Giving that Gets Recorded in Heaven
The longest chapter in the Books of Moses is Numbers 7. What a chapter to attain that designation. If you read it, it gets boring and repetitive very fast on the surface. But this incredible chapter is teaching us something powerful about God, our giving and His leading.
Numbers 7:1-5 (ESV) On the day when Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle and had anointed and consecrated it with all its furnishings and had anointed and consecrated the altar with all its utensils, 2 the chiefs of Israel, heads of their fathers' houses, who were the chiefs of the tribes, who were over those who were listed, approached 3 and brought their offerings before the LORD, six wagons and twelve oxen, a wagon for every two of the chiefs, and for each one an ox. They brought them before the tabernacle. 4 Then the LORD said to Moses, 5 "Accept these from them, that they may be used in the service of the tent of meeting, and give them to the Levites, to each man according to his service."
The tabernacle has been erected and dedicated. Now offerings are being taken for the administration of the tabernacle. After all, what good is the building where they meet with God if they have nothing on which to offer sacrifices and burn incense?
The chapter ends curiously as well. In fact, I would like to show the last verse before we discuss what's between the beginning and the end:
Numbers 7:89 (ESV) And when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim; and it spoke to him.
Between these bookends of the chapter is a repetitive list of the gifts God's people brought to the Levites for the tabernacle ministry. For example:
Numbers 7:12-17 (ESV) He who offered his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah. 13 And his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 14 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; 15 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 16 one male goat for a sin offering; 17 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
...On and on that goes for 12 days...
These gifts are listed in excruciatingly accurate detail. Then, after all the gifts were given we see that God begins to speak in the tabernacle to Moses. Previously, Moses met with and heard from God in the tent of meeting - a smaller tent he erected for his time to hear from God. Now Moses will begin to officially meet with the Lord in the place where He will dwell among His people. Notice that the verse includes the phrase, "and it spoke to him." Moses hears God's voice from the mercy seat, the place where the very presence of God dwelt, where the cherubim touched wings but did not look at each other, this MOST HOLY place of the Most High. Now in the tabernalce, God speaks deeply into the life of Moses.
I thought about how all the giving happens BEFORE God speaks to Moses in this way. Notice a few things about the offerings. First, every gift is listed. God sees what we give. He takes note of it and there is a record in heaven of what you have given and what you have laid down FINANCIALLY in the Kingdom of God. Jesus warned of a horrible end to those who store up treasures in this world but are not rich toward God. Secondly, notice that every giver is listed in the record. Their names are recorded for generations to see and remember who gave and how much they gave. Do not mistake Jesus' command for almsgiving to be done in secret in Matthew 6 with this moment. Jesus is speaking to motivation on the givers part. These givers in Numbers 7 were not LOOKING to be noticed - but THEY WERE - by the Lord. Thirdly, they gave to make the ministry possible. When we give to our local churches we are giving to make ministry of the Word happen. Tithing is not something you do "just because" you should. It is something you do because the Lord's Word is multiplied in the ears of men and women when we lay down our finances to promote the transmission of the Gospel. NOTHING, absolutely NOTHING is a more worthy investment of your resources.
Finally I remind you, the Lord began speaking AFTER the gifts were given. What could be more valuable for a return on our investment than the voice of the Lord into our lives giving us direction and leading? Perhaps you are waiting to hear from God. Start giving to the kingdom of God and see Him speak to YOU. One Word from Him will save you in far more ways than just financially.
So we learn that God sees what we give, God sees who gives, and God records it. We are moved by this chapter to GIVE to the Mission of Jesus. Israel gave to a temporary tabernacle enormous sums of financial gifts. So should we give to the FINAL message of God to the world - the message of Christ!
Amen.
Numbers 7:1-5 (ESV) On the day when Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle and had anointed and consecrated it with all its furnishings and had anointed and consecrated the altar with all its utensils, 2 the chiefs of Israel, heads of their fathers' houses, who were the chiefs of the tribes, who were over those who were listed, approached 3 and brought their offerings before the LORD, six wagons and twelve oxen, a wagon for every two of the chiefs, and for each one an ox. They brought them before the tabernacle. 4 Then the LORD said to Moses, 5 "Accept these from them, that they may be used in the service of the tent of meeting, and give them to the Levites, to each man according to his service."
The tabernacle has been erected and dedicated. Now offerings are being taken for the administration of the tabernacle. After all, what good is the building where they meet with God if they have nothing on which to offer sacrifices and burn incense?
The chapter ends curiously as well. In fact, I would like to show the last verse before we discuss what's between the beginning and the end:
Numbers 7:89 (ESV) And when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim; and it spoke to him.
Between these bookends of the chapter is a repetitive list of the gifts God's people brought to the Levites for the tabernacle ministry. For example:
Numbers 7:12-17 (ESV) He who offered his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah. 13 And his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 14 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; 15 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 16 one male goat for a sin offering; 17 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
...On and on that goes for 12 days...
These gifts are listed in excruciatingly accurate detail. Then, after all the gifts were given we see that God begins to speak in the tabernacle to Moses. Previously, Moses met with and heard from God in the tent of meeting - a smaller tent he erected for his time to hear from God. Now Moses will begin to officially meet with the Lord in the place where He will dwell among His people. Notice that the verse includes the phrase, "and it spoke to him." Moses hears God's voice from the mercy seat, the place where the very presence of God dwelt, where the cherubim touched wings but did not look at each other, this MOST HOLY place of the Most High. Now in the tabernalce, God speaks deeply into the life of Moses.
I thought about how all the giving happens BEFORE God speaks to Moses in this way. Notice a few things about the offerings. First, every gift is listed. God sees what we give. He takes note of it and there is a record in heaven of what you have given and what you have laid down FINANCIALLY in the Kingdom of God. Jesus warned of a horrible end to those who store up treasures in this world but are not rich toward God. Secondly, notice that every giver is listed in the record. Their names are recorded for generations to see and remember who gave and how much they gave. Do not mistake Jesus' command for almsgiving to be done in secret in Matthew 6 with this moment. Jesus is speaking to motivation on the givers part. These givers in Numbers 7 were not LOOKING to be noticed - but THEY WERE - by the Lord. Thirdly, they gave to make the ministry possible. When we give to our local churches we are giving to make ministry of the Word happen. Tithing is not something you do "just because" you should. It is something you do because the Lord's Word is multiplied in the ears of men and women when we lay down our finances to promote the transmission of the Gospel. NOTHING, absolutely NOTHING is a more worthy investment of your resources.
Finally I remind you, the Lord began speaking AFTER the gifts were given. What could be more valuable for a return on our investment than the voice of the Lord into our lives giving us direction and leading? Perhaps you are waiting to hear from God. Start giving to the kingdom of God and see Him speak to YOU. One Word from Him will save you in far more ways than just financially.
So we learn that God sees what we give, God sees who gives, and God records it. We are moved by this chapter to GIVE to the Mission of Jesus. Israel gave to a temporary tabernacle enormous sums of financial gifts. So should we give to the FINAL message of God to the world - the message of Christ!
Amen.
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