GOD ‘EXPECTS’ us to OFFER ‘WILLINGLY’!
January
26 Bible Reading: Exodus Chapters 25-27
GOD ‘EXPECTS’ us to OFFER ‘WILLINGLY’!
Then
the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: "Speak to the children of Israel, that
they bring Me an offering. From
everyone who gives it willingly with his
heart you shall take My offering. And this is the offering which you shall
take from them...and let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among
them." (Exodus 25:1-3, 8)
The recent
history of the children of Israel reveals how they have acquired their wealth. Their
great grandfather Jacob had crossed the river Jordan with just his staff, but
through the twenty years, it was God who
blessed Jacob with wives, children and possessions (Gen. 32:10). His son Joseph
was the first of their predecessor who entered Egypt as a slave without even the tunic of many colors
that was snatched away by his brothers to produce as circumstantial evidence to
his father Jacob to prove his untimely death (Gen. 37:23, 28, 31-33). However,
God elevated Joseph to a powerful position, allowed them to settle in Goshen,
Egypt and blessed them with children, flocks, herds and other material
blessings (Gen. 50:8-9).
Before the
children of Israel left Egypt, Moses told them to ask for articles of silver,
gold and clothing from the Egyptians. God
gave them favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so they received all that
they had requested, and even more that they actually “plundered the Egyptians” (Ex. 12:35-36). Along with all the treasures of Egypt, they
had a great deal of livestock (Ex. 12:38b). This was a fulfillment of God’s
promise to Abraham many years ago that the children of Israel would come out of
Egypt “with great possessions” (Gen.
15:14b). So, in all account the children of Israel were immensely wealthy with goods that were not ‘earned’ but ‘gifted’ by
God according to His divine plan.
Now the time
had come for the children of Israel to build a tabernacle, so that God could
literