Audio Download

Numbers 29:1-40  Offerings for Various Occasions, Part 2

[Study Aired November 27, 2023]

Introduction

This week’s study on chapter 29 is the continuation of the offerings that the Lord expected from the people of Israel. In today’s study, the focus is on the offering at the Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement and Feast of Booths. To help us understand what we are being taught in Numbers chapter 29, let’s take a look at what these feasts were and their spiritual significance.

The Feast of Trumpets is one of the seven feasts appointed by the Lord which began on the first day of the seven month which marks the beginning of the Jewish civil calendar. The festival derived its name from the command to blow trumpets. The word “trumpet blasts” is translated from the Hebrew word “teruah” which means a shout or ‘a blowing.’ The feast marks the start of ten days of consecration before the Lord with the tenth day being the day of atonement and the fifteenth day being the beginning of the festival of booths.  During this feast of Trumpets, no one is required to work. It is important to note that this feast also marks the end of the agricultural year for the people of Israel. The blowing of the trumpets on the first day of the month heralded a solemn time of preparation for the Day of Atonement. This preparation time was called “Ten Days of Repentance.”

Spiritually speaking, the first day of this feast marks the beginning of a new age where the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ. This shall be heralded by a shout from the Lord and the death in Christ shall rise.

1Th 4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 
1Th 4:18  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Rev 11:15  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

As indicated, the feast of Trumpets marks the start of a ten-day period in preparation for the Day of Atonement. According to Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, atonement means God has provided a way for humankind to come back into harmonious relationship with Him. What all this means is that the ten-day period before the Day of Atonement represents the thousand-year reign when humankind’s sins become full. Remember that the number ten means the fullness of the flesh. The Day of Atonement signifies the start of the work of the fire of God’s word where God has provided a way for humankind to come back into harmonious relationship with Him through the agency of Christ and His Christ.

2Sa 14:14  For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him. 

The Feast of Tabernacles or booths takes place on the 15th of the Hebrew month Tishri which was the seventh month. The feast begins five days after the Day of Atonement, and it is celebrated for seven days. During each day of the feast, the people of Israel were to offer a sacrifice made by fire to the Lord. At the beginning of the feast of booths, there is a holy convocation where the people rest from their work. The Feast of Tabernacles therefore begins with a Sabbath day of rest. During the eight days of the feast, the Israelites would dwell in booths or tabernacles that were made from the branches of trees. This feast is one of the three feasts which the Jews were required to observe each year by going to appear before the Lord in the place which He shall choose.

Lev 23:40  And you shall take on the first day the fruit of splendid trees, branches of palm trees and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days. 
Lev 23:41  You shall celebrate it as a feast to the LORD for seven days in the year. It is a statute forever throughout your generations; you shall celebrate it in the seventh month. 
Lev 23:42  You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All native Israelites shall dwell in booths, 
Lev 23:43  that your generations may know that I made the people of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.”

Deu 16:16  “Three times a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God at the place that he will choose: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Booths. They shall not appear before the LORD empty-handed.
Deu 16:17  Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God that he has given you. 

The fact that the feast of booths takes place five days after the Day of Atonement implies that it is by grace through faith that we are saved. The seven-day celebration of the feast is to show us the complete period of our lives when we come out of the world (Egypt). The people of Israel living in booths for the seven days of the feast is to let us know the temporariness of our commitment to the Lord when we leave Egypt. 

In a discussion with Brother Mike about this study, this is what he said which is very insightful:

“Hos 11:1  When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.
Hos 11:2  As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images. 

Our rod of iron will not be appreciated for very long, just like Israel when they came out of Egypt. Their gratitude lasted for three days until their first trial and then they wanted to go back to Egypt.

The eighth day is called “the great day of the feast” where Jesus says “If any man comes to me out of his belly shall flow rivers of living waters” signifying the work of the elect in the great white throne judgment/lake of fire/ second death. It is here that “the eighth is of the seven and goes into perdition” which ‘perdition’ of our old man produces the new man in all who are in the lake of fire. It is the eighth day of the feast which signifies the “all in all”.”

1Co 15:27  For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 
1Co 15:28  And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

Presently, however, the feast of trumpets represents the time in our lives that the Lord comes into our lives with a shout or trumpet (word of His mouth) to begin the destruction of our old man or flesh. 

