Journal Through the Bible: Week 21 Saturday

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Numbers chapter 7

This is a long chapter but since most of it is a list of the dedicated provisions for service and the animals or flour for sacrifices donated by each tribe representative there is much repetition. (Verses 12-83, with a summary of the totals in verses 84-88.)

It was the first time that the tabernacle was set up! It was a day of rejoicing! As a result, objects were donated and dedicated for use in the new tabernacle. The first gift was from the heads of the tribes themselves. Together these tribe representatives donated six covered wagons with 12 oxen to pull them.

Does God make any promises in this chapter?

• The very last verse of the chapter, verse 89, Moses hears God's voice speaking to him from the mercy seat on the ark of the covenant. This was God's promise that He had accepted the tabernacle and the offerings as dedicated by the people.

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• Nahshon, the ancestor of Jesus, was the first tribal representative to make his offering. Jesus is always the leader and head of worship just as He is the head of each church. It was fitting that the tribe of Judah be the first to be presented to God.
• As previously mentioned, each of the sacrifices was a picture of Jesus. These were offered by each of the tribes, one tribe per day for 12 days.
• Jesus, the offering that was made for us, presented Himself to God on our behalf. Because of this, we have access to God the Father.

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• Even though the work of sacrifice and its atonement has been done, we do not literally hear God's voice calling to us from His mercy seat, but someday what we take by faith will become sight AND hearing! 

Does God issue any commands?

• God told Moses to take the wagons and oxen that the heads of the twelve tribes to be used by the Levitical families of Gershon and Merari who had the responsibilities for moving the textiles, metal rings, and boards necessary for the physical tabernacle itself. The family of Kohath did not require wagons because their responsibility was to bear the holy tabernacle furnishings upon staves across their shoulders. Gershon received 2 wagons and 4 oxen. Merari received 4 wagons and 8 oxen for their service.
• God stated that the representatives from each tribe would present their offerings one representative per day. The first was Nahshon of the tribe of Judah
• Each of the twelve tribes (Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Reuben, Simeon, Gad, Ephraim, Manasseh, Benjamin, Dan, Asher, and Naphtali) gave the following: 

1. 1 silver charger by weight of 130 shekels full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering
2. 1 silver bowl of 70 shekels full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering
3. 1 gold spoon of 10 shekels full of incense
4. 1 young bullock for a burnt offering
5. 1 ram for a burnt offering
6. 1 lamb under a year old for a burnt offering
7. 1 goat kid for a sin offering
8. 2 oxen for peace offerings
9. 5 rams for peace offerings
10. 5 male goats for peace offerings
11. 5 young lambs for peace offerings