Today, we read about Israel’s worship calendar. This calendar details the sacrifices Israel will offer in a year. The reading describes daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly sacrifices. Wow! There are a lot of animals sacrificed in just one year! Notice what God says about these sacrifices.
“Give these instructions to the people of Israel: The offerings you present as special gifts are a pleasing aroma to me; they are my food. See to it that they are brought at the appointed times and offered according to my instructions. (Numbers 28:2, NLT)
In other words, mark your calendars! Israel, you are a nation set apart by God, for God! God is your most defining attribute! God defines all your days!
In thinking about this as a believer, I couldn’t help but see Jesus! Jesus is our final sacrifice! He fulfilled all the sacrifices in the Old Testament. He did this by His one perfect sacrifice of himself on the cross. The result? We have something better!
This is an illustration pointing to the present time. For the gifts and sacrifices that the priests offer are not able to cleanse the consciences of the people who bring them. For that old system deals only with food and drink and various cleansing ceremonies—physical regulations that were in effect only until a better system could be established. So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever. (Hebrews 9:9–12, NLT)
What does all of this mean for us? All the sacrifices and festivals from the Old Testament are fulfilled in Christ. Do we mark our calendars with anything? Is there a defining attribute to our days? Yes, there is!
Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God. (Hebrews 13:15–16, NLT)
Praise for God, doing good, and sharing with those in need should define our lives and mark our days! These sacrifices do not save us; they result from God having saved us through the sacrifice of His Son! Yes! Let’s mark our calendar today with these sacrifices, praise to God, and good works for God!
Thanks for joining me in my adventure to read the Bible chronologically!
- Today’s post comes from Numbers 28-30.
- Tomorrow, I will be reading Numbers 31-32.