Daily Devotions
Preparing for War With Sacrifices of Praise
Reading for February 23rd: Numbers 28-30
The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Command the people of Israel and say to them, 'My offering, my food for my food offerings, my pleasing aroma, you shall be careful to offer to me at its appointed time.'"
Numbers 28:1-2
The book of Numbers is most famous for its numbers. When we think of the book of Numbers we naturally think about the census that was taken once they left Egypt (Num 1) and then 40 years later before they began the conquest of Canaan (Num 26).
What is less famous in this book is what is found in chapters 28-29 where God gives the people (really reminds the people) the regulations concerning the various offerings they were to make daily, weekly, monthly and during the appointed feast days.
The numberings make sense. In both cases the census was taken of fighting men from the age of 20 years old and up to prepare the nation for battle.
But what do we make of chapters 28-29? What did this have to do with their preparation for war?
Well, as we shall see in the book of Joshua, the people of Israel would not fight conventionally. The first battle had the people walking around the walls of Jericho to defeat that city. God fought their battles for them and God was the reason they were victorious.
So, you can read chapters 28 & 29 in the same way you read chapters 1 & 26. These offerings prepared the people for war. It was their way of inviting God to the battle.
Father, we invite you to the battles we will all face today by presenting our offering of praise before your holy throne. We call on you to slay our enemies before us!
