Continuing Numbers 28 we have the passover offerings in verses 16 to 25. This offering was to be offered at the beginning of every month. Which is quite appropriate for this month's magazine in the run up to Easter.

There are some interesting things we can pick out, especially from the English Standard translation in verse 18 we have:
On the first day there shall be a holy convocation. You shall not do any ordinary work,
A lot is made these days about whether a Christian should or shouldn't work on a Sunday. Should Sundays be set apart for worshipping God, and if we do set it apart what can we or can't we do. Well if you are going to set apart Sundays then you have a precedence here, in that the Israelites were not to do any ordinary work. so if you are a car mechanic for example then you shouldn't do any ordinary car mechanical work on a Sunday. But if there is an extra ordinary circumstance for example your neighbour breaks down and you are stuck somewhere I would suggest this to be an exception to your normal rule. Of course I realise different jobs have different responsibilites and some like doctors and nurses need to work on a Sunday but for those of us who don't and are happy to set apart a day for God let us not become too rigid in our ways nor criticise others who feel the need to work.

We see a burnt offering is made. This is one of worship and as we approach Easter let us not only be thankful for Christ dying for our sins, but to worship Him for who He is not just what He has done. The animals offered were of course to be without blemish and we can consider how Christ was without blemish as He lived a sinless life here on Earth.

This offering was to be made in addition to their regular offerings, as they especially remembered this great work of redemption. Let us not neglect our regular worship, this Easter as we remember Christ's work of redemption for us throughout the weekend.

Please send any comments you have on this article to a.wood@assemblyyouth.net

Dare to be a Daniel the effect of the word of God	Next month: Offerings for the Feast of Weeks.	Thought for the month Sing to the Lord
	Wilderness Years
	Last month: Monthly offerings.

All quotes are from the English Standard version of the Bible unless otherwise specified.