Numbers 28:16-25
Verse 23 Offer these in addition to the regular morning burnt offering.
This passage is in a section of instructions for the Israelites when they reach the Promised Land. God wasn’t waiting until they were crossing into the land to give them the details of how He wanted them live. In a world where much of a nation’s life included their religious practices, God had taken them out of Egypt and had been trying to detox them from the religious rituals of those they had been living with.
This time in the wilderness, though longer than they expected, was a time of helping them refocus on the God of their ancestors. They may have known God during their time in slavery but they were also surrounded by so many practices of false worship and they needed to learn what was right and true. God needed them to leave any superstitions they had behind and get to know Him.
He didn’t want them just to know about Him but wanted a relationship with them. He is a personal God who wanted to meet with His people. He had them erect a place where He would meet with them. He had walked with them daily in the image of the cloud and pillar of fire. He had given them many instructions. While they may not have always agreed with Him, He was lovingly working on transformation for them with the desire to have them live solely for Him in the land He was giving them.
For them to keep their focus on the Lord He had put together a schedule of sacrifices which were to be offered every day. In our Scripture reading today we see how the Passover wasn’t going to interrupt those sacrifices but were going to be made in addition. We also see a new portion of the Passover celebration, a food and sin offering were to be added so they could remember God didn’t rescue them because they were sinless, but because they were chosen.
Just as God called His people into the wilderness to help them break the bondage of the Egyptian religious practices, He calls us to times of examination. Lent is the perfect time for us to look at our own lives and see the various ways we have allowed the world and its practices to influence our worship of the Almighty. No matter how small it may seem, if it is keeping our focus from being wholly on Him, it isn’t worth it.
Making It Personal
Is there anything from the world which has made an influence in your walk with Christ? What are you willing to change in your life to focus better on God? What has God been trying to teach you about worshiping Him?
Making It Personal Kids
What are some ways Jesus wants you to worship Him? Are there ways you try to worship which are different than He wants? Has He tried to teach you anything about how to worship Him?
Closing Prayer
Father, thank You for setting boundaries in worship. Give us wisdom to know how to worship You as You desire and give us hearts which want to worship You in spirit and truth. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Comments