⁹ … Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience, ¹⁰ since they relate only to food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until a time of reformation.

Penchant for performing acts of piousness, that has plagued human kind as far back as Cain and Abel (Genesis 4). The brothers brought offerings, Cain from the crops and Abel from the flocks. God accepted the second’s but rejected the first’s. If Cain had done well, his would have been accepted. Some have suggested that Cain’s offering was not accepted because it came from a bloodless sacrifice (vegetation) rather than from animal life. But not a hint of that is given in the biblical record—only that Cain subsequently murdered Abel and God said that, “The voice of your brother is crying to me from the ground” (Gen 4:10). The account, however, shows not that Cain had inadvertently offered the wrong kind of sacrifice, or that he should have known to offer an animal sacrifice. Rather we see that his heart was angry and murderous, revealing that he believed God should have been indebted to him for what he brought.

Could it be that fallen human nature sees religious activities as a way to control God, to make Him indebted to us? If so, then the sacrifices could never help us. It is entirely possible that God, in order to show us the futility of such thinking, gave the human heart opportunity for full expression through a detailed, complicated system of sacrifices and offerings. Man, in the pinnacle of effort to bargain with God, uses the system in an attempt to manipulate Him. “I’ve done my part God. Now you must do yours!”

The result is that the harder one tries, the more indicted he becomes! This is one of the great ironies of religious activity. Paul summarizes it well, “These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence” (Col 2:23). We must put aside all efforts to achieve from God what we think we deserve. For if we deserve something from God, then He is obligated to give it to us. That is ludicrous, for God is not indebted to anyone!

In response to Job’s assertion that he was entitled to an answer from God about his situation, God says, “Now gird up your loins like a man; I will ask you, and you instruct Me. Will you really annul My judgment? Will you condemn Me that you may be justified?” (Job 40:7–8).

Lord, I deserve nothing. I enjoy Your blessing because of Your mercy in keeping back what I deserve, namely, judgment and condemnation.