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foreshadowing the death of Christ

Deuteronomy 12:23 Only be strong enough not to eat the blood, since the blood is the personal existence, and you must not eat the life with the meat.
Deuteronomy 12:24 Do not eat blood; pour it on the land like water.
Deuteronomy 12:25 Do not eat it, so that you and your children after you will prosper, because you will be doing what is right in Yahveh’s sight.
Deuteronomy 12:26 “But you are to take the holy offerings you have and your solemn pledge offerings and go to the place Yahveh chooses.
Deuteronomy 12:27 Present the meat and blood of your ascending offerings on the altar of Yahveh your God. The blood of your other sacrifices is to be poured out beside the altar of Yahveh your God, but you may eat the meat.

foreshadowing the death of Christ

Animals could be hunted or raised for food by the Israelites in the promised land, or to be sacrificed at the tabernacle, but in neither case would they be allowed to consume the blood of the animals. The blood must be extracted from the animals and poured out. The only exception was the ascending offering, but even there the blood was not allowed to be consumed by the worshipers.

The blood symbolizes the life of the animal, paid as a ransom to purchase life for the Israelites. It had to be completely poured out to foreshadow the complete sacrifice of the Messiah’s life for his people.

Every time the Israelites would kill an animal for a meal or for an offering, they would face this prohibition, which was designed to foreshadow the death of Christ.

Lord, thank you for our redemption by the blood of Christ.