What can we learn from Nahshon's offering about giving our best to God? The Scene at the Tabernacle “On the first day Nahshon son of Amminadab of the tribe of Judah brought his offering” (Numbers 7:12). The Offering Itemized Numbers 7:13-17 lists exactly what Nahshon laid at the altar: • One silver dish – 130 shekels • One silver bowl – 70 shekels • Both vessels filled with fine flour mixed with oil (grain offering) • One gold bowl – 10 shekels, filled with incense • Burnt offering: one young bull, one ram, one male lamb (year-old) • Sin offering: one male goat • Peace offering: two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs Nothing token-sized here. Each part matched the sanctuary standard. Judah’s leader opened the twelve-day dedication with a gift that set the tone for every tribe that followed. What Nahshon’s Gift Teaches About Giving Our Best • First and foremost: he offered first. The firstborn tribe presented the inaugural gift, reflecting Proverbs 3:9, “Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your harvest.” • Full obedience: the quantities align exactly with what Moses recorded, signaling a heart eager to comply down to the shekel. • Quality matters: silver, gold, unblemished animals, and fine flour echo Malachi 1:8, which condemns blemished sacrifices. Nahshon’s gift met the highest standards. • Costly generosity: forty-four animals plus precious metals meant real expense. Like David who insisted on paying “full price” (2 Samuel 24:24), Nahshon refused shortcuts. • Leadership by example: as head of Judah, he modeled wholehearted devotion, encouraging other leaders to rise to the same level. Scripture Echoes That Affirm the Principle • 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 – sowing generously and giving cheerfully grow from the same spirit Nahshon displayed. • Mark 12:41-44 – the widow’s two copper coins show that God evaluates heart, not amount; Nahshon’s heart matched his resources. • Romans 12:1 – presenting our bodies “as a living sacrifice” calls for the same total consecration symbolized by his burnt, sin, and peace offerings. • Colossians 3:23 – “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord,” mirrors Nahshon’s meticulous, wholehearted offering. • Psalm 24:1 – because “the earth is the LORD’s,” returning the best to Him simply acknowledges His ownership. Living It Out Today • Give promptly: dedicate the first portion of income, time, or talents before anything else claims it. • Give precisely: plan giving thoughtfully, tailoring it to God’s stated priorities rather than leftovers. • Give excellently: aim for quality—whether craftsmanship, service, or resources—worthy of the King. • Give sacrificially: let generosity stretch comfort zones, trusting that the Lord who owns all will supply all. • Give inspirationally: our choices spur family, church, and community toward deeper devotion, just as Nahshon inspired eleven more tribal leaders. A Heart Check for Each of Us • The measure is not net worth but willingness to honor God first, fully, and joyfully. • When offerings—financial, relational, vocational—mirror Nahshon’s wholehearted spirit, we display the worth of the One we worship. |
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