Why animal sacrifices in the Hebrew Scriptures?

Animal sacrifices in the Hebrew Scriptures were given, performed, as an object lesson relevant to what Elohim requires as atonement for sin (Leviticus 17:11; Hebrews 9:22) as He first demonstrated this by shedding innocent blood in Eden to provide Adam and Eve an imputed robe of righteousness, Himself, while rejecting the self-righteousness of Adam to cover his own sin by the work of his hands via fig leaves (Genesis 3:21; Ephesians 2:8-9).

Though our forefathers followed this example, first provided by Elohim in Eden, the blood of animals could never take away sin (Hebrews 10) but most relevant is the truism that the “faith” of the one offering the sacrifice was accounted to them as “righteous” (Hebrews 11) (possessing a right standing) before God BUT their sin had not yet received acceptable atonement; therefore, upon death of the body in Time, the Old Testament saints were relegated to Sheol (Paradise) awaiting the perfect blood atonement, Jesus Christ, the spotless Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the World (Psalm16:10; Luke 16; John 1:29; 1 Peter 1:19).

It is only the blood of Messiah, innocent, sinless, that the Father accepts as atonement for your sin (Matthew 26:28; Hebrews 10; Hebrews 11) and only by faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord who died for you will you receive the imputation of Jesus’ righteousness, an atoning righteousness earned for you at Golgotha, as a “robe of righteousness” first demonstrated-pictured in Eden immediately subsequent the fall of man and fulfilled 4000-years later outside the gates of the Old City with the words of Messiah… “It is finished” (Genesis 3:21; 2 Corinthians 5:21; John 3; Matthew 26:28; John 19:30).