THROUGH THE BIBLE - Numbers..

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com. That's cornerstonerbc.com. Numbers chapter 7. This is the word of God.

On the day when Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle and had anointed and consecrated with its furnishings, and had anointed and consecrated the altar with its utensils, The chiefs of Israel, head of their fathers' houses, who were the chief of the tribes, who were of those who were listed, approached and brought their offering before the Lord, six wagons of twelve oxen, a wagon for every two of the chiefs, and for each one an ox. They brought them before the tabernacle. Then the Lord said to Moses, Accept these from them, that they may be used in the service of the Tent of Meeting, and give them to the Levites, to each man according to his service. So Moses took the wagons and the oxen and gave them to the Levites, two wagons and four oxen he gave to the sons of Gershon according to their service. And four wagons and eight oxen he gave to the sons of Merari, according to their service, under the direction of Ithamar, the son of Aaron, the priest.

But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because they were charged with the service of the holy things that had to be carried on the shoulder. And the chiefs offered offerings for the dedication of the altar on the day it was anointed. And the chiefs offered their offerings before the altar. And the Lord said to Moses, They shall offer their offerings, one chief each day, for the dedication of the altar. He who offered his offering the first day was Nashan, the son of Aminadab of the tribe of Judah.

And his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering. one golden dish of 10 shekels full of incense, one bull from the herd, one ram, one lamb, one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering, one male goat for a sin offering, and for the sacrifice of peace offering, two oxen, five ram, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nashon, the son of Aminata. On the second day, Nethanel, the son of Suar, the chief of Issachar, made an offering. He offered for his offering one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering.

one gold dish of ten shekels full of incense, one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb, a year old, for a burnt offering, one male goat for a sin offering, and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs, a year old. This was the offering of Nethanel, the son of Zoar. On the third day Eliab the son of Helan, the chief of the people of Zebulun, his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekels of the century. both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering, one golden dish of 10 shekels full of incense, one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering, one male goat for a sin offering, and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliab, the son of Helan.

On the fourth day, Elizur, the son of Shedeur, the chief of the people of Reuben, His offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekels of the century, both of them full of lime flour mixed with oil for a grain offering, one golden dish of 10 shekels full of incense, one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb, a year old, for a burnt offering, one male goat for a sin offering, and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs, a year old. This was the offering of Eleazar, the son of Shadur. On the fifth day, Shelumiel, the son of Sehu Shadai, the chief of the people of Simeon, his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of lime flour mixed with oil for a grain offering, one golden dish of ten shekels full of incense, one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering, one male goat for a sin offering, and for the sacrifice of peace offering two oxen, five ram, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Shelumiel the son of Suri Shaddai. On the sixth day, Eliasaf, the son of Deuel, the chief of the people of Gad, his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering.

one golden dish of ten shekels full of incense, one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering, one male goat for a sin offering, and for the sacrifice of peace offering two oxen, five ram, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliasav, the son of Deol. On the seventh day, Elishama the son of Amihut, the chief of the people of Ephraim, his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering. one golden dish of ten shekels full of incense, one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb, a year old for a burnt offering, one male goat for a sin offering, and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs, a year old. This was the offering of Elishama, the son of Amihud.

On the eighth day, Gamaliel, the son of Pedazar, the chief of the people of Manasseh, his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels according to the shekel of the century, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering. one golden dish of ten shekels full of incense, one bull from the herd, one lamb, one male lamb, a year old, for a burnt offering, one male goat for a sin offering, and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five lambs, five male goats, and five male lambs, a year old. This was the offering of Gamaliel, the son of Pedasar. On the ninth day, Abidan, the son of Gideon, the chief of the people of Benjamin, his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels according to the shekel of the century, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering. one golden dish of ten shekels full of incense, one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb, a year old, for a burnt offering, one male goat for a sin offering, and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs, a year old.

