NUMBERS

Numbers Chapter 29

• Numbers 29:1 And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work: it is a day of blowing the trumpets unto you. 

These blowing of trumpets were actually the shofar not the silver trumpets. Silver trumpets were blown at the daily offering and the beginning of the new moon. The shofar or the ram's horn was sounded at this occasion called the feasts of trumpets or Rosh Hashanah. This is also mentioned in Leviticus 23:24

• Leviticus 23:24 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.

These trumpets were blown at the beginning of the month Tishri, the first fall festival or feast day. 

This feast does not represent any actual event in history like the Passover did, but is a time for individuals to stand before the judgment seat of God and ask for forgiveness and cleansing from sin. It proceeds the day of atonement which represents the day when mercy is shown and a sacrifice is provided for atonement for sin. 

They were not to do any work but give attention solely to being reconciled to God. Sort of like prayer and fasting to the believer in Christ. A time to seek God for mercy and guidance. A time to get right with God and have our sins forgiven. A time of spiritual refreshing and cleansing. 

The children of Israel are preparing for battle, it is the beginning of the end so to speak. They are getting ready to go into the promised land but first they must recognize their need for God and get right with God. The first step to salvation is to see our need for salvation. 

Jesus came the first time to make an offering for sin. Before Israel can enjoy the promised land, before Israel can rule and reign with Christ and before Christ sets up His kingdom upon the earth the Jewish people have to get right with God. They missed this at the first coming of Christ because they were not looking for a savior from sin, they were looking for a mighty warrior to give them victory over their earthly enemies. 

The first enemy though that needs defeated is the enemy of their eternal souls. Satan. That is why Jesus their Messiah had to come first to die for sins and make the way for all who believe in Him to be reconciled back to God that sin was separating them from. Sin separated the Jews from God and all others who remain in sin are also separated from our holy God. Before they can receive the promised land permanently they must have their sins forgiven and cleansed. They must be reconciled to God. There has been over 2000 years delay in this because they rejected Him the first time around. Thus it must be though to fulfill the scriptures and make the way of salvation open to all mankind not just the Jews. 

Some believe it will be around the feast of trumpets that usher in the rapture of the church, the great tribulation and the 2nd coming when Jesus sets up His kingdom will be around the day of atonement. This of course is interesting but we are never to know the exact day or hour so I am just mentioning this in passing not speaking a doctrine. 

The feast of trumpets are days of preparation for battle and for seeking God for spiritual strength for victory over our spiritual battles. WE NEED GOD. I can't emphasize that enough. We need to stay in what the old Pentecostals use to say as "Prayed up". The bible says to pray without ceasing. Jesus warned us to watch and pray that we enter not into temptation. This day of the feasts of trumpets was around September. The exact day is different each year. That could be another reason we do not know the day or hour that the Lord comes because the day the feast of trumpets start is different each year and we do not know which year the Lord will come but we must be ready. 

• Numbers 29:2 And ye shall offer a burnt offering for a sweet savour unto the LORD; one young bullock, one ram, and seven lambs of the first year without blemish: 

This feast comes before the day of atonement. Atonement makes possible reconciliation with God. Jesus made the final atonement with His shedding of blood and His death on the cross or execution stake as some call it. The blood He shed was given for an atonement for sin. Like the lambs were without spot or blemish, Jesus, the Son of God was without spot or blemish. He did not sin so that He could take upon Himself our sin and day because of the sin that we committed. He did not die for His own sin because He did not sin, but died for the sins we committed.  

All these sacrifices given here was a substitute for the final atonement for sin and had to be done to remind the people how serious sin was and that they needed a savior from sin. They needed to be reconciled back to God. In order for the future death of Christ to atone for their sins also, they had to be obedient to these laws and ordinances that pointed to the perfect sacrifice that was to come and now of course we know that He did come and fulfilled all these things. 

The actual future final feasts of trumpets will be when the Lord comes and Israel turns to Christ and the atonement for their sins is completed when they look on Him whom their ancestors have pierced. Ever since 1948 Israel has been gathering back in their own land of Israel which didn't exist before 1948 back to 70 AD.

