Numbers 7

With 89 verses in today's reading and lots of repetition there is again a deep emphasis on the theme of consecration or dedication offerings to the LORD by the 12 Israelite tribes. After Moses and the Levites assembled the Tabernacle to consecrate its furnishings to the LORD he anointed it with anointing oil - there is symbolism throughout scripture including this passage that anointing with oil represents the blessing presence of God, this is one of the reasons that a year ago before my wife and I moved into our first home in Vermont I assembled a group of men and we consecrated the home anointing the door posts with oil and filled the home with faith-filled prayer. Anointing symbolizes God's blessing on what he has provided. For the 12 tribes they each offered a gift of a 3.25 lb. silver plate and 1.75 lb. silver bowl both filled with fine flour and olive oil, a 4 oz gold dish filled with incense, a young bull, six male goats, six male lambs, two oxen, and six rams for four separate grain, burnt, sin and fellowship offerings for the consecration and dedication of the tabernacle. 

What I find most significant in this passage is that after all the sacrifices were made Moses entered the tent of meeting and the LORD spoke to him audibly. With consecration and dedication to the LORD comes a clearer hearing of His word.

Numbers 7:89 (NIV) "When Moses entered the tent of meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the atonement cover on the ark of the covenant law. In this way the LORD spoke to him."

Again, the order of this sequence is important, after the consecration, after the anointing, after the sacrifices given freely to the LORD, Moses enters into the presence of the Holy of Holies and God speaks directly to him. I am grieved in reflecting on my own lifestyle in how I dedicate time each morning to seek the face of the LORD in prayer, reading of the word and journaling, it's not enough to simply consecrate secret place time. The God I serve deserves all of my time, all my thoughts, all my worship. How quickly I move into the day and forget what the LORD revealed to me. The presence of God should not be left at my home in my office where I prayed and read the word, the presence of the living God is entered into moment by moment as I am filled with the Holy Spirit each morning. Throughout scripture we see the key action 'remember.' Today and going forward I choose to walk a lifestyle of joyful holiness unto the LORD, walking by faith in the power of the Holy Spirit in a posture of ongoing surrender that my life might be an acceptable sacrifice pleasing to the LORD that my ears to hear would be ready to receive all the LORD would speak to me. 

Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV) "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Deuteronomy 1-2 (Psalm 69)

In these first few chapters of Deuteronomy after Israel's exodus from Egypt and 40 desert years Moses reviews their history of God's hand of power, provision, protection and purpose. Consistently the Israelites are faced with the decision of operating in faith and courage in the way God has for them though they continually with stubborn hearted rebellion walk in fear and discouragement. The theme of presumption continues to resurface in the story of the Israelites and I am greatly convicted of this even in my own life. Deuteronomy 1:42-43 (NKJV) "And the LORD said to me, 'Tell them, "Do not go up nor fight, for I am not among you; lest you be defeated before your enemies."' So I spoke to you; yet you would not listen, but rebelled against the command of the LORD, and presumptuously went up into the mountain." This presumption is referring to when the Israelites invaded the Amorites on a mountain after the 12 spies came back with a bad report from Can...
Read more

Genesis 16-18

 Today's reflection in Genesis 17 and 18 is on how God said he wants Abram to walk faithfully and blameless, similar to Job in his blameless and upright life, I align my life in a way that pleases and honors God by being faithful (consistent, demonstrative of unwavering trust in action). Additionally, I found the comparison of God's will for the destruction of Sodom and Nineveh (in Jonah) to be interesting. In Abraham's case he pled for God to be merciful and spare Sodom, while for the Ninevites God intended to display the liberality of his grace all while Jonah wanted God to destroy the people.  Psalm 86:15 "But you LORD are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness." As an image bearer of God, we must aim to be faithful like God is. The mighty God we serve is unendingly faithful and full of unfailing love - I want to be more loving and faithful the older I get! 
Read more

Exodus 22-24

 Exodus 23:2 (NIV) "Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong." I was watching NHL hockey with my wife the other night and the teams that were playing began getting frustrated and consequently began playing unfairly and fighting. When penalties are given it's not indicative of cheating per se, though you would be hard pressed to find a definition making the distinction between a cheating scandal and a game misconduct or penalty. Often penalties can be properly called by the official referees, though at times it seems the calls are made incorrectly - it's ultimately the best judgment of the ref on the ice at the time and sometimes after the time the rule infraction was witnessed, many times to the great dismay of those in attendance of the hockey game even when the hockey players admit guilt in some instances. Fighting is an entirely different scenario. In just the past 3 years I have noticed a marked increase of violence in the NHL though I'm told that "original...
Read more