A required drink offering was required for several of the sacrifices that were made. This offering was made of strong wine (Nu 28:7). It was not to be diluted, which speaks of the purity and perfection of the offering, as well as of its preciousness (costlier than what was normally drank). All of it was poured out onto the sacrifice. Wine is a symbol of joy for both man and God (Jd 9:13; Ps 104:15). It was to be instituted only after they dwelt in the Promised Land (Nu 15:1) – because only then would they have vineyards to obtain the grapes to make wine. It was only offered with the “sweet savor” offerings (Nu 15:1-16): i.e., burnt offering, meal offering, and peace offering. It was not used with a sin offering or guilt offering because God has no joy in our sin.

The drink offering was instituted as a symbol of completion and pointed to a future completion. This was done by God who takes joy in doing this for us. Matthew said this about Jesus: “And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Mt 26:27).

Christ’s blood was a drink offering, meaning it was a completion of something which had been started earlier. His death was the completion of what the sacrifices in Leviticus pointed toward—i.e., the payment for mankind’s sin. Even in the New Testament it is a symbol of joy and completion and the initiation of new beginnings: “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfector of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hb 12:2). The cross wasn’t the joy but what he endured to get to the joy, i.e., being with us forever. This offering therefore represents the joy of our restoration.

So, you see, God was intimately involved with us coming to him. After all, it was all his idea to restore us to himself. Us coming back to him gives him great joy. When we’re forgiven of our sin, what happens to that sin? Join me next time for that discussion.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens