Numbers 7:10-89
WE NOW have the offerings of the chiefs of the tribes for the dedication of the altar. Each offered on his day and each offered exactly alike.
On the first day the prince of the tribe of Judah offered; and his offering was a silver charger and a silver bowl, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meat offering; a golden spoon full of incense, and one bullock, one ram, one lamb, for a burnt offering; a kid for a sin offering, and for peace offerings he brought two oxen, five rams, five goats, and five lambs.
On the second day the prince of the tribe of Issachar offered and his was exactly the same. The third day another prince offered and so on for twelve days; so that all the tribes shared in the dedication of the altar.
This is a long chapter, and it may seem wearisome to some to repeat the same things over and over again. Perhaps the natural mind of man might ask, Why not simply state that each brought exactly the same offering as the other and let it go at that? But faith does not question the wisdom of God and delights to confess that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is written for our learning. “As for God His way is perfect.” And if we wait upon Him and seek to learn the mind of the Spirit in His Word, He will surely make it plain in His own time.
The children of Israel were about to set out on the wilderness journey to their promised homeland, and these gifts of the chiefs of the tribe tell of the happy spirit among them. It shows their oneness in mind and purpose.
They were God’s people and all shared alike in His love. We learn too how much God values the response to His love in the heart of His people; all is recorded, and nothing is left out. In the king’s family, his sons and daughters may have different ranks and decorations, but each alike is the object of their father’s love. What an encouragement this is to us who are accepted in the Beloved! The sense of this should make us, as we travel on together in the wilderness, seek to serve Him and one another in love, and to encourage one another. The very trials and difficulties of the way will then only be occasions that bring us more together.
In these offerings—the fine flour, the sacrifices, the gold and the silver — God saw in type the blessed Person and work of His dear Son. God delights in the praise and thanksgiving of His people for they tell afresh of the glorious work of Christ.
What a happy note then on which Israel began their journey. How well it had been if they had continued in this same spirit. But alas, they soon forgot the Lord’s goodness, and their thanksgiving turned to murmurings and complaining. Later we read of outright rebellion against God and Moses and Aaron. Alas, such is the heart of man.
And this is the history of the Church. That first love and freshness that moved the saints of God in those early days soon faded away.
Still it is a comfort to know that there is not a blessing given to the Church in the beginning that cannot be enjoyed now by God’s children, where there is faith to act upon His Word and trust Him for the promises that He has made in it.
ML-05/27/1973