God’s Prophetic Provision

2/17 Reading Portions: Genesis 50; Luke 3; Job 16-17; 1 Corinthians 4

Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)

2/17 Reading Portions: Genesis 50; Luke 3; Job 16-17; 1 Corinthians 4

Genesis 1:24-25

And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds—livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

LOVE

Yesterday, we considered God’s sovereign care from the fifth day of creation. Today, we will meditate upon His love from the sixth day.

The first thing our triune God does on the sixth day of creation is to create land animals. This prophetically provides for the sacrifices that would be necessary once mankind falls by his rebellious disobedience (Gen 3:21). And every animal sacrifice thereafter would ultimately point to the true sacrifice, the supreme sacrifice, of our Lord Jesus Messiah (Heb 10:10, 14); because it is written,

For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Hebrews 10:4

One may observe, “But it was not merely the livestock—the cattle—that God brought forth on that creation day, but also creeping, unclean things.” Indeed, He did, has always been my answer. Because our amazing and loving triune God wants us to consider thoughtfully and act upon reasonably that there is a distinction between the clean and unclean animals. For there is distinction between acceptable and unacceptable sacrifices under heaven and before God. Sadly, there has been a misunderstanding in the American church today concerning New Testament sacrifices from the redeemed in Christ (I’ve preached on this much in the past 25 years). We tend to take something that we shouldn’t be doing and abstain from it, calling it a sacrifice unto God. No, beloved children of Christ. To understand our sacrifices, we must look to the most loving sacrifice in the universe for all eternity—that of the Lord Jesus Christ (John 3:16; 1 Cor 2:2). Christ’s sacrifice was humble (Psa 51:17; Phil 2:5-8), and of no profit to Himself (Luke 17:10, KJV) because as holy and eternal God, He became a despised servant (Isa 52:13-53:12). Our sacrifices should reflect Christ’s sacrifice, as much as a sinner saved by God’s grace is able, by God’s grace. The Scripture gives us great instruction to that end. Here are just a few:

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2

Through Him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. Hebrews 13:15-16

Hallelujah! and Amen!