• Numbers 29:3 And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals for a bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram, 
• 4 And one tenth deal for one lamb, throughout the seven lambs: 
• 5 And one kid of the goats for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you: 
• 6 Beside the burnt offering of the month, and his meat offering, and the daily burnt offering, and his meat offering, and their drink offerings, according unto their manner, for a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD. 
• 7 And ye shall have on the tenth day of this seventh month an holy convocation; and ye shall afflict your souls: ye shall not do any work therein: 
• 8 But ye shall offer a burnt offering unto the LORD for a sweet savour; one young bullock, one ram, and seven lambs of the first year; they shall be unto you without blemish: 
• 9 And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals to a bullock, and two tenth deals to one ram, 
• 10 A several tenth deal for one lamb, throughout the seven lambs: 
• 11 One kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the sin offering of atonement, and the continual burnt offering, and the meat offering of it, and their drink offerings. 
• 12 And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work, and ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: 

Seven is the number of perfection. We might wonder why there is a need for so many offerings. Offerings were for different reasons. Offerings of praise, thanksgiving and worship were some of the reasons for offerings. The main reason though was to atone for sins. They had to be reminded constantly that sin separated them from God and they needed cleansing from sin and reconciled back to God.

If they had not have had all these feasts, offerings and sacrifices, they would forget and return to sin as we see in reading the Old Testament especially during the time of the kings. They constantly returned to sin after being forgiven by God. This happened over and over again. The pattern of sin, repenting, being reconciled, sinning again, repenting and then reconciled repeated itself over and over causing the judgment of God to fall upon them many times. 

God had to usher in a new way of atonement. Thus we see the coming of Christ the first time to make an offering for sin once and for all. We see power given to those that receive Christ through the person of the Holy Spirit. Once we receive the forgiveness of sin and are baptized in the Holy Spirit, there is enough power there to keep us from returning to sin that the Old Testament believers did not have except for a few prophets here and there.

Now we can have victory over sin. We still are capable of sin but there is power provided through the Holy Spirit that we do not have to sin. We can have joy, peace and victory over sin. The thing is that we must choose to yield to or give ourselves completely to the will of the Holy Spirit by first turning our lives over to Jesus Christ being cleansed from sin and then being baptized in the Holy Spirit. 

After receiving Christ's atonement for sin, our relationship with the Lord doesn't stop there. We can continually seek God in praise, worship, study and fellowship. Through His Holy Spirit it is like walking with God in the garden like Adam did before the fall. It is never a one time event.

Being baptized and immersed in the Holy Spirit, is available to all who seek Him. Water baptism is an outward sign of what should be taking place in the spirit. There is a real change in our nature. We are born again by the spirit of God. It is a new beginning, a new way and a new life. Old things are to pass away. We never lose our freewill to choose good and evil but we have access to the power to overcome through the free gift of the Holy Spirit that is given to all who obey Him (Christ). 

They needed all these feasts and sacrifices as reminders that they needed to be cleansed from sin and stop sinning. Sin was separating them from God. This is why they constantly needed to have these days appointed to stop work, make sacrifices and get right with God.

Through Christ our relationship with God is easier to receive. Not only that but it is open to Gentiles or non-Jews also. Before Christ came, the Gentiles were not under the promise but a few Gentiles who believed in God and came to Israel to dwell with them could become part of the covenant of Israel.

We see examples of that in the Rahab who lived in Jericho but was saved from the judgment poured out on Jericho because she believed, also Ruth the Moabite woman who married Boaz she claimed his God for her own. There were a few others. Most Gentiles though were lost and worshipped idols at that time. After Christ came the gospel became available to more Gentiles but unfortunately it was because the Jews rejected Him and it opened up the gospel to the Gentile nations. 

Paul writes about this: 

• Romans 11:11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. 
• 12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?
• 13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: 
• 14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. 
• 15 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? 
• 16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. 
• 17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; 
• 18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. 
• 19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. 
• 20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 
• 21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. 
• 22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. 
• 23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. 
• 24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree? 
• 25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. 
• 26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 
• 27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

What a glorious time that will be when the Jews recognize their Messiah. It is predicted by the prophet, Zechariah. This will probably occur during or at the end of the great tribulation to come:

• Zechariah 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. 