2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 
2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

From the perspective of the present, we can say that the Day of Atonement signifies the beginning of what the Lord takes us through to be united with Him and to prepare the way for all humanity to also be joined to Christ later. As Christ died as one of the two goats presented before Aaron on the Day of Atonement, we represent the other goat (scapegoat) that is presented to the Lord alive and set free in the wilderness to complete the suffering of Christ.

Lev 16:7  And he (Aaron) shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 
Lev 16:8  And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat. 
Lev 16:9  And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD’S lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. 
Lev 16:10  But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness. 

Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: 

Through the suffering we endure as we learn righteousness, we become united with the Lord as we dwell in Him and Him in us.  

Joh 14:20  At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

In today’s study, we shall look at what we are to offer during these festivals appointed by the Lord. Ultimately, what we are to offer as a burnt offering to the Lord is presenting our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to the Lord. However, offering our bodies as living sacrifices does not happen in one day. We go through a process in order to offer our bodies as living sacrifices. These offerings at various feasts help us to understand what the Lord takes us through in order to offer ourselves as living sacrifices to the Lord.

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 
Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Offerings for the Feast of Trumpets

Num 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. 
Num 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: 
Num 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,
Num 29:4  And one tenth deal for one lamb, throughout the seven lambs: 
Num 29:5  And one kid of the goats for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you: 
Num 29:6  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.

As indicated earlier, the sounding of the trumpet is translated from the Hebrew word “teruah” which means ‘a shout’ or ‘a blowing.’ The coming of the Lord with a shout in our lives marks the complete period of our lives where we were dead spiritually (signified by the seventh month). This coming of the Lord is to cause us to hear His words, signified by the sounding of the trumpet to us.  

2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 
2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 

This is the period of our lives where we learn to rest from our own works as indicated by the command to cease servile works during this feast of trumpets. 

Heb 4:9  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 
Heb 4:10  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 
Heb 4:11  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

The feast of trumpets begins our judgment or fiery trials as we gradually draw away from the standards of this world. That is when we can offer ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to the Lord – a sacrifice made by fire as Christ had already laid the foundation for us by offering Himself as our sin offering. The meat offering of flour in verse 3 which was mingled with oil symbolizes what we have received from the Lord as He opens our eyes and ears to see and hear the spiritual significance of His words. This implies that offering ourselves as living sacrifices can only be accomplished when we are endowed with the knowledge of the Lord’s words. It is this offering which serves as a sweet savor to the Lord.

Pro 4:5  Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
Pro 4:6  Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. 
Pro 4:7  Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. 
Pro 4:8  Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. 
Pro 4:9  She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

Offerings for the Day of Atonement

Num 29:7  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: 
Num 29:8  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: 
Num 29:9  And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals to a bullock, and two tenth deals to one ram,
Num 29:10  A several tenth deal for one lamb, throughout the seven lambs: 
Num 29:11  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.

The Day of Atonement represents our reconciliation with God. This is after Christ has come to us with the spirit of His mouth and the brightness of His coming. The tenth day of the seventh month, which is the Day of Atonement, shows us that it is when our flesh reaches its fullness that Christ comes to us to reconcile us to God. His coming to us is to judge us as we offer ourselves as a burnt offering which is a sweet savor to the Lord. As we indicated in the previous study, the young bullock, the ram, and seven lambs of the first year which were offered, represent us, His elect. The seven lambs of one year signify that the complete number of the elect of every generation who offer themselves as living sacrifices to the Lord are all of one mind. The meat and the drink offerings signify that it is through the spiritual knowledge of His words (flour mingled with oil) that we can offer ourselves as sacrifices pleasing to the Lord and also to offer our service of love to the people of the Lord. All of this is possible because the Lord has laid down His life for us as the goat for the sin offering. 

Php 2:17  Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.
Php 2:18  Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me. (ESV)

2Ti 4:6  For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. (ESV) 

Offerings for the Feast of Booths

Num 29:12  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:
Num 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: 
Num 29:14  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, 
Num 29:15  And a several tenth deal to each lamb of the fourteen lambs: 
Num 29:16  And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering. 
Num 29:17  And on the second day ye shall offer twelve young bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the first year without spot: 
Num 29:18  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:
Num 29:19  And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and the meat offering thereof, and their drink offerings. 
Num 29:20  And on the third day eleven bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish; 
Num 29:21  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:
Num 29:22  And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering.

