Numbers

Numbers 28: God appoints His people’s worship

Begin in prayer

Before hearing how Israel’s days and feasts were filled with worship, please ask God to receive our thankful attention. Pray that we will see the sacrifice Jesus finished for His people.

I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call on Yahweh’s name.

Psalm 116:17

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Teach us to worship You with thankful hearts, and show us the complete sacrifice Jesus offered for His people. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

God tells Israel to offer His sacrifices at their appointed times as they prepare for life in the land. A lamb is offered each morning and evening with its grain and drink offerings. Further sacrifices mark the Sabbath and the beginning of each month, alongside the daily offering. At Passover and the feast of unleavened bread, the people gather, rest from regular work and offer the appointed sacrifices. The feast of weeks brings a new grain offering with burnt offerings and a goat for atonement. Every animal must be without defect, as the Lord has commanded.

As you read Numbers 28, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God appoints the sacrifices by which His people worship Him day by day.

As Israel prepares to enter the land, God keeps worship before them. Morning and evening, a lamb without defect is offered with grain, oil and a drink offering. The whole burnt offering belongs to God, teaching His people to give themselves to Him. The Sabbath and the beginning of each month bring further offerings, beyond those made each day. Passover recalls His rescue, while the feast of weeks brings the firstfruits of the harvest He provides. These appointed days include rest from regular work and sacrifices for atonement. Israel’s whole calendar calls them to remember whose people they are and how He receives their worship.

How does Numbers 28 show us that God appoints the sacrifices by which His people worship Him day by day?

God calls His people to worship Him each day.

A lamb is offered in the morning and another in the evening. Grain, oil and drink accompany the sacrifice that belongs to the Lord. Each day begins and ends with the worship He has appointed.

God’s care gives His people reasons to gather and give thanks.

The Sabbath, new month and yearly feasts add appointed worship to the daily offering. Passover remembers the rescue from Egypt, and firstfruits acknowledge the harvest God gives. His people must give time and gifts to the Lord who cares for them.

God requires a pure offering and provides atonement for sin.

The animals must have no defect. Goats are offered for sin at the appointed gatherings, showing the people’s need of atonement. Their worship depends on the sacrifice God gives them to bring before Him.

Memorise

It is a continual burnt offering, which was ordained in Mount Sinai for a pleasant aroma, an offering made by fire to Yahweh.

Numbers 28:6

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what makes me think my good habits can replace my need of Jesus?

God calls the daily sacrifice “a continual burnt offering”. Morning comes, evening comes, and another lamb is offered. The people approach Him by the sacrifices He commands.

Our sin needs a sacrifice that deals with guilt forever. Hebrews 10 verses 11 to 14 explains that Jesus offered one sacrifice for sins and then sat down. He suffered for His people, carrying their sin at the cross, then rose to life. His saving work is complete, and that single offering is enough to make them right with God.

So turn from sin and trust Jesus, whose sacrifice is sufficient. Forgiveness is given to those who rest in Him. Please give thanks for the saving work that never needs repeating. Through the risen Savior, His people may worship with grateful hearts day after day.

Parent's note

Tell your children that regular worship cannot remove their guilt, and Jesus offered the complete sacrifice His people need. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for appointing worship and giving the complete sacrifice in His Son, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” Having said this, he breathed his last.

Luke 23:46

Father, thank You for teaching Your people to worship You and for giving Jesus as the sufficient sacrifice for sin. Please turn each of us to trust Him instead of our good habits. Make our days full of gratitude, and help us gather with Your people to hear Your Word. Amen.