But Moses said: you must allow us to have sacrifices and burnt offerings to present to the Lord our God. The animals are not optional. Worship requires sacrifice, and sacrifice requires animals, and animals belong to Israel's covenant relationship with God. Moses insists not because the animals are economically important (though they are) but because the worship would be incomplete without them. Hebrews 9:22 says without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness — the entire sacrificial system that the tabernacle will establish is being anticipated here. Moses is not being stubborn about livestock; he is insisting that genuine worship requires the genuine means of worship. Half-obedience that looks complete from the outside is still half-obedience. The God who asked for all of Israel will not accept a version of Israel that leaves the means of His worship behind.

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