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Numbers Chapter 28

Numbers 28:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2 Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, My offering, and my bread for my sacrifices made by fire, for a sweet savour unto me, shall ye observe to offer unto me in their due season.
3 And thou shalt say unto them, This is the offering made by fire which ye shall offer unto the LORD; two lambs of the first year without spot day by day, for a continual burnt offering.
4 The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even;
5 And a tenth part of an ephah of flour for a meat offering, mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil.
6 It is a continual burnt offering, which was ordained in mount Sinai for a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD.
7 And the drink offering thereof shall be the fourth part of an hin for the one lamb: in the holy place shalt thou cause the strong wine to be poured unto the LORD for a drink offering.
8 And the other lamb shalt thou offer at even: as the meat offering of the morning, and as the drink offering thereof, thou shalt offer it, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
9 And on the Sabbath day two lambs of the first year without spot, and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, and the drink offering thereof:
10 This is the burnt offering of every Sabbath, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.
11 And in the beginnings of your months ye shall offer a burnt offering unto the LORD; two young bullocks, and one ram, seven lambs of the first year without spot;
12 And three tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, for one bullock; and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, for one ram;
13 And a several tenth deal of flour mingled with oil for a meat offering unto one lamb; for a burnt offering of a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD.
14 And their drink offerings shall be half an hin of wine unto a bullock, and the third part of an hin unto a ram, and a fourth part of an hin unto a lamb: this is the burnt offering of every month throughout the months of the year.
15 And one kid of the goats for a sin offering unto the LORD shall be offered, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.

This is a new generation of Israelis. The older generation except for Joshua and Caleb had passed away and the others were either not yet born or children under twenty when they first started out. So we see that they had to be reminded of the law of sacrifices and ordinances to keep them in memory of the holiness of God and the need for a savior that was to come. All feasts and sacrifices pointed toward the perfect way of salvation to come that God provided for their eternal salvation.

The sacrifices were done for many reasons. They showed the sinfulness of mankind since the fall of Adam and the need to be reconciled to God. They showed that atonement for sin was needed to make that reconciliation possible. The law says that the soul that sins shall die. We all suffer the death of the body but we all possess a soul and spirit which does not die when the body dies. That soul goes somewhere to abide for eternity. The soul is that which needs salvation, not the body. The soul is eternal. If the soul is what we call "in sin" at the death of the body, the soul is lost for eternity. It goes to hell.

Hell was created for the devil and his angels that fell with him at his rebellion against God. It was created as a final place for them to be confined so that sin will one day be done away with and confined to that place. All souls that sin go here at death so that sin will not continue for eternity. We don't like to think of these things but we must consider them. This is called the second death although the worm dies not meaning the soul is really alive but considered dead to the rest of the inhabitants of the universe.

God made a way for mankind to be saved from this fate. He made a way for the soul to be saved and given a new body that can never die. He made a way to be saved from sin. He literally gave Himself. To give His own Son to die for sins was the same as giving Himself. Jesus Christ, the Son of God became flesh and agreed to die for sins. The reason His death can reverse the curse upon mankind and free us from the fate of eternal hell, is because He died when He didn't deserve to die.

Jesus did not sin even once although He paid the penalty of sin. This is why the death of Jesus can count for us. Thus all we have to do is believe in what He did on our behalf to receive the benefits of being made free from sin and free to serve God in the newness of the spirit. We now await the new body that we receive at the first resurrection.

Jesus died, was buried but the 3rd day, by the power of the Holy Spirit, He was raised from the dead. This gave us hope because as He conquered death, we who believe will also be raised from the dead and given new bodies that can never die. Our goal should be in the first resurrection. The second resurrection are for all those that died in sin and were not saved when they their bodies died. They will face the judgment before God at the white throne. This is a fearful time but through Christ we do not have to suffer this judgment if we accept Him and His gift of eternal life.

By agreeing to give our lives to Him and turn away from sin, we are cleansed from sin and covered by the righteousness of Jesus Christ. That is why we can do all the good deeds that we desire but it would never be good enough to merit eternal life. We need to be clothed with the righteousness of Jesus Christ who was the only man that ever walked the earth and never sin.

When we come to Christ for salvation, we are saying to God. I am a sinner, I can't save myself, eternal death awaits me, I need your mercy and salvation. I believe you sent Jesus to die for my sins and to cleanse me of all unrighteousness. I want to be partaker of this good way and receive Christ as my Lord and savior.

If we truly mean this from our hearts, the Holy Spirit comes within us and we are born again by that same spirit, bringing us into the body of Christ. As we continue in Christ we are baptized by the Holy Spirit, completely immersed in Him. Water baptism is an outward sign of what takes place when we fully receive Christ and are baptized in the Holy Spirit.

A sign of being baptized in the Holy Spirit may be speaking in an unknown language or prophesying in a language we understand. Prophesying is speaking forth in a known language the words of praise, exhortation or comfort by the Holy Spirit that we can understand. Speaking in what we call tongues is also praising God but in a tongue we do not understand unless someone is present that may speak that particular language. None of these gifts of the spirit should be criticized or taken lightly. They are gifts from God.

