Don't Kill the Goat

Last week on Survivor, one of the tribes managed to catch a wild goat, which turned out to be a mother goat and her small kid.  Surprisingly, the tribe, though hungry, didn't kill and eat the female; they let mother and baby go free, saying they didn't want to "kill Bambi's mother."  

Perhaps their reason was to save "Bambi's mother" or maybe it was to avoid charges of animal cruelty.  But I also think the reality of killing a large animal likely "turned their stomachs."   
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The Old Testament frequently instructs on and records instances of animal sacrifices. 

Then the goats for the sin offering were brought to the king and the assembly, and they laid their hands on them, and the priests slaughtered them and made a sin offering with their blood on the altar, to make atonement for all Israel.                  2 Chronicles 29:23-24

When I read those "matter-of-fact" verses, I picture the priests having a clean, well-planned system for killing animals. 

But the actual killing of an animal is ugly, bloody, messy.  And those Bible sacrifices were performed for the forgiveness of sins, sins that are also ugly and messy.

Even kids, when they sin, do something wrong, they try to hide it, and lie about it, because they know that payment is required for sins, that punishment is coming.

And the punishment for childish misbehavior is just a foretaste of the ultimate punishment for sin - death.

For the wages of sin is death...Romans 6:23a

Just like those Survivors, the reality of death can "turn our stomachs."  And like that punishment for sins, it's coming...

But Jesus...a sacrifice was provided for our sins...and it was not pretty...

...he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.  Isaiah 53:5

...but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 6:23b

I'm still surprised that, for whatever their reason, the Survivors didn't kill and eat the goat, that they showed compassion.  But I'm more grateful for and in awe of Jesus, who has compassion and love for us, who gave His life, who took our punishment, so that we have life, life eternal, with Him.