14 day plan

Numbers

Day 5 of 14

CEV

Numbers 7:3

“[The leaders of Israel] …brought as their gifts before the Lord six covered carts and twelve oxen—an ox from each leader and a cart from every two. These they presented before the tabernacle… Each day one leader [brought] his offering for the dedication of the altar…[Altogether] twelve silver plates, twelve silver sprinkling bowls and twelve gold dishes*… The total number of animals for the sacrifice of the fellowship offering came to twenty-four oxen, sixty rams, sixty male goats and sixty male lambs a year old.” Numbers 7:3,11,84,88

Reflection: Gifts and offerings

Did you get pocket money as a child? Did someone teach you how to use it? Who modelled how to give? To be generous to others/to God?

 

Israel had to learn to give God’s way.

  • Giving is practical: everyone’s gifts and professions were necessary to create the tabernacle. Giving is shared – it’s about unity. Each tribe brought…in sixes and twelves.
  • Giving is generous: it’s about the best and it’s abundant. Gold, silver and male animals in twelve’s, twenty-fours and sixties.
  • Giving is sacrificial: it’s meant to be costly. Repay not just the loss but add another 20% so you feel the pain (Numbers 5:7).
  • Giving is atoning: it stands in our place to make amends… enacting restitution, reconciliation and justice.

We all have to learn to give God’s way. Because, left to our own devices it becomes about numbers.

Prophets would later cut though the culture with God’s desperate and damning words, “I don’t want your sacrifices—I want your love; I don’t want your offerings—I want you to know me.” (Hosea 6:6, TLB).

Prayer:

No one’s modelled giving better than you, Lord Jesus. May my lips profess and praise your name today. And through your power may my life be spent for the good of others – awash with sacrificial love. May your world-wide church be known for selfless justice and mercy.

Days

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