ONE YEAR OF FREEDOM

NUMBERS

CHAPTER 7-9

            We're happy you could join us again for more of your Daily Bread.  Last time we studied the vow of the Nazarite, and read a beautiful blessing that the Lord gave to the children of Israel.

            On the day that Moses had completely set up the tabernacle and had anointed and sanctified it and all the furnishings of it, the princes (heads of the house of their fathers) of the tribes of Israel all brought offerings (gifts) before the Lord.  One prince each day, for twelve days, gave gifts for the dedicating of the altar.  These offerings are listed in Numbers 7:3-88.

            When Moses would go into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with God, he heard His voice from off the mercy seat on the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubims. 

            In Chapter 8, Moses tells about the ceremony for the offering and cleansing of the Levites for the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.  Remember that the Levites now belong to the Lord instead of the firstborn of all the children of Israel.  God gave the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons to do the service of the children of Israel in the tabernacle of the congregation and to make amends (reconcile) for the children of Israel so there would be no plague among them when they come near the sanctuary.

            So the Levites were purified and the Lord told Moses that the Levites will attend to the duties of the service of the tabernacle of the congregation from the age of 25 until the age of 50, then they will minister, but do no more service.

            The children of Israel have been gone out of Egypt for one year now and the Lord told Moses to be sure to keep the Passover at His appointed season.  You may read some reminders about Passover in Chapter 9.

            The Lord told Moses to make two trumpets of silver, for assembling the people and for the journeying of the camps.  When the trumpets sounded, all the children of Israel assembled at the door of the tabernacle.  If only one trumpet sounded, only the princes gathered to Moses.  When an alarm is sounded, the camps on the east will go forward.  A second alarm meant the camps on the south side will take their journey. 

            When the congregation was to be gathered together, the trumpets were blown, but not sounded as an alarm.  The duty of the trumpets was given to the sons of Aaron, the priests.

            The Lord said, If you go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresses you, then you will sound an alarm with the trumpets and I'll remember you and you'll be saved from your enemies.  Also, in the day of your gladness and your holy days and in the beginnings of your months you will sound the trumpets over your offerings and sacrifices so they may be for a memorial before me.

            Well, it's been a whole year of freedom now for the children of Israel and it looks like in our next story, they'll be going on their first journeying since they arrived at the wilderness of Sinai, way back in the third month.  Be sure and join us for that next time, at Daily Bread.

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