May 8, 2023

Sacrifice Is Worship

Numbers 7

Rebekah Banks
Monday's Devo

May 8, 2023

Monday's Devo

May 8, 2023

Big Idea

God's instruction can always be trusted.

Key Verse | Numbers 7:89

And when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim; and it spoke to him.

Numbers 7

Offerings at the Tabernacle's Consecration

On the day when Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle and had anointed and consecrated it with all its furnishings and had anointed and consecrated the altar with all its utensils, the chiefs of Israel, heads of their fathers' houses, who were the chiefs of the tribes, who were over those who were listed, approached and brought their offerings before the LORD, six wagons and twelve oxen, a wagon for every two of the chiefs, and for each one an ox. They brought them before the tabernacle. Then the LORD said to Moses, “Accept these from them, that they may be used in the service of the tent of meeting, and give them to the Levites, to each man according to his service.” So Moses took the wagons and the oxen and gave them to the Levites. Two wagons and four oxen he gave to the sons of Gershon, according to their service. And four wagons and eight oxen he gave to the sons of Merari, according to their service, under the direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because they were charged with the service of the holy things that had to be carried on the shoulder. 10 And the chiefs offered offerings for the dedication of the altar on the day it was anointed; and the chiefs offered their offering before the altar. 11 And the LORD said to Moses, “They shall offer their offerings, one chief each day, for the dedication of the altar.”

12 He who offered his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah. 13 And his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, 1 7:13 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 14 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; 15 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 16 one male goat for a sin offering; 17 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab.

18 On the second day Nethanel the son of Zuar, the chief of Issachar, made an offering. 19 He offered for his offering one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 20 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; 21 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 22 one male goat for a sin offering; 23 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nethanel the son of Zuar.

24 On the third day Eliab the son of Helon, the chief of the people of Zebulun: 25 his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 26 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; 27 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 28 one male goat for a sin offering; 29 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliab the son of Helon.

30 On the fourth day Elizur the son of Shedeur, the chief of the people of Reuben: 31 his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 32 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; 33 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 34 one male goat for a sin offering; 35 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elizur the son of Shedeur.

36 On the fifth day Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, the chief of the people of Simeon: 37 his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 38 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; 39 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 40 one male goat for a sin offering; 41 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.

42 On the sixth day Eliasaph the son of Deuel, the chief of the people of Gad: 43 his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 44 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; 45 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 46 one male goat for a sin offering; 47 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliasaph the son of Deuel.

48 On the seventh day Elishama the son of Ammihud, the chief of the people of Ephraim: 49 his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 50 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; 51 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 52 one male goat for a sin offering; 53 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elishama the son of Ammihud.

54 On the eighth day Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur, the chief of the people of Manasseh: 55 his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 56 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; 57 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 58 one male goat for a sin offering; 59 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.

60 On the ninth day Abidan the son of Gideoni, the chief of the people of Benjamin: 61 his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 62 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; 63 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 64 one male goat for a sin offering; 65 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Abidan the son of Gideoni.

66 On the tenth day Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, the chief of the people of Dan: 67 his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 68 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; 69 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 70 one male goat for a sin offering; 71 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.

72 On the eleventh day Pagiel the son of Ochran, the chief of the people of Asher: 73 his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 74 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; 75 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 76 one male goat for a sin offering; 77 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Pagiel the son of Ochran.

78 On the twelfth day Ahira the son of Enan, the chief of the people of Naphtali: 79 his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 80 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; 81 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 82 one male goat for a sin offering; 83 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahira the son of Enan.

84 This was the dedication offering for the altar on the day when it was anointed, from the chiefs of Israel: twelve silver plates, twelve silver basins, twelve golden dishes, 85 each silver plate weighing 130 shekels and each basin 70, all the silver of the vessels 2,400 shekels according to the shekel of the sanctuary, 86 the twelve golden dishes, full of incense, weighing 10 shekels apiece according to the shekel of the sanctuary, all the gold of the dishes being 120 shekels; 87 all the cattle for the burnt offering twelve bulls, twelve rams, twelve male lambs a year old, with their grain offering; and twelve male goats for a sin offering; 88 and all the cattle for the sacrifice of peace offerings twenty-four bulls, the rams sixty, the male goats sixty, the male lambs a year old sixty. This was the dedication offering for the altar after it was anointed.