The feast of Booths starting on the fifteenth day of the seventh month signifies our new lives when we come out of the world (Egypt). The burnt offering that we offer during this period of our walk is different for each day. The difference is in the number of bullocks that are offered each day. The number of bullocks decreases each day by one, but the rams and lambs are the same each day for the seven days. In the Old Testament, it was those who were physically rich that had cattle or bullocks. This implies that spiritually, bullock represents spiritual riches.

Gen 13:1  And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south. 
Gen 13:2  And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.

The decreasing number of bullocks in the burnt offering each day during the feast of booths is therefore to show us the decreasing appreciation of the rule of the Lord during this period of our lives when we have left the world but found ourselves in Babylon. It is usually the leaders of the people who have the physical riches to offer a bullock as sacrifice. This tells us that it is our leaders in Babylon who have lost their bearings regarding their appreciation of the rule of the Lord which causes us to also go astray. 

2Pe 2:12  But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; 
2Pe 2:13  And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; 
2Pe 2:14  Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: 
2Pe 2:15  Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 
2Pe 2:16  But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet. 
2Pe 2:17  These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. 
2Pe 2:18  For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
2Pe 2:19  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

The burnt offering for the first day of this feast consists of thirteen young bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year. The number thirteen signifies rebellion. This rebellion against the Lord is caused by the old man or our flesh within us. That is why our old man must be dealt with through our fiery trials. 

On the second day, our burnt offering consists of twelve bullocks. The number twelve represents Christ and also means foundation. What this tells us is that although we have started our walk with Christ, we are still carnal as we are controlled by our flesh. Thus, we are not able to appreciate the Lord’s rule in our lives. 

1Co 3:1  And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 
1Co 3:2  I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 
1Co 3:3  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 
1Co 3:4  For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

On the third day, the number of bullocks offered reduces to 11 which signifies the ruin and disintegration of the perfection of the flesh. What this means is that our lack of appreciation of the rule of Christ in our lives is the opportunity the Lord is seeking to destroy our flesh in the fullness of time. 

Num 29:23  And on the fourth day ten bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish: 
Num 29:24  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:
Num 29:25  And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering. 
Num 29:26  And on the fifth day nine bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without spot: 
Num 29:27  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: 
Num 29:28  And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering. 
Num 29:29  And on the sixth day eight bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish: 
Num 29:30  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: 
Num 29:31  And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering. 
Num 29:32  And on the seventh day seven bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish: 
Num 29:33  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: 
Num 29:34  And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering.  

On the fourth day, ten bullocks are offered as burnt offerings together with two rams and fourteen lambs. The number ten means completion of the flesh. At this point in our walk, we have come to see the fullness of our flesh and have come to understand that of ourselves, we can do nothing. 

Joh 5:30  I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

The fifth day offering consisted of nine bullocks, two rams and fourteen lambs. The number nine indicates God’s judgment. Our appreciation of the Lord at this stage of our walk continues to decrease, paving the way for the Lord’s judgment of our old man or flesh in order for us to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice to the Lord. 

The sixth day sacrifice was made up of eight bullocks, two rams and fourteen lambs. The number eight means new beginning or new man. What this implies is that as fleshly beings (significance of the sixth day), it is through the judgment of the Lord that our old man or flesh dies, giving way to the new man after Christ. 

The seventh day sacrifice consisted of seven bullocks, two rams and fourteen lambs. At this point in our walk with Christ, our appreciation of the Lord has reached its lowest point. We have fallen completely and needed the Lord to intervene in our circumstance. As the saying goes, the darkest hour is just before dawn. Our deliverance is very close at this point as the Lord is about to come with the breath of His mouth and His brightness to start the process of destroying the old man within us. 

Isa 60:1  Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. 
Isa 60:2  For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. 
Isa 60:3  And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

The Eighth Day

Num 29:35  On the eighth day ye shall have a solemn assembly: ye shall do no servile work therein: 
Num 29:36  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: 
Num 29:37  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: 
Num 29:38  And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering. 
Num 29:39  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. 
Num 29:40  And Moses told the children of Israel according to all that the LORD commanded Moses. 

As indicated earlier, the number eight means new beginning or the new man. Presently, this is the period when we are dominated by our new man. At this point in time, we become fully united with Christ, having one mind (one bullock for sacrifice) and resting fully in Him. That is when we shall be enabled by the Lord to offer all kinds of offerings that are holy and acceptable to the Lord.

This period also refers to the sanctifying work of the elect during the lake of fire age in bringing all humanity to Christ. 

May His name be praised forever!! Amen!!