- Numbers
- Day 30
Open Your Bible
Numbers 28:1-31, Numbers 29:1-40, Numbers 30:1-16, Hebrews 10:1-10
BY Guest Writer
I once heard a pastor-theologian say, “Freedom isn’t the absence of restraints but the presence of the right ones.” That line has always stuck with me. While I was at physical therapy recently, a quote on a graffiti-covered back wall read, “Discipline is just choosing between what you want now and what you most want.”
These two quotes share a common theme: they emphasize that true freedom is often attained through making choices that align with a person’s purpose. Without the presence of definition or structure, we cannot truly become who we are meant to be.
As I read through Numbers 28–30 today, I observed the same principle at play. While I was reading through the chapters, I couldn’t help but think that the people of God truly valued their festivals and feasts. However, as I delved into the details, all the specific dates, days, times of the month, burnt offerings, various drink and food-related offerings, and the requirement to abstain from ordinary work, it became clear that these offerings and abstentions were not mere acts of duty. Instead, they were celebrations of what the people had been saved from—and who had saved them—to become who they were meant to be.
Each individual offering, feast, and law carried with it the weight of a decision (and a story), leaving a mark in the present that reflected on the past (e.g., the Passover, wilderness wanderings) and shaped their future. Reading the dates, days, and details proved to be rhythmic; the rhythms of the feasts, offerings, and sacrifices set the movements of the people daily, monthly, and yearly. It was like the cadence and steps of a waltz. Each specific offering represented a step, and each feast was like the chords composing the music. When the cadence and steps are in sync, the people of God can joyfully experience all that life has to offer, reveling in the composition and choreography and dancing with delight at the work of God has done for them.
As I reflect on the significance of the feasts, offerings, and festivals in the life of Israel, I can’t help but see them as a foreshadowing of the good things to come in the context of modern Christianity (Hebrews 10:1). I see the Church being shaped through Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost. Practices like baptism, communion, and the regular gatherings of the Church on Sundays shape us into the likeness of Jesus. All of these rhythms can provide us with the right restraints that enable us to celebrate true freedom in Him.
Written by Ryne Brewer
(56) Comments
[x]
Leave a Reply
Caroline Bridges says:
May 28, 2024 at 10:45 pm
My notes today are mostly questions I thought about while I was reading today’s scripture. What if they observed nothing? What is the difference between a blemished animal and an unblemished animal? What if someone stayed single their entire lives in biblical times? In today’s world it’s nothing. What if no one found out a woman had made a vow to the lord? Promises were never to be broken and they still hold true today. They might seem silly to you, but in my head they’re not.
Reply
Natasha R says:
May 28, 2024 at 6:36 pm
Like a loving father, God sets boundaries and rhythms for His children. Morning devotion, Wednesday Life Group, Sunday Church, Lent, Easter, Advent, Christmas…This rhythm has anchored me through the different seasons of my life. I am so grateful.
Reply
Rhonda J. says:
May 29, 2024 at 7:29 am
Oh Yes! So true, I often tell people it my groups and things I do that keep me going through chronic pain sometimes, but yes…keeps me focused on the Lord through life!!
Reply
Kris says:
May 28, 2024 at 1:04 pm
1. So, I had to do some digging into Chapter 30 – the vow thing. In Judges 11 a man, Jephthah, made a vow to God that if God helped him defeat the Ammonites, he would give to God the first thing that came out of his house when he returned home. Well, the first thing out of his house was his daughter. So Jephthah had to dedicate his daughter to the Lord, which meant she could not marry and have children to carry on Jephthah’s lineage. In Matthew 5, Jesus says not to swear an oath at all, but let your yes be yes and your no be no. Provers 18 says the tongue has the power of life and death. I think God is wanting us to be very careful about what we say, what we promise to do or not do, and to be ready to fulfill our oaths. Being slow to speak sounds like a pretty good thing right now. What promises have I broken? What promises have been broken to me? What ill-effects are there because of these? food for thought….
2. I love the celebrations, times of remembrance. A friend of mine celebrates every year on the anniversary of buying her house. She takes the day off work, keeps her kids out of school and they go do something fun. It was a big deal, as a single mom, to be able to buy a house and she wants to celebrate every year. She calls it Yay Day! I’d like to do more of that…..Reply
Foster Mama says:
May 29, 2024 at 8:14 am
Yay Day!!! I. Love. That!!
People make fun of me because I still celebrate little things (e.g. the day my husband gave me his phone number… on a gum wrapper, the day we closed on our first house, first proper date, etc…) and still call my sister on the anniversary of her getting her driver’s license (37 years ago!!) because it was a big deal to a much younger sister:D!! There is so much difficult in our live that I love rhythmic opportunities to give thanks…like on the anniversary of Dad’s massive stroke that should have killed him but didn’t!Please pray ♥️ for our epileptic friend and entire family.
Reply
Adrienne says:
May 28, 2024 at 11:33 am
Good morning! Playing “catch up”, after a long weekend out of town with my sister. Can’t read today’s comments. I’ll try again later. (Sometimes that helps!)
Don’t know if you can read this, but have a blessed day, sweet sisters!
Reply
Sharon, Jersey Girl says:
May 28, 2024 at 11:29 am
Victoria E – So glad your surgery went well! Continued prayers for a complete recovery.
Reply
