How does this verse encourage us to prioritize God's instructions in our routines? Setting the Scene “Then the LORD said to Moses,” (Numbers 28:1) Observing the Text • Before any offerings are listed, Scripture highlights a simple, powerful reality: God speaks first. • The daily, weekly, monthly, and seasonal sacrifices that follow (vv. 2-31) are not human ideas but divine instructions. • By placing “Then the LORD said” at the head of a lengthy schedule, the passage teaches that every routine Israel kept was to flow from the Lord’s word. Principles for Today • God initiates—our role is to respond. We do not craft spiritual routines and ask Him to bless them; we receive His pattern and walk in it. – John 15:5 “apart from Me you can do nothing.” • The details matter to God. If He specifies times, amounts, and animals, He cares about the shape of our daily obedience. – Luke 16:10 “Whoever is faithful with very little will also be faithful with much.” • Obedience is continual, not occasional. Numbers 28 outlines offerings morning and evening, Sabbath after Sabbath, month after month. – 1 Thessalonians 5:17 “pray without ceasing.” • God’s word orders every sphere—worship, work, family, rest. When His voice comes first, everything else finds its rightful place. – Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Putting It Into Practice 1. Start the day by opening Scripture before opening a planner or phone. 2. Schedule regular worship—Sunday gathering, mid-week study—not as add-ons but fixed points around which other appointments revolve. 3. Build “appointed times” for thanksgiving and confession, echoing Israel’s rhythm of offerings. 4. Evaluate routines: if anything consistently squeezes out time with God, adjust or remove it. 5. Teach the next generation that God’s voice is the first voice. Model it at the dinner table, in car rides, and during decisions. Encouragement to Act Numbers 28:1 reminds us that every plan worth keeping begins with “Then the LORD said.” Let His word set the agenda today, and watch how order, peace, and purpose follow. |
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