“The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘After you enter the land I am giving you as a home and you present to the Lord food offerings from the herd or the flock, as an aroma pleasing to the Lord—whether burnt offerings or sacrifices, for special vows or freewill offerings or festival offerings—then the person who brings an offering shall present to the Lord a grain offering of a tenth of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with a quarter of a hin of olive oil. With each lamb for the burnt offering or the sacrifice, prepare a quarter of a hin of wine as a drink offering.” (Numbers 15:1–5, NIV)
The commands regarding offerings had been given in Leviticus, but now as Israel is poised to go into the Promised Land, these offerings are to be supplemented with meal, oil and wine. It's likely that when, for example, "the sacrifice of a lamb must be accompanied by about half a gallon (1.9 liters) of flour, a quart (0.95 liters) of oil, and a quart (0.95 liters) of wine (15:4–5)" [1], that this is showing that these elements were not available in the desert but now in Canaan they would be quite available.
God anticipates that as He increases the wealth of His People that they, in kind reflect greater generosity in their offerings. What is 'supplementary' is actual a proportionate response to God's goodness. An appropriate response to the Gospel wherein Christ has come that [we] may have life, and have it to the full" [2], is to “give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”” (Luke 6:38, NIV).
Generosity is Gospel-centered living.
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1. Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 289). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
The New International Version. (2011). (Jn 10:10). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
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