Numbers 7: dishes and a petting zoo???

If your keeping up with us in this quest of reading numbers, chapter 7 is one that could easily be one that is skipped over. Its 89 verses make it one of the longest chapters in the Old Testament, and I think one of the longest in the bible. This chapter talks about the needs of the temple being meet by the offerings of the Israelites. They all brought a silver place, a silver bowl, a grain offering, a gold dish, incense, a bull, a ram, a lamb, a male goat, two oxen, 5 more rams, and five more goats. In short they brought some dishes and started a petting zoo.. (although most of the animals were given as a sacrifice).

Chapter 7 marks the completion of the tabernacle. The Israelites have finished the building that will serve as God’s dwelling place among them here on earth. What an awesome thing to celebrate. And that is what they did, the Israelites were celebrating the completion, and as an act of obedience to God they all offered the finest of dishes and the best of their animals.

Think of something that has happened in your life that you think is really cool. A few months ago I purchased a brand new car. It was an awesome thing that God provided for me. Another cool moment for me is that recently I got to hang with my big time BFF’s in Michigan, I don’t get to see them much but they are some of the greatest people I have ever met. God completes amazing things in our lives all the time, do we ever stop and think about what he has done, and we have to give back to him as an offering?

What can we give as a gift to celebrate his faithfulness in our lives?

The Israelites were given an opportunity to walk around the place where God lived on earth. In response the Israelites gave God their finest animals, silver and gold as an offering to thank him and worship God for this gift.

What do you have to give to celebrate the things he has done in your life?
Maybe time to serve at a nursing home… maybe a part of your allowance can be put in the offering plate on Sunday morning…. Maybe just a kind word or encouragement to a friend… We all have a lot that we can offer, but it should be our best that we have to give. What can you give?