How does Numbers 7:69 illustrate the importance of giving in worship? Setting the Scene Numbers 7 records twelve consecutive days of tribal leaders bringing offerings for the dedication of the altar. Verse 69 captures a single tribe’s portion: “one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering;” The Gift Itself • Three animals—bull, ram, lamb—each without blemish, each costly. • A “burnt offering” meant total consumption on the altar (Leviticus 1:9). Nothing held back. • Repeated verbatim for every tribe, showing uniform devotion rather than competition. What Makes This Gift Worship? • Costly surrender: Giving up prime livestock acknowledged God’s ultimate ownership (Psalm 24:1). • Whole dedication: The burnt offering rose entirely to God, picturing wholehearted devotion (Deuteronomy 6:5). • Shared obedience: Every leader obeyed the exact same pattern God prescribed, valuing His word over personal creativity (1 Samuel 15:22). • Corporate testimony: Public giving unified the camp around a common altar, echoing Psalm 96:8—“Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; bring an offering and enter His courts.” Principles for Our Giving Today 1. Give first and best, not leftovers (Proverbs 3:9). 2. Let giving flow from love, not compulsion (2 Corinthians 9:7). 3. Keep God’s pattern central—Scripture sets the terms of worship (John 4:24). 4. Remember that generosity blesses the whole community (Acts 4:34–35). 5. Expect God’s faithful provision; He invites us to “test” Him in this arena (Malachi 3:10). Encouragement for Daily Life • Evaluate: What resources—time, talents, finances—can I place wholly on God’s “altar” today? • Act: Start with a deliberate, prayerful offering this week, trusting His promise that “He who supplies seed to the sower…will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness” (2 Corinthians 9:10). |
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