God Speaks
God’s Directions Regarding Offerings; the Keeping of Vows
Verse of the Day: “When a man makes a vow to the LORD or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said.” (Numbers 30:2 NIV 2011) [God is our example: He always keeps His word.]
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We Respond
Reflection: Consider the following questions regarding Numbers 28-30:
1. What does this chapter tell me about God?
2. What does this chapter tell me about the human beings He created?
Here is one possible answer to each of these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit if there are any others for you personally to ponder.
Numbers 28-29 [Since these chapters cover various details of the same subject (God’s prescribed sacrifices), they will be treated as a unit.]
1. The LORD God expects His people to worship Him in specific ways and at specific times daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly.
2. People are to worship the LORD God in the ways He specifies. No human sacrifices are acceptable except the sacrifice of the Son of Man (Jesus the Messiah) to which all of the animal sacrifices point.
Numbers 30
1. God holds His people accountable for their vows, pledges, or rash promises. Young women still under their father’s authority or a wife under her husband’s authority are released if the father or husband objects.
2. People should be cautious and careful about the vows, pledges, or rash promises they make.
Prayer:
3. How might I pray regarding Numbers 28-30?
Dear LORD God, thank You for being so gracious and loving and worthy of all the praise or any sacrifice we could ever offer. You not only deserve our worship, but You also initiated a love relationship with You that goes far beyond these ceremonies You prescribed. All the sacrifices listed here point to Jesus’ sacrifice and how You have made a way for us to commune with You both individually and corporately daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, and for all eternity. May my sacrifices of praise be pleasing to You. Help me to bring them at the appointed times and offer them according to Your instructions. May my offerings be given gladly and not grudgingly. May I understand and remember the true meaning of each sacrifice or ceremony so that I can explain it to strangers or to upcoming generations. As believers meet together, please manifest Your presence among us. Then, as we go about our daily lives, may we manifest Your character: for example, keeping our word whenever we make vows, pledges, or promises because that is what You do, our Father. This behavior on our part will bring You glory, LORD. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
4. What action does the LORD want me to take in response to Numbers 28-30? With the help of God’s Holy Spirit:
- I will pray and examine the Scriptures to see how the LORD wants me to worship Him daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly as an individual.
- I will pray and examine the Scriptures to see how the LORD wants me to worship Him daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly as part of a group or congregation.
- I will join a local congregation in worship, mutual encouragement, and celebration weekly, monthly, and yearly.
- I will keep my word in a particular situation (be specific) even if it hurts or is inconvenient for me.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.