Numbers 7

The story of the consecration of the tabernacle is told in another place in the Scriptures. Here in Numbers 7 the Lord's focus is on the offerings of the twelve tribes in connection with that consecration.

The chiefs of Israel had a part to play in this that was different than the roles played by Moses, Aaron, and the builders of the tabernacle. These chiefs brought the offerings of the tribes to the Lord.

These were not the individual offerings given in obedience to the Lord's regulations listed in Leviticus. The offerings here were a highly structured communal gift to the Lord's work given be each of the tribes at the inception of Israel's worship.

These gifts included oxen and carts that were distributed to the clans of the Levites according to the particular needs of each clan. No carts were given to the Kohathites since this clan was to bear the holy things on the shoulder, and not to carry these sacred objects in carts.

The offerings of the tribes were brought through their chiefs, and they were given for the dedication of the altar, the place of sacrifice. The offerings were presented one per day for 12 days.

The tribe of Judah led first in offering to the Lord, just as they led first on the march. The chief of Judah was the same Nahshon the son of Amminadab whose name appears in the genealogies of Jesus in Matthew's and Luke's gospels.

The offering from Judah had several very specific components. There was a silver plate and a silver basin, both of precise weights, and both filled with flour and oil for a grain offering. There was a small golden dish full of incense. There were three specific animals for a burnt offering, the offering of complete consecration. There was a male goat for a sin offering in recognition of the great need of Israel. Finally, there were seventeen specified animals for a peace offering, that sacrifice that pointed to the desired result of the offerings of the people to God; that they might have peace with Him as those who called upon His Name.

What was striking in the offerings of the eleven days that followed was the exact repetition of these offerings tribe be tribe, roughly in the marching order of the tribes as given earlier in the book of Numbers. Everything here was precise and all was in order.

Every tribe made their commitment to the system of sacrifice involving burnt offerings, sin offerings, peace offerings, grain offerings, and the burning of incense before Almighty God. Everything in these ritual days communicated a message of complete consecration to the Lord on the part of each of the twelve tribes. All twelve tribes of Israel followed the good example set by the tribe of Judah.

The total of all these offerings was twelve times the offering of Judah through her chief. This was a tremendous moment of unity and commitment. This was Israel as she ought to have been. This was the dedication offering for the altar after it was anointed.

The chapter closes with a word from heaven affirming the reality of the Lord's receiving the offerings of the twelve tribes and receiving the tribes themselves. Moses heard the voice of the Lord coming to Israel through him “from above the mercy seat.”

The Word of God came to Israel in person in the man Jesus of Nazareth. This same Jesus has drawn all kinds of people to Himself, and He receives gifts from men. We would worship through Him, not only sacrificially, but with decency and order.

We may find ourselves divided today, not by tribe as Israel was once divided, but by churches and by groups of affiliated congregations. Yet there is only one church, just as there is only one Lord.

The Lord is still speaking to us from the word of His testimony in the Scriptures. But it is the Word incarnate, Jesus the Son of God, who is our constant confession, and our continuous plea before the throne of God.

Any offering we give to God in worship or in life is a part of the fullness of the offering given by the King of the Jews, the true leader of the great tribe of Judah. We are a part of His offering to His Father. May we see our Lord's great offering on the cross and believe. May we then gladly offer up ourselves to God as His servants. Jesus was our offering to God for our salvation. We now have the privilege of being a living offering to God through the One who came to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.