Numbers: Preparing A People To Conquer (XXVII)

Holy Days (29:1-40)

Neal Pollard

The seventh month of the Jewish calendar was (and to modern Jews who still observe the days as holidays today) especially important. The first day of that month (Tishrei) is “The Day of Remembrance” (Yom Teruah)(1-6). The tenth day of that month is “The Day of Atonement”(Yom Kippur)(7-11). The fifteenth day of that month is “The Feast of Booths” (Sukkot)(12-38). The seventh month on the Jewish Calendar is actually their new year.

While Jews today still observe these holidays (inexplicably and inconsistently without animal sacrifice), we understand that the law that commanded them has been nailed to the cross (Col. 2:14; Eph. 2:15). But at the time when Moses writes this to the generation that is about to conquer, in Numbers 29, these are binding observances that required so much sacrifice, specifically laid down concerning the animals, the grain, and the drink for each day of sacrifice.  The point of all of this is summarized in verses 39-40: “You shall present these to the Lord at your appointed times, besides your votive offerings and your freewill offerings, for your burnt offerings and for your grain offerings and for your drink offerings and for your peace offerings. Moses spoke to the sons of Israel in accordance with all that the Lord had commanded Moses.” 

The Lord commanded Moses to command Israel. Why these tedious commands regarding sacrifice? Perhaps the best answer is the inspired one given by the writer of Hebrews (10:1-4–“For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins?But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.”

Sin is still terrible and despicable to God. His just requirement for atonement is still as great. The joyful truth today is that Jesus satisfied that requirement once for all (Heb. 10:10). Would you take time today to thank God for His “indescribable gift” (2 Cor. 9:15)?