How does Numbers 7:70 demonstrate the importance of offerings in worship today? The Verse in Context Numbers 7 records the twelve-day dedication of the altar. Each tribal leader brings identical gifts, yet the Spirit repeats every detail to show that every offering matters personally to God. Numbers 7:70 says, “one male goat for a sin offering;”—the tenth day’s gift from Ahiezer of Dan. Observations from Numbers 7:70 • A sin offering stands at the heart of worship; before fellowship, sin must be addressed. • Even leaders need atonement; no tribe is exempt. • God specifies the exact animal, underscoring that worship is on His terms, not ours. • The single male goat looks small beside carts, bowls, and oxen, yet Scripture highlights it—atonement always outweighs size or spectacle. The Theological Weight of the Sin Offering • Atonement: Leviticus 17:11—“the life of the flesh is in the blood… it is the blood that makes atonement.” • Anticipation: Each goat foreshadows Christ, “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). • Continuity: Hebrews 9:22 reminds us that “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness,” linking Old and New Covenants. • Holiness: God calls His people to approach Him clean (Psalm 24:3-4). Principles for Worship Today • Worship still begins with dealing with sin. We rely on Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10), yet we confess daily (1 John 1:9). • Offerings express gratitude for atonement already accomplished, not a payment for it. • God notices every giver and every gift. No offering is insignificant when brought in faith (Mark 12:41-44). • Corporate remembrance matters. Israel presented offerings together; likewise, the church gathers around the Lord’s Table (1 Corinthians 11:26). Practical Ways to Offer Today • Financial giving—regular, cheerful, and proportionate (2 Corinthians 9:7). • Service—using spiritual gifts for the body (1 Peter 4:10-11). • Praise—“the fruit of lips that confess His name” (Hebrews 13:15). • Lifestyle—presenting our bodies “as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God” (Romans 12:1). • Mercy—meeting needs of others; such sacrifices “please God” (Hebrews 13:16). Further Scriptures that Echo the Call • 1 Peter 2:5—believers are “a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” • Malachi 1:8-10—God rejects careless offerings, insisting on wholehearted honor. • Philippians 4:18—Paul calls the Philippians’ gift “a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.” Numbers 7:70 may seem like a brief note, yet it anchors worship in atonement, shows God’s delight in every faithful gift, and invites believers today to bring offerings—spiritual and material—grounded in the perfect sacrifice of Christ. |
    |