] you will see a graphic of the progressive revelation[5] of the atonement. God showed Israel this truth line upon line and precept upon precept until the fulfillment came through Jesus’ blood sacrifice on the cross. One reason the OT is so important is that it lays the foundation for New Testament truth. There is no way to understand what God is saying in the NT if we disregard or neglect the Old Testament.
1st God revealed the General Purpose of Blood
That revelation began in Gen 9:1-6 “Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth. 2 The fear and dread of you will fall upon all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air, upon every creature that moves along the ground, and upon all the fish of the sea; they are given into your hands. 3 Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything. 4 "But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it. 5 And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each man, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man. 6 "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man.”
The context is God’s covenant with Noah after the flood. Prior to this time man was vegetarian; but now God grants authority to eat meat. There is strong instruction concerning the sanctity of life. But the prohibition given is particularly important for our subject this morning. In verse 4 God prohibits eating blood. We don’t know everything God told Noah about that. But as far as the revelation we have here no explanation is given as to why that is important. God has simply stated the prohibition concerning blood.
Later in the Pentateuch we learn why. Leviticus 17:10-12 is a pivotal passage for understanding all this. “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. 11 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. 12 Therefore I say to the Israelites, "None of you may eat blood, nor may an alien living among you eat blood.”
Why God prohibited the eating of blood? Verse 11 tells us He has not designated blood to be used for food. He has designated it for a higher, more sacred purpose. Lev 17:11 “...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.”
That is a wonderful revelation of God’s grace. Never let anyone tell you that God was not gracious to His people under the old covenant. Never buy into the idea that there was a mean, harsh God in the Old Testament and a nice one in the New. We do have to understand the context in which He was working. But God does not change. He is the same God in the Old Testament as He is in the New. Hear the sound of grace in these words from Lev 17:11: “...I have given....” All of humanity has a problem. The problem began the day Adam made his fateful choice of disobedience in the garden. The problem is sin—sin separates people for a holy God. It is too big a problem for us to solve. But God has a solution. “...I have given....”—I have made a way for you to know me and enjoy fellowship with me. The blood on the altar is God’s provision for us. The blood must be respected for its God-appointed purpose.
2. God revealed the significance of sacrificial blood in events and instruction during Israel’s history.
The root Hebrew word for atonement is “kpr”.[6] Its stem meaning is “to wipe off” and therefore to cleanse or forgive. I was incorrectly taught that the meaning of atonement in the Old Testament was “to cover”. That idea came from the use of the word in Genesis 6:14 where Noah was told “So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out.” God was simply telling Noah to wipe on a sealant (pitch). So in the atonement God is providing a way for the wiping away or cleansing of our sins. Notice the connection between atonement and forgiveness in Num 15:25-26. “The priest is to make atonement for the whole Israelite community, and they will be forgiven, for it was not intentional and they have brought to the LORD for their wrong an offering made by fire and a sin offering. 26 The whole Israelite community and the aliens living among them will be forgiven, because all the people were involved in the unintentional wrong.” We see the same connection in Lev. 4:20 “In this way the priest will make atonement for them, and they will be forgiven.”
Two New Testament verses leave no doubt that atonement through sacrificial blood has to do with the forgiveness of sin. In Matt. 26:28 Jesus said “This is my blood of the {28 Some manuscripts the new} covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” And Hebrews 9:22 concludes In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”
But Scripture teaches more about atonement than forgiveness of sin. The Passover text in Exodus 12 teaches us that the blood upon the top and sides of the door frames was evidence that a substitute had been slain. In 1Peter 1:18-19 the apostle uses the word “redeemed”[7] in reference to the benefits of the blood of Christ. “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” Israel was saved out of bondage. Their firstborn were saved from destruction because a substitute was slain and the blood placed on the doorframes.
Look at how the atonement is linked with the paying of a ransom in Ex 30:11-12. “Then the LORD said to Moses, "When you take a census of the Israelites to count them, each one must pay the LORD a ransom for his life at the time he is counted. Then no plague will come on them when you number them.” Ex 30:16 “Receive the atonement money from the Israelites and use it for the service of the Tent of Meeting. It will be a memorial for the Israelites before the LORD, making atonement for your lives."
Our worship for all eternity will center on the great price paid for our salvation. Revelation 5:9 says “And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.”
Bible tells us “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 6:23) The preservation of God’s Holiness requires judgment on sin
That’s why God can not just overlook sin – He would compromise Who He is if He did so. The result of such compromise would be universal chaos. That’s why the sacrifice of a substitute is necessary.[8] In Mark 10:45 Jesus says that He is that substitute. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
I want to illustrate this with a clip from the movie, “I am David”. The movie is about a 12 year-old boy named David who escapes from a Cold-War era Bulgarian prison camp. In this scene he has been taken in by a kind aristocratic family in Italy. He is safe; but when he sees the bar of soap his mind flashes back to a specific incident at the camp. See if you can see how his friend, Johannes (played by Jim Caviezel), illustrates Jesus’ dying as our substitute.
