What is the meaning of Numbers 28:5? Along with - The wording links this grain offering to the daily burnt offering commanded just one verse earlier: “The first lamb you are to offer in the morning, and the second at twilight” (Numbers 28:4). - God never intended the burnt offering to stand alone; He required a complementary gift that highlighted fellowship (Leviticus 2:1–3; Exodus 29:38-42). - Both elements illustrate that wholehearted worship involves every part of life—sacrifice (the lamb) and sustenance (the grain). A tenth of an ephah - A “tenth” equaled roughly two quarts, a substantial portion of the family’s food supply (Exodus 16:36; Leviticus 14:21). - By setting the amount, the Lord removed guesswork and excuses. Worshipers learned that obedience meant giving exactly what He asked—no less, no more (1 Samuel 15:22). Of fine flour - Only the best, sifted flour qualified (Leviticus 2:1). Nothing coarse or spoiled belonged on the altar. - Fine flour foreshadows Christ, the flawless “bread of life” (John 6:35) who offered Himself without blemish (1 Peter 1:19). - It also calls believers to offer their lives—thoughts, words, deeds—refined and wholehearted (Philippians 1:10). As a grain offering - Unlike the burnt offering that was totally consumed, portions of the grain offering later fed the priests (Leviticus 2:3, 10). - This dual direction—upward to God and outward to His servants—pictures love of God and neighbor welded together (Matthew 22:37-39). - The grain offering signified gratitude for daily provision (Deuteronomy 8:10). Mixed with - Blending the flour and oil ensured the ingredients could not be separated once offered. - In the same way, faith and obedience belong together (James 2:22); one without the other rings hollow. A quarter hin - About one quart of oil, matching the generous measure of flour (Exodus 30:24). - The Lord’s proportions invite worshipers to lavish, not skimp, in their devotion (Proverbs 3:9). Of oil - Oil in Scripture often signifies the Holy Spirit’s presence and empowerment (1 Samuel 16:13; Zechariah 4:6). - Every act of worship—ancient or modern—depends on the Spirit’s anointing (John 4:24; Romans 8:26-27). From pressed olives - “Pressed” stresses purity; the first crush produced the clearest oil (Exodus 27:20). - The olives endured pressure before yielding what pleased God, echoing Christ’s anguish in Gethsemane (“olive press”) before the cross (Luke 22:44). - Believers, too, often bear sanctifying pressure that produces a fragrant testimony (2 Corinthians 4:8-11). Application for worship today • Offer God both the sacrifice of praise and the substance of daily life (Hebrews 13:15-16). • Give Him the first and finest, not leftovers (Malachi 1:8). • Depend on the Spirit’s filling so that obedience and gratitude stay inseparably “mixed” (Ephesians 5:18-20). • Remember that your gifts also serve others—generosity nourishes the family of faith (2 Corinthians 9:10-12). summary Numbers 28:5 shows that God desires worship marked by exact obedience, wholehearted generosity, Spirit-empowered purity, and grateful fellowship. A measured portion of the finest flour, blended with pure oil, reminds us to bring our very best, depend on the Spirit, and see every offering as part of a larger daily devotion that exalts Christ and blesses His people. |
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