This was the offering of Abida, the son of Gideon. On the 10th day, Ahi-Ezer, the son of Amishadai, the chief of the people of Dan, his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels according to the shekel of the century. both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering, one golden dish of ten shekels full of incense, one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering, one male goat for a sin offering, and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahasuer, the son of Amishadai. On the eleventh day, Pegiel, the son of Okron, the chief of the people of Asher, his offering was one silver plate, whose weight was a hundred and thirty shekels.

one silver basin of 70 shekels according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering, one golden dish of 10 shekels full of incense, one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering, one male goat for a sin offering, and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Paguel, the son of Okran. On the twelfth day, Ahira, the son of Enan, the chief of the people of Naphtali, His offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels according to the shekel of the century, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering, one golden dish of 10 shekels full of incense, one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb, a year old for a burnt offering, one male goat for a sin offering, and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahira, the son of Inan. This was the dedication offering for the altar on the day when he was anointed.

From the chiefs of Israel, 12 silver plates, 12 silver basins, 12 golden dishes, each silver plate weighing 130 shekels in each basin, 70 all the silver of the vessels, 2,400 shekels according to the shekel of the century. The 12 golden dishes full of incense, weighing 10 shekels a piece according to the shekel of the century. All the gold of the dishes being 120 shekels, all the cattle for the burnt offering 12 bulls, 12 rams, 12 male lambs a year old, wither grain offering, and 12 male goats for a scene offering. And all the cattle for the sacrifice of peace offerings 24 bulls, the ram 60, the male goat 60, and the male lambs a year old 60. This was the dedication offering for the altar after it was anointed.

And when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark, and of the testimony from between the two cherubim, and it spoke to him. Amen. This is the word of God. I perhaps need to drink a little bit. Very good, beloved of Christ.

We are in a very important point now in this development of the history of the people of Israel. Remember that they are walking and they are under the preparation better to set out and to start their journey into the promised land. Just please remember that in Numbers chapter 10 verse 11, these people of Israel, they will start their journey towards the promised land. Everything that is happening now is just the preparation for these people of God the people of Israel as they get ready so they will start that journey. And in a sense, as I said before, the preparation of the people of Israel started when they left Egypt.

Remember, they were under the bondage of the Egyptians and they were free from that. And then now they were starting their journey towards the Promised Land. However, they arrived to the wilderness at Sinai and they have been preparing a more official way, let's say, so that they will start that journey there in Numbers 10 verse 11. Now, the most official point of the start of the commencement of that preparation is when they had completed the tabernacle. The completion of the tabernacle instituted the moment in which the people actually now knew that things were ready, the tabernacle was ready, the law was given, and now they need to get ready to start the journey.

Now, that setting up of the tabernacle happened only 50 days or approximately 50 days before the setting out of the commencement of that journey or the beginning of that journey. And that was in Exodus chapter 40. So imagine from Exodus chapter 40, which is when the tabernacle was set up and completely erected and established to Numbers chapter 10 verse 11. That is only like approximately like 50 days. But he's a big person in our Bibles, right?

So it is through all of that process or that period of time from the consummation of the completion better of the tabernacle to the moment of the departure or the starting of their journey that they are preparing and doing certain things. So, for instance, they are not only consecrating the priest, but also they're consecrating the people. They are also having these senses of the people. You remember in Numbers chapter 1, they are going to celebrate the second Passover. Now they have purified the camp so that they will start that journey.

They have given the laws of a special vows of consecration for those who will help in the setting out of the camp. All of those things and many other things that are escaping my mind now, they do in that period of time of only 50 days. And the reason, beloved of Christ, is because the setting out or the departing or the commencement of the journey is something very important. The fact that the people of Israel will start that journey represented a couple of things, two things. First of all, that God's presence was among the people of Israel.

That is the first thing. And the second thing was that the people of Israel was being obedient to the will of the Lord. These two things are very important for us to understand this chapter. So the beginning of their journey, as they were preparing, represented two things. That God was among them, that the presence of God was manifested in the people of Israel.

And the second thing is that the people of Israel were obeying the will of the Lord. Now, how do we know that? We know because in the end of Exodus chapter 40, once the tabernacle is set out or set up and is completed, remember that the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle and the cloud of the Lord set above on top of the tent of meeting. And Moses was instructed that when that cloud that was the presence of the Lord will depart and move, that is the presence of the Lord, then the whole camp had to follow the cloud of the Lord. You remember that, you know that part of the story, right?

