Leviticus 17:11 – Life Blood

For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.

Leviticus 17:11 ESV

Blood is almost always indicative that something went wrong. People everywhere, of every age, understand that blood on the outside of a person means something bad happened.

Here, we learn that blood is also a sign of atonement.

Essentially, life blood had to be spilled in order that sin be expiated (covered). This means that sin in any form, is such a terrible offense that the only way in which it can be dealt with, or “paid for” (atoned), is by the sacrifice of life; for someone to live, something must die.

The blood that is shed is also a vivid depiction of the true horror that is sin. As repulsive as we find blood, so God views sin, as a grievous wrong. However, God, according to his “definite plan and foreknowledge” (Acts 2:23) dealt with sin “once for all” (Heb 10:10).

This means he bore God’s full wrath against sin.

Live in light of this truth today, seeing sin for the horror it really is. See sin through eyes cleansed by the blood of Jesus, as you have been declared clean and consecrated (set apart) from sin because of his righteousness.

Are you as repulsed by sin as you are by blood? Spend time with the Lord, praying for a heart like his, one that loves righteousness and hates sin.