The penalty of their sin would then be met.
Call it gross, crazy, cruelty to animals or whatever; this was how our Sovereign God chose to justify the sins of His covenant people. I can imagine that anyone who had a heart had a difficult time witnessing such an act which should/may have helped them not sin so casually.
Romans 6:23 teaches us the wages or the penalty of sin is death! Something always had to die when sin occurred. This showed His chosen people that sin was :
1) serious business
2) Stopping the flow
of godliness in His Kingdom
3) Severing their relationship and therefore it had to be reconciled
4) Sacrificing the life of the innocent
Without individual AND national atonement for sin, the CHOSEN ONES would find themeslves OUT of a relationship with God. The covenant would be broken and judgment would occur!
Souls are the only thing that never die. That's how precious and special we are to God but He is Holy and that cannot be forgotten or ignored.
Let us pray:
Dear God, we thank You for making a way to ALWAYS have a relationship with You. Although we are unholy, unworthy and undeserving of Your love and blessings here and eternally You look beyond our faults and see our needs. Thank You for Your system that allows us to be reconciled and restored back into Your good graces. We pray Your grace not be in vain as we seek to live as model citizens, holy and pleasing in Your sight doing Your holy business while we can. These things we ask in Jesus' name! AMEN!