Num. 28-29 (29:39-40) Preparing to Enter the Land (2)

These two chapters contain instructions for offerings at specific significant times.  You may think this is a repeat of instructions given in Leviticus.  But the point is that they were getting ready to cross the Jordan and enter the Promised Land.  It is quite possible it was hard to keep the regimen of offerings during the 40 years in the desert.  Albert Barnes has a note on the term strong wine in 27:7. He notes that the Hebrew term usually applies to strong drink that is not wine.  He goes on to say …

The Israelites in the wilderness had, in their lack of wine, substituted shecher made from barley for it.  They had thus observed the spirit, though not the letter of the ordinance. 

Here is a list of the occasions referred to in these two chapters:

·       28:3-8: The daily offerings (morning and evening).

·       28:9-10: The Sabbath offerings.

·       28:11-15: The New Moon offering (beginning of each month).

·       28:16-25: The Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread offerings.

·       28:26-31: The Feast of Firstfruits.

·       29:1-6: The Feast of Trumpets.

·       29:7-11: The Day of Atonement.

·       29:12-34: The Feast of Tabernacles.

·       29:35-38: The closing day of the feast of Tabernacles.

The term for “offering” in 28:2 is the Hebrew qorban.  You may remember that in Jesus’ time on earth the Jews had come to misuse this term.  You can read about it in Mark 7:9-13.  In Numbers it probably refers to the meat portion of the sacrifice as opposed to the “bread” or grain offering or drink offering.

The other thing to note is the reference to My offering, My food for My offerings made by fire as a sweet aroma to Me (28:2).  This was a reminder to the people that the offerings were not about how good the offering was but rather about how awesome was the One being worshiped.  OT religion was always about the heart first.  You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart … soul … strength (Deut. 6:5).  This reminder was needed as they were about to leave the wilderness for the “land of milk and honey.”  Sadly, there would be times when Israel would forget this and bring offerings to the LORD that He rejected.  For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings (Hosea 6:6). 

We have the same issue.  Paul said this about the financial offering of the church at Philippi: it was a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God (Phil. 4:18).  Let us give thanks that the sacrifice of Christ on the cross was an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma (Eph. 5:2).  In other words, it was accepted by God because the heart of Christ was holy and righteous.  That righteous life gave the sacrificial blood it’s redeeming power.  Hallelujah!