From Numbers 8-10
Overview
Nu 8.1-4 Law; The seven lamps and the lampstand
Nu 8.5-13 Law; Levites - cleansing of the levites
Nu 8.14-22 Law; Levites - to serve the LORD, instead of the firstborn
Nu 8.23-26 Law; Levites - work life is from 25 to 50
Nu 9.1-5 Story; The Passover is celebrated
Nu 9.6-14 Law; Repeated instructions for Passover, people who have touched dead bodies included
Nu 9.15-23 Story; The cloud and the fire of the LORD directing the people
Nu 10.1-10 Law; The Silver Trumpets (War and Worship)
Nu 10.11-36 Story; Israel leaves Sinai
Passage and Comments
I noted two things of interest in this reading. The first is a kind of commissioning service for the Levites.
[9] And you shall bring the Levites before the tent of meeting and assemble the whole congregation of the people of Israel. [10] When you bring the Levites before the LORD, the people of Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites, [11] and Aaron shall offer the Levites before the LORD as a wave offering from the people of Israel, that they may do the service of the LORD. [12] Then the Levites shall lay their hands on the heads of the bulls, and you shall offer the one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering to the LORD to make atonement for the Levites. [13] And you shall set the Levites before Aaron and his sons, and shall offer them as a wave offering to the LORD. (Nu 8:9-13)
It stuck out to me because I've attended a few commissioning services myself for friends entering ministry and because of the support the Israelites were showing the Levites through laying their hands on them. Can you see how the Levites are described? As a 'wave offering'. This 'wave offering' is from the people of Israel for service before the LORD. Perhaps one of the first references in scripture to people being described as offerings. The second thing I noted concerned trumpets. Blasting trumpets!
[8] And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets. The trumpets shall be to you for a perpetual statute throughout your generations. [9] And when you go to war in your land against the adversary who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, that you may be remembered before the LORD your God, and you shall be saved from your enemies. [10] On the day of your gladness also, and at your appointed feasts and at the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings. They shall be a reminder of you before your God: I am the LORD your God.” (Nu 10:8-10)Story of Israel
They are to blast the trumpets so the LORD remembers them in battle. An act of dependence and faith. They are also to blast the trumpets during times of gladness during feasts, the beginnings of months and various offerings. Imagine trumpets sounding in the distance daily if you lived with them or in Jerusalem much later. There goes another sacrifice to the LORD. A continued reminder of the LORD for all the people throughout their generations.
Joshua blasted trumpets before the walls came down :-)
Story of Jesus
Jesus is our offering before the LORD (Heb 10). He offered himself up for us and was accepted by God. Paul exhorts his hearers to be living sacrifices in spiritual worship (Rom 12.1). Perhaps this is close enough to being an offering :-)