Numbers 28

Num 28:4  The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even.

                                                                                                                                                           

Numbers 28 describes the laws concerning the daily (verse 1-8), Sabbath (verse 9-10), and monthly (verse 11-15) and other festive offerings (verse 16-21) to God. To make a daily offering was not enough; there were other offerings to be made to God.

What does God expect from Israel? Daily offering! Everything starts with a daily spiritual exercise to God. And, it is not once, but twice a day – there is a morning and an evening sacrifice to be given to God.

What are the lessons for us?

1. GOD EXPECTS A DAILY SACRIFICE. Do you think that God expects less from Christians today? The apostle Paul wrote: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God ” (Romans 12:1-2).

Questions: (1) Are Christians only to present their bodies as living sacrifices only on Sundays? (2) Is the transformation daily or only on Sundays when we assemble to worship God?

The answers to the two questions are obvious. Our Lord says: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

2. BEGIN AND END WITH THE DAY WITH A SACRIFICE. The Israelites starts the day with a sacrifice and end the day with the same manner. Our daily devotion is our daily sacrifice to God. David put in extra effort and he offered three times a day: “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice” (Psalm 55:17). Daniel likewise prayed three times a day (Daniel 6:10).

True religion is cultivated by frequent and regular seasons of devotion. Wake up each morning with a prayer of thanksgiving. Someone said: “If you think it is the alarm clock that wakes you up each morning; think again. Try putting the alarm clock beside a dead body; it doesn’t wake up.” He is saying it is God who gives us another day and be thankful for it. Therefore, wake up and give thanks to God that He did not say this while you were sleeping: “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee” (Luke 12:20). Thank God for the new day and pray for His blessings and guidance.

Then, end the day with an evening prayer. Give thanks that He has kept you safe and pray that you can live another day. In between the day, meditate on His words: “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night” (Psalm 1:2).

3. THE SACRIFICE MUST INCREASE WITH TIME. The daily sacrifice of the Hebrews consists of two lambs of the first year. On the Sabbath day, they have to add to it another two lambs of the first year; that means, they have to offer double portions on the Sabbath day. The monthly and festival offerings consist of two young bullocks, one ram, and seven lambs of the first year; all these are in addition to the daily offering.

God expects that as a Christian grows in his faith, he has to put in extra sacrifices. “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2). As the new Christian matures in his faith, he has to abound in the work of the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58).

This daily sacrifice of the Hebrews was a “continual burnt offering,” offered “day by day continually” (Numbers 28:6). Let us also have a continual daily offering to God. Do not let a day passed by without a prayer and a meditation on His words.  

Jimmy Lau

Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.