What can we learn about obedience to God from Numbers 28:5's instructions? The Text “and a grain offering of one-tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with a quarter hin of oil from pressed olives.” (Numbers 28:5) Key Observations about Obedience • The instruction is precise—measurements, ingredients, and timing are spelled out. • It accompanies the daily burnt offering (v. 3-4), showing that God’s people were to act on these details every single morning and evening. • The materials are quality items: “fine flour” and “pressed olives,” not leftovers. • The command is part of an ongoing rhythm, not a one-time act. Precision Matters to God • God specifies “one-tenth of an ephah” and “a quarter hin.” Obedience means following the commands as He gives them, not adjusting them to fit preference (cf. Exodus 25:40; Hebrews 8:5). • When Israel followed these exact measurements, they acknowledged God’s authority over even the smallest details of life. Whole-Hearted Excellence • “Fine flour” implies care in preparation; coarse or unmilled grain would not do. • Malachi 1:8 condemns offering blemished sacrifices. Numbers 28:5 underscores that God deserves the best. • Romans 12:1 echoes this principle: “present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.” Consistency That Shapes Character • The twice-daily offering created a habit of remembering the Lord (Psalm 55:17). • Regular obedience trains the heart. Luke 16:10 reminds that faithfulness in “very little” leads to faithfulness in much. Nurturing Daily Dependence • Israel could not store yesterday’s grain offering for tomorrow. Each day required new flour and oil—an ongoing reliance on God’s provision (Lamentations 3:22-23). • Jesus teaches the same rhythm: “Give us each day our daily bread” (Luke 11:3). Foreshadowing the Perfect Offering • Every precise sacrifice pointed forward to Christ, who fulfilled the law completely (Matthew 5:17). • Hebrews 10:11-14 shows Jesus as the once-for-all offering; our obedience now flows from His finished work. Walking It Out Today • Honor God’s Word in detail—study it carefully and apply what it says without trimming the hard parts. • Offer Him quality: time, talents, resources—whatever is “fine flour” in your life (Colossians 3:23-24). • Build daily rhythms—scripture reading, worship, acts of love—that mirror the morning and evening sacrifices. • Lean on Christ’s sufficiency; let obedience be a grateful response, not an attempt to earn favor (John 14:15). |
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