The Two Kinds of Sacrifices
By Roderick S. Owen
One Was Divided, the Other Was Not—Plan by Which the Human Is Again United with the Divine — Our Divinely Human Representative in Heaven This is the third of a series of independent studies presented by Elder Owen on the experiences of Abraham as recorded in the fifteenth chapter of Genesis. Each article presents some complete line of thought. Hence it is not essential that you should have read the two preceding articles in order to understand and enjoy this one. “AND he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, . . . but the birds divided he not.” Gen. 15:10. When Abraham asked God for a sign by which he might know that he should inherit the promise, God said, “Take Me an heifer of three years old, and a she-goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtle-dove, and a young pigeon. And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.” Gen. 15:9, 10. The Two Plans of Sacrifices
Here God required Abraham to prepare a sacrifice. This included one of each of the kinds that He afterward instructed Israel to use as a burnt offering. See Leviticus 1. We also note that the beasts, which move upon the ground, were cut into pieces and then placed over against each other; while the birds, having the power to leave the earth, were not so divided. That there must have been some significance attached to this, seems evident from the fact that this was laid down as a rule for Israel. See Lev. 1:17. By referring to Jer. 34:8-19, we learn that a sacrifice thus prepared, was used in making a covenant of liberty; and that the parties of the covenant passed between the separated pieces. From this, we must conclude that God was here entering into a covenant of liberty with Abraham. The only bondage recognized in the Bible, is the bondage of sin; and liberty from this bondage is found only in Christ Jesus. Hence these sacrifices must, in a specific way, have represented Christ as the great Sacrifice to give us liberty, or freedom from sin. Why Was One Divided and the Other Not?
Then the question arises, “Why were the beasts divided and the birds not so divided?” In the bondage of sin, a condition exists in which the human and the divine are separated. The purpose of Christ in coming into this world, was to bring about a union of the two. He walked between God and man, and effected this union, by holding on to the throne of the universe with one arm, and with the other, encircling the human family. This complete union was first effected in His own person, for the Word was made flesh. He came in the likeness of sinful flesh, assuming all its weaknesses, liabilities, and sinful tendencies, and thus placed Himself in a position where He was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin. At the same time, there was brought into His experience the divine, with all its perfection, power, and glory. These two, being divided, were distinct and antagonistic. All the while, He was walking in the flesh, condemning sin in the flesh, and breaking down the middle wall of partition, by eliminating from the human all that was contrary to the divine. This He did by overcoming human weaknesses, by subduing evil tendencies, bringing the human into subjection to the divine, until His body was prepared a sacrifice, acceptable to God. But this divided, antagonistic state continued all the while He walked the earth, or until He had met and overcome the last temptation, had passed the last trial. Had Power to Leave the Earth
The union completed, He had power to leave the earth and ascend into the heavens, carrying in His own person humanity united with divinity; and He now sits at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, at once both Son of God and Son of man; for while He is Son of God, He is also our elder Brother. Thus in the typical sacrifices, those that had only power to walk the earth—the beasts—were divided; while those which had power to leave the ground and soar away into heaven—the birds—were not divided. And no man can ever go into heaven until this union is completed in Him. And so to-day the soul finds freedom in walking between the parts of God’s great sacrifice. Thus when we are pressed by our weaknesses and infirmities, and feel the need of sympathy, we can lean on the one side—upon Jesus as the Son of man, who is touched with the feelings of our infirmities, who knows our frame and remembers that we are dust; and in our need of power and strength, we can lean on the other side—upon Jesus as the Son of God, to whom all power is given in heaven and in earth, and who is able to succor and to save to the uttermost all who come to God by Him. Trusting in and walking between the parts of such a mighty and sympathetic Saviour, how complete must be the victory! Let us ever thus walk between the parts of our great Sacrifice, and we shall find the union between the human and the divine taking place in us, as our weaknesses are overcome, our evil tendencies are subdued, and we walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Thus will all sin be condemned in our flesh, and we can present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God.