Worshiping God in the Wildernes

Features of worshipping God in the wilderness.

(i) The Israelites: Worshipped God through intermediaries. These were the priests who came from the tribe of Levi.

(ii) The Israelites: Were guided in their worship and in daily living by the Ten Commandments and other ordinances.

(iii) The Ark of the Covenant was made in the wilderness. It was God’s dwelling place.

It was a special box put into the tabernacle. A tabernacle was a portable tent.

The ark symbolized the presence of God and the Israelites carried it wherever they went.

(iv) Offerings of farm products or agricultural produce were given to God.

These included among other farm products; vegetables, flour. Oil and fruits.

(v) Other offerings to God were drinks, and incense. The offerings could be burnt, baked, boiled or roasted.

(vi) There were several Sacrifices.

They included:

Burnt offerings (Holocaust) – burning a whole animal completely
Sin offering /atonement – sacrifice offered when one had sinned and wanted to have his sins forgiven.
Peace offering – part of an animal was offered, while the people ate part of the meat.
Gift offering – the best animal was given to God. It was offered as a thanksgiving.
Animals such as sheep, goats, bulls and birds were sacrificed to God.
(vii) Festivals and feasts. Israelites observed several festivals and feasts.

These included:

Feast of Passover and unleavened bread.
Harvest festival – feast of weeks or Pentecost.
It marked the celebration of the harvest of wheat.
Feast of gathering / shelters.
It was celebrated during the season when the Israelites gathered the fruits from the Orchards.
Feast of tabernacles that was celebrated to remember when the Israelites dwelt in tents.
The Israelites kept the Sabbath day. They worshipped God through singing, worship and dancing.