Every tribe gave the same gifts for the dedication of the altar, and God instructed that each tribe’s leader was to present his tribe’s offering on a different day. That’s twelve more days that they remained in camp, making no progress toward the Promised Land. Why twelve days? The animal sacrifices presented each day would have been burning in a twelve-day dedication observance. The dedication of the altar, which meant implementation of the regular worship practices God prescribed in the Law, was important and worthy of a lengthy observance. The time implies that they would have had time to reflect as well as celebrate. That speaks to me that perhaps we could benefit from some time to celebrate and reflect in observance of milestones in our relationships with God. We rush through life, generally looking ahead so that we fail to appreciate what God is doing now, often missing it completely.
I also appreciate the fact that although each tribe gave the same gift, each tribe’s gift gets its own day and its full description. That may make dull reading for us, but it indicates that each gift was worthy. That speaks to me of how God deems my own seemingly feeble gifts. When I think of Him not only noticing but treasuring my gifts, lost as they may seem, piled up with so many other gifts (many of which seem more impressive than mine), I feel treasured myself.
Moses now met with God in the tent they had built for a mobile version of a temple. Think about it: God spoke audibly to Moses from the top of the Ark of the Covenant. That meant that He was really there, just behind that curtain. That’s the first time God had lived in the midst of man since Adam and Eve. What a privilege!
Consider the privilege it is to have God in us.