Scripture Daily

Context No. 2444 of 4322 · Numbers

Context · Reflection

Numbers 7:32-37: in context

32one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense; 33one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 34one male goat for a sin offering; 35and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elizur the son of Shedeur. 36On the fifth day Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, prince of the children of Simeon, 37gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;

We are back in the long ledger of dedication gifts, one tribal leader per day, and the offerings are listed again in full: the silver platter, the golden ladle of incense, the bull and ram and lamb for a burnt offering. But tucked into each day's gift is a smaller item that is easy to skim past: one male goat for a sin offering. Even here, at the joyful dedication of the altar, a sin offering is brought.

It would have been natural to make a dedication all celebration, all costly praise, and leave out the reminder of guilt. Instead every leader, on his festive day, brings an offering that acknowledges he is a sinner approaching a holy God. Joy and the confession of need are held together. The dedication does not pretend the people have outgrown their sin; even at their best moment before the altar, they come needing atonement. There is a healthy realism in that: no approach to God, however glad, that forgets we come as those in need of mercy.

When I come to God in celebration and thanks, do I still come as one who needs mercy, or do I quietly assume I have outgrown it?

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