What were the feasts observed in the autumn? What do the sacrifices teach us? Why are they no longer necessary? Let’s look at Numbers 29.
What was the offering to be made on the Feast of Trumpets? Why did God later say that He hated their sacrifices? Was it perhaps because they didn’t include a change of heart?
The first day of the seventh month will be a holy occasion for you. You will not do any job-related work. It will be for you a day of the trumpet’s sound. You will offer an entirely burned offering as a soothing smell to the Lord: one bull from the herd, one ram, and seven male lambs one year old, all flawless. Their grain offering will be fine flour mixed with oil, three-tenths for the bull, two-tenths for the ram, and one-tenth for each of the seven lambs. There will be one male goat for a purification offering to seek reconciliation for yourselves. This is in addition to the monthly entirely burned offering with its grain offering, and the regular entirely burned offering with its grain offering and drink offerings as prescribed. It will be a soothing smell, a food gift to the Lord. (Numbers 29:1-6 CEB)
What was the offering to be made on the Day of Atonement?
The tenth day of the seventh month is the Great Day of Forgiveness [Atonement]. On that day you must rest from all work and come together for worship. Show sorrow for your sins by going without food, and bring to the altar one young bull, one full-grown ram, and seven rams a year old that have nothing wrong with them. Then offer these as sacrifices to please me. Three kilograms of your finest flour mixed with olive oil must be offered with the bull as a grain sacrifice. Two kilograms of flour mixed with oil must be offered with the ram, and one kilogram of flour mixed with oil must be offered with each of the young rams. A goat must also be sacrificed for the sins of the people. You will offer these sacrifices in addition to the sacrifice to ask forgiveness and the regular daily sacrifices. (Numbers 29:7-11 CEV)
What was the offering to be made on the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles?
“On the fifteenth day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation. You shall not do any ordinary work, and you shall keep a feast to the Lord seven days. And you shall offer a burnt offering, a food offering, with a pleasing aroma to the Lord, thirteen bulls from the herd, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old; they shall be without blemish; and their grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil, three tenths of an ephah for each of the thirteen bulls, two tenths for each of the two rams, and a tenth for each of the fourteen lambs; also one male goat for a sin offering, besides the regular burnt offering, its grain offering and its drink offering. (Numbers 29:12-16 ESV)
What were to be offered the subsequent days of the Feast of Tabernacles? Did the number of bulls go down each day? Did their total picture the 70 nations for whom Jesus died, or the original 70 souls who entered Egypt, or both? Did their decrease picture a diminishing importance of the sacrificial system?
On the second day present 12 young bulls, two rams, and 14 male lambs a year old—all unblemished— with their grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, in proportion to their number. Also offer one male goat as a sin offering. These are in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings.
On the third day present 11 bulls, two rams, 14 male lambs a year old—all unblemished— with their grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, in proportion to their number. Also offer one male goat as a sin offering. These are in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings.
On the fourth day present 10 bulls, two rams, 14 male lambs a year old—all unblemished— with their grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, in proportion to their number. Also offer one male goat as a sin offering. These are in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings.
On the fifth day present nine bulls, two rams, 14 male lambs a year old—all unblemished— with their grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, in proportion to their number. Also offer one male goat as a sin offering. These are in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings.
On the sixth day present eight bulls, two rams, 14 male lambs a year old—all unblemished— with their grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, in proportion to their number. Also offer one male goat as a sin offering. These are in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings.
On the seventh day present seven bulls, two rams, and 14 male lambs a year old—all unblemished— with their grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, in proportion to their number. Also offer one male goat as a sin offering. These are in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings.
On the eighth day you are to hold a solemn assembly; you are not to do any daily work. Present a burnt offering, a fire offering as a pleasing aroma to the Lord: one bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old—all unblemished— with their grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, in proportion to their number. Also offer one male goat as a sin offering. These are in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings. (Numbers 29:17-38 HCSB)
What were God’s final instructions here in regard to offerings at annual festivals.
“Present these to the Lord at your appointed festival, in addition to your offerings in fulfillment of vows, free will offerings, burnt offerings, grain offerings, drink offerings, and peace offerings.” Moses instructed the Israelis regarding everything that the Lord had commanded him. (Numbers 29:39-40 ISV)
Are there two far more important lessons that can be missed?
And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken [listen] than the fat of rams. (1 Samuel 15:22 KJV)
Why did God tire of teaching Israel through ritual sacrifices?
“What are your many sacrifices to Me?” Says the Lord. “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fattened cattle; And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs, or goats.” (Isaiah 1:11 NASB)
What was a lesson that many failed to learn from the sacrificial system?
For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment [knowledge] of God rather than burnt offerings. (Hosea 6:6 NIV)
This is a very deep subject and barely touched on here, but why are animal sacrifices no longer necessary?
First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses)... Then he says, “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.” And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices. (Hebrews 10:8, 17-18 NLT)
What were the feasts observed in the autumn? What do the sacrifices teach us? Why are they no longer necessary? You decide!
