Happy Valentines Day! (This is a not-so-subtle reminder to any of the male readers of this blog that may have forgotten the date, there is still time...)
The passage in Numbers for today contained a large number of verses that deal with the offerings that each leader of the 12 tribes brought to the tabernacle for the dedication of the alter. It is interesting that this is a celebration based on the completion of a large project (tabernacle), yet in the midst of all this each tribe includes a sacrifice for sins. Numbers 7:15: one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering;16 one male goat for a sin offering[d]; To me this speaks volumes in that we can be busy serving God, bringing our tithes and offerings, following God's commands as best we can...yet we must be mindful at all times that we are sinners and constantly need to be aware of our sin, confess the specific sins to God and ask for His forgiveness.
The other thing that struck me about this passage was what God looks for in our service and relationship with Him. Each offering from each of the 12 tribes for 12 days straight was identical. To me this indicated that God is looking for consistency and obedience to his commands. As man we are easily distracted and would become "bored" if someone brought us the same gift for 12 days straight, yet I believe that God was pleased with these offerings. Consistency and obedience to God's commands are two areas I need to constantly evaluate in my life.
The final thought I had was from Numbers 7:89: When Moses entered the tent of meeting to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the atonement cover on the ark of the covenant law. In this way the Lord spoke to him. How simple it would seem that Moses could go in and speak with God..and he would speak with Moses. To be able to ask questions, seek clarification, and even get advice from the most powerful One who brought the plagues on the Egyptians, held open the Red Sea, provided food in the form of manna, seems like a great privilege. We too have a conduit today to that same powerful God. It may not be as direct as in Moses' case, but certainly God has not changed and he still seeks to communicate with us. We need to be open to God's communication through reading His word and the guidance He provides.
3 comments:
Good points. There are times that I wonder how I can change up my prayers to God. But like these sacrifices, God wasn't looking for change, He was looking for obedience.
I thought about the identical offerings as well. I thought it was significant because sin is sin is sin. No matter what sin was being repented, the offering was still the same. In that way no matter what sin you have committed you are never more than a repentance away from God.
Numbers 7:89 stood out for me too. Imagine hearing the very voice of God?! How awesome and terrifying would that be?! And yet, we have the immense privilege of having God's very words recorded for us - we should have no less reverence and awe for them. How often don't we take the Bible for granted or take God's words lightly?
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