Slideshow image

Today’s reading comes from Deuteronomy 14–16. These chapters contain a variety of statutes—from dietary laws and tithing requirements to instructions for observing Israel’s major feasts (which we first explored on February 20th). But one particular command stood out to me today, one we’ve seen before but haven’t yet explored in depth.

In Deuteronomy 15:23, Moses wrote:

“Only you shall not eat its blood; you shall pour it out on the ground like water.”

This isn’t a new instruction. We’ve come across it before in Leviticus 17:11:

“For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.”

Here’s what God was teaching His people about blood through His unfolding story:

  1. Blood represents life. God revealed that blood is not just a bodily fluid—it is the essence of life itself. To shed blood is to take or pour out a life.
  2. Blood is a symbol of atonement. The animal sacrifices and the sprinkling of blood on the altar were more than rituals—they symbolized the cost of sin and the giving of life in exchange for forgiveness.
  3. Blood was to be treated as holy. Because it was a sacred symbol of life and would play an integral role in God’s plan. God prohibited His people from consuming blood. It wasn’t just a dietary rule—it was a theological object lesson.
  4. Blood foreshadowed something greater. All of this was pointing forward to Christ. The blood of Jesus would be poured out to provide the final, perfect atonement for sin. His blood was the life that brings eternal life.

I know quite a few people who have favorite parts of Scripture where they like to “camp out”—most often the Gospels, Psalms, or Proverbs. While those are rich and meaningful portions of God’s Word, staying there alone can limit one’s understanding of the bigger picture. Skipping over the Law does a disservice to our grasp of what Jesus came to fulfill. Without the foundation of the Old Testament we miss the deep significance behind His life, death, and resurrection.

Takeaway: Blood has always mattered to God—because life matters to God. The command not to consume blood wasn’t about dietary restriction; it was about developing an understanding of the Law’s fulfillment in Jesus. All of Scripture is important. If you are using these articles in you commitment to walk through God’s Word, I’m confident that reading  through Scripture will become a lasting habit—one you’ll keep returning to throughout your life.