The Meaning Of Life

https://biblehub.com/nkjv/exodus/28.htm

We continue receiving the instructions, very detailed instructions, for the construction of the mobile Tabernacle the children of Israel will carry with them from camp to camp.

And in particular, these instructions are for the garments the priests will wear when providing services, like animal sacrifice. Why do they have to sacrifice animals? Because of the sin we committed.

When Adam and Eve disobeyed God and realized they were naked and hid themselves, the Bible says that God “made skins” for them to wear to cover their nakedness, to cover their sin. Where did those skins come from? God had to sacrifice an animal for their sins, to give them clothing.

And as of this chapter, it is still going on. Imagine your family has a young lamb. He is beautiful, his bleat is so soft, he’s cute as a bug’s eat, and his little tail shakes back and forth when you pet him. He is so adorable, you love him, and he’s part of your family. Then, you must sacrifice him for the sins you’ve committed. Wouldn’t that be a deterrent against sinning? Wouldn’t you work your hardest to be righteous, when you fail you immediately confess your sins, pray for forgiveness, and make every effort to repent?

Or you were required to sacrifice your livestock, a bull in fact, critical for reproducing your herd to increase your wealth. Surely money and your wealth would make you work harder to be free of sin.

But it didn’t. People continued to sin, to continue to sacrifice their cute little animals or their breeding stock, until finally God had to sacrifice His own Son.

So just one of the duties of the Levite ministers was performing the ritual of sacrifice. And it was ceremonious. We didn’t kill an animal just for the sake of killing, or as a punishment for the sin you committed, it was meant to be a deterrent to sin.

https://biblehub.com/nkjv/exodus/29.htm

In this chapter, Aaron, the brother of Moses, and his sons Nadab and Abihu are made Levitical Priests, to minister to the people, and instructions are given as to how they dress and perform their duties. Each of Jacob’s children received a part of the promised land, except for the Levites, the descendants of Levi, who were charged with the ministry. They received portions of land in every tribe to establish their home and farms, but otherwise, they did not have a share in the land. It was their job to take down the Tabernacle and carry it when they travels, and when they stopped and set up camp, it was the Levites who reconstructed the Tabernacle for worship and sacrifice.

https://biblehub.com/nkjv/exodus/30.htm

Finally, in this chapter, God finishes with instructions for the remaining details: the Altar of Incense, the laver for washing up, the anointing oil. All of this is important.

So I’ll end with is note. Are these practices still valid today, except for the sacrifice of animals as Jesus was the final sacrifice for sin. And when I say the “final”, he truly wasn’t the “final” because if we do not follow Him, we will end up sacrificing our own lives for the sin we commit. But I hear many people who say these traditions were meant for just the Jews, that Gentiles are not required to follow them. But wasn’t Jesus a Jew? Are we not supposed to follow Him?

Food for thought. Read the Bible, pray for understanding, then follow your heart.