What role do sin offerings play in maintaining a relationship with God? Context of Numbers 28:22 “Also one male goat as a sin offering to make atonement for you.” (Numbers 28:22) • The verse appears in instructions for the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread. • Burnt offerings, grain offerings, and drink offerings are listed—yet a specific sin offering must accompany them each day. • Even during a joyful feast, God requires a sacrifice that deals directly with sin so His people can remain near Him. Why Include a Sin Offering? • Sin separates humanity from a holy God (Isaiah 59:2). • “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22). • The sin offering answers this problem by providing atonement—covering guilt so fellowship is preserved. • It reminds Israel that every act of worship first needs cleansing; unaddressed sin blocks every other offering. What the Sin Offering Achieved • Cleansing of unintentional or inherent sin (Leviticus 4:2). • Protection from the consuming holiness of God dwelling in their midst (Numbers 18:5). • Restoration of covenant harmony: “You shall be clean from all your sins before the LORD” (Leviticus 16:30). Link to Ongoing Fellowship • The repetition—daily through the feast—shows sin’s persistence and the continual grace God supplies. • Each offering acted like a reset button, keeping the relationship current and unburdened. • By accepting the sacrifice, God demonstrated both justice (sin judged) and mercy (people forgiven). Foreshadowing the Perfect Sin Offering • Old-Covenant goats pointed forward to Christ: “He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Hebrews 9:26). • Jesus fills every festival and sacrifice, accomplishing permanently what the goat could only picture (Hebrews 10:1–4, 12–14). • Through Him, believers enjoy uninterrupted access: “If we walk in the light… the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). How This Encourages Us Today • Recognize sin’s seriousness; confess quickly and specifically. • Rest in the completeness of Christ’s atonement while practicing ongoing repentance to keep intimacy vibrant. • Approach God confidently yet humbly, knowing the price of access was blood. • Celebrate redemption with gratitude, just as Israel feasted while the sin offering burned—joy rooted in cleansing. |
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