There will be some kind of witness in the spirit when one is baptized in the Holy Spirit. Some may receive the spirit as soon as they receive Christ and others may be baptized with the Holy Spirit later. We can read more of these gifts of God in the book of Acts. Salvation is given to all who believe, the baptism of the Spirit is given to all who obey Him (Christ).

Peter speaks of these things in the book of Acts:

Act 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

Paul deals with this also in the book of Acts:

Act 19:1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

We see some receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit later than when they first believed and with the scriptures below we see some receive the Holy Spirit the moment they believe which is the way that we probably should receive the Holy Spirit.

Act 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
6 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
:39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:
40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

We must not limit God to one way or the other. Once we receive Christ, we should expect to receive the Holy Spirit immediately.

John 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

This scripture here is why many believe one is baptized in the Holy Spirit the moment they are saved even if they do not speak in tongues or prophesy. Yet others believe there will be some sign as tongues or prophesying. No matter which way we believe, we know that when we have our sins forgiven and we forsake those sins, we should receive the Holy Spirit who will abide with us.

David said in the Psalms:

Psalms 51:9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

We see here how David whether knowingly or unknowingly prophesied of the time when the way would be provided to cleanse from sin and be filled with the Holy Spirit.

To return now to our study in Numbers we see the children of Israel dwelling in the wilderness and getting ready to go into the land they were promised. We see how much they need to be reminded of their sin and their need to remember God and keep themselves in the favor of God. This was why all these sacrifices, feasts and offerings were made. By their obedience, they were recognizing their need to be forgiven of sins and being reconciled to God.

Even though Christ had not yet come to give that final complete sacrifice for sins, they were still saved by faith by showing their faith by being obedient to the laws and ordinances given temporarily until the time when God would send His Son to make the sacrifices above all sacrifices that would be powerful enough to not only forgive sins but cleanse one of sins and give the Holy Spirit (living water) to all to hear and receive.

True saving faith involves more than just mentally believing that Christ exists though. True faith involves faithfulness and obedience to the word of God.

James 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

In Matthew there is more showing true faith is obeying as well as believing. In fact if one really believes something, he acts upon it. It doesn't lie dormant.

Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

The gospel is to hear, believe and obey.

Numbers 28:16 And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the Passover of the LORD.
17 And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast: seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten.
18 In the first day shall be an holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of servile work therein:
19 But ye shall offer a sacrifice made by fire for a burnt offering unto the LORD; two young bullocks, and one ram, and seven lambs of the first year: they shall be unto you without blemish:
20 And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil: three tenth deals shall ye offer for a bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram;
21 A several tenth deal shalt thou offer for every lamb, throughout the seven lambs:
22 And one goat for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you.

Jesus died for sins at the very time of the Passover feast. He died to make atonement for sins. Without that atonement for sins received by believers, one will die in sin and not be saved. Just as the Passover is the memorial of the time when those obedient to God's word were saved from death, those that accept Christ are saved from eternal death. When the death angel passed over all Egypt killing all the firstborn, those that were obedient to the commands of the Lord to place blood on the doorposts of their homes escaped that judgment.

Allowing the blood of Jesus to cleanse us from sin causes us to receive eternal life and escape the coming judgment of God that will come upon all the earth who rejected His Son and loved their sin rather than accept His salvation.

During Passover time in Egypt, I believe even Egyptians could have been spared if they would have did as Israel and placed the blood of the lamb on their doorposts. This was as picture of the salvation provided by the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. It also shows us that salvation is available to all who believe even if they are not Israel.

Hebrews chapter 9 deals with this further.

Hebrews 9:1 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.
2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.
3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;
4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.
6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.
7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
18 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.
19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,
20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.
21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.
22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

With the high price that was paid for our salvation, we must take heed and not neglect so great a salvation. We see from reading the Old Testament that they had to be reminded constantly to take heed to be obedient to the law until the time of Christ.

As we read the story of the Exodus, the time of the Kings, and all, we see that they failed over and over again. The priesthood became corrupt many times. They failed to make offerings and sacrifices many times. This was a memorial set in place until the time of Christ. They were to obey these things temporarily to be part of the salvation that was to come.

Numbers 28:23 Ye shall offer these beside the burnt offering in the morning, which is for a continual burnt offering.
24 After this manner ye shall offer daily, throughout the seven days, the meat of the sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD: it shall be offered beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.
25 And on the seventh day ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work.

Having a day to dedicate ourselves to the worship of God is vital to our physical and spiritual well being. God made the Sabbath day for our good, not our misery. We all need a day of rest for the body and spiritual refreshing for the soul.

Numbers 28:26 Also in the day of the firstfruits, when ye bring a new meat offering unto the LORD, after your weeks be out, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work:
27 But ye shall offer the burnt offering for a sweet savour unto the LORD; two young bullocks, one ram, seven lambs of the first year;
28 And their meat offering of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals unto one bullock, two tenth deals unto one ram,
29 A several tenth deal unto one lamb, throughout the seven lambs;
30 And one kid of the goats, to make an atonement for you.
31 Ye shall offer them beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, (they shall be unto you without blemish) and their drink offerings.

After the coming of Christ we see that these daily offerings and sacrifices were replaced with a New Covenant and a better way.