4271 — MOSAIC SACRIFICIAL SYSTEM
Do you think the Mosaic sacrificial system was inspired of God? Why was animal slaughter necessary? Certainly it was inspired of God. The instruction for this service came to Moses direct from God Himself. In Col. 2:16, 17, Paul speaks of meats and drinks and holy days and new moons and sabbaths, "which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ." Christ was the real substance, and these sacrifices and offerings were a shadow pointing forward to Him. The first part of the tenth chapter of Hebrews makes it very clear that God had a purpose in instituting that sacrificial system. There could be nothing plainer than that God required those things in the old dispensation, and that some of the people understood their meaning. But the fact that one may not understand God's reason for doing certain things is no justification for his discrediting those things. In the very nature of the case, it is impossible that finite man should be able to comprehend all the ways of the infinite God. Yet one may be sure that He gave no ordinance to man but what was needful to his salvation, and we may always trust His judgment. An understanding of God's truth and of God's plan of salvation can not be grasped by finite human reasoning. It must be grasped by an experience. "O taste and see that the Lord is good," is the divine suggestion. Ps. 34:8. We must taste in order that we may see. A basket of the most delicious fruit may be placed before us, and an individual who has been accustomed to eating it may tell us with great enthusiasm how good it is; but we must taste if we would see for ourselves. And thus it is with the experience of the blessed truth that is in God's divine word. The individual may be earnestly invited to come; but before he can see, he must taste.