So that means that whenever God decided that it was time for them to move and start the journey, then the people had to obey and follow. Therefore, this departing and the commencement of this journey symbolized that the presence of God was manifested in the midst of the people of Israel, in the cloud or either the pillar of fire at night. But the presence was there. And when he moved, it also represented that the people of Israel were following the will of the Lord because he was going behind the Lord. Whatever he goes, the people of Israel goes.

So they were following the will of the Lord. This is very important. The presence, the manifested presence of God in the midst of the people and also the obedience, the accepted better, the accepted obedience of the people of Israel as they follow the will of the Lord. Now, these two aspects, beloved of Christ, are clearly portrayed and communicated in the tabernacle. That's why the tabernacle plays such an important role in the setting out of the camp and of the Israelites.

Remember all of these rules that they were given to carry and collect in a particular way? Because the tabernacle represented or communicated those two aspects. First, the presence of God. And second, the accepted obedience of the people of Israel, following the will of the Lord. Now, these two aspects, the presence of the Lord and the accepted obedience of the people of Israel, are manifested in the tabernacle in two aspects.

First, in the tabernacle itself, we have studied that many times, the tabernacle itself. And we have repeated that many times. The tabernacle itself, it was the place where the manifested presence of God was, right? That is where the manifested presence of God was in the tabernacle. But there was another part of the tabernacle within the tabernacle that represented the acceptance of the obedience of the people of Israel.

And that is? The altar. So in the altar that is outside of the tabernacle, people will come to offer the sacrifices. The sacrifices will be burned, and then this will be a pleasing aroma unto the Lord, and they will be accepted through the intermediation of the priest. So we have the whole tabernacle represented to communicate the presence of the Lord, right?

You can read Exodus 40, and then you can see that in the end of the verses there. But also in the altar, remember the altar outside of the tabernacle, Exodus chapter 27, you can read there and Exodus 88 also, you can read the altar there. That was the acceptance of all the burnt offerings and the offerings that the people of Israel will offer to the Lord. Very good. Having that clear in our minds.

Now, please pay attention to this. These two aspects, the tabernacle and the altar, were of vital importance for the setting out of the people of Israel when they were going to start. Why? Because of what I said. The presence of the Lord was manifested in the tabernacle.

And second, the accepted obedience of the people of Israel was represented in the altar. So here in chapter number seven, we are going to see, first of all, the distinction of the tabernacle and the altar. But second, we're going to see the offerings that the wholeness of Israel represented in the 12 tribes, 1 through 12, the completeness of Israel will bring to consecrate both the whole tabernacle and also the altar so that the tabernacle will be ready for the setting out. I know that it could be a little bit complicated what I'm saying, but beloved of Christ, what we have in Numbers chapter 7 is the distinction of the tabernacle as a whole and the altar and then Israel as a whole represented in the 12 tribes coming together to bring offerings to make ready both the tabernacle at the altar for the departing into the journey of the promised land. You can see the distinction there that is done in the verse number one.

So it says on the day when Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle, this is going back to Exodus 40. This is the first day of the first month of the second year. That is when the tabernacle was set up or erected here. Remember that I told you a couple of weeks ago, numbers is not chronologically in the first 10 chapters. It's just taking portions.

of the preparation. So here is going back to the first month, the first day of the second year. That's when the tabernacle was erected by Moses, Exodus chapter 40. And here you can see the distinction between the tabernacle as a whole. And then you can see the altar as the place where the accepted obedience of the people of Israel was manifested in following the will of the Lord.

Because if an offering was not accepted, that means that the Lord was displeased with that. But when it was accepted, you remember that it was a pleasing aroma unto the Lord. So it says, on the day when Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle and had anointed and consecrated it with his furnishings, that is the tabernacle. And then he says, and had anointed and consecrated the altar with utensils. So there is consecration and anointing of both the tabernacle that represents the presence of the Lord, and second, the altar consecrated and also anointed on that day when the whole thing was completed.

