Numbers 7 - Offerings of the Leaders | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church

In this video listen to Numbers 7 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.

In Numbers 7 we have the third longest chapter in the Bible with 89 verses. It is narrowly beaten by Deuteronomy 28 which has less verses but more words, and significantly beaten by Psalm 119. One of the things that makes this chapter long is the repetition. You would think that there is no point repeating the same thing twelve times.

But it is a clue about the dating of the book, being dated to the time of Moses, when all the literature of that point was repetitive in this manner. Some people think the book was written later, made up by priests after the Babylonian exile, but they wouldn’t have included repetition like this. The repetition is a dead giveaway that its old. Also, the writing is in prose.

All ancient writing was poetry with the exception of that coming out of Egypt. This is a dead giveaway that it was written by someone trained in Egypt writing. Obviously Moses. But spiritually, why all the repetition? God notices the things you individually bring to Him, and do for hIm. God doesn’t just look at the collective good happening in the world, but he knows each and every person’s involvement.

God knows your heart and your involvement, and a chapter like this demonstrates that what each person does specifically has purpose. Two things are worth stating. First do not be disheartened as though nobody has noticed. One of the great tests of this lifetime is how we handle the lack of recognition. Most people will not be recognised, but the Lord knows.

Second, it is a reminder that each of us has a part to play and not to look at the huge amount of good done by others, and think there is no need for our own contribution. That thought is a trap that renders your life meaningless.