Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
"Then the Lord said to Aaron, "I myself have put you in charge of the offerings presented to me; all the holy offerings the Israelites give me I give to you and your sons as your portion and regular share. You are to have the part of the most holy offerings that is kept from the fire. From all the gifts they bring me as most holy offerings, whether grain or sin or guilt offerings, that part belongs to you and your sons. Eat it as something most holy; every male shall eat it. You must regard it as holy."
"This also is yours: whatever is set aside from the gifts of all the wave offerings of the Israelites. I give this to you and your sons and daughters as your regular share. Everyone in your household who is ceremonially clean may eat it."
"I give you all the finest olive oil and all the finest new wine and grain they give the Lord as the firstfruits of their harvest. All the land's firstfruits that they bring to the Lord will be yours. Everyone in your household who is ceremonially clean may eat it."
"Everything in Israel that is devoted to the Lord is yours. The first offspring of every womb, both man and animal, that is offered to the Lord is yours. But you must redeem every firstborn son and every firstborn male of unclean animals. When they are a month old, you must redeem them at the redemption price set at five shekels of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs."
"But you must not redeem the firstborn of an ox, a sheep or a goat; they are holy. Sprinkle their blood on the altar and burn their fat as an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the Lord. Their meat is to be yours, just as the breast of the wave offering and the right thigh are yours. Whatever is set aside from the holy offerings the Israelites present to the Lord I give to you and your sons and daughters as your regular share. It is an everlasting covenant of salt before the Lord for both you and your offspring." Numbers 18:8-19
As we saw earlier in Chapter 18, God is giving direction to His high priest Aaron as to how He expects worship to be conducted within the tabernacle. You’ll recall that God tells Aaron that what He is giving Him is a gift…a gift of appointment and service of the highest degree.
In today’s passage, God continues to give Aaron guidance, specifically on conducting tabernacle offerings. This isn’t the first time that God has given instruction on offerings. Throughout the books of Exodus and Leviticus, we have seen God discuss when He expects the offerings to be conducted and how He expects them done. He has also spoken words about redemption of the firstborn before. You can refer back to Exodus, Chapters 13 and 34 as well as Numbers, Chapter 3 to review.
What I wanted to highlight in today’s passage is God’s provision for those who faithfully serve Him. It’s clear as we read through Chapter 18 that the work of the tabernacle was very demanding and complex. God expected His principles to be carried out without deviation and clearly, He had warned of harsh consequences if His instructions were not followed.
What’s also clear is that God wanted to take good care of those who dedicated so much time to His holy work. From our scriptures we see that Aaron and his family were granted:
1."…all the gifts they bring me as most holy offerings, whether grain or sin or guilt offerings…Eat it as something most holy…"
2. "…whatever is set aside from the gifts of all the wave offerings of the Israelites. I give this to you and your sons and daughters as your regular share. Everyone in your household who is ceremonially clean may eat it."
3. "…all the finest olive oil and all the finest new wine and grain they give the Lord as the firstfruits of their harvest. All the land's firstfruits that they bring to the Lord will be yours. Everyone in your household who is ceremonially clean may eat it."
4. "Everything in Israel that is devoted to the Lord is yours. The first offspring of every womb, both man and animal, that is offered to the Lord is yours."
5. "Their (the firstborn of an ox, a sheep or a goat) meat is to be yours, just as the breast of the wave offering and the right thigh are yours. Whatever is set aside from the holy offerings the Israelites present to the Lord I give to you and your sons and daughters as your regular share. It is an everlasting covenant of salt before the Lord for both you and your offspring."
Truly, God had placed a lot of responsibility on Aaron and his family but He also took steps to ensure they were taken care of, giving a portion of what was dedicated to Him to those who had dedicated themselves to His will, way and service.
The good news friends is that He still takes care of His faithful servants today. We’re reminded of His goodness in these words from Paul:
"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever. "Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!" 2 Corinthians 9:6-15
Those who are devoted to the call of Jesus are cheerful givers…providers of good news and living water to all they come into contact with. Through sharing the gospel and God’s word with others, faithful and obedient servants sow seeds within those they minister to…seeds that grow and bloom in such a powerful way that causes men and women alike to "praise God for the obedience that accompanies (their) confession of the gospel of Christ and for (their) generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else." In return, God makes "all grace abound" to His faithful servants "so that in all things at all times" they have "all that (they) need and "abound in every good work."
What an awesome assurance it is to see how God provides for those who answer His call, whether it was Aaron in the days preceding Israel entering Canaan or us today preceding our entry into eternal life and our future eternal Promised Land. We are so blessed to have such a loving, awesome Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
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