I'm jumping ahead a day so you guys don't have to look back a day at my posts. I'm not sure if these instructions were for all of Israel or just the Levites but maybe the lesson stays the same. These guys spent a lot of time in worship. This isn't like today where our meals are easy to come by. I'm picturing the hundreds of thousands of warriors mentioned in previous chapters... those guys need to be fed. And the people were semi-nomadic at least it seems like they are always moving around which means farming and settling had to be tough. Yet they are taking so much time of no work just in worship, and sacrificing the fruits of their labor to boot. Culturally, I think we are at a disadvantage in this regard. I have several employees in India who always take lots of time off for their religious celebrations. I suppose we do a similar thing around Christmas, but these guys are gone for extended periods of time where they are straight up off the grid, and this happens year after year. They are much poorer than us in all material regards. I'm taking a parenting class right now and I had some homework to ask my sons a variety of questions about how I was doing as a dad. Moby told me that I was doing "medium". I asked what I was doing the best and he said I'm doing the best thing when I'm not working so much. I asked him what he liked about when I wasn't working and he said he didn't care as long as I wasn't working. It was a bit of a wake up call. I know that life is balance. God was great at balancing things out for the Israelites. I've always tried to find balance but its so hard. God I need a few things from your fount. Wisdom, fortitude, peace, trust, a few extra bucks and a good nights sleep.

I wonder if these feasts were joyous celebrations or begrudging donations of their precious food. I'm sure it was a mix of both I guess. I just want to be on the grateful giver side.