The Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh writes that this pasuk hints to the dictum of Chazal (Yerushalmi Makkos 2:6) that someone who sins is really obligated to die. In Hashem’s Divine mercy, however, He allows the sinner to bring a korban as an atonement. The main purpose of the korban is for the one bringing it to recognize that he really should be sacrificing himself, and these thoughts will create his atonement. Thus, the pasuk is saying that Aharon brought himself close to the Mizbeach as a sign that he was prepared to sacrifice himself to Hashem but, in His mercy, he allowed him to slaughter a calf as a korban in his place.
Like an Animal
The Ohr Hachaim continues to ask a question: Chazal tell us (Tanchuma Shoftim 1) that Hashem promised to rule this world with justice. They also say that Hashem does not forgo sins (Yerushalmi Shekalim 5:1). If so, how is it just for someone who is liable to be killed for committing a sin to get away with merely sacrificing an animal as a korban?
He answers that, in fact, it is just and fair for a person to exempt himself from punishment by bringing an animal as a korban. This is because a person who sins loses his status as a human being. He is no longer a “mentch”; rather, he is like an animal. But after he does teshuva, he returns to his status as a human and no longer deserves to be sacrificed like an animal. Instead, it is appropriate to offer an animal in his place. With this idea, he explains the verse (Tehillim 36:7): “Hashem saves both man and animal.” This means that both the animalistic part of the person which causes him to sin and the human, spiritual part of a person are saved by Hashem after he sins and does teshuva and is allowed to bring a korban, rather than sacrificing himself.
Forgiven of Sin Through Abstinence
As an aside, the Noam Elimelech (Parshas Noach) explains Chazal’s words that one may not say that he will sin and expect Hashem to forgo the sin. The actual words of Chazal are: “If one says that Hashem forgoes sins, he forgoes his bnei mayav (intestines).” He explains that if one says this, he must forgo his stomach, meaning that he must refrain from eating and enjoying this world as a means of atonement for what he did.
