Numbers 28:30–31: “also one kid of the goats, to make atonement for you. Be sure they are without blemish. You shall present them with their drink offerings, besides the regular burnt offering with its grain offering.”

February 7th, 2023 by Pastor Ed in devotional

God underscores the importance of the public sacrifices: daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly, already recorded in Exodus and Leviticus, by repeating them here in chapter 28. It’s possible the old generation had failed to keep up these sacrifices and feasts as they went through the wilderness, and the people about to enter the Promised Land were a new generation that needed reminding. They were about to face the challenge of wrestling the land of Canaan from the hands of well-entrenched enemies, and in the trials ahead they would fall into sin that would need to be covered or atoned for by many sacrifices.

These sacrifices were required to be without blemish, which pointed ahead to the perfect Lamb of God, Jesus, who was coming to “take away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Jesus was the once-and-for-all sacrifice that these continual sacrifices were unable to be. And His sacrifice revealed the value God places on humanity.

Have you ever questioned your worth as a person? God considers us so valuable that He paid the most expensive ransom ever required. The most valuable thing in the universe, God the Son, was given in exchange for the souls of humanity. What an amazing concept to ponder and consider when trials come our way. God considers us valuable in spite of the fact that He knows we are going to blow it. This is where repentance comes into our daily lives, keeping short accounts with God. Like the daily sacrifices, we need to allow the Holy Spirit to examine our hearts every day so we can receive correction, confess our sins, and receive cleansing from Him.

“LORD, search our hearts and show us anything that stands between You and us this day, so we can confess and repent and be clean before You.”