A Big Deal

The leaders also presented dedication gifts for the altar at the time it was anointed. They each placed their gifts before the altar. The LORD said to Moses, “Let one leader bring his gift each day for the dedication of the altar.” [Numbers 7.10-11]

What follows this passage are twelve lists of exactly the same things, one for each tribe of Israel as presented by that tribe's leader. This is the list:

His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3 1⁄4 pounds and a silver basin weighing 1 3⁄4 pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil. He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense. He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering, and a male goat for a sin offering. For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by [each respective tribe's leader].

Why the repetitive detail?

As I consider the question above, I remind myself that ALL the Bible is about God's Redemption: in a word: Jesus. The altar which was being dedicated, and for which these gifts were brought, represented the stage upon which Jesus' body would be sacrificed for the sin of the world. That's a big deal. Yes, that's a BIG DEAL!

It is no wonder then that each day's offerings were worthy of their own description. God sees every individual and this just tells me, it matters. I feel certain there are even more spiritual gems buried in the details of these offerings that will be revealed the more I meditate upon them.

Father, may I never view Your Word as mundane or repetitive! May I always remain mindful that repetition means something!