Show clip “I am David” (00:51:14 to 00:53:06)
Just as Johannes took the soap from David, Jesus took your sin. Just as Johannes took David’s punishment, Jesus took your punishment. Gratitude for that sacrifice is the motivation for loyalty to Christ and purity in lifestyle.
Israel received a genuine revelation of atonement and how to live in fellowship with God. But they abused the grace of God. Instead of living in the fullness of God’s provision—they degenerated into ritualism and turned the grace of God into a license for selfishness and immorality[9].
III. God Corrected Israel’s abuse of this gracious provision.
During Israel’s national history they brought sacrifices to God in their worship. We see this when Solomon dedicated the temple (2Chron. 7:4-5) and when Hezekiah later purified the temple (2Chron. 29:20-24) and on a number of other occasions[10].
But there was gross inconsistency between what they were professing as they came to the temple in worship and what they were living in their daily lives. That’s why the prophets speak so strongly against their worship. It had lost its intended significance because people’s hearts had drawn back from God even though they continued to attend to many of the outward exercises of religion. So we hear God saying through Isaiah “Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me.” (Isa 1:13) God was saying to those people, “I can’t stand your church services! Your phony religion makes me sick!” Why were their offerings meaningless? It was because their hearts were no longer in it. It was because their worship was entirely inconsistent with their daily lifestyles. God wasn’t rejecting the system of atonement that He Himself had given them. He was rejecting their abuse of it. It had become an empty form—empty ritual—without spiritual reality.[11]
Is there a lesson to be learned from Israel’s history at this point? Is there a warning in all of this for us?[12] The danger we face is the same one they faced—the danger of drawing back from God in our hearts—continuing the outward form—continuing to sing the songs and attend the services—but not embracing a vital, living, daily relationship with God.[13]
In Psalm 51 David is getting his heart right with God. It almost sounds like he is contradicting himself in verses 16 and 19. In verse 16 he says to God, “You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.” But then in verse 19 he says, “Then there will be righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings to delight you; then bulls will be offered on your altar.” What has happened between those two verses? He has repented—he has humbled himself before God and dealt with the issues of the heart. Verse 17 “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”
Is your heart contrite before God? Is there consistency between your worship and your life? If you have slipped into a form rather than a reality, you don’t have to stay there. “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”[14] Let Him fill the emptiness and fill you afresh with His Spirit. He has made a way for you and me to live in fellowship with Him.
Conclusion
The central message of the Bible is an invitation to know God. That is only possible through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin.[15] But the sacrifice has been made. The way has been opened for anyone here to come to God and live in fellowship with Him. If you have never taken that step of obedience today is the time to do that. Place your faith in what Jesus has already done for you. On the basis of His sacrifice for you at the cross ask God to forgive you of your sins and commit your life to Him.
TEXT: Ex 12:1-13
12:1 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, 2 "This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year. 3 Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household. 4 If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat. 5 The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. 6 Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the people of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. 7 Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. 8 That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast. 9 Do not eat the meat raw or cooked in water, but roast it over the fire--head, legs and inner parts. 10 Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it. 11 This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the LORD’s Passover.
12 "On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn--both men and animals--and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. 13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.
Richard Tow
Grace Chapel Foursquare Church
Springfield, MO
www.gracechapelchurch.org
Progressive Revelation of
Blood as a Theological Symbol in Salvation History
BY Richard Tow
Application in Hebrew History
Continued Correction of Expectation of
use abuse Fulfillment
2Chron.7,29-30 Ps 50-51; Isa. 1 Ps 22; Isa. 53
Ezra 3; Neh. 12 Jerm 7 J Mal. 1
Fulfillment of
the Type (Christ)
New Testament
Symbolic Meaning of Blood in Temple Ritual
(Lev 16)
Expiation (Cleansing/Forgiveness)
Propitiation (Substitute/Ransom)
Consecration/Covenant
General Purpose of Blood (Gen. 9:1-6; Lev. 17:11; Deut. 12)
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[1] Text which was read at beginning of the service is attached at end of this manuscript. All Scripture Quotes from New International Version unless otherwise indicated.
[2] John 1:29
[3] The obedient act of applying the blood to the sides and tops of the doorframes was a clear demonstration of faith which illustrates the need to personally act in response to God’s provision for protection and deliverance.
[4] This overhead is provided at the end of this manuscript after the text.
[5] See New Dictionary of Biblical Theology “Stages of Revelation” for a discussion of this concept.
[6] Richard Averbeck’s article (kpr #4105/4106) in New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis (2:689-710) deals with this extensively.
[7] According to the Lindell-Scott Greek lexicon the word “lutrow” means to release on receipt of ransom, to hold to ransom.
[8] Many other passages support this revelation including Leviticus 16; Numbers 25:10-13; Romans 3:25; 2Cor. 5:21; and Eph 1:7.
[9] Jude 4
[10] 1Sam 15:23-22; 2Chron. 35:5-5; Ezra 3:1-2, etc.
[11] Hos 6:6; Mal 1:6-10
[12] 1Cor 10:6
[13] 2Timothy 3:5
[14] James 4:8
[15] Hebrews 9:18-22
