The Place of Promise

Scripture(s): Numbers 15:1-3

Now the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, 'When you enter the land where you are to live, which I am giving you, then make an offering by fire to the LORD, a burnt offering or a sacrifice to fulfill a special vow, or as a freewill offering or in your appointed times, to make a soothing aroma to the LORD, from the herd or from the flock.

Commentary: (Henry, 1996)

Here we have,
I. Full instructions given concerning the meat-offerings and drink-offerings, which were appendages to all the sacrifices of animals. The beginning of this law is very encouraging: When you come into the land of your habitation which I give unto you, they you shall do so and so, v. 2. This was a plain intimation, not only that God was reconciled to them notwithstanding the sentence he had passed upon them, but that he would secure the promised land to their seed notwithstanding their proneness to rebel against him. They might think some time or other they should be guilty of a misdemeanour that would be fatal to them, and would exclude them for ever, as the last had done for one generation; but this intimates an assurance that they should be kept from provoking God to such a degree as would amount to a forfeiture; for this statute takes it for granted that there were some of them that should in due time come into Canaan.

The meat-offerings were of two sorts; some were offered alone, and we have the law concerning those, Lev. 2:1, etc. Others were added to the burnt-offerings and peace-offerings, and constantly attended them, and about these direction is here given. It was requisite, since the sacrifices of acknowledgment (specified in v. 3) were intended as the food of God’s table, that there should be a constant provision of bread, oil, and wine, whatever the flesh-meat was. The caterers or purveyors for Solomon’s temple provided fine flour, 1 Ki. 4:22. And it was fit that God should keep a good house, that his table should be furnished with bread as well as flesh, and that his cup should run over. In my Father’s house there is bread enough.

Now the intent of this law is to direct what proportion the meat-offering and drink-offering should bear to several sacrifices to which they were annexed. If the sacrifice was a lamb or a kid, then the meat-offering must be a tenth-deal of flour, that is, an omer, which contained about five pints; this must be mingled with oil, the fourth part of a hin (a hin contained about five quarts), and the drink-offering must be the same quantity of wine, about a quart and half a pint, v. 3-5. If it was a ram, the meat-offering was doubled, two tenth-deals of flour, about five quarts, and a third part of a hin of oil (which was to them as butter is to us) mingled with it; and the same quantity of wine for a drink-offering, v. 6, 7. If the sacrifice was a bullock, the meat-offering was to be trebled, three omers, with five pints of oil, and the same quantity of wine for a drink-offering, v. 8–10. And thus for each sacrifice, whether offered by a particular person or at the common charge. Note, Our religious services should be governed, as by other rules, so by the rule of proportion.

Reflection:
When God brings us into the place of promise that He has spoken over our lives, we must never forget all the mercy and grace that He has extended to us in the past. We must also remember all the good that He is bestowing upon us daily, recognizing that God is truly a God of His word. Though it appears at times that the promises of God are somewhat delayed, it does not mean that they are denied. Even though we think that they are delayed, for the most part; this outlook is based on our own understanding, and not on the mind and timing of God. Therefore, when God opens up the windows of heaven, and pours out blessings that there is not enough room for us to receive what He is blessing us with, let us remember the Lord our God; who has brought us out of Egypt into the land of promise, and out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Prayer:
Father God, thank you for being a God of your word. A God that cannot lie. Thank you for being faithful, longsuffering, loving, and merciful. Thank you for manifesting your promise in my life as you said that you would. Thank you for your love being shed abroad in my heart by the Holy Spirit. Thank you for wisdom over everything that you give to me. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.

Strong's Concordance Definitions:

LORD: 3068
Jehovah = "the existing One"
1) the proper name of the one true God
a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of 0136

Spake: 1696
1) to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing
a) (Qal) to speak
b) (Niphal) to speak with one another, talk
c) (Piel)
1) to speak
2) to promise
d) (Pual) to be spoken
e) (Hithpael) to speak
f) (Hiphil) to lead away, put to flight

Moses: 4872
Moses = "drawn"
1) the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus

Unto them, when ye be come: 935
1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in

a) (Qal)
1) to enter, come in
2) to come
a) to come with
b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy)
c) to come to pass
3) to attain to
4) to be enumerated
5) to go
b) (Hiphil)
1) to lead in
2) to carry in
3) to bring in, cause to come in, gather, cause to come, bring near, bring against, bring upon
4) to bring to pass
c) (Hophal)
1) to be brought, brought in
2) to be introduced, be put

into the land: 776
1) land, earth

a) earth
1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)
2) earth (as opposed to heaven)
3) earth (inhabitants)
b) land
1) country, territory
2) district, region
3) tribal territory
4) piece of ground
5) land of Canaan, Israel
6) inhabitants of land
7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world
8) city (-state)
c) ground, surface of the earth
1) ground
2) soil
d) (in phrases)
1) people of the land
2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance)
3) level or plain country
4) land of the living
5) end(s) of the earth
e) (almost wholly late in usage)
1) lands, countries
a) often in contrast to Canaan

of your habitation: 4186
1) seat, assembly, dwelling-place, dwelling, dwellers

a) seat, sitting, those sitting, sitting company or assembly
b) dwelling place, dwelling
c) situation, location
d) time of dwelling
e) those dwelling, dweller

which I give unto you: 5414
1) to give, put, set

a) (Qal)
1) to give, bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate, pay wages, sell, exchange, lend, commit, entrust, give over, deliver up, yield produce, occasion, produce, requite to, report, mention, utter, stretch out, extend

2) to put, set, put on, put upon, set, appoint, assign, designate
3) to make, constitute
b) (Niphal)
1) to be given, be bestowed, be provided, be entrusted to, be granted to, be permitted, be issued, be published, be uttered, be assigned
2) to be set, be put, be made, be inflicted
c) (Hophal)
1) to be given, be bestowed, be given up, be delivered up
2) to be put upon

References:
Blue Letter Bible. "Book of Numbers 15 - (NASB - New American Standard Bible)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2010. 26 Feb 2010. http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Num&c=15&t=NASB

Henry, Matthew. "Commentary on Numbers 15." . Blue Letter Bible. 1 Mar 1996. 2010. 26 Feb 2010.
http://www.blueletterbible.org/commentaries/comm_view.cfm?
AuthorID=4&contentID=762&commInfo=5&topic=Numbers&ar=Num_15_2

Higgins, S. (2010). The Place of Promise. Devotions For Thought. Higgins Publishing. Http://www.devotionsforthought.blogspot.com, Http://www.higginspublishing.com