89 And when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim; and it spoke to him.

Footnotes

[1] 7:13 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams

S2:086 Numbers 7

Listen Now

Dive Deeper | Numbers 7

We begin with Moses finishing the setup of the tabernacle and then he consecrates (purifies) it. Next, the chiefs of Israel bring offerings before the Lord, which the Lord puts toward the Levites' work in the transportation of the tabernacle.

  1. Two wagons and four oxen to the sons of Gerson for transporting the tabernacle's curtain, coverings, and hangings (Numbers 4:24-26)
  2. Four wagons and eight oxen to the sons of Merari for transporting the tabernacle's frames and pillars, with their accessories (Numbers 4:31-32)
  3. Nothing for the sons of Kohath because they had special instructions to carry the holy items (Numbers 4:15)

This next part, the dedication of the altar, is the part I want to focus on because it takes up most of this chapter. The Lord gives specific instructions in Numbers 7:11.

After this verse, you start to see repetition. I encourage you not to skip over this part. Instead, circle each number/item that is repeated. You'll notice that the only thing that changes in each day of offering is the name of the person representing the specific tribe. Why is this? What can we learn from this repetition?

First, you can see that all tribes were in agreement through their obedience. Each tribe of Israel was represented, and none of them pushed back, which displayed their worship of the Lord and their support of what He was doing with the tabernacle.

Second, you see that each tribe offered the same thing. There wasn't one offering that was more significant than another. Yet, we see each gift emphasized in this passage. It displays a beautiful unity among all the tribes before the Lord.

Then you see this repetition come to a beautiful halt, and you get this really cool moment in Numbers 7:89 (our key verse) when you see the Lord's promise to Moses in Exodus 25:22 fulfilled. The Lord speaks to Moses from above the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony in the tabernacle and is dwelling in the midst of His people. What a sweet gift!

This month's memory verse

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

– Philippians 2:3-4

Discussion Questions

1. Just like the tribes were unified in their obedience to the Lord, how can you unify with fellow believers this week?

2. Each offering was the same to the Lord, and so there wasn't room for comparison. How can you fight comparison with the unique gifts God has given you and other believers to glorify Him?

3. How can you encourage your friends not to skip over long repetitive passages?

4. In Numbers 7, you see the Lord dwell in the tabernacle and later in the temple (2 Chronicles 5:13-14). Then in John 1:14 you see Jesus dwell on earth in the flesh. If you are a believer in Christ, God has given you the Holy Spirit to dwell within you (1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19). How can you thank God for this sweet gift?

As we gear up to release even more features for Join The Journey in 2025, our staff team, unfortunately, no longer has the margin to continue to support the comment functionality. We have big things in store for Join The Journey 2025. Stay tuned!

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Hugh Stephenson

Good morning, Rebekah! Thank you so much for all you do in Equipping! I know you are quite a blessing to the team and to all of us. Love your point that each tribe brought the same offering for the tabernacle. Equity and unity under God. This links me to the motto of our nation. Officially its “In God We Trust”. But many prefer “E Pluribus Unum”, or “Out of many, one”. In this passage I see that both can apply to Israel as they do to the US. https://origins.osu.edu/history-news/god-we-trust-or-e-pluribus-unum-american-founders-preferred-latter-motto?language_content_entity=en#:~:text=Although%20“In%20God%20We%20Trust,which%20was%20adopted%20in%201782. Sadly, as we more and more resemble the Israel under 2 Kings, we seem farther and farther away from this ideal. I pray for revival. Q1. The desire for unity is as powerful as anything I read the Bible; God with us, and us with each other. I love John 14-17 as the great expression of this. Q2. I love this truth I heard in re:gen, “Comparison is the thief of joy”. Q3. I can help them see the truth of 2 Timothy 3:16 and share my own learnings. Q4. I thank Him daily in my gratitude prayers. But for me, it’s all kind of a brain melt. God in me? I accept it but there are certainly too many times that I don’t live that out.
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Hugh Stephenson

