Offering instructions

Numbers Chapter 28

The Lord had Moses give instructions to the people regarding offerings. The Lord said the offerings presented by fire were his food and very pleasing to him. He wanted the people to present a daily burnt offering of two one year old male lambs with no defects. One for morning and one for evening with each having a grain offering of two quarts of choice flour mixed with a quart of olive oil. Along with this he wished to have a proper drink offering consisting of one quart of fermented drink with each lamb, poured out in the Holy Place as an offering to the Lord.

On the Sabbath day, the Lord wished two one year old male lambs, free from defect, accompanied by the grain offering of three quarts of choice flour mixed with olive oil and a drink offering. This should be present on the Sabbath in addition to the regular burn offering and drink.

On the first day of each month, the Lord asked for an extra burn offering of two young bulls, one ram, seven one yr old male lambs, all defect free. Accompanied by grain offerings of choice flour, olive oil – five quarts with each bull, three quarts the ram and two quarts each lamb. Drink offerings with each sacrifice should be two quarts of wine with each bull, two and a half pints for the first ram and one quart for each lamb. Present this each month on the first day of the month. In addition, he asked them to offer one male goat for a sin offering to the Lord.

On the appointed day in spring, the Lord asked the people to celebrate the Passover. On the following day a joyous seven day festival will begin, but no bread made with yeast will be eaten. On the festival’s first day, call an assembly of the people. No regular work may be done that day. There will be burnt offerings (see verses 19-24).

On the first day of the Festival of Harvest, a holy assembly should be called the first day and no regular work will be done. Offerings are described in versus 27 through 31.

BIBLE NOTES show that offerings had to be given regularly and with hearts prepared for worship. Extra offerings were made on the Sabbath and festival times to signify the special days. We can assume that Moses was reminding this new generation of the instructions that God gave to their ancestors regarding offerings and festivals. God eating? That was a visual picture I never thought of before. Did he mean that literally? Or more likely as a way of indicating his approval of the people obeying his rules for offerings and getting ready for worship.

How can this chapter relate to us today? We keep observances of the old festivals in many of our churches or in our homes. We do this for a simple reason – to honor our God. He deserves as much as we are able to give and he acknowledges our observances in prayer with mercy.

Yours in Christ,
Mary