Numbers 7:1-5 (ESV Strong's)
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, the chiefs of Israel, heads of their fathers' houses, who were the chiefs of the tribes, who were over those who were listed, approached 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. Then the Lord said to Moses, “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.”
Bringing Gifts
We often only think of the burden on ourselves when we bring offerings to give to God. We hold tightly to our money and give God a “tenth” and think that is a big deal. But, in the above passage we see that when we bring a gift to God, He must receive it from us. The phrase, “Then the Lord said to Moses ...,” is an important phrase. God was and is active in our giving. He is the receiver of our gifts. He rejoices in them and wants us to rejoice in giving them. He uses those gifts in the service of the Kingdom. We need to be more like those who loaded up the carts and wagons. God did not just take what was in the wagons, God took the entire wagon. Imagine loading up your car with groceries and delivering them to to someone in your community. When you tell them you brought them the provisions they rejoice that you brought them food and A CAR! We don’t think this way. But, God does. He gave us the ability to buy the car. When we realize all things belong to God, we have less of a possession on them ourselves. We can rejoice in what God gave us so that we can rejoice in what we are giving back to God.
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