“The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: Command the Israelites, and say to them: My offering, the food fort my offerings by fire, my pleasing odor, you shall take care to offer to me at its appointed time.” Numbers 28:1-2 . . . . “These you shall offer to the LORD at your appointed festivals, I addition to your votive offerings and your freewill offerings, as your burnt offerings, your grain offerings, your drink offerings, and your offerings of well-being.” So Moses told the Israelites everything just as the LORD had commanded Moses. Numbers 29:39-40
It’s pretty easy to rush through today’s reading, the words are repetitive, the thoughts similar, this was a quick read check. What’s next? These are the readings I must stop and re-read, slowly and think through what can I learn from these ancient commands from God? When God speaks directly to a leader of the people, and commands to tell the people something of importance is being relayed, we are not to rush through and take for granted what God says.
First though we offer them, all the commanded offerings are God’s, they are to be offered at specified times, for specified reasons and in exact ways. And they are not trivial, they are substantive, the best of what’s available. Lambs without blemish, choice flour, beaten oil; daily, Sabbath (weekly), monthly offerings, an in addition those offered at various festivals during which worship services are held and no occupational work is accomplished – a giving of self to God, a denying of self-service to worship Creator God.
O that I never take for granted God’s offerings that I offer, that I give intentionally, with a glad and generous heart, not because I’m commanded to but as a loving response to God’s grace fully given to me. Not as repayment, but as offering – giving up, giving myself, giving freely back to God what is already His. Giving the first fruits, the best of me and what I have to Him for His use. Trusting there will always be more than enough. During this Lenten season, it is right and good to assess my attitude about what I receive from God and what I return – my fair share or His?