Sermon - Audio
Num 7 - Audio
Num 7 - Daily Reading
Daily Insights - Please Comment
7.1-8: Carts and animals are needed to transport the tabernacle when Israel moves from place to place.
7.9: Certain objects were too holy to be carried on a cart (such as the Ark of the Covenant). These were to be carried on the shoulders of the sons of Kohath. In later Jewish history this would be forgotten and the people would transport the ark by cart. This action would result in the death of Uzzah (1 Chronicles 13).
7.12-83: We hear the gifts given by each of the tribes. Each tribe gives exactly the same gift. Judah goes first (even though Reuben should be the premier tribe).
7.84-88: A summary of all the gifts given.
7.89: This is the first time that God is referred to as "the Voice". The rabbis would eventually speak of the "bat Kol" which means "daughter of the voice" which signified a divine voice from heaven. In the New Testament at the baptism of Jesus we read, Matt. 3:17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” At the transfiguration we read, Matt. 3:17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
7 comments:
Wow! I'm just trying to picture the Israelites hauling all this stuff not just all the way from Egypt but also across the bed of the Red Sea (I wonder how soggy it was...) They were hauling not just their children, elders, and animals but also all the stuff the Egyptians gave them as they left, which I assume is what they are making everything out of. Enough for the Tabernacle and all of it's accessories.
What I'm wondering is where they are getting all this grain from? Have they brought it also from Egypt? I don't imagine they've come across wheat growing in the desert, but it seems like a lot to be hauling.
What does all of this have to do with Jesus?
Jeff and I were talking about the size of this camp. It had more people in it than Ottawa County. I know they were camped closer to each other than what we live next tour neighbors. So for the sake of imagination let's say their camp was the size of Grand Rapids city limits with houses close like GR. With the hospital in the middle representing the tabernacle. I always thought that making an offering was a one day event. If you live on the west side of GR and have to get to the hospital it will take a while. I mean we're talking about a couple day trip. We were talking about this when we read the part about the husband who has the spirit of jealousy. Can you imagine walking two days with your husband who has accused you of be unfaithful? Pretty quiet trip I imagine. It's fun to imagine the size of this camp.
Hi Kristin,
Where does the grain come from? That's a question that we'd have to think about in terms of the kind of lifestyle that the people of Israel were living at the time, namely, nomadic. Nomads live off the land and do little, if any, farming. What they cannot produce themselves they trade for. So it would be a good guess that the people of Israel are involved in trading relationships with people they meet in the desert (remember Joseph who is sold to traders). But this is just a guess, the Bible doesn't give us any hard evidence where they get the grain from.
Good Morning Rich,
To answer, "what does this have to do with Jesus?" let me start in the New Testament. In Galatians Paul writes, Gal. 4:4 "But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons." The idea of the "fullness of time" tells us that God has worked and planned to bring about the coming of Christ into the world. Part of that work and planning is using a people through whom the Messiah would come. The people of Israel are God's chosen instrument to bring Christ into the world. The picture of gifts and offerings in Numbers 7 is part of God's work to make things ready for the coming of Christ. The gifts and offerings make possible tabernacle worship which prefigures both Christ who lives among us and also Christ as our sacrifice. Just as today our gifs and offerings further the work of God in the world, so these gifts and offerings further God's plan and work that bring Christ.
Thanks Larry. Sometimes it is more difficult to make the connection to Christ!
Rich, you are so right!
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