Numbers 28:1-29:40

It is easy for us to forget, that is why repetition is such an important tool in teaching.  Just prior to Moses leaving the people for good, he goes through and repeats the people’s obligations for their offerings and their feasts.  These were vital to the welfare of the people and the survival of the new nation that the Lord was separating for His purposes.  Each of these feasts are significant in that they are types of Christ’s coming; both His first and second.  These have been discussed in earlier blogs so I will not repeat them here.  Instead I would like to focus on two basic principles that I see in these chapters that simply sum up two very important priorities in our lives.

REMEMBER THE SACRIFICE OF CHIRST: As we read through these chapters, we cannot help but be impressed with the numbers of animals that were to be killed and sacrificed each month.  These sacrifices were a constant reminder of the seriousness of sin and that wage of sin being death.  They pictured the idea of substitution with the lamb dying in the place of the person.  They also prefigured the ultimate and final sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.  He was the Lamb of God who was sacrificed to put an end to all of the sacrifices for sin.  His death has satisfied once and for all the justice of God.  The children of Israel were called to look forward to this sacrifice through the sacrifices that they made.  We are called to remember this sacrifice through the celebration of communion.  The key point being that we must never, ever, never, never, never forget the sacrifice of Christ for sin.

REMEMBER TO SUPPORT THE WORK OF GOD: Another reason for many of the sacrifices and offerings was the support of the priests who ministered in the tabernacle.  The offerings were made in the form of animals, grains and drinks.  These offerings were vital to the welfare of the Levites who worked to lead and maintain the worship and spiritual well being of the nation.  Without these offerings the Levites would not be able to dedicate themselves to this all important work.  God has ordained people who are to focus on the spiritual well being of others as their vocations.  He equips them and separates them for this purpose and it is the job of all believers to make provision for their well being.  When we are faithful to give we are demonstrating the priority of our own spiritual walk as well as the spiritual well being of the entire body of Christ.  Giving generously to the work of God must be a priority in the life of every believer, it is how we keep our priorities straight.