But…I go back to the end of chapter 6 and see it as a type of preamble/intro into this chapter. The preparations as well as the teachings on cleanliness, purity, equity/ justice, and finally, on confessions prepare me to be taught about the great example of the faithful Israelite: The Nazerite Vow. This is what all these chapters seem to be pointing towards. I often hear the question, “How then, do we live?”. Well this seems like it’s it. Like a Nazerite. Be wholly and totally dedicated to God above all else AND, AND, AND, you are to stay fully engaged in serving the kingdom. There is no going off to the top of some mountain and contemplating your navel. Put on the full armor of God and prepare to get your uniform dirty, (Ephesians 6:10-20). And then we close with the Aaronic blessing as an amazing conclusion to the section!!! I love this on the blessing from the notes- “The first blessing is the most general ("The LORD bless you, and keep you," v. 24). God's blessing is His goodness poured out. The priest called on Him, not only to provide for His people, but to defend them from all evil (cf. Matthew 6:13).” “The second blessing is more specific ("The LORD cause His face to shine on you, and be gracious to you," v. 25). God's "face" is obviously an anthropomorphism (a description of God in human form). A person's face reflects and expresses his or her attitude toward others. God's "face" is the revelation of His personality (i.e., Himself) to people. It radiates as fire does, consuming evil and bestowing light and warmth, and it shines as the sun, promoting life. God's graciousness refers to the manifestation of His favor and grace in the events of life.” “The third blessing is the most specific ("The LORD lift up His face on you, and give you peace," v. 26). The idea seems to be that God would look upon the Israelites, rather than disregarding them, and act on their behalf. He would give His attention to them. The priests, in pronouncing this blessing, would be calling on God to manifest His power for His people. This would produce peace (Heb. shalom). Shalom does not mean simply the absence of aggravation or hostility; it is the sum of all God's blessings.”
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Hugh Stephenson

2 Timothy 3:16- Since chapter 7 is the 2nd longest in the Bible, (after Psalm 119), There is clearly a teaching for me.    I’m taught that this is a huge and lengthy celebration of the presence of God and the joy He has for each one of us.    (Below is another entry of some lengthy copy and paste.  I promise these pulls from the notes are worth the read.)    (Also noticing some weird formatting on the paste. Sorry. I can't figure that out.) "The account may strike us as repetitious, but this sort of formula was used by people in the ancient Eastern world to reflect ever-increasing joy: look how much these many people gave for their altar!"   "The passage was designed to be read aloud in a slow and stately manner. As each tribal leader and his tribe was mentioned, members of that tribe would take special pleasure. Each would sense, 'These were our gifts. This was our moment to give to the Lord.' Chapter 7 presents a scene of pageantry, pomp, ceremony, and ritual."   "The chapter stands as a monument to the pleasure of God who took enjoyment from the repetition—for these were grand gifts in the good days of his early relationship with his people.”   "The fact that God noted and recorded each name and each gift indicates His love for and interest in the individual believer. He knows our names (John 10:3) and has recorded them individually in His heavenly register (Luke 10:20; Philippians 4:3). When we stand before the Lord, He will see us individually, 'and then shall every man have praise of God' (1 Corinthians 4:5) and 'every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor’,  (1 Corinthians 3:8). Nobody will be overlooked and nobody will be lost in the crowd."   "Chapter 7 is so long … because God so delights in the loving gifts of His people to Himself that He must note in detail the giver and the gift in every case."   “The fact that Moses heard God's voice speaking to him, when he went into the tabernacle, from above the "atoning cover" (mercy seat) in the Most Holy Place, indicates God's acceptance of these gifts.”   "The offering of the princes, then, was the spontaneous response of grateful hearts to the goodness and grace of God. This sets the question of Christian liberality in its true perspective, and the scriptural principle is not difficult to see. Where people are conscious of the blessing of God in their lives, they will give spontaneously—and keep on giving.”
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Michael Sisson

