The daily sin sacrifices of Leviticus show us that God deals with sin seriously and that there is no atonement for sin without the shedding of blood. Israel was continually reminded that their Messiah would one day give His life as the final sacrifice. But more than sacrifices, God wanted obedience. He wanted a heart yielded to His Words. He still wants this from us today.   

 God instituted animal sacrifices so that Israel could commune with Him. The Israelites needed to have obedient hearts when a sin offering was sacrificed to God. We see many people offering a “sacrifice” without obedience. Cain’s sacrifice was not acceptable in God’s eyes because without the shedding of blood we have no remission (pardon) of sin. God told Cain that if Cain obeyed, he would be accepted, but if not, sin would be at the door of his heart. In Leviticus 10, God was angry with Aaron’s sons when they offered strange fire. They did not obey, and it ruined the picture of Christ. There was no shedding of blood. There was no sacrifice. Saul offered an unacceptable sacrifice because Samuel was to offer it, not Saul. In contrast, David’s desire was to obey, “Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.” (Ps. 4:5) “Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.” (Ps. 40:6-8) 

God rejoices in obedience. “Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” (1 Samuel 15:22)  Jeremiah’s plea to Israel was to remember what God had told their fathers: “Obey my voice.”  God also used Jeremiah to unveil His New Covenant, “…I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts…I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (Jeremiah 31:33-34)  Christ established this New Covenant as our High Priest and Atonement Sacrifice. The Holy Spirit puts God’s law into the hearts of those who believe.  

With the Holy Spirit, we have the power to obey. Paul says we should be “a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” (Rom. 12:1) It is the least we can do to guard our thoughts, words, ears and actions under the control of the Holy Spirit. By renewing our minds with God’s Word, we are setting ourselves apart from the world. By yielding to the Holy Spirit, we can obey God the right way and have peace and joy. Commune with God and ask Him to help you obey today and every day.