NASO (lift up) Num 4:21–7:89; Judges 13:2–25; John 11:1–54
This parasha is the longest of all the 54 Torah portions in the annual cycle and contains many well-known passages such as the Aaronic blessing, and mysterious things such as procedures for when a husband suspects a wife for infidelity.
But, I want to focus on a passage in Num.7 that is usually ignored by most people who skip over because it appears so repetitive that concerns the offerings presented by each of the 12 tribes for the dedication of the Tabernacle. Every day for 12 days, identical offerings were presented by a different tribe brought on six wagons that were drawn by oxen. When we begin to look at it more closely, we begin to see that there are many hidden nuggets for us waiting to be received. The offerings brought by the 12 tribes were presented on,
- 1 silver plate (5lbs) and 1 silver bowl (3lbs), both filled with fine flour mixed with oil for the grain offering; (v13) Fine flour indicates that this is the best. We must not offer God second best. Silver is symbolic of redemption, and 5 is the number representing grace. The silver bowl weighed 3 pounds, the number of Divine perfection. This was known as the meat offering although it actually contained no meat. The ingredients of fine flour+oil were used in making bread. Yeshua is the Bread of life and the mystery of why it was called a meat offering now becomes clear as a foreshadowing of Yeshua, the Lamb of God offered for our sins.
- 1 gold ladle was presented filled with incense for the incense offering; v14 The priests offered this up to God on the altar of incense. In Ps. 141:2, David says: “May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice”) and in Rev. 8 in John’s vision it is portrayed as representing the prayers of believers.
- 1 young bull, 1 ram and a male lamb in its first year as a burnt offering; v15
- a he-goat without blemish as a sin offering; v16
- and 2 cattle, 5 rams, 5 he-goats and 5 sheep without blemish for peace offerings. v17 Through the continual sacrifice of animals, God was burning into the heart of every man an awareness of their own sin and our need for His forgiveness and redemption.
The descriptions the offerings are repeated the same for each tribe and we may wonder what relevance this holds? Why does Scripture repeat things 12 times over instead of just once? The answer might surprise us. First, we know that the longer a narrative the Bible devotes to any particular section, the greater its importance. For example, the Bible devotes only 34 verses to the origins of creation, but hundreds of verses for the building of the Tabernacle. Why? The late Rabbi Jonathan Sacks put it this way. “The universe is vast. The Mishkan was small. So then why devote so much time to the construction of the Mishkan? The reason is profound. The Torah is not man’s book of God, it is God’s book of mankind. It is not difficult for an infinite, omnipotent creator to make a home for humanity, what is difficult is for human beings to make a home for God.”
When the tabernacle was being constructed, the whole community of Israel were invited to contribute as a free-will offering and they gave generously according to their ability – whatever they could afford – until they had more than sufficient (Ex. 35:27 ) “25 Every skilled woman used her hands to make the blue, purple, and red thread, and fine linen, and they brought what they had made. 26 All the women who were skilled and wanted to help made thread of the goat hair. 27 The leaders brought onyx stones and other jewels to put on the holy vest and chest covering for the priest. 28 They also brought spices and olive oil for the sweet-smelling incense, the special oil, and the oil to burn in the lamps. 29 All the men and women of Israel who wanted to help brought gifts to the Lord for all the work the Lord had commanded Moses and the people to do.”
But after the tabernacle was built, the leaders of each tribe were commanded to collect offerings from their tribe for the dedication of the tabernacle; these were exactly the same for each tribe from the smallest to the largest.
God’s favour was not determined by the size of the tribe but by obedience. Each tribe brought Him exactly what He requested in the manner prescribed. In both cases – with the building of the tabernacle and for its dedication – it was the manner of giving that was of significance to God, not the amount. And it is the same with us irrespective of whether one be a millionaire or a pauper.
Therein lies a vital point illustrated in 1Sam 15:22, “To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.” One can sacrifice everything yet lose it all as King Saul did if God never commanded one to do it whether it be material possessions, ministry or life decisions. King Josiah is a sad example of this.
Should we ever reject obedience to the revealed word of God, everything else become empty gestures. “22 Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name and driven out demons in Your name and done many mighty works in Your name? 23 And then I will say to them openly (publicly), I never knew you; depart from Me, you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands].” (Matt. 7)
The fact that one whole chapter of Numbers 7 is devoted to the 12 tribes’ offerings, further illustrates the importance of this. It represented both a promise and a warning to Israel holding a principle that is relevant for every born-again believer. When we give our best to God – what Paul refers to as “living sacrifices,” we will receive His best as He has always intended. When we give God the scraps under the table, that also will be our reward.
As with the story of the widow’s mite in Mark 12, this passage demonstrates that we are unique and indispensable to God. Two mites were worth the value of the smallest Roman coin and equivalent to about 6mins of an average daily wage.
Did God really need the Israelites help to build a structure to serve as God’s dwelling place? Of course not. Rather He gave the Israelites an opportunity to make something with their own hands under His direction that would be treasured because they took ownership of it in contrast to the Golden Calf that represents disobedience. It was a kind of redemption – The Golden Calf represents the wages of sin; the tabernacle, a redeemed and fulfilled life filled with abundance.
The final segment of our Torah portion sets out the formula for the priests to bless the people which has three parts, first, for prosperity and safety, then for God’s grace, and finally for peace. It is a blessing known as the ‘Brachah Ha Kohanim’ or the “Aaronic blessing”.
In the first stanza to the blessing, we have three words. יְבָרֶכְךָ יְהוָה, וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ a blessing from the triune God.
In the second, we have five words, יָאֵר יְהוָה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ, וִיחֻנֶּךָּ This refers to God’s amazing grace extended unto us.
And in the third, seven words: יִשָּׂא יְהוָה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ, וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם referring to the promise of His perfect peace that passes all understanding for every believer. In the Hebrew text, there is an increase in the number of letters:
God’s attention is upon us at all times even in the smallest details. He lifts up His countenance – never a moment passes without us being on His mind – He knew us even before we were in our mother’s womb! – He has a perfect plan for us, and He will keep us in perfect peace when we place our trust in Him and walk in obedience to his Divine will! (Isaiah 26:3)
This blessing goes beyond prosperity, success or happiness but represents the fullness of God’s love expressed to us as our Abba Father – His own personal undivided attention upon His beloved!
