HOW CAN BLOOD SAVE YOUR LIFE?

Continue with BLOOD-VITAL FOR LIFE

That assurance, at Isaiah 48:17, is part of the Bible, a book respected for ethical values that can benefit all of us.  What does it say about human use of blood? Does it show how lives can be saved with blood? Actually, the Bible show clearly that blood is more than a complex biologic fluid. It mentions blood over 400 times, and some of these references involve the saving of life. 

In one early reference, the Creator declared:  "Everything that lives and moves  will be food for you. . . . But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it."  He added:  "For your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting," and he then condemned murder.  (Genesis 9:3-6, New International Version) He said that to Noah, a common ancestor highly esteemed by the Jews, Muslims, and Christians. Al humanity was thus notified that in the Creator's view, blood stands for life and  it is the soul.  This was more than a dietary regulation. Clearly a moral principle was involved..  Human blood has great significance and should not be misused. The Creator later added details from which we can easily see the moral issues that he links to lifeblood. 

He again referred to blood when he gave the Law code to ancient Israel.  While many people respect the wisdom and ethics in that code, few are aware of  its serious law on blood.   For instance:  "If anyone of the house of Israel or of the anyone  who reside among them or anywhere partakes of any blood, I will set my face against the person who  partakes of the blood, or even uses it in transfusions,  and I will cut him off from among his kin. For the life of the flesh is in the blood."  (Leviticus 17:10-14)  God then explained what a hunter was to do with the dead animal:  "He shall pour out its blood and cover it with earth. . . You shall partake of the blood of any flesh, for the life and soul of the flesh is its blood. Anyone who partakes of it shall be cut off." -Leviticus 17:13, 14, Tanakh. 

Next time: HOW CAN BLOOD SAVE YOUR LIFE?/BLOOD-VITAL FOR LIFE

From the Watchtower magazine