Numbers 28 – Connecting with God

Saint Augustine, the Bishop of Hippo, so poignantly said, “God, you have created us for Yourself, and our heart is restless till it rests in you.” God had created us for fellowship and communion with Him. That is the drift of Numbers 28 - communion with God. People seek all means to find communion with God. But the truth is this: not every means will connect us with Him. For the people of Israel, to connect and stay connected with God, they had to follow the prescription given in Numbers 28-29. 

In these chapters, God prescribed not only the daily sacrifices and offerings required, but he also stipulated what they need to do weekly as well as what they need to do annually. Then he also specified the seasonal feasts and festivals for them to connect and celebrate life with Him. The daily, weekly, annual, and seasonal sacrifices and communal celebrations and meals were needful. They facilitate their communion with each other and with God, who not only wants us to have fellowship with Him but also fellow believers.    

There are much that could be drawn from the description of the different sacrifices, and we will only deal with what is relevant and not the detail of it. Firstly, we learn that connecting with God is not a casual thing. It must be entered into with much cost and seriousness. A simple calculation will tell us that to approach God there was an enormous cost. Just think of the number of animals required to facilitate the connection. We need to count the cost and be willing to pay them. And as our Lord has said, we must daily “take up the cross, deny ourselves and follow after Him.”

Secondly, the daily, weekly, and annual sacrifices tell us that communion with God must be a continuous one and not just a once-in-a-while experience. It must be a daily, weekly, as well as an annual experience. Daily we must connect with God through personal devotion, meditation, and Bible studies. Weekly we need to set aside time to celebrate the Sabbath experience. It should be a time dedicated to rest, rejuvenate, and be refreshed in Him.

Thirdly, we must not forget the seasonal celebrations. We must remember key events on the church calendar and take time to commemorate and celebrate God. Some of the more important occasional celebrations are Good Friday, Resurrection Sunday, and celebrating the first coming of Christ. We celebrate not for the sake of celebration but to fellowship and connect with God. Communion with God requires time and cost. So make time to commune with God and be willing to pay the cost! Nothing is more worthwhile than connecting with God!