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My husband, Mike, is a trapper. (Sorry if this is offensive to anyone, but also not too sorry because he is very respectful of God's creation.) He traps coyote, muskrat, mink, possum, raccoon, otter, and beaver. Every winter since I met him 38 years ago, this has been a major part of his schedule, a hobby handed down from his own dad. Anytime I go visit him in his trapping room (which is RARELY!!!), you better believe I have my eyes, nose, and mouth covered because it's gross work. It's blood and guts and stench. He can't help but end up with some of the gore on him and his clothes. He occasionally tries to get me to touch the fur, or at least admire it from afar, and I always say "I prefer these in check form." (He sells the fur.)
Today, we are on our final color--scarlet. The dye was drawn from an insect for this ancient color. The color of life, the color of blood. Being a priest in the tabernacle was bloody work. The first time we see the Israelites encounter a blood sacrifice is in Exodus 12 They are to take a lamb, prepare it for dinner in a certain way, then take the blood on a hyssop branch and swipe it above the door and on both doorposts. This was right before the last plague on the Egyptians, the death of the firstborn. When the LORD passes through to strike Egypt and saw the blood on the Israelites' doors, he would pass over that home. (Hence the name Passover)
The next time they see blood sacrifice is in Exodus 29 (although there were references to sacrifices between chapters 12 and 29). The consecration ceremony was elaborate. It's what set them apart from the rest of the Israelites as they prepared to offer various sacrifices for various sins. Aaron and his sons, from the tribe of Levi, the priestly line, would be called in to the tent of meeting and washed with water. The priestly garments--blue, purple, scarlet--were put on each man in order. Anointing oil was poured on their heads and applied. Then the sacrifice--a bull in this case--was brought to the tent of meeting and Aaron and his sons laid hands on it. The bull would be slaughtered and the blood would be applied to the altar with the priests' finger, then poured out at the base of the altar. Then a ram would be slaughtered and the blood would be splattered on all sides of the altar. Then a second ram was slaughtered and blood was applied to Aaron and his sons' right earlobe, right thumb, and right big toe. (Because the right was considered superior. As a left-hander, I've decided not to take offense since, you know, it's God's Word...) Then some of the blood was mixed with the anointing oil and sprinkled on the priests' garments. There are other commands, but since we are focusing on the blood, I'll let you read them on your own.
The blood was an essential element of atonement. Adam and Eve found this out when they were expelled from the garden of Eden in disobedience and shame. They tried to cover themselves with fig leaves to no avail. God traded their fig leaves for animal skins--their work for His--because blood must be shed to pay for sin. Leviticus 17:11 says God has arranged for the blood of the creature to be the atonement--the payment. It is His plan, and as such, it is beyond contestation. (Knight's Tale reference.)
The office of priest was an inherited line. If the father was a priest, so were his sons. The blood on the ear meant they were set apart to be hearers of God's Word. The blood on the right thumb was a remembrance that they were to be doers of God's Word. The blood on the right big toe was a sign that they were to be walking in step with the LORD. They carried the weight of the sin of the people and it was heavy. Maybe they looked down at their blood smeared skin and their blood splattered clothing, and felt like it was too much. Maybe they were like me and felt woozy at the sight, smell, feel of the blood. Maybe they tried to wash the scarlet out of their clothing with the blood. Maybe they saw the scarlet woven into the curtains and the veil and counted the cost as too high. But in God's currency--when it comes to buying His people back from the slavery of sin and keeping us in freedom--the scarlet will be the exact payment required. Yes, please. 💓
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