And then from there, we're going to be given the explanation of the offerings. So it is 89 verses. We have two options. Read it again. I'll see you simply with a brief explanation of it.

So, beloved of Christ, just keep your mind with me because I'm just going to summarize these offerings and we're just gonna get a couple of practical points for us new covenant people. Now, when it comes to the tabernacle, the tabernacle that was the manifested presence of the Lord, the offering that the people of Israel is going to bring through the 12 tribes represented in the princess or in the chief. Remember from a numbers chapter one that there was this the chiefs, I think you have in your Bible is the prince of each one of the tribes, the one that was the commander. If you want, you have not shown in Judah and then you have all the other people that were, let's say, the leader of each one of the tribes. So each one of the tribes is going to bring to the Levites an offering.

Be with me, beloved of Christ. Each one of the tribes will bring an offering to the Levites through the leader. First of all, for the tabernacle. And that offering is called an offering of service. So if you see it there, go to the end of verse 3.

Go to the end of verse 3. It says, They brought them. These are the chiefs. These are these princes, the leaders of one of the tribes. They brought them before the tabernacle.

Right. Because this is an offering for the tabernacle. This is not for the altar. Then the Lord said to Moses, accept these from them. that they may be used in the service of the Tent of Meeting, and give them to the Levites, to each man according to his service."

This is the initial offering of the people of Israel, each one of the tribes, through their leader, an offering before the tabernacle, for the tabernacle. And the purpose of that offering was to provide everything that the Levites needed so that they will be able to carry the tabernacle when they will set out. So the offering was going to be wagons and oxen, two oxen per wagon. So we are told that the sons of Merari are going to receive four wagons because they are the ones that have to carry more things. Now, we are told that the sons of Gershon, they received two wagons because they had to carry less things.

And we're told that the sons of the Kohathites, they do not receive anything. Why? Because they were supposed to carry things on their shoulders. That was their duty. So all Israel came to provide to the Levites the means for them to be able to carry the tabernacle when they will set out.

I hope that that makes sense. So the Merorites, the Gershonites and the Kohathites received everything that they needed, namely wagons and oxen to put the things onto there so that we'll start with the journey. This was the offering of Israel to the Levites for the tabernacle, very important for the setting out. But after that, we have the second offering here, and that second offering goes to the second part, which is the altar, the altar. So you go to verse 10, and it says, And the chiefs offered offerings for the dedication of the altar on the day it was anointed.

And the chiefs offered their offering before the altar. The first one was offered before the tabernacle because it was an offering to the tabernacle to get all of those things ready. This one is a dedication and is before the altar that symbolize the accepted obedience of the people of Israel as they follow the will of the Lord, it says. And the Lord said to Moses, They shall offer their offerings one chief each day for the dedication of the altar." Now, what we have after that from there is just the repetition of the same offering that is brought by each one of the tribes through each one of the leaders.

So 12 tribes are going to bring 12 offerings for the dedication or for the consecration of the altar so that both the tabernacle in general and the altar as part of it will be ready for the setting out of the people of Israel. So when we read all of those animals that were offered there, you can see the completeness and the completion of all the offering and the sacrifices that we study in Leviticus. So when they were bringing all of these animals and all of these offerings, this represented the totality of the sacrificial system through each one of the tribes. And that was required just to make sure that they will be ready before they set out. Very good.

That is basically what the chapter is showing us. Of course, there's more details, but this is what the chapter is showing. And now the question that we need to ask ourselves is this. What can we learn? There are many questions, actually, that we can ask ourselves from this chapter.

But let's just simply ask a simple question. What can we learn as a church from what we have here? Let me just point your attention to a couple of things. The first one, just based on the assumption that through the saving grace and majesty of the Lord Jesus Christ, we have been by grace through faith saved and made the Israel of God, circumcised in the heart, the spiritual Israel, that we are the real priesthood of the Lord Jesus Christ. And based on that, we take Israel as a type of the church.

