Dedication Offering
Numbers 7
Dedication Offering, Numbers 7. In the course of 12 days, the leader of each tribe brought his offering to the Lord. The offering from each tribal head was exactly the same as that given by the eleven other leaders.
1 On the day when Moses had
finished setting up the tabernacle and had anointed and consecrated it
with all its furnishings and had anointed and consecrated the altar with
all its utensils, 2 the chiefs of Israel, heads of their fathers'
houses, who were the chiefs of the tribes, who were over those who were
listed, approached 3 and brought their offerings before the Lord, six
wagons and twelve oxen, a wagon for every two of the chiefs, and for
each one an ox. They brought them before the tabernacle. 4 Then the Lord
said to Moses, 5 “Accept these from them, that they may be used in the
service of the tent of meeting, and give them to the Levites, to each
man according to his service.” 6 So Moses took the wagons and the oxen
and gave them to the Levites.
84
This was the dedication offering for the altar on the day when it was
anointed, from the chiefs of Israel: twelve silver plates, twelve silver
basins, twelve golden dishes, 85 each silver plate weighing 130 shekels
and each basin 70, all the silver of the vessels 2,400 shekels
according to the shekel of the sanctuary, 86 the twelve golden dishes,
full of incense, weighing 10 shekels apiece according to the shekel of
the sanctuary, all the gold of the dishes being 120 shekels; 87 all the
cattle for the burnt offering twelve bulls, twelve rams, twelve male
lambs a year old, with their grain offering; and twelve male goats for a
sin offering; 88 and all the cattle for the sacrifice of peace
offerings twenty-four bulls, the rams sixty, the male goats sixty, the
male lambs a year old sixty. This was the dedication offering for the
altar after it was anointed.
89
And when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with the Lord, he
heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on
the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim; and it spoke to
him.
Numbers 7:1-6 and 84-89, English Standard Version
Dedication Offering
Numbers 7
Numbers 7 is a very interesting chapter to read. In some ways, it would seem that one could just include the verses shown above instead of the constant repetition without loosing any of the meaning of the text. If that is true, why did God even bother with verses 7 through 83?
In
the course of 12 days, the leader of each tribe brought his offering to
the Lord. The offering from each tribal head was exactly the same as
that given by the eleven other leaders. The offerings from all 12 tribes
was then summarized in verses 84 to 88 (shown above).
When
I pondered this I was struck again with admiration and thanksgiving for
such an awesome God. He was not only the God of the nation of Israel,
but each tribe was important; so important, in fact, that each leader
was listed as they brought their offerings to Him.
How
amazing that is for us today! Just think of it, God created the world
and sustains it, He leads and guides His church (the true believers),
and He still takes the time to care for each and every one of His
children. He is never to busy to listen to us and walk beside us as we
live this life He has ordained for us.
Just
let that sink into your heart and mind as you go about your duties
today. Each dedication offering was so important that they were listed,
even though all twelve were identical. Each one of us, the children of
God, are so important that He never leaves or forsakes us!
How marvelous, how wonderful,
Is my Savior's love to me.
What an amazing God we serve!
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