In today’s reading, we see Joshua selected as Moses’s successor. Remember, because of Moses’s disobedience to the Lord at Meribah, he was not going into the Promised Land. We also see a focus on the specific public offerings Israel is to be doing once they enter the land. These offerings were for the nation as a whole and would be in addition to individual offerings that were presented as they were required.
That’s a lot of bulls, rams, lambs, and goats. Not to mention the other offerings of grain, flour, oil, and birds. It really would have been an endless cycle…and still not enough to fully atone for the sins of the people, which is why it had to continue.
And again, we are reminded of the One who would be the perfect sacrifice for all sins.
For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said,
“Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,
but a body have you prepared for me;
in burnt offerings and sin offerings
you have taken no pleasure.
Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God,
as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’”When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Hebrews 10:1-10
We must never forget that the accounts of the Old Testament point forward to the coming of Christ. He is the fulfillment of the plan of redemption for God’s chosen people.
Us.
Soli Deo Gloria!
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