“The Lord spoke to Moses,.. ‘My offering, my food for my food offerings, my pleasing aroma, you shall be careful to offer to me at its appointed time… This is the food offering that you shall offer: two male lambs a year old without blemish, day by day, as a regular offering. The one lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight; also a tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a grain offering, mixed with a quarter of a hin of beaten oil. It is a regular burnt offering… for a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the Lord. Its drink offering shall be a quarter of a hin for each lamb. In the Holy Place you shall pour out a drink offering… to the Lord… Like the grain offering of the morning, and like its drink offering, you shall offer it as a food offering, with a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
“’On the Sabbath day, two male lambs a year old without blemish, and two tenths of an ephah of fine flour for a grain offering, mixed with oil, and its drink offering.., besides the regular burnt offering and its drink offering.
“’At the beginnings of your months, you shall offer a burnt offering to the Lord…'” Numbers 28:1-11
The offerings God prescribed to Moses were regular and exact, all with the end of thoughtful sacrifice that pleased Him, and pointing to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ for their sake. Morning and evening, day in and out, special offerings on Sabbaths and monthly, the detailed requirements seem a full time endeavor. Rather than impinge on life, they established the rhythm of sacrifice in the life of His servants, directing every aspect of their time and effort to God their Lord. Beautifully designed for His people and purpose, He accommodates these rigors of daily attention with Sabbath rest. (Numbers 28:25)
In ancient society without automation of any kind, the harsh requirements of daily life simply to live, eat, and transport are hard to imagine. To spend time so regularly on repeated rituals may seem inefficient and wasteful to the modern mind. But the Lord determined to center His nation on Himself. He was sovereign, provider, and sustainer, worthy of their trust, adoration, and sacrifice. These regular habits would keep them humble and the Lord at the center.
When we think the Lord is in our mess, wanting to be an integral part of how we manage time and resources, we might resist His intrusion. Why can’t I just do what I want? What do I cling to as mine that is really His? What self-absorption fails to consider is that we were made for His glory, not our own, and possess nothing apart from His grace. (Isaiah 43:7; 1 Corinthians 4:7)
What could daily offerings of self, time, resources, relationships, our work, look like for us? How might putting the Lord first morning and evening change our daily outlook and countenance? Do we view sacrifice of self as onerous, or a delight? How can our lives exude a more pleasing aroma to Christ? How will we redirect priorities to honor God foremost? (Romans 12:1-2)
Lord, make my highest desire to spend myself for You and Your glory.
As the rain and snow 