Intentional Sin

For Israel, living under the sacrificial system of the Mosaic Law, there was no offering suitable for intentional sin. For unintentional sin God gives specific instruction regarding the offerings they are to make as a nation and as individuals.

The underlying emphasis is for them to realize the penalty for sin is death. The sacrifices offered were to remind them they had failed to obey and God had made a provision for their forgiveness and atonement. God could righteously and justly demand their death - but He had made a provision for the satisifaction of His wrath against their sin. These sacrifices were forward looking to the ultimate sacrifice God would provide in His Son, Jesus Christ.

The one who willfully rebels and chooses to defy and reject God were not provided a substitutionary sacrifice for their sin and had to pay the penalty of their life, themself. A picture for us living today of the consequence to those who refuse to turn from their sin and to Jesus Christ as the one who offered His life as a sacrifice for their sin.

Israel had a visual reminder in the sacrificial system of their need to obey God's word. Today we have no less responsibility to take seriously what God's word says and respond in obedience.