What was the significance of the sprinkling of blood?

Answer

In Exodus 24, we read about Moses sprinkling blood as a significant part of a ceremony commanded by God. The passage explains the purpose of this ritual:

[Moses] rose early the next morning and constructed an altar at the base of the mountain, setting up twelve stone pillars to symbolize the twelve tribes of Israel. He then dispatched young Israelite men, who presented burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as fellowship offerings to the Lord. Moses took half of the blood and placed it in bowls, splashing the other half against the altar. Subsequently, he read the Book of the Covenant to the people, to which they responded, “We will do everything the Lord has said; we will obey.”

Moses proceeded to sprinkle the blood on the people, declaring, “This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.” (verses 4–8)

The twelve stone pillars symbolized the twelve tribes of Israel. Animal sacrifices were offered to the Lord, with half of the blood sprinkled on the altar and the other half kept in bowls. Moses then read the Book of the Covenant to the people, and they pledged their obedience.

Following these actions, Moses sprinkled the blood from the bowls on or toward the assembly of people. This act signified the sealing of a covenant or promise to the people of Israel. As blood symbolizes life (see Leviticus 17:14), its sprinkling on the assembly represented a profound commitment between God and His people.

This practice would have resonated with other instances of blood usage in Scripture. Abraham, the patriarch of the Israelites, also engaged in animal sacrifice. He was the first to initiate the covenant of circumcision, which served as a sign of the covenant with the Lord «And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away. », (Genesis

15:11).

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ spoke of blood during the Last Supper. While sharing a final meal with His followers, He mentioned that the wine symbolized His blood, which would be poured out for us “Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.”, (Luke 22:20). His blood served as the seal of the new covenant of grace “After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.”, (1 Corinthians 11:25). His death on the cross represented the perfect sacrifice for the sins of humanity and fulfilled the ritual sacrifices of the Old Testament.

Today, Christians no longer practice animal sacrifices involving blood but find atonement through faith in Jesus Christ. He is described as the way, the truth, and the life “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”, (John 14:6) and the source of salvation “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”, (Acts 4:12). Through faith in Jesus Christ, anyone can attain everlasting life “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”, (John 3:16). “Jesus [is] the mediator of a new covenant, and . . . the sprinkled blood” “and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling,

that speaks better things than that of Abel. », (Hebrews 12:24).