This is Spoken Gospel.

We’re dedicated to seeing
Jesus in all of scripture.

In each episode we see what’s
happening in a Biblical text

and how it sheds light
on Jesus and his gospel.

Let’s jump in.

Numbers chapters 7-10:10 is a
flashback to the end of Exodus

when Moses finished
constructing the tabernacle.

What makes the first part
of this text beautiful is also

what makes it monotonous
and difficult to read.

See, all the tribes come to the
tabernacle and make the same offering.

And the entire contents of that
offering are detailed all 12 times.

Why go into such long detail?

Well, each tribe is obeying the
sacrifices outlined back in Leviticus.

And this long list shows us that the
people are obeying down to the finest detail.

Unlike the end of Exodus, at the end of this
long 12-day festival of obedience, Moses is

actually able to enter into the
tabernacle and talk with God.

After this, the Levites make their grain
and sin offerings like the rest of Israel,

but then the whole
nation gathers together.

All the people of Israel put
their hands on the Levites

and then the Levites are
called an offering to the Lord.

But the Levites aren’t sacrificed.

They must go on living so
they can serve at the tabernacle.

But there is still a sacrifice.

As Israel lays their hands on the Levites, the
Levites lay their hands on the heads of bulls.

Sin and guilt transfer from the people,
through the Levites, onto the sacrifice.

This is a grand picture of what would
happen again and again at the tabernacle.

But it is also a picture of
something even grander.

This is a picture of how we can
approach God through Jesus.

When we put our faith in Jesus we,
in effect, lay our hands on him.

Just as Israel did with the Levites and the
bulls, we put our sin and guilt on Jesus.

And just as every tribe brought the exact
right offering, Jesus’ body and blood was

the exact right offering for everyone
in the world who believes in him.

Surely this is the image Paul had in mind
when he wrote that Christians are “living sacrifices”

Christians are a living
offering to God like the Levites.

And just like the Levites, we stand
between God’s presence and the whole world.

God has put his hand on us and called us to take
the good news of Jesus to those all around us.

I pray that the Holy Spirit would give you
eyes to see the God who is so perfect, holy,

and powerful that such great provision
must be taken to draw near to him.

And that you would see Jesus as that
great provision that perfectly draws us near.