Incense
- Venus Jackson
- Oct 21
- 4 min read
This week (10/21/25) Numbers Ch.8 Next week (10/28/25) Numbers Ch.9 |
Questons for Numbers Chapter 8 - 10/14/2025
Why did God chose the Levites?
Why do you think thatGod had the Levites to retire at the age of 50?
Recap from 10/14/2025
Numbers Ch.7
Once again we get a detailed account of what each tribe of Israel presented to the Sanctuary - silver plates and bowls, grain offerings and animal to sacrifice. The calculations and summaries proving once again why this book of the Bible is called 'Numbers'.
But the one offering that caught my eye this time was the offering of incense.
Why the incense? Hmmm. Was it meant to help cover the smell of the burnt offering? Did the smoke create a mysterious aura?
To find the answer I had to go back to Leviticus where I was reminded that the use of the incense was serious business! Verse 13 explains that God said when Aaron brings in a bull to sacrifice for the sins of himself and his family that he has to burn incense to keep him from getting himself killed.
13 He is to put the incense on the fire before the Lord, and the smoke of the incense will conceal the atonement cover above the tablets of the covenant law, so that he will not die.
Maybe this is why we have artificial vapor blowing in some of our current sanctuaries? Is this to invite the Lord to physically come join us in worship? Maybe, but the incense in Numbers was made up of very specific spices. It was a holy aroma whose ingredients came straight from God Himself.
In Exodus we get details on the special recipe and a warning on how the Israelites were to only use it God's own holy purpose.
34 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Take fragrant spices—gum resin, onycha and galbanum—and pure frankincense, all in equal amounts, 35 and make a fragrant blend of incense, the work of a perfumer. It is to be salted and pure and sacred. 36 Grind some of it to powder and place it in front of the ark of the covenant law in the tent of meeting, where I will meet with you. It shall be most holy to you. 37 Do not make any incense with this formula for yourselves; consider it holy to the Lord. 38 Whoever makes incense like it to enjoy its fragrance must be cut off from their people.”
So once again, something that seems so trivial shows up in the Bible as vital. In fact, according to video entertainment, it would be easy to associate incense with pagan rituals. But here in the Bible, God not only commands the Israelites to burn incense in the most holy of places, but he gives them the ingredients to make it.
other comments:
It looks like another chapter of inventories.
I wonder how much the silver plates weighed? What is 10 shekels in oz? (4oz which is about the weight of a deck of cards)
What happened to all of the food? some was burned up for the burnt offering, some eaten by the priest which was the sin and grain offerings and the peace offering was eaten by the family who brought it.
Prayer requests:
Safety, protection and healing over all Walk and Talkers and their families
Quick healing over Sammantra's son
Healing and repairing of Frances' ankle and neck,
For God to not only physically provide for Joan's friend and her family but also provide physical and mental strength
Venus' dad who has recovered from cancer but needs all malignant small nodes on lungs to be destroyed
Praying for all of us to have an encounter with God in our own unique ways.
Trail Walk
Saturday
Date: TBA
Sandy Creek Park
Time: TBA
2025 Walk to End Alzheimer's - Athens/Watkinsville, GA
Hosted by the Walk to End Alzheimer's from the Alzheimer's Association
Schedule of Events:
November 8, 2025
Arrival 8:30 am/Opening Ceremony at 9 am
Location:
Wire Park | 1725 Electric Ave. Watkinsville, GA 30677 |
Where do the funds go?
All funds raised through Walk to End Alzheimer's further the care, support and research efforts of the Alzheimer's Association. The Alzheimer's Association is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization. All donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.
Potluck Tuesday was also a suggestion from last semester. Anyone interested in doing a Potluck once a month? Open to suggestions on an ideal day and time we can do this.
Christmas wrapping party! Save the date December 17th.
What is a wrapping party? It is where we can bring our personal Christmas gifts to wrap in a fun, food-filled, camaraderie-filled environment. Invite others whom you think may benefit. Don't have much to wrap, then prepare to help others. Wrapping paper and tape will be available. Please feel free to donate any wrapping materials if you feel led.
Health goals
Pray and think about the goals that God has for your life. He has many, but one of the areas we concentrate on in Walk and Talk is our health. How do you think God wants us to care for ourselves? What steps are we taking to be the best person we can be?
See you Tuesday!!
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