Contemplative Bible Reading

Leviticus 17:3-4 (New Living Translation)

³ “If any native Israelite sacrifices a bull or a lamb or a goat anywhere inside or outside the camp ⁴ instead of bringing it to the entrance of the Tabernacle to present it as an offering to the Lord, that person will be as guilty as a murderer. Such a person has shed blood and will be cut off from the community.

God was pretty serious about the sacrifices He required from His people under the old law. Take note here:

If you sacrifice an animal in the wrong location, you are as guilty as a murderer

That seems a bit extreme. I mean, really, can’t you just – no, you can’t. It is really quite simple. God said to do it this way and no other way.

Recall the punishment for murder: execution by stoning. And in stoning, your neighbors circled you and threw rocks at you until you died. I doubt that any of the neighbors enjoyed the event. Hence, the neighbors did what they could to keep you from sacrificing the animal in the wrong location. They didn’t relish the duty of executing you.