Monday, March 14, 2016

Numbers 7

Now the leaders offered the dedication offering for the altar when it was anointed; so the leaders offered their offering before the altar.  For the Lord said to Moses, “They shall offer their offering, one leader each day, for the dedication of the altar.” vv.10-11

Read chapter 7
So we see a twelve day ceremony for each of the tribes of Israel dedicating their offerings for the altar.  As you read through this chapter it seems like you're reading the same thing over and over again, and in some ways you are, as each tribes offering was exactly the same:

  • 1 silver platter: 130 shekels full of fine flour mixed with oil
  • 1 silver bowl: 70 shekels full of fine flour mixed with oil
  • 1 gold pan : 10 shekels full of incense
  • 1 young bull
  • 1 ram
  • 1 male lamb 
  • 1 kid of the goats
  • 2 oxen
  • 5 rams
  • 5 male goats
  • 5 male lambs

All that times twelve for each tribe.  Yet as mundane as it may have been to read it was not mundane to partake in it then.  This was the God of order, and not rush or confusion, but taking time to celebrate.  Each leader of the tribe did the offering, most likely at the expense of the whole tribe.  Crazy how much they had while they were wondering in the wilderness.  In this time of offering of celebration we notice there is also a sin offering, the one kid of the goats as the sin offering.  Even in all our rejoicing we must remember that we have sin in our midst and must be accounted for.  So let us rejoice in others offerings, whatever they may be, no matter how similar or common it seems.  


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