We can see something very glorious of the character of God. First thing. When it comes to the Levites, beloved of Christ, God provides for those who are servants of Him everything that is needed. God provides for the Levites, independently of what they are supposed to do, everything that they need so that they will be able to serve the Lord. Very different to the wicked and righteous master that they had in Egypt.

That said, OK, now you are supposed to go and get the materials to produce what I require of you. And it is your responsibility. While the Lord God of Israel provides to each one of his servants everything that they need to complete the service that each one of them has been called to do. Now the service of those servants is not the same. They do different things, but the Lord provides to each one of His servants everything that is needed so that they will complete the work of service before Him as He has called us.

Same thing happens in the new covenant church. The members of the church are provided and equipped by God with everything that is needed so that we will serve Him to that for which we have called. We have not been called to do the same thing, all of us. We have been called to do different things. Some of you have been called to be fathers and mothers and children and preachers or different things in the context of the church.

But the Lord provides to each one of them according to what they need so they can complete the service. Just as the Merorites, the Kohathites and the Gersonites received something from the hands of those of Israel. The second important thing that I want to show you is the vital importance of the body in the words of God manifested to the people of God. Now, simply just go to Exodus, Chapter 40, and I will try to do this very quick. Go to Exodus, Chapter 40.

And let me just simply show you something very interesting there. Exodus, Chapter 40, you may remember the completion of the tabernacle. You may remember the completion of the setting up of the tabernacle. I mentioned that and you can read the chapter there. But if you go to Chapter 34, I think I quoted part of these verses here, but I just want to show you something here.

This is day one. OK, this is this is day one when the tabernacle was finished. Remember that these offerings that the tribes were doing, each tribe was bringing this offering one per day, right? So that is that it took 12 days for all of these tribes, 12 days for all of these tribes to bring all of their offerings. But on day one, this is the day they had not been offered those offerings yet.

That will happen in numbers. But pay attention to this. Verse 34, Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting. and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Pay attention to this.

And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle." Now, throughout all the journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out and so on and so on. This is what I said. But pay attention to verse 35. On the day when the tabernacle was finished, the tabernacle was filled with the glory of the Lord, and Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud was settled on it.

Now, when we go back to our chapter in chapter seven of Numbers, after all the people of Israel has brought, after all of them have brought all the offerings for the tabernacle and for the altar, if you go to Numbers chapter seven and then if you go to verse to the to the last part of verse 88, OK, the concluding the concluding phrase of verse 88, it says, This was the dedication offering for the altar after it was anointed. That's it. It was that was the offering. And then we are told in verse 89. And when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak to the Lord, He heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony from between the two cherubim, and it spoke to him, Beloved of Christ, The cloud remained there, the presence of the Lord was still there because it was only going to be removed when they will start their journey.

So the glory in the presence of the Lord was still there in the Tent of Meeting, but Moses was not able to enter into the Tent of Meeting. It was only when the whole congregation of Israel, through the twelve tribes had offered all the offerings of consecration of the whole tabernacle and the dedication of the altar, that the Lord was pleased not only to allow Moses to enter into the tent of meeting, but he says that his voice was heard from the holy place, from the holy of holies, from the mercy seat. And then Moses was instructed. the friend of God, the one whose face had been shining, remember, in the presence of Mount Sinai, the one who had brought the two tablets of stone with the commandments. That person was not allowed, was unable to enter into the tent of meeting, but once the Lord, once all the commandments of the Lord had been completed, and through the congregation and the offerings, Then Moses was allowed into the tent of meeting to hear the voice of God and the instructions that after that will be given to the people of Israel so that they will be able to start their journey.

Beloved of Christ, it was not about Moses. It was about the people of Israel. And it was about the obedience of the people of Israel as a community that allowed all of these things to take place so that they will start their journey as they were supposed to do that journey. Beloved of Christ, as the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Each one of the members, each one of those souls that by grace through faith have been united to Him are of such importance for the word of the Lord to be heard in the covenantal context That it is not the duty of a man or two men or three men or a group of men, but rather it is the whole sacrificial or the spiritual sacrifice of the congregation.

And then God is pleased to speak to the whole because they are his people in Christ. Amen.