Sacrifice

Numbers 7, the tabernacle is being dedicated. Each leader from the 12 tribes brings an offering. If I read the chapter correctly each tribe brings the same offering, or close to the same offering. That is what the entire chapter is, talking about the offering that each tribe brought - the exact same offering. By the 3rd offering, I was starting to get annoyed. Sorry. But by the 7th offering I was wondering why this was significant. Each tribe brought offerings for the different sacrifices performed in the tabernacle. 

Why were each of these sacrifices so important that each tribe brought offerings for each one?

After this weeks reading, particularly this chapter, my mind has been on sacrifice and the importance of the sacrifices performed in the tabernacle. I do feel like my understanding is expanding, but it isn't fully cooked. So, I will share the thoughts and connections that I found this week. 

First, I noticed all the different kinds of sacrifices and offerings made in the tabernacle - burnt, sin, and peace. There were also meat and drink offering, I'm not sure if they were sacrifices or offerings. Is there a difference between the two? 

I wanted to learn more about sacrifices. I found the "Sacrifice" section in the Bible Dictionary to be very informative. This one quote I liked in particular, "It is noteworthy that when the three offerings were offered together, the sin always preceded the burnt, and the burnt the peace offerings. Thus the order of the symbolizing sacrifices was the order of atonement, sanctification, and fellowship with the Lord." The sacrifice and atonement performed for us by our Savior, covers all the same sacrifices the Israelites made in the tabernacle. 

Second, the symbolism of the tabernacle sacrifices, representing Christ's atonement for us. Not just animal sacrifices, but that the priests were the ones who did the sacrifices for the people, they were performing an atonement on behalf of the Israelites. I always pictured the Israelites going to the tabernacle themselves to perform these sacrifices, but nope. The priests performed the atonement and sacrifices like the Lord did for us. 

Leviticus 16:30, "For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the Lord." The sins we commit, the mistakes we make, we can't ever fully fix them ourselves. We are incapable. We need someone else to do it for us, to make an atonement. What a humbling concept the Israelites were being taught. It is humbling for us today as well. We need the Savior, to fix everything. If we accept His atonement, He will fix everything.

I appreciated this quote from Come Follow Me 2026: Thoughts to Keep in Mind, "In these rituals, the goats symbolized Jesus Christ, taking the place of the sinful people. Sin must not be allowed in God's presence. But rather than destroy or drive out the sinners, God provided another way - a goat would be killed or driven out instead. 'And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities' (Leviticus 16:22)."

Third, the practice of animal sacrifice has ended, but do we offer up our own sacrifices today? The Israelites took their sacrifices to the tabernacle, they were literally putting outward visual effort into their daily repentance. Do we do that today? Or do we put off daily repentance because we don't feel the urgency or we are hiding? We do partake of the sacrament, which is an outward visual representation of our repentance, but the actual repentance is unseen. That is on our honor between us and the Lord.

We learn from Pres. M. Russell Ballard, "While its practice changed during the New Testament period, the purposes of the law of sacrifice remained in place even after the Atonement of Christ fulfilled the law of Moses...Its two major purposes are to test and prove us and to assist us in coming unto Christ." We even make a covenant in the temple to keep the Law of Sacrifice. We don't have such an outward visual of obedience like the Israelites, but is on up if we are obedient and keep this law. 

In the church's article "About the Temple Endowment" it says, "Law of Sacrifice, which means sacrificing to support the Lord's work and repenting with a broken heart and a contrite spirit." That is what the Savior said about the practice of sacrifice to his disciples. 3 Nephi 9:19-20, "And ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood; yea, your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done away, for I will accept none of your sacrifices and your bunt offerings. And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit..."

I have a new found respect for the Israelites. I have a new reverence for the sacrifices performed in the tabernacle. I am now analyzing myself and my actions today. Do I do this? Do I keep the Law of Sacrifice? Am I trying to repent and change daily? Do I have an open heart and a contrite spirit? This is what I mean when my understanding is growing, but I don't have the full concept yet. I still have aways to go and much more to learn. I do think the next step in learning is to put this knowledge into practice. As I practice having an open heart and a contrite spirit, I know that I will be taught more by the Holy Ghost. 

I guess there was a reason why each tribe leader needed to bring the same offering to the tabernacle, it is to represent each of us bringing our sacrifices and repentance to Christ. It may look a little different from person to person, but it is for the same purpose - we are showing that we are continually choosing Christ. Plus, I needed to be corrected in my annoyance with a wonderful week long lesson in sacrifice.