This day is coming as we see Israel gathering in Israel again starting in 1948. Tribulation has followed them and they will still face much tribulation to come but their redemption draws closer. Woe to those that persecute and harm Israel. They still are the apple of God's eye even though as a nation they still are not right with God. To be made right with God they must recognize the offering for sin that their forefathers rejected. That offering is Jesus Christ. 

• Numbers 29:13 And ye shall offer a burnt offering, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD; thirteen young bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year; they shall be without blemish: 
• 14 And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals unto every bullock of the thirteen bullocks, two tenth deals to each ram of the two rams, 
• 15 And a several tenth deal to each lamb of the fourteen lambs: 
• 16 And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering. 
• 17 And on the second day ye shall offer twelve young bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the first year without spot: 
• 18 And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner: 
• 19 And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and the meat offering thereof, and their drink offerings. 
• 20 And on the third day eleven bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish; 
• 21 And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner: 
• 22 And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering. 
• 23 And on the fourth day ten bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish: 
• 24 Their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner: 
• 25 And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering. 
• 26 And on the fifth day nine bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without spot: 
• 27 And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner: 
• 28 And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering. 
• 29 And on the sixth day eight bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish: 
• 30 And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner: 
• 31 And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering. 
• 32 And on the seventh day seven bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish: 
• 33 And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner: 
• 34 And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering. 
• 35 On the eighth day ye shall have a solemn assembly: ye shall do no servile work therein: 
• 36 But ye shall offer a burnt offering, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD: one bullock, one ram, seven lambs of the first year without blemish: 
• 37 Their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullock, for the ram, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner: 
• 38 And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering. 
• 39 These things ye shall do unto the LORD in your set feasts, beside your vows, and your freewill offerings, for your burnt offerings, and for your meat offerings, and for your drink offerings, and for your peace offerings. 
• 40 And Moses told the children of Israel according to all that the LORD commanded Moses. 

This time just before entering the promised land was a very sacred holy time. It is a picture of getting right with God, being cleansed of sin before entering the promised land. It is a sign of the need for atonement and reconciliation with God before they enter the promised land. 

This is the message Israel still has not understood to this day although we have Messianic Jews who have recognized this message. Before they can have peace and live peaceably in their own land which is their land given to them from the time of Abraham, they must make atonement for sin. The sin problem had to be taken care of first before they can receive the promise. They do not get this to this day, October 20, 2025 as a nation. They do not see themselves as sinners in need of a savior. Yet we all are sinners in need of a savior. In saying that though there are many Jewish believers in Jesus that have come to Him. We call them Messianic Jews. A lot of them have become awesome teachers of God's word.

The first coming of Jesus was to take care of the sin problem. The second coming of Jesus will take care of the nations of the world that come against Israel and woe to those nations. 

This is why this time of solemn assembly was needed. Before they could go any further and conquer the land of Canaan they had to take time for God, for repentance, for atonement and for worship. This was vital. It was a picture of the time when Christ would make final reconciliation for all who would believe in Him. 

They needed these feasts and sacrifices before entering the promised land. All mankind needs to believe in the sacrificial death of Christ for sin and receive the cleansing from sin to go into the final promised land of eternal life. 

The message to Israel in the Old Testament and the message to all mankind with the New Testament is the same. Repent first, be cleansed from sin, be reconciled to God and then enter the kingdom. 

Man from the beginning at the tower of Babel has tried to enter the kingdom without doing it God's way. This is what we call religion. We can't enter the kingdom of God while we remain still in our sins. 

The early church fell away from the truth and tried to set up their own kingdom. That's how we got the Roman Catholic Church. No. We must be born again by God's spirit and then Jesus will return and set up the literal kingdom. The change is in the inner man. The kingdom must first come into the inner soul of man. We must be changed by the spirit of God first, our sins must be cleansed and then we enter into the kingdom. Lets not try to set up our own kingdom like many have tried to do by mixing church and state. 

It didn't work in the Middle Ages and it will not work today. We can't force Christianity upon anyone. We must be "born again" by the spirit of God. God will set up His own kingdom when the time is right. DC