Isn't that too much?

Numbers 29:12-40 - Then on the fifteenth day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work, and you shall observe a feast to the LORD for seven days. You shall present a burnt offering, an offering by fire as a soothing aroma to the LORD: thirteen bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs one year old, which are without defect; and their grain offering, 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; and one male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, its grain offering and its drink offering. Then on the second day: twelve bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs one year old without defect; and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams and for the lambs, by their number according to the ordinance; and one male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering and its grain offering, and their drink offerings. Then on the third day: eleven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs one year old without defect; and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams and for the lambs, by their number according to the ordinance; and one male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering and its grain offering and its drink offering. Then on the fourth day: ten bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs one year old without defect; their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams and for the lambs, by their number according to the ordinance; and one male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, its grain offering and its drink offering. Then on the fifth day: nine bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs one year old without defect; and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams and for the lambs, by their number according to the ordinance; and one male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering and its grain offering and its drink offering. Then on the sixth day: eight bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs one year old without defect; and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams and for the lambs, by their number according to the ordinance; and one male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, its grain offering and its drink offerings. Then on the seventh day: seven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs one year old without defect; and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams and for the lambs, by their number according to the ordinance; and one male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, its grain offering and its drink offering. On the eighth day you shall have a solemn assembly; you shall do no laborious work. But you shall present a burnt offering, an offering by fire, as a soothing aroma to the LORD: one bull, one ram, seven male lambs one year old without defect; their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bull, for the ram and for the lambs, by their number according to the ordinance; and one male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering and its grain offering and its drink offering. You shall present these to the LORD at your appointed times, besides your votive offerings and your freewill offerings, for your burnt offerings and for your grain offerings and for your drink offerings and for your peace offerings. Moses spoke to the sons of Israel in accordance with all that the LORD had commanded Moses.

According to my math, that's 71 bulls, 15 rams, 105 one year old male lambs, and a lot of grain, drink, and burnt offering. That's a lot that they offered in about a week!

So much to give... but that's the point. When we think about how much we ought to give back to the Lord, it can seem like too much. Too often, we struggle to give even the very least portion of our wealth to the church, to those in need, for the work of missions, that the Lord's will be done around the world and in our lives. We're called to give ourselves as sacrifices that are set apart from sin and pleasing to God (Romans 12:1). That means, everything that we have we give to the Lord. However, the very fact that we are called to give so much back to the Lord... points to the reality that we have been given so much more. Israel was blessed. God provided for their every need and they were never in lack. We are blessed too. Let's not lose sight of this truth.

The Need for a Sacrifice

Leviticus 9:3-6 - Then to the sons of Israel you shall speak, saying, "Take a male goat for a sin offering, and a calf and a lamb, both one year old, without defect, for a burnt offering, and an ox and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before the LORD, and a grain offering mixed with oil; for today the LORD will appear to you." So they took what Moses had commanded to the front of the tent of meeting, and the whole congregation came near and stood before the LORD. Moses said, "This is the thing which the LORD has commanded you to do, that the glory of the LORD may appear to you."

It's exciting to see the necessity of the sacrificial system back then and how it speaks to our need today. The nation of Israel was required to offer a sin sacrifice so that the glory of God would appear to them. It took a perfect, unblemished sacrifice and without it, Israel would not be in the presence of God. We also need a sin sacrifice. Without Jesus Christ's perfect sacrifice for us, we could not be with God. What a price, what a cost, only through the Lamb of God can we approach the Father's throne.