Ep 958 – Deuteronomy 12:15-28

The sacrificial system, instituted by God, required the shedding of animal blood in order to atone for the sins committed by men. This seemingly barbaric and gruesome ordinance was required by God and practiced by the people of God so that they might remain in His good graces – in spite of their ongoing struggle with disobedience and unfaithfulness. During their years in the wilderness, the people were required to slaughter all their animals at the tabernacle. It was there and there only that blood could be shed. But, now that they were preparing to enter the land and the permanent home of the tabernacle would prove to be too far away for some of the tribes, God was providing a special dispensation. Deuteronomy 12:15-28 reveals that God would allow the people to slaughter animals within their own territories, but the divine ban on the consumption of blood held fast because the life is in the blood.