He Blesses So You Can Bless Him
The LORD said to Moses, “Accept these from them to be used in the work of the tent of meeting, and give this offering to the Levites, to each division according to their service.” Numbers 7:4-5 csb
I remember when I was little, I received an allowance from my dad. It wasn't much just a few dollars a week but I loved getting that cold, hard cash. I would often use it to buy fireworks from the ice cream man. I know, not your typical purchase from an ice cream truck! One memory stands out in particular. I decided to use some of my allowance to buy my dad a Choco Taco, his favorite treat. I was so excited because I had never bought anyone a gift before. When my dad pulled into the driveway after work, I had that ice cream ready and waiting for him. He loved it and was genuinely blessed by the gesture. As we sat there eating ice cream together, we talked about our day and simply enjoyed one another's company. The funny thing is that, although I made the purchase, my dad was actually the provider. In a sense, he bought himself the ice cream because it was his money that I used. The money had been given to me as an allowance, but it ultimately came from him.
We see a similar principle in our text. God tells Moses to accept what the tribal leaders bring for the Tabernacle. The people only possessed those items because God had first provided them. Before they left Egypt, God told Moses: "And I will give these people such favor with the Egyptians that when you go, you will not go empty-handed. Each woman will ask her neighbor and any woman staying in her house for silver and gold jewelry and clothing, and you will put them on your sons and daughters. So you will plunder the Egyptians." (Exodus 3:21–22) God blessed His people so that they could, in turn, worship and honor Him. It's just like the ice cream I gave my dad. He blessed me so that I could bless him. Yet there is an even deeper truth here. Certainly, God was demonstrating that He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think. But beyond that, His desire was to dwell among His people. Just as my dad sat with me and shared that ice cream, God desires fellowship with those He loves. The Tabernacle was the place where God's presence would dwell among Israel. The materials that were used to build it, and all the furnishings within it were gifts that God Himself had provided. By blessing Israel, God made a way for His presence to dwell in their midst.
The same is true today. Through Jesus Christ, God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places Everything we have comes from His hand and is given for the purpose of drawing us closer to Him. The greatest gift He ever gave was His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. He gave Him so that we might be reconciled to Him and enjoy fellowship with Him forever. So don't be afraid to offer what you have to the Lord. Whatever gift, talent, resource, or opportunity He has entrusted to you ultimately came from Him in the first place. And just as my dad delighted in the simple gift of an ice cream cone, our Heavenly Father delights when His children lovingly offer back to Him what He has first given them. In doing so, we discover that the greatest blessing is not the gift itself, but the fellowship we enjoy with the Giver.
Agape,
Frank
