After the story of Balaam in Numbers 22 – 24 and the ensuing immorality in Numbers 25, there are a few more chapters of detail on another census (still counting only the warriors!) and offerings. Numbers 29 continues the list of offerings, and the 7th month is busy:

• 1st day, holy convocation, a bunch of sacrifices (Feast of Trumpets, Leviticus 23.23 – 25)
• 10th day, holy convocation. (Day of Atonement, Leviticus 23.26 – 32)
• 15th – 21st day, Feast of Booths (Leviticus 23.33 – 36). There is a list of burnt offerings for each day with differing numbers of animals.
  • One male goat for a sin offering is constant.
  • Two rams is constant.
  • 14 male lambs is constant.
  • Bulls: the numbers of bulls offered goes 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7
• 22nd day (the 8th day of the feast)
  • One male goat for a sin offering
  • One ram
  • Seven male lambs
  • One bull

It’s head-spinning detail. Is there a “so what”? Yes! The good news is that Jesus is the fulfillment of all these sacrifices. In fact, if you’re reading about sacrifices in the Old Testament, and you’re looking for the so what, just turn to Hebrews chapters 8 – 10. Here are some samples:

For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; so it is necessary that this high priest [Jesus] also have something to offer. (Hebrews, 8.2, LSB)

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation, and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy places once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9.11 – 14, LSB)

“The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer…” That explains the “red heifer” from Numbers 19.1 – 10.

For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have consciousness of sins? But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. (Hebrews 10.1 – 4, LSB)

“In those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year.”

And every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, waiting from that time UNTIL HIS ENEMIES ARE PUT AS A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET. For by one offering, He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. (Hebrews 10.11 – 14, LSB (the ALL CAPS indicate quotations from the Old Testament)

I am being perfected for all time by the sacrifice of Jesus! That’s pretty exciting.

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God. (1 Peter 3.18, ESV)