How does Numbers 28:3 connect to Jesus as the Lamb of God? Reading the Text “Tell them: ‘This is the offering made by fire that you are to present to the LORD: two unblemished year-old male lambs each day, as a regular burnt offering.’” (Numbers 28:3) What Stands Out in Numbers 28:3 • Two lambs each day • Unblemished, one-year-old males • A “regular” (continual) burnt offering • Entirely consumed by fire—nothing held back • A pleasing aroma to the LORD (v. 2) How These Details Foreshadow Jesus • Unblemished purity – The lambs had to be flawless; Jesus lived without sin (1 Peter 2:22). • In the prime of life – A year-old lamb is mature but still young; Christ offered Himself in His early thirties (Luke 3:23). • Constant provision – Morning and evening sacrifices pictured ceaseless atonement; Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice provides perpetual efficacy (Hebrews 10:11-14). • Total surrender – Burnt offerings were completely consumed, symbolizing full devotion; Jesus “gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:2). New Testament Echoes • John 1:29—“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” • Isaiah 53:7—He was “led like a lamb to the slaughter.” • 1 Peter 1:18-19—Redeemed “with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.” • Revelation 5:6—A Lamb standing, “as though it had been slain,” now reigning. Why Two Lambs Each Day? • Morning and evening point to continual dependence on God’s grace. • They bracket the entire day, hinting that all of life is lived before God. • Jesus fulfills both offerings in one definitive act, yet believers are invited to recall His sacrifice “morning and evening” through worship and remembrance (Luke 22:19). Takeaway Truths • The daily burnt offering sets the pattern: only a spotless substitute secures acceptance. • Numbers 28:3 anticipates a better Lamb whose single sacrifice meets every moment’s need. • In Christ, the shadow becomes substance; the regular burnt offering finds its everlasting reality. |
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