From Eden to the Table: A Lenten Reflection on Offering, Anointing, and Redemption
- Catherine Guillaume-Sackey
- Mar 21
- 6 min read
Updated: Jun 25
She/Her
Master of Public Affairs and Politics | 2024 Princeton P3 Scholar | 2022 Rutgers University Paul Robeson Scholar | Analyst | NJ Certified MWBE | Community Development Advocate | Leadership Development Consultant
As the CEO of Policy Over Politics, I frequently find it a blessing to notice how themes of governance, policy, politics, and stewardship are deeply woven throughout the Bible. However, today I paused from my usual analysis and allowed myself to simply receive the Word—not to dissect it through a policy lens, but to let it minister to my spirit. I have the day off, and with a little extra time, I dove deeper into my devotional reading. Still catching up on my 365-day Bible plan, I find myself on Day 62 of 78, journeying through the Book of Numbers. This morning, what stood out most were the offerings and provisions described in these wilderness chapters.
As I read, something shifted in me. I began connecting patterns across four distinct periods of Scripture. I can only describe that clarity as a gift from God—an awareness that He’s always speaking, always teaching, and always loving. With “Good Good Father” playing on repeat, I felt overwhelmed by how deeply God loves me—not just as a leader or a student of policy, but as His daughter. Today, I am choosing to share something personal—not a policy brief, not an analysis—but simply a moment of faith and reflection. These are my morning thoughts, rooted in Scripture, steeped in gratitude, and shaped by the God who continues to guide me—in the wilderness, at the table, and in every season of life.
The Significance of 40: Testing, Transformation, and Trust
In Scripture, the number 40 represents a sacred period of testing, preparation, and transformation. Whether 40 days or 40 years, God often uses this number to form hearts, shift perspectives, and prepare His people for promise. Deuteronomy 8:2 (CEB) instructs, “Remember the long road on which the Lord your God led you during these forty years in the desert so he could humble you, testing you to find out what was in your heart…” The 40 years in the wilderness were not just punishment—they were divine preparation. Through manna, grain offerings, and the tabernacle, God taught Israel how to trust Him day by day, even when the path was uncertain.
Similarly, in the New Testament, we see Jesus led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil for forty days (Luke 4:1-2). Here, Jesus' 40 days in the wilderness echo Israel’s journey, but unlike them, He passed the test. In Lent, we experience our 40 days as a personal and communal walk toward the cross—not to earn anything, but to remember everything Jesus already gave. The symbolism of the number 40 in Scripture reminds us that God often uses times of trial to refine us, preparing us for the blessings He has planned.
Eden: Worship Rooted in Glory
In Genesis 2:10–12, we read, “A river flows from Eden to water the garden, and from there it divides into four headwaters... The first is the Pishon... That land’s gold is pure, and the land also has sweet-smelling resins and gemstones.” Before sin, Eden overflowed with gold, resin, and beauty—elements that would later become central to Israel’s worship and offerings. Resin, with its sweet aroma, prefigured frankincense and myrrh, which were eventually used in the sacrificial system to layer over sin and make worship bearable in a fallen world.
In Eden, worship was pure and direct. After the fall, God introduced scent, like spiritual “Febreze,” to cover the stench of sin until the true offering could come. Eden represents the ideal, where worship is unencumbered by separation. But after the fall, humanity needed symbols—scents, offerings, and sacrifices—to mediate their brokenness. The offering of incense, first introduced as a sign of grace, would later carry profound significance in God’s redemptive plan.
Wilderness: Provisions, Sacrifice, and Fragrance
In the wilderness, Israel learned to worship with what little they had. In Leviticus 2:2 (CEB), “The priest will take a handful of the choice flour and oil from the tribute offering and all of the incense… It is a food gift of soothing smell to the Lord.” Israel’s offerings, though simple—flour, oil, and incense—were considered holy when offered in faith. The fragrance of these offerings was necessary, not because God needed it, but because humanity needed grace. Even the manna, which looked like resin (Numbers 11:7-8), reminded Israel daily of God’s provision and mercy. Manna, like resin, foreshadowed the Bread of Life who would one day come.
Jesus: The Fulfillment of Every Offering
At Jesus' birth, the wise men brought gifts that symbolized Eden’s offerings—gold, frankincense, and myrrh—each fulfilling a prophetic purpose. Matthew 2:11 (CEB) notes, “They opened their treasure chests and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” These gifts prefigured Jesus’ role as King, Priest, and Sacrifice:
Gold for the King
Frankincense for the Priest
Myrrh for the Sacrifice
Later, in John 12:3 (CEB), Mary anointed Jesus’ feet with perfume, filling the house with the aroma of the perfume. Jesus responds in verse 12:7 (CEB), “Leave her alone. This perfume was to be used in preparation for my burial.” Here, Mary’s perfume became a living grain offering, poured out in prophetic worship. Her act of anointing Jesus was a step toward the ultimate sacrifice. She didn’t know the full picture, but God did. The perfume did not just cover sin—it prepared the sacrifice that would remove it.
The Cross and Communion: From Scent to Sacrifice
At the cross, the need for incense was finished. Ephesians 5:2 (CEB) declares, “Christ loved us and gave himself for us as a sacrificial offering that smelled sweet to God.” Through His sacrifice, Jesus removed the need for continual offerings, once and for all. Hebrews 10:10 (CEB) affirms, “We have been made holy by God’s will through the offering of Jesus Christ’s body once for all.” At the cross, the need for fragrance and incense to cover sin was replaced by the purity of the Lamb’s sacrifice.
In communion, we no longer need incense or offerings to mask our sin. Through the body and blood of Christ, our worship rises freely, directly to God. As 1 Corinthians 10:16 (CEB) affirms, “The cup of blessing that we bless is a sharing in the blood of Christ… The loaf of bread that we break is a sharing in the body of Christ.” Now, we partake in the bread of life, the true manna, fulfilled in Jesus, and the cup of the new covenant, with no barriers between us and God.
Side-by-Side: Sacrifices in the Wilderness vs. the Cross
Worship Without Barriers: A Closing Reflection
This morning reminded me: God no longer needs incense to mask our sins. Because of Jesus, our true worship rises freely—from hearts surrendered, without separation or shame. Jesus didn’t layer over sin—He lifted it off us, fully and forever. This Lent, I’m reminded to pour myself out like Mary—to trust God like Israel gathering manna—to worship like Eden, but through the lens of the cross. And I’m so thankful that my Good Good Father receives it all—not through smoke, but through His Son.
POP LABS Leadership Note
This teaching is part of the Policy Over Politics Christian Leadership Series. It emphasizes the importance of trust, transformation, and sacrifice in leadership. Just as in the wilderness, we are often called to offer our faith with what we have—simple, trusting, and faithful. In doing so, we experience the true transformation offered by God, leading to a greater, more intimate relationship with Him.
Definition of Leadership
Leadership is the stewardship of transformation. It involves guiding others to trust in God’s provision, walk in His mercy, and respond to His call with humility and faith. Leaders embrace the process of transformation—not through external symbols—but through a heart surrendered to God’s will and empowered by His Spirit.
References
The Holy Bible: New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011).
Genesis 2:10-12
Deuteronomy 8:2
Luke 4:1-2
Leviticus 2:2
Numbers 11:7-8
Matthew 2:11
John 12:3, 12:7
Ephesians 5:2
Hebrews 10:10
1 Corinthians 10:16
This version integrates POP LABS leadership insights and biblical reflections with Chicago-style citations. It emphasizes transformation, trust, and sacrifice in leadership, rooted in the biblical narrative from Eden to the cross.
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