Fellowship Offering

Fellowhip Offering

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“one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; one male goat for a sin offering; and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Nahshon son of Amminadab,” Numbers‬ ‭7‬:‭15‬-‭17‬, NIV‬‬.

It’s not often that I experience an aha moment while reading the book of Numbers. It actually shouldn’t surprise me, after all it’s God’s Word.

I read that only one male goat was needed for the sin offering, but many animals were needed as a fellowship offering. I began to think, “I thought the sin offering was the most important, requiring the best offering; why then would it only cost one male goat (or in other verses a perfect female sheep or lamb)? Why did a fellowship offering cost more, in regard to the number of animals needed?

Because the one goat was foreshadowing the One who would eventually be sacrificed once and for all, for mankind. That one perfect man, Jesus.

It made sense—no one else could ever be the final goat offering, since no one else has lived a sinless life besides Jesus. But why does the fellowship offering cost so much? In terms of the quantity animals.

To answer that question, I had to understand what a fellowship offering was.

Chat GPT said:

“Types of Fellowship Offerings (Lev. 7:12–16)

• Thanksgiving offering: Given when someone wanted to thank God for His blessings.

• Vow offering: Brought when someone fulfilled a vow to God.

• Freewill offering: Brought simply as a spontaneous act of worship.

Spiritual Meaning

• It pointed to reconciliation and communion with God.

• Christians often see it as foreshadowing the Lord’s Supper (Communion), where believers celebrate peace with God through Jesus Christ, the ultimate sacrifice.”

We might consider a fellowship offering as our tithe and offerings, wrapped up in an attitude of thanksgiving. Even our praise is to be an offering. When we offer God anything, it has to be presented humbly. Which costs us everything.

Because of the fall in Genesis 3, our pride represents all of who we are, and to exchange our pride for humility is very costly. For we are giving God what we would consider our most valuable gift—ourselves. But to gain Christ—it’s worth it.

In order for mankind to enter into fellowship with God, it cost God His Son. Therefore, to understand God’s priceless gift, it should cost us as well—something that we hold very near and dear--our pride. We need to sacrifice our own way and learn to be humble. Only then will we be able to experience the depth of praise, worthy enough for God.

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name,” Psalm 100:4, NIV.

This coming Sunday let us walk through our church doors, not on our phones, looking down at the screen. But looking up with anticipation for the moment we get to say thank you to a loving God. Sing your heart out as if it cost you something. Pray as if this was your first and last praise offering of thanksgiving.

(Please comment below—I’d love to hear what you are thankful for)

Father,

You are a good Father. We praise You, for You are worthy.

Hear our prayers as if they were a fellowship offering of our best sheep, goats and oxen. Let our praise be dripping with humility like the fat of the lamb that was being burned—making it fragrant, for You.

May our pride be replaced with humble, grateful hearts.

May Your name be glorified.

We praise You our Creator God.

Amen.