We have spent a lot of time on Deuteronomy, Chapter 16, because this chapter has been full of important reminders for God’s people, both past and present. These are the last instructions from Moses to the Israelites before his death.
THREE TIMES A YEAR WITH AN OFFERING
Moses has emphasized how important it is for all of the men to appear before God three times a year with an offering. They are to come up to God’s altar on Passover, Pentecost and The Feast of Tabernacles.
I can’t help but remember how God showed Adam and Eve how to make the first sacrifice by slaughtering an animal from the garden (probably a lamb) and taking its fur to make clothing to cover the sins of Adam and Eve. (They now knew good from evil and they were naked and ashamed and being “uncovered” they were separated from God.)
After they received their punishment of being turned out of the garden until the day they could again be completely reconciled to God; Adam and Eve taught their children to make offerings and sacrifices to God for their sins. This was an idea presented by God that would help them to mend the rift that had been torn between them and God by their sins. They knew that these offerings and sacrifices allowed God’s presence to be with them temporarily; until they sinned again.
GENERATIONS OF FIRST-FRUITS OFFERINGS FOR SINS
The godly descendants of each generation afterwards taught their children this principle. The offering was to be of their first-fruits; the first and the best of all of their blessings from their labor.
This commandment from God has been passed down and kept all the way up to the time that Moses was warning the Children of Israel in today’s lesson.
Now; they were about to cross over into the promised land and it would be more important than ever that they continue to keep the laws and traditions of God.
It was also important that they remember God’s preferred ways of keeping such things that mattered, and that they knew the appointed times of the festivals that God had made for giving thanks for their blessings by bringing such a sacrifice or an offering.
SACRIFICE FULFILLED IN CHRIST
This concept of “first-fruits offerings” goes all the way through each generation up until the time of Jesus; when He became the Firstfruits offering for all of mankind’s sins.
After this happened animal sacrifices were no longer needed or required; just offerings of thanks and spiritual sacrifices that said “thank you” to God. Jesus had taken care of the requirements for salvation for all who chose to claim it and follow Him.
But now; we have journeyed way past the time of today’s lesson with the Israelites waiting to cross over to their new home, so let’s step back in time again.
Don’t you love how the scriptures allow time travel?.
At this point in time, Moses was issuing his strongest words to remind the people of Israel of all they needed to do in light of all that God had shown them so far. They needed to keep making first-fruits sacrifices and offerings. This showed their obedience and allegiance to God.
This had to happen three times a year at the appointed times.
GOD’S GIFTS IN THE FORM OF TIME WITH HIM
These three feast/festivals were very important to God. We all would do well to remember their meanings and keep them in an enlightened, New Testament sort of way today.
The more you keep them, the more you realize how the whole Gospel is wrapped up inside of the annual gifts of time that God has appointed and given to all of us. These days are part of the way that God proclaims His story to the world.
A BEGINNING OF GOD’S FORM OF GOVERNING
There were other requirements that were to be remembered too.
God wanted the people, upon arrival in the new land, to appoint righteous judges to rule over their tribes.
It seemed that God’s chosen form of government relies heavily on the use of righteous judges.
There were twelve tribes so this meant there would be twelve judges for the nation.
GOVERNING WITH RIGHTEOUS JUDGES
Each tribe’s judge would have other officials that ruled under them and worked with them. All of these were commanded to rule justly. There was no king; as each judge was to answer to God.
Perhaps some glimpses into the judges of Israel’s history will help us to understand better how to choose judges today. At least we will get a snapshot of what this would be like, the more we study the formation of this new nation that was about to be born.
If you ever wanted to know how God would set up the government of a nation; pay close attention because this is a clear picture of the only nation that God officially set-up from the beginning of Israel becoming a holy nation. God had designated how they should live in the wilderness before they became a nation; now He was designating how they should live in their national land. He began by appointing righteous judges.
Note to our readers: If you are enjoying this study through the book of Deuteronomy; you might also enjoy our previous studies; including our first study together of Genesis. The author of the blog has written a book summarizing the Genesis study and you may purchase Book One of THE GOSPEL HIDDEN IN GENEIS through the link provided below: