3 NovemberNumbers 28

Daily Offerings

Numbers 28:1-8 (NIV) “The Lord said to Moses, “Give this command to the Israelites and say to them: ‘Make sure that you present to me at the appointed time my food offerings, as an aroma pleasing to me.’ Say to them: ‘This is the food offering you are to present to the Lord: two lambs a year old without defect, as a regular burnt offering each day. Offer one lamb in the morning and the other at twilight, together with a grain offering of a tenth of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with a quarter of a hin of oil from pressed olives. This is the regular burnt offering instituted at Mount Sinai as a pleasing aroma, a food offering presented to the Lord. The accompanying drink offering is to be a quarter of a hin of fermented drink with each lamb. Pour out the drink offering to the Lord at the sanctuary. Offer the second lamb at twilight, along with the same kind of grain offering and drink offering that you offer in the morning. This is a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord”.

*Walk with God humbly before the Lord*

Our actions each day should be to glorify God. God begins by telling the people, “Be careful to present my offering, my food for my offering by fire, of a soothing aroma to me, at their appointed times.” Micah 6:8 (NIV) “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God”.

*We must be obedient to God*

God gave clear rules about when these sacrifices should happen, what types of animals to use, how many animals to sacrifice, and the exact amount of flour to offer. His people had to follow these instructions carefully and obey Him. John 15:10 (NIV) “If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love”.

*Jesus paid the ultimate price*

Each day, the Jews had to sacrifice two one-year-old male lambs as a burnt offering. The lambs also had to be without defects. Jesus paid the ultimate price for our sins. 1 Peter 1:18-19 (NIV) “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect”.

*Be a living sacrifice*

The Jews were also instructed to offer a grain sacrifice using a tenth of an ephah of “fine flour.” The fine flour represented the best a person could give from their work. This grain offering was given to thank God for being free from sin. In the New Testament, we offer ourselves as living sacrifices to God. Romans 12:1 (NIV) “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship”.

*Be led by the Spirit of God*

The Jews also gave a "hin" of "beaten oil" with the grain offering, which represents life. The oil stands for the Holy Spirit. Like olives are crushed to get oil, we must endure hard times before the Holy Spirit can fill us. 2 Corinthians 4:7-10 (AMP) “But we have this precious treasure [the good news about salvation] in [unworthy] earthen vessels [of human frailty], so that the grandeur and surpassing greatness of the power will be [shown to be] from God [His sufficiency] and not from ourselves. We are pressured in every way [hedged in], but not crushed; perplexed [unsure of finding a way out], but not driven to despair; hunted down and persecuted, but not deserted [to stand alone]; struck down, but never destroyed; always carrying around in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the [resurrection] life of Jesus also may be shown in our body”.

In conclusion, the daily offerings outlined in Numbers 28 are a powerful reminder of the importance of living a life fully dedicated to God. Just as the Israelites were commanded to offer sacrifices at appointed times with careful attention to detail, we, too, are called to live in obedience to God’s commands. Through Jesus, the ultimate sacrifice, we are redeemed and set free, no longer needing to offer burnt offerings but called to present ourselves as living sacrifices.

Our daily actions, guided by the Holy Spirit, should reflect humility, justice, and love for God and others. In every challenge we face, we can trust that God’s Spirit is with us, working through our trials to shape us into vessels that bring Him glory. Let us walk humbly with God, always striving to offer the best of our lives in gratitude for the gift of salvation.