Under the Old Law, God required animal sacrifices. Every sin or transgression required some type of sacrifice. Goats, lambs, bulls and birds were all part of this sacrificial system. Each individual was required to give sacrifices. The individual was to bring the sacrifice to the priests. In most instances, the individual killed the animal. The priest would then put the sacrifice on the altar.

    However, God was not simply pleased by animal sacrifice. God wanted the individual to be repentant. God wanted the individual to have the right attitude of heart and mind. God was not pleased if the individual offered the animal sacrifice while not thinking about his sin and God’s mercy and grace.

    In Isaiah Chapter One, God condemned the Israelites for their sins. He said that they offered sacrifices according to the Law, but that they did not offer them with the right attitude. He told them not to bring any more sacrifices. He was weary of them. In verse 15, He said their hands were full of blood.

    There are two possible things that God was saying in reference to their hands being full of blood. He may have meant that all the blood from the sacrifices had done nothing but cover their hands. All of that animal blood was completely worthless in doing away with their sins. Thus, they did nothing but cover their hands with lots of animal blood.

    The other possibility is that all men are guilty of the death of Jesus. Jesus had to die for our sins. All men have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Thus, the sin of each of us killed Jesus. If we obey God and do what is necessary for forgiveness, then we are washed clean and not found in God’s eyes as sinners. At that point, we are not seen as having Jesus’ blood on our hands. However, if we are not obeying God and receiving forgiveness, we do have the blood of Jesus on our hands. We are seen to be as guilty of his crucifixion as those who were personally there when He was crucified. Every person that is living in sin has hands full of Jesus’ blood.

    Make sure that your hands are clean. Make sure that you are obeying God. Make sure that you have the right frame of mind when you worship God. If any of this is hard to understand, ask an adult to help you.

---

Hemlock in the Furrows

    In Hosea 10:4 we read, “They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant: thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.”

    Hosea condemned the people of Israel. They had said that they were God’s people, but they did not live by their words. They did not live by God’s Word. Instead, they had made false gods and worshipped them. Because of their disobedience, they would be punished. Because of making a covenant and then breaking it, they would be punished.

    Later in the chapter, Hosea pictured the Israelites as having plowed their fields and sown their fields with evil. They should have been sowing and plowing righteousness. Because they had sown evil, their judgment would be like hemlock growing in the plowed field. Hemlock is a poison. Anyone eating it dies. Therefore, instead of reaping good, spiritual things, the Israelites had grown spiritual death.

    The same thing can happen to us today. In Hebrews 12, we read that we must work to make sure that we stay faithful to God. We must be diligent in obeying God’s Word. In verse 15, we are told that if we do not do this, then roots of ‘bitterness’ will spring up and trouble us.

    Do not be like the evil Israelites. Obey God. Do what He wants you to do. Help others to live right. Do not let hemlock grow up in your spiritual garden. If any of this is hard to understand, ask an adult to help you.