THE LAMB
In the Bible, the lamb has always been a symbolized of a type of relationship and contact with God. At the same time, it’s important to see how this symbolism and relationship changed and progressed with time.
The lamb was first recorded in the Bible as a sacrifice for only one person. It states in Genesis that “…Abel was a keeper of sheep…” (4:2) and that he “…brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat [to the Lord]…” (4:4). The Lord was apparently pleased with this offering and “respected Abel” (Genesis 4:4). This was the first recorded sacrifice of a lamb in the Bible and was on behalf of one person, Abel.
In Exodus, God told the Hebrew people to take “…a lamb for a household…[or] if the household is too small for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next to his house take it…according to each man’s need you shall make your count for the lamb” (12:3-4). Exodus goes on to explain Passover, where the lamb is sacrificed and the blood is placed on the lintel and doorposts, and the flesh of the lamb consumed. This description of the Passover sacrifice is more detailed than that in Genesis and encompasses an entire family instead just one person. More detailed and greater impact.
God also states in Exodus 12:5 that: “Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats.” As is evident, a lamb can also be a young goat without blemish and so in Leviticus the instruction is given to sacrifice a lamb or a goat or even a bull to cover the sins not only of a family but of the entire nation. The details of this are spread out over a number of chapters but I want to bring attention to Leviticus 16 in particular. Here, the High Priest makes “…atonement for himself, and for his household, and for the congregation of Israel.” (Leviticus 16:17, KJV)
“This shall be a statute forever for you:
In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month,…
the priest shall make atonement for you, to cleanse you,
that you may be clean from all your sins before the Lord.
It is a sabbath of solemn rest for you,
and you shall afflict your souls,
It is a statute forever.
And the priest…shall make atonement…
[and] then he shall make atonement for the Holy Sanctuary,
and he shall make atonement for the tabernacle of meeting
and for the altar, and he shall make atonement for the priests
and for all the people of the assembly.”
(Leviticus 16:29-33)
All of this to cover the sin of mankind. It has become more simplified since Christ, the last lamb of sacrifice, came because His death not only covered our sins (like the sacrificial lamb of the past) but also took them away as per the scapegoat in the book of Leviticus. This is just as John said when he saw Jesus coming toward him: “Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (1:29)
Unlike the previous sacrifices which were for a person or a family or even a national congregation, this sacrifice was for the entire world and “…was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you”(1 Peter 1:20). The process, instituted by God in the beginning for one man, has now come to encompass all of mankind and the lamb sacrificed to cover the sin of Abel has become “…the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:19).
“…The Lord respected Abel and his offering…” (Genesis 4:4) and He likewise accepts the offering made by Christ on our behalf. It’s comforting to know that this was planned from the beginning as a free gift and that God respects us through Christ’s offering. All we have to do is receive and utilize the gift that God has put forth.
It really is something to think about.
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