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Since they are literal thinkers, God communicates with the ancient Hebrews in literal terms that portray the true spiritual reality. After Adam and Eve sin, God promises redemption through the seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15), and this is ultimately fulfilled through the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Each ritual, festival, and sacrifice foreshadows the Messiah, and will no longer be needed when He comes.

God clothes Adam and Eve with garments of skin, graphically portraying that the Redeemer will ultimately cover their nakedness with His perfect and sinless robe of righteousness.

The sacrificial system is already functioning when Abel brings a lamb from the firstborn of his flock as a sacrifice to God—representing the Messiah, who must die. As Noah comes out of the ark, he builds an altar and offers burnt offerings to the Lord in thankfulness for the salvation of his family.

God calls Abram out of Ur, leads him to Canaan, and establishes His covenant with him, promising seed, land, and to make him a blessing to all people (Genesis 12:2–3). The seed will be his descendants, but the principal one will be Christ. The land is initially Canaan, but ultimately the whole earth, once God’s sovereignty is established. The blessing will be the spreading of the knowledge of the true God, and His salvation for all people.

God liberates His people from Egypt and leads them to Sinai, where He establishes His covenant with them. This covenant is the Plan of Salvation, portraying in a literal way how it works by His grace and their faith.

The Lord instructs them to build a literal sanctuary for Him to dwell in and gives detailed instructions for various offerings and rituals. Priests are established for the daily service of the tabernacle, and a High Priest is named to officiate on the Day of Atonement. Annual feasts are established, such as the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Passover), the Feast of Harvest (Pentecost), and the Feast of Ingathering (Tabernacles). But while God instructs the Hebrews to keep these feasts, He also wants them to understand they point to the Messiah.

All the sacrifices, offerings, rituals, and festivals end when the Messiah becomes their complete fulfillment.

Animals will no longer need to be sacrificed, since Jesus Christ is the real Lamb (1 Corinthians 11:28).

There will be no need for the grain and olive harvest of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Harvest, or the Feast of Ingathering, since Christ’s body is now the true food, and His blood is the true drink. The Lord’s Supper will replace the old feasts, and His true followers will express their extreme thankfulness through this celebration.

The tabernacle will no longer be needed because God’s people will be His true temple, and He will dwell within them (1 Corinthians 6:19–20).

The book of Hebrews emphasizes how Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of what was given at Sinai.

No longer do we need human, mortal priests, because Jesus Christ is both our common and our High Priest (Hebrews 7:15–17; 8:3–5) who intercedes for us (1 John 2:1).

No longer do we have the previous covenant, but a new one (Hebrews 8:13), based on better promises (Hebrews 8:6).

No longer will the Law need to be read every seven years because of our forgetfulness. Instead, God’s Law will be in our minds, and written on our hearts in Jesus’ new covenant (Hebrews 8:10).

No longer will the old tabernacle and its sacrifices and services need to be functioning since they are all replaced by Jesus Christ (Hebrews 9:11–28).

All the old things are but a shadow of the good things to come. Every one of God’s promises have been fulfilled through Jesus Christ, our Savior, and our Redeemer!

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