okayAs Israel traveled to the Promised Land, God dwelt in their midst. Specifically, God dwelt in the center of the camp - in the tabernacle. It was also at the tabernacle that sacrifices were offered to make atonement for the people so that God's anger wouldn't consume them. It struck me as strange that God would dwell in the same place as the area where those bloody atoning sacrifices were made. Wouldn't He want to dwell far away from sinful men and their bloody atonement sacrifices? When I am wronged, I do all that I can to put distance between myself and the painful, awkward situation. But no, not so here. God and atonement dwelt together in the tabernacle.
And so it is with Christ Jesus. He is both God and the atoning sacrifice. He is both God and the Lamb of God. "Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne..." Revelation 5:6
"How great the Father's love for us, How vast beyond all measure!"
