OUR GREAT PROVIDER GOD

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

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

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

As we saw earlier in this chapter, God is giving direction to His high priest Aaron regarding how He expects worship to be conducted within the tabernacle. You may recall from yesterday’s message how that included the Lord reminding Aaron that this appointment of the highest position of tabernacle leadership was a great gift and privilege.

In today’s passage, we see God continuing to provide Aaron guidance, this time specifically addressing tabernacle offerings. We know this isn’t the first time the Lord has done this because throughout the books of Exodus and Leviticus, we have seen Him discuss what He expects in regard to how the offerings were to be carried out. Additionally, He has spoken words about redemption of the firstborn before. You can go back to the Book of Exodus, chapters 13 and 34 as well as Numbers, chapter 3 to review if you like.

In regard to our verses for today, what I want to highlight is God’s provision for those who would faithfully serve Him. In the early verses of this chapter, we find the Lord making it clear that the tabernacle duties were very demanding and complex, duties He expected to be performed without deviation. Any error in execution of His expectations would lead to harsh consequences.

Yes, the leading in the tabernacle wasn’t for the faint of heart for sure but we see in verses 8 through 19 that God wanted to take good care of those who dedicated so much time and effort towards His holy work. Here’s what we find Him mandating for Aaron and His family:

1. "...all the gifts they bring Me (the Lord) 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 meat (the firstborn of an ox, a sheep or a goat) 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."

The scriptures are very clear in that God had placed a lot of responsibility on Aaron and his family but He also made sure they would have great provisions, ensuring they were properly cared for. These provisions included receiving a portion of what was dedicated to Him as well as those who had dedicated themselves to His will, way, and service.

Friends, the good news for us as believers today is that our God still takes care of His faithful servants. We’re reminded of this goodness through these words from the Apostle Paul as he wrote the following in his second letter to the church in Corinth:

"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

A defining characteristic of all those who devote themselves to the call of Jesus is that they are cheerful givers, the ones who provide the good news of the Gospel and its associated living water to all they come into contact with.

Through sharing the Gospel found in God’s word with others, these faithful and obedient Christ servants sow seeds within those they minister to, seeds that the Lord powerfully nurtures toward growth and then blooming so that men and women alike will "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." As a result of this, 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."

My brothers and sisters, what an awesome comfort and blessing it is to know that the God of all Creation, the Maker and Master of all created things, is so mindful of those who answer His call, whether it was Aaron and his family in Old Testament times or those of us carrying out the Great Commission today, that He would make sure they are abundantly provided for. Indeed, we are so blessed to have such a loving, awesome Father, Son, and Holy Spirit so let us give them the fullest measure of our thanks and praise, now and forevermore.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.