God Still Speaks [Numbers 7]

 ⁸⁴This was the dedication offering for the altar from the leaders of Israel when it was anointed: twelve silver dishes, twelve silver bowls, twelve gold pans, ⁸⁵each silver dish weighing one hundred and thirty shekels and each bowl seventy; all the silver of the utensils was 2,400 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary; ⁸⁶the twelve gold pans, full of incense, weighing ten shekels apiece, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, all the gold of the pans 120 shekels; ⁸⁷all the oxen for the burnt offering twelve bulls, all the rams twelve, the male lambs one year old with their grain offering twelve, and the male goats for a sin offering twelve; ⁸⁸and all the oxen for the sacrifice of peace offerings 24 bulls, all the rams 60, the male goats 60, the male lambs one year old 60. This was the dedication offering for the altar after it was anointed.

 ⁸⁹Now when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with Him, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim, so He spoke to him.

I had two thoughts as I read this passage this morning.  One was about what huge offerings the people brought to the LORD and what they were willing to sacrifice to bring in the best they had to the LORD.  I wondered what I value and whether I would be willing to sacrifice those things for the Lord's work.  I will continue to bring that question to the Lord and ask Him about His perspective.

The other thing that really stirred desire in me was the last verse.  "Now when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with Him, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim, so He spoke to him."  I remember the first time I read this in my read through the Bible journey.  I was jealous of Moses.  The thought of having  a relationship with God where He verbally spoke and there was no question that is was His voice, made my heart yearn for the same.  I wanted it desperately.  I followed the story with intense desire. I was so caught up in Moses' life that I cried when Moses died.  

That was sixteen years ago.  God used the flame of that desire to begin to grow me in knowing Him intimately.  He is still showing me the sweetness of having His Spirit in me and speaking to me through His Son's Spirit.  Now when I read Hebrews 1:1-4, I am grateful that in these last days He has spoken through His Son.  Moses was great but Jesus is greater.  And I think the New Testament teaches that Moses yearned for what I have.

Thank You for speaking to us in Your Son.  Thank You for the Spirit that ministers Your thoughts to our hearts.  We praise You for sending Jesus to give us unveiled love.  You are the One who planted the seeds of desire for relationship with You.