Numbers Chapter 28
In this chapter and the following one God gave Israel a more extensive explanation of how the sacrifices were to be carried out. These instructions were given with the intent that they would be instructions for when they were in the promised land. What we find is that God knew how much the people needed Him and their attention given to Him in this sacrificial system is structured so that they were approaching worship of God daily, weekly, monthly and on special memorial times such as the Passover. What we can glean from this is how much God wants us to come to Him. He doesn’t want our attention just when we go to church or when we are in the mood, but He wants our love and attention daily. In this sacrificial system they looked to God twice a day for atonement.
As I read through this portion of scripture a question came to mind regarding the work of the offering of a sacrifice. My question is, I wonder if the hands of the priests were continually stained with blood since they were making these offerings twice a day? That in itself would have been a constant reminder of what God expected of them. And then I wondered about the number of animals that must have been kept in a pin outside the tabernacle in waiting to be slaughtered. While our minds cannot quite wrap around this whole concept, we are drawn to be increasingly thankful for the work Jesus did for us when He poured out His blood for us on the cross. Thank you, Jesus.
Let's Reflect
1. What was offered to God daily besides the two lambs that were sacrificed?
2. The Bible clearly states that the drink offering was to be a strong drink. I am not wanting to argue about the choice of a Christian drinking alcohol but looking at the value of the offering. I believe that in keeping with bringing their best to the altar for God, that He asked for strong drink because it would have been more valuable as an aged wine rather than new wine. What did they do with the strong drink?
3. What two specific times of day were the two lambs sacrificed?
4. On the Sabbath days they were to offer extra. What was the extra?
5. Besides the daily and weekly offerings there were offerings given at the beginning of each month. The monthly sacrifice was a much bigger requirement. What was the total number of animals sacrificed on the first day of each month?
6. Beginning in verse 16 and continuing in the next chapter are the instructions for the feasts. Each time the people brought sacrifices to God that were for atonement of sin and were for a “sweet-smelling aroma” to the Lord. I want us to just think about that for a moment. How often do we ask God for forgiveness of our sins? And how often do we strive to worship Jesus in such a way that our life is a sweet-smelling aroma to Him?
