Our notion of sacrifice is the wringing out of us something we don’t want to give up, full of pain and agony and distress. The Bible idea of sacrifice is that I give as a love-gift the very best thing I have. (Oswald Chambers)
Numbers 28:1-2
Great care was to be taken to make the offerings as outlined by God. From the time of Cain till today, we’ve seen men make offerings to God on their own terms rather than what is pleasing to God. We mess this up constantly with either the right God and wrong offering of the right offering but the wrong god (wrong understanding or trying to mix gods). In addition, great care was to be taken to make the offerings at the appointed time. The right offering at the wrong time was ineffectual and invalid.
Why was this so important? Daily offerings were the constant reminder of being a child of God and living in His presence. God’s people were to live in continuous thanksgiving and daily compliance. This was an anchor point for a holy life.
Numbers 28:3-8
There was to be established the ‘day by day’ regular burnt offering of a lamb in the morning and evening. This included:
- A grain offering of 1/10th of an Ephah (1.3 quart)
- The grain offering was mixed with 1/4th of hin of oil – (1 quart)
- A drink offering of 1/4th of hin was poured out with the offering (finest wine available – undiluted alcoholic wine).
See Leviticus 2:1-16 for the ingredients of the meal offering. Also see Numbers 15:4.
Numbers 28:9-10
The Sabbath is a day of rest for man. It commemorates the seventh day of rest established by God at the beginning at creation. In addition, it commemorates the release from Egyptian bondages weekly. This was an additional two lambs with twice the grain offering
Numbers 28:11-15
The offerings follow the lunar calendar which follows the agricultural calendar. A special offering was made at the beginning of each month at each new moon.
- Two bulls with 3/10ths of an ephah of grain offering mixed with oil, for each bull.
- Drink offering of half a hin of wine for each bull
- One Ram with 2/10ths of an ephah of grain offering mixed with oil
- Drink offering of 1/3 of a hin of wine for a ram.
- Seven lambs with 1/10th of an ephah of grain offering mixed with oil, for each lamb.
- Drink offering of ¼ of a hin of wine for each lamb.
- On kid of goat for a sin offering.
- The regular burnt offering was also made.
Numbers 28:16-25
Passover was on the 14th day of the first month (Nissan). This commemorates the deliverance provided by God in the 10th plague and the beginning of the Exodus. The Passover lamb would be offered for the Passover.
Passover also served as the beginning of the feast of unleavened bread that lasted seven days.
- Two bulls with 3/10ths of an ephah of grain offering mixed with oil, for each bull.
- Drink offering of half a hin of wine for each bull
- One Ram with 2/10ths of an ephah of grain offering mixed with oil
- Drink offering of 1/3 of a hin of wine for a ram.
- Seven lambs with 1/10th of an ephah of grain offering mixed with oil, for each lamb.
- Drink offering of ¼ of a hin of wine for each lamb.
- On kid of goat for a sin offering.
- The regular burnt offering was also made.
The daily offerings were to be made and the additional sacrifices were spread out across the seven days. On the first and the seventh day there was a holy convocation.
Numbers 28:26-31
Seven weeks after barley harvest was wheat harvest. This is known as the Feast of Harvest or Pentecost. By tradition, it commemorates the giving of the law on Mount Sinai. It is associated with covenant renewal and pilgrimage. The celebration includes the wave offering of two loaves of bread (the law).
- Two bulls with 3/10ths of an ephah of grain offering mixed with oil, for each bull.
- Drink offering of half a hin of wine for each bull
- One Ram with 2/10ths of an ephah of grain offering mixed with oil
- Drink offering of 1/3 of a hin of wine for a ram.
- Seven lambs with 1/10th of an ephah of grain offering mixed with oil, for each lamb.
- Drink offering of ¼ of a hin of wine for each lamb.
- On kid of goat for a sin offering.
- The regular burnt offering was also made.
At the giving of the law, the mountains shook and fire descended on the mountain. The children ‘played’ in idolatry and wickedness. The Levites stood with Moses and the Lord, establishing them as the priests, and three thousand perished. At Pentecost in the New Testament, tongues of fire came among those waiting. The Holy Spirit was given to men and the church was born. Three thousand were saved that day. They were the beginning of a kingdom of priests. They became the tabernacle of God.
© 2023 Doug Ford, Calvary Chapel Sweetwater
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