Ever since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, there has been corruption on Earth, and people trying to take advantage of other people. In the same token, however, ever since the same event in the Garden, there has been a plan in place for the Redemption of mankind, which God began to reveal immediately after man sinned (Genesis 3:14-15). In today’s devotion, we will see an intersection between man’s nonchalant manipulation and God’s redemptive plan.

In First Samuel 2, we meet up with Eli the Priest’s sons, and they were not nice boys. The Bible tells of their wickedness, summing it up in verse 12, “Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD.”

Simply put, they did not believe in the God of their father, and they were wicked. Growing up “in church” as “preacher boys,” however, they knew all the tricks; and these sons of Eli manipulated the congregation to get what they wanted.

One example had to do with the sacrificial offerings. Provisions were made so that when the animals were sacrificed, a portion of the meat was given to the priest and his family. However, the priority and main purpose was obviously a sacrifice unto the Lord, and things were done in a very specific way. Eli’s sons decided that they wanted their meat a little differently. They manipulated things so they got things their way, and threatened anyone who did not comply.

What’s the big deal? They were going to get the meat anyway. Who cares if it was boiled first or raw? Who cares if they got it before, during or after the process? What is really the big deal? Wouldn’t it just be easier to let them get what they wanted and let everyone do their own thing?

God did not think so. This was His assessment in I Samuel 2:17, “Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.”

Here is why it was a big deal: their sin and manipulation made people abhor the offering of the LORD! Ever since man has been sinning and manipulating one another, God has been working toward a cure. That cure is the Cross of Calvary. When Jesus died in our place, was buried, and rose again the third day, He provided victory for our sin and manipulation. That is what the offering of the LORD was pointing toward, and it was being abhorred because of their sin!

It was a big deal to blur the image of the sacrifice that was pointing people to Jesus. My friend, it is also a big deal, when we who know Christ as our Saviour, as living sacrifices, who are supposed to be pointing people to Jesus in everything that we do and say – in how we act and how we conduct our lives – choose to blur that image. We represent Christ in all that we do; and all that we do either points people to Calvary, or else causes people to abhor the offering of the Lord.

Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

I Corinthians 10:31, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”