SACRIFICES THAT PLEASED GOD

"TO SACRIFICE seems as 'natural' to man as to pray; the one indicates what he feels about himself, the other what he feels about God," writes Biblical historian Alfred Edersheim.  From the time that sin entered into the world, it has brought the pain of guilt, alienation from God, and helplessness. Relief from these is needed. It is easy to understand that when people find themselves in such a desperate state, they feel the need to turn to God for help. -Romans 5:12. 

The first Bible record of offerings being made to God is in connection with Cain and Abel. We read: "It came about at the expiration of some time that Cain proceeded to bring some fruits of the ground as an offering to Jehovah. But as for Abel, he too brought some firstlings of his flock, even their fatty pieces." (Genesis 4:3, 4)  Next, we find that Noah, preserved by God through the Great Flood that destroyed the wicked generation of his day, was moved "to offer burnt offerings upon the altar " to Jehovah. (Genesis 8:20)  On several occasions, God's faithful servant and friend Abraham, moved by God's promises and blessings, 'built an altar and called on the name of Jehovah.'  (Genesis 12:8; 13:3, 4, 18) Later, Abraham met the greatest test of his faith when he was told by Jehovah to offer his son Isaac as a burnt offering.  (Genesis 22:1-14)  These accounts, though brief, shed much light on the subject of sacrifice, as we shall see.

From these and other Bible accounts, it is clear that offering some form of sacrifice was a fundamental part of worship  long before Jehovah gave specific laws regarding such. In line with that, one reference work defines "sacrifice" as "a religious rite in which an object is offered to a divinity in order to establish, maintain, or restore a right relationship of man to the sacred order." But this brings up some important questions worthy of our careful consideration, such as:  Why is sacrifice needed  in worship? What kind of sacrifices are acceptable  to God? And what meaning do ancient sacrifices have for us today?

Next time: Why Is Sacrifice Needed? 

From the Watchtower magazine, 2000