Who Paid for You
Exodus 30:11–14 (ESV) The Lord said to Moses, 12 “When you take the census of the people of Israel, then each shall give a ransom for his life to the Lord when you number them, that there be no plague among them when you number them. 13 Each one who is numbered in the census shall give this: half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel is twenty gerahs), half a shekel as an offering to the Lord. 14 Everyone who is numbered in the census, from twenty years old and upward, shall give the LORD’s offering.
What's also interesting is that the money came into the tabernacle as a sort of tax. They brought the value of their lives to the tabernacle where they met with God to offer sacrifice for sins, love and thank offerings and heard from Him through priests. They brought an offering to the very tabernacle that was erected for them to do life with their God.
Notice also that EVERYONE was counted at the same value.
Exodus 30:15 (ESV) The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less, than the half shekel, when you give the LORD’s offering to make atonement for your lives.
In this particular tax (not a tithe), the message was sent by limiting everyone to the same amount. Every person was of equal value to God. The cost of their redemption was the same no matter how rich they were or were not! The rich could not portend to have more value simply because they were able to deposit more. The poor were not to think of themselves more cheap before their God simply because they gave less!!! EVERY LIFE matters to God!
Peter makes this clear to those who believe in Christ:
1 Peter 1:18–19 (ESV) knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
The blood that paid for me, paid for you! You and I are of equal worth to our Father in heaven.
Moreover, the age 20 seems significant for us. Could this suggest an age of accountability before God? It is speculation in some sense but an argument could be made as no one under 20 was required to give a ransom for their lives.
It is important to back up to the beginning of these instructions. The people of Israel were to give a ransom for their lives "that there be no plague among them when you number them." They were to bring this money to the Temple in order to remember their God took ownership of them. They were not their own. How important for us to remember as Christians. We are NOT our own!
1 Corinthians 6:19 (ESV) Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
Ancient nations took censuses to prepare for war and adjust taxation. Counting your numbers was a way of taking control and estimating what YOU could do. David will bring God's judgment on Israel in 2 Samuel 24 by numbering the people for this goal. Israel was not to do this without implicitly remembering they were not their own! War and taxation was not their call NOR were these the pathways to success. Their God would lead and guide and feed them. Their God would provide for them, not their best strategies.
Finally, there is a particular wording of verse 13 found in the NIV:
Exodus 30:13 (NIV) Each one who crosses over to those already counted is to give a half shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs. This half shekel is an offering to the LORD.
The census of Israel was to be only of those who are willing to be counted. They chose to cross over and bring their atonement money.
Is that you? Are you willing to be counted the Lord's possession? He does not force Himself upon you. He calls to you. You must respond. You do not pay you way, that's already been paid in Christ and in full. But you can accept it - the life God offers in His hand according to His plan.
God believed you were worth it!
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