Andrew's Lamb

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As Andrew looked down at the new lamb, he was immediately struck by its beauty and perfection. The lamb's soft eyes gazed up at him with a look of seeming gratitude. That night a bit of pain had pierced Andrew's heart as he watched the first clumsy movements of this spotless male lamb, for he knew what the perfection of this little creature would mean. Though he hated to even think about it, he knew that this lamb would serve a greater purpose.

For once a year it was Andrew's job, since he was the shepherd in the family, to pick out the very best of their young male lambs. He knew all the sheep well so he was able to pick the most perfect and precious of them all. It was always difficult to make this decision because Andrew loved all of the sheep and because each and every one of them was valuable to the livelihood of Andrew's not so wealthy family. The lamb which he chose was to be given up to their God as a sacrifice. And for Andrew and his family it truly was a sacrifice. A sacrifice was necessary each year to the God of Israel for the forgiveness of their sins.

When Andrew was younger he had not fully understood what this sacrifice was all about, but now he was beginning to see his own sins all too well. Andrew's father had explained to him many times about their God and about how in the beginning when God first created man, man had sinned. From that sin, death came into the world and only through the shedding of blood could man's sins be forgiven and he could be saved from eternal death. His father had also explained that it was true mercy that their God had made a way so that they could be forgiven and would not have to die as their sins deserved. God's way was that they would shed the blood of a lamb. This was their sacrifice. Andrew knew that for it to truly be a sacrifice it must hurt. This was why his family had always been careful to give the most perfect and spotless of their flock to God as He had commanded, giving the one which it hurt the most to give.

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