Daily Bible Study

Tweet

Day 79 – Offering Exodus 30:11 Then JEHOVAH spoke to Moses, saying: 12 “When you take the census of the children of Israel for their number, then every man will give a ransom for himself to JEHOVAH, that there may be no plague among them when you number them. 13 This is what everyone among those who are numbered will give: half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (a shekel is twenty gerahs). The half-shekel will be an offering to JEHOVAH. 14 Everyone included among those who are numbered, from twenty years old and above, will give an offering to JEHOVAH. 15 The rich will not give more, and the poor will not give less than half a shekel, when you give an offering to JEHOVAH, to make atonement for yourselves. 16 You will take the atonement money of the children of Israel and will appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of meeting, that it may be a memorial for the children of Israel before JEHOVAH, to make atonement for yourselves.” God’s name: JEHOVAH – Self-existent, Eternal Elohiym – Mighty God Yeshuwa – Jesus God’s character: Tax Collector Money: Shekel = three shillings = .30 US Half shekel = .15 When you think about paying taxes, you think in large numbers according to your income. JEHOVAH required the children of Israel to pay a ransom or tax for himself to Him. Only the men twenty years of age upward were to give the tax. He didn’t require a substantial amount from them, but a small portion that even the poorest among them could give. This was the tax for the tabernacle or temple tax so the work could go forward for the tabernacle. This is not the tithe on their income. When it comes to giving to the church you attend on a regular basis, do you keep your hands in your pocket and consider the wealth of the church you attend and tell yourself they don’t need your money? Many Christians do. Or do you give joyfully for the work, knowing it’s going for a good purpose, to promote JEHOVAH’S work in your church and community? When you give an offering to JEHOVAH, it can be any amount you desire. It’s an offering. Have you considered what you get out of your gift to JEHOVAH? Malachi 3:7 “Yet from the days of your fathers you have gone away from My ordinances and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says JEHOVAH of hosts. “But you said, ‘In what way will we return?’ 8 Will a man rob Elohiym? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation. 10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,” says JEHOVAH of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. 11 I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor will the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” says the LORD of hosts; 12 and all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land,” says JEHOVAH of hosts. I don’t know a single Christian who doesn’t want JEHOVAH’S blessing on their lives. Yet so many withhold the offering, thinking it isn’t necessary. When you withhold your offering, JEHOVAH withholds His blessing. JEHOVAH doesn’t require a lot from you. His requirement for the children of Israel amounted to .15 cents. What He offered them in return was so much more. What did Yeshuwa tell the people? Luke 6:38 “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” (NKJV) How do you measure JEHOVAH’S blessing? Let’s pray: Father, You require so little from me, yet I fail to give even what You require. Help me give so that You will bless me. Pour out Your blessings on my life when I give into Your kingdom. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 6 April 2024 by Valerie Routhieaux The image belongs to me.