Numbers 7 — heart of God in the 12 offerings of the 12 tribes

This chapter gives us an example of unity and diversity. Each tribe had its function in regards to the dedication of the temple but each tribe was required to bring the exact same number of items in a set pattern over the course of 12 days. Within the tribe of Levi, each family had their functions and received different gifts to fulfill that function. Their individual functions did not dilute their unity as the people of Israel. All the tribes had to participate to accomplish the dedication of the altar.

This chapter is one of those chapters we read and question the modern day relevance. There’s lots of accounting in this chapter, giving an account of individual tribal offerings and adding them up overall. It also gives the names of individual tribal leaders we don’t know.

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This chapter gives us an example of unity and diversity. Each tribe had its function in regards to the dedication of the temple but each tribe was required to bring the same number of items in a set pattern over the course of 12 days. Within the tribe of Levi, each family had their functions and received different gifts to fulfill that function. Their individual functions did not dilute their unity as the people of Israel. All the tribes had to participate to accomplish the dedication of the altar.

This chapter is one of those chapters we read and question the modern-day relevance. There’s lots of accounting in this chapter, giving an account of individual tribal offerings and adding them up overall. It also gives the names of individual tribal leaders we don’t know.

What is the pattern we see here? We see several patterns here such as:

The order that the tribes present themselves.
The number of animals provided for each offering.
The amount of the gold and silver provided for the blessing of the altar.

This incident occurred during the first month of the second year after the Exodus.

This dedication took 12 days to complete and it was completed before the Passover. It’s also important that the pattern was not altered for the Shabbat. This offering was a one time event. Neither Solomon or Ezra and Nehemiah used this kind of offering to dedicate the temple in later years. Solomon’s far surpassed this offering.

Many people have the idea that we approach God to get something from Him but when we approach God, we should have something to give Him. What do you give to God in the day when we don’t have a Temple? We give him our sincerity, our desire for His truth. We also give Him honor and integrity, which is like the sweet smell of incense. When we “walk in the Lord”, we walk in the Lord all the time, 24/7.

The offerings symbolize that gift to God.

However, God put a specific limit on the offerings. He told the tribes what offerings to give, nothing less, nothing more.

The first offering was the grain offering., made with fine unleavened flour. Next the offering of incense. Then the “whole offering” aka “burnt offering” or holocaust offering was presented to God. None of these were eaten, but these were voluntary offerings.

Then the sin offering was presented and some of it was eaten by the priesthood, the rest was consumed by fire. The community did not partake of them. The sin offering was an offering commanded by God when a person had committed a sin that had been adjudicated.

The peace offering is the final offering, given only after all the other offerings were complete. However, the peace offering is the offering that the community is allowed to consume.

God commanded Moses to build the Ark (to contain the 10 commandments) and the mercy seat. After they were built, the Tabernacle was built.

Reader: Ann Hertel. Speaker: Richard Agee. Summary: Tammy.