Rather than seeking to satisfy some need or desire rooted in his own nature, by means of the sacrificial worship he prescribed in the Torah the God of Israel sought to strengthen and reinforce among his people the type of dedication to him and his will that would enable them to enjoy the wholeness and well-being he sought for all. The rich symbolisms involved in that worship reminded the people of certain fundamental truths, while the symbolic rites and gestures they performed provided them with a means by which they might manifest in a visible and palpable manner their love and commitment to living in the way he had commanded for their own good. By receiving from his people’s hand the gifts and offerings that transformed their hearts and lives, God gave them life.