Re: Num 7:5 After Nadab and Abihu were struck dead for presumptuously bringing “strange fire” before the L-rd (Lev 10:1-2), Moses was reticent to bring any offerings before the L-rd for which He had not expressly asked. However, here the L-rd tells Moses to permit the spontaneous outpouring of offerings by the people. (See also Num 7:11) Re: Num 7:10-11 Num 7:10-11 (NASB) The >>>leaders offered the dedication offering<<< for the altar when it was anointed, so the leaders offered their offering before the altar. >>>Then the LORD said to Moses, “Let them present their offering, one leader each day, for the dedication of the altar.”<<< “This Divinely ratified initiative of the leaders to commemorate the sanctification in a new way was the precedent for Solomon and the Men of the Great Assembly [Sanhedrin], who celebrated the inauguration of the two Temples with an outpouring of offerings (2Chr 7:5; 1Kgs 8:63; Ezra 6:16-17). The Third Temple, too, will be inaugurated with a special ceremony (Eze 43:26-27).” — The Stone Edition Chumash, ArtScroll, p767
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Michael Scaman

Sacrifice is worship but Psalm 50 God addresses his people on wrongful ways to sacrifice says the sacrifices of God are thanksgiving and Jesus quotes to obedience is better than sacrifice. Allot of wagons and oven to move around but the sons of Korah had more important things like carrying the ark and furniture of the holy place. "[Moses] the sons of Korah he gave none, because they were charged with the service of the holy things that had to be carried on the shoulder." An irony here as Korah will die in a rebellion with the ground opening. Not all the sons of Korah die, they protect rather than oppose God's holiness as gatekeepers. They become musical bouncers in the temple. They carry the ark when it moves. and write musical Psalms. Regarding Moses: God spoke face to face for 40 years. We should have high confidence in the inspiration of the books of Moses (and Psalm 90 written by Moses) Even a human editor would have corrected any writing errors in that 40 years. The Bible says Moses spoke with God "And when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim; and it spoke to him.' The Hebrew word is dibber and relates to a two way conversation. Moses could stand in the holy place on the other side of the viel., not going into the holy of holies.
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Amy Lowther

1. We will be praying for a few friends who are struggling with their jobs. We will be praying for friends who are struggling in the relationships with God and Jesus. We will be praying for the victims, for the family and friends, and for the stores of Allen Outlet Mall. 2. The comparison game can be overcome by studying and practicing God ‘s words and knowing we are each loved by God. These things can help each of us believe in ourselves and know we are valued without looking to others for our value. 3. I can discuss the value of the passage with them. I can discuss how the passage might parallel and help us in life today. I can encourage them to use a dictionary for unknown words as they read. 4. I can thank God for the gift of the Holy Spirit by using the gift of the Holy Spirit wisely as I live life and work with others. I can also thank for the gift of the Holy Spirit through prayer.
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Sue Bohlin

Hi Rebekah, and thank you thank you thank you for how you make JTJ better! Yes, there's a looooooooooooooooooot of repetition in today's chapter. Lots of details that God wanted recorded in his forever Word. He was pleased by every single gift of offering, and He made sure it was written down. So it makes me think about how He's recording Every. Little. Thing. we do as an offering of praise and worship to Him, because He's going to reward us at the Bema, the judgment seat of Christ. *When you picked up all the scraps of paper towels on the bathroom floor and threw them away so the maintenance person didn't have to do it. *When you looked for opportunities to be kind and generous to other drivers on the road, slowing down and waving them into the line. *When you gave money to the person the Holy Spirit nudged you to surprise and tell them God loves them. *When you held your tongue and refrained from giving someone a piece of your indignation, releasing it to the Lord instead. *When you took the funds you had been saving for new carpet and gave them to a missionary family instead. *When you showed up at the door of a grieving, overwhelmed friend with bucket and sponges and rubber gloves, saying, "I'm here to clean your bathrooms." He saw it all. He was pleased by it all.