Numbers 15:1-211And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land of your habitations, which I give unto you, 3And will make an offering by fire unto the Lord, a burnt offering, or a sacrifice in performing a vow, or in a freewill offering, or in your solemn feasts, to make a sweet savor unto the Lord, of the herd, or of the flock: 4Then shall he that offereth his offering unto the Lord bring a meat offering of a tenth deal of flour mingled with the fourth part of an hin of oil. 5And the fourth part of an hin of wine for a drink offering shalt thou prepare with the burnt offering or sacrifice, for one lamb. 6Or for a ram, thou shalt prepare for a meat offering two tenth deals of flour mingled with the third part of an hin of oil. 7And for a drink offering thou shalt offer the third part of an hin of wine, for a sweet savor unto the Lord. 8And when thou preparest a bullock for a burnt offering, or for a sacrifice in performing a vow, or peace offerings unto the Lord: 9Then shall he bring with a bullock a meat offering of three tenth deals of flour mingled with half an hin of oil. 10And thou shalt bring for a drink offering half an hin of wine, for an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the Lord. 11Thus shall it be done for one bullock, or for one ram, or for a lamb, or a kid. 12According to the number that ye shall prepare, so shall ye do to every one according to their number. 13All that are born of the country shall do these things after this manner, in offering an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the Lord. 14And if a stranger sojourn with you, or whosoever be among you in your generations, and will offer an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the Lord; as ye do, so he shall do. 15One ordinance shall be both for you of the congregation, and also for the stranger that sojourneth with you, an ordinance for ever in your generations: as ye are, so shall the stranger be before the Lord. 16One law and one manner shall be for you, and for the stranger that sojourneth with you. 17And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 18Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land whither I bring you, 19Then it shall be, that, when ye eat of the bread of the land, ye shall offer up an heave offering unto the Lord. 20Ye shall offer up a cake of the first of your dough for an heave offering: as ye do the heave offering of the threshingfloor, so shall ye heave it. 21Of the first of your dough ye shall give unto the Lord an heave offering in your generations. (Numbers 15:1‑21)
IN THE last chapter the unbelief and rebellious ways of the people led them down to their defeat and, shame. The next chapter tells of worse rebellion and more solemn judgment. But how precious is this chapter which comes between the sad records of Israel’s sin and ruin. Here we learn how God is above all the foolishness and unbelief of His people. Their wretchedness does not alter Him in the slightest degree like the sun in the heavens, which shines on, shedding its light and warmth on all around; nothing can stop its shining. The rain, the clouds and storms may keep us from seeing its pleasant light and from feeling its rays, but it shines all the while, as bright and powerful as ever. God wants us to know that He does not change and that His word is the same.
Though the people had despised and lost the pleasant land for themselves, here He speaks of the time when He Himself would give it to them and they would enjoy it with Him. They would be in the greatest favor and would bring their burnt and free will offerings to make a sweet savor unto the Lord. In their daily life when eating the bread of the land they were to bring a heave-offering to the Lord. This was to be eaten by the priest’s family at home, but here the whole congregation were to eat of it. They will be a kingdom of priests.
In their public worship they were to offer wine as a drink offering, and this tells us of the joy and rejoicing that will fill the millennial earth when Christ reigns as Messiah and King over all. Thus wine has a special place in these offerings for it “cheereth God and man” (Judg. 9:1313And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? (Judges 9:13)) and is reserved for the time of future blessing when the curse shall be removed, when all creation shall be delivered from the bondage of Satan, and when sorrow and sadness shall have passed away.
They were to offer a meat offering along with the above, with a hin of oil. The meat offering speaks of communion and the oil of the Holy Spirit. Even earthly joy will be sanctified by the Spirit and acceptable to God in that day when Christ as Son of man shall have taken away out of His kingdom all things that offend.
But if restored Israel’s and earth’s rejoicing will be so great in that day how much fuller and sweeter will be the joy of the redeemed company when called on high to share Christ’s heavenly glory. Then He will drink with His own the new wine in the Father’s kingdom. It is Christ Himself who will be our rejoicing in that day. He who in grace beyond all telling brings us to share it all with Him as the fruit of His sufferings and toil.
ML-10/28/1973