devotional post # 2285

Numbers 7:48-59

Num 7:48 On the seventh day Elishama the son of Ammihud, the leader of the people of Ephraim:
Num 7:49 his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a tribute offering;
Num 7:50 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense;
Num 7:51 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for an ascending offering;
Num 7:52 one male goat for a mistake offering;
Num 7:53 and for the sacrifice of offering for healthy relationshipss, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elishama the son of Ammihud.
Num 7:54 On the eighth day Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur, the leader of the people of Manasseh:
Num 7:55 his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a tribute offering;
Num 7:56 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense;
Num 7:57 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for an ascending offering;
Num 7:58 one male goat for a mistake offering;
Num 7:59 and for the sacrifice of offering for healthy relationshipss, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.

72 rams

The special dedication service for the altar was an opportunity for all the tribes to participate in the offerings during its grand opening. A total of 72 rams were slaughtered — 12 for the ascending offerings and 60 for the fellowship offerings. In the New Testament, 72 is the number associated with evangelism and missions. The rams were a testimony of the price God paid for us — the substitute he provided in Christ.

LORD, inspire us with a zeal to testify of the gift you gave us in your Son.