The Shadow of Good to Come

Reverend Leo H. McCrary II

In Old Testament time, God made it clear that an offering needed to be made to atone for the sin of a wicked people.

Today’s devotional reading: Leviticus 16:1-19

The Day of Atonement was a shadow of good things to come, as said in Hebrews 10:1. Leviticus 16 shares the instructions that were given to the High Priest so that an offering could be made to atone for the assembly of Israel. This was an offering that had to be done, or else sin would remain with the camp.

In that day, the high priest would enter the Most Holy Place with the blood of lambs and bulls, sprinkling the blood in the Most Holy Place. The high priest would offer up an atonement for himself and for all of the congregation. Then the high priest would take two goats, placing all of the sins of the camp on one goat, making it the scapegoat.

This was an offering that the high priest had to make on a yearly basis! Because this offering had to be made once a year, it stood as a shadow of the good things to come. You see, man has the desire to be holy and righteous. Yet, there is nothing that we can do by our own strength and might that would make us holy and righteous.

Mankind recognizes it is wicked in its way and desires to be better. However, no matter the offerings and the sacrifices that we make, nothing can atone for all of our sins. There is no way that we can become righteous, as every intent of our heart seems to lean to sin. What the Day of Atonement points to is our need for one who can atone for our sins and lift us up from the grave.

Once again, we have reason to thank the Lord because God gave His only begotten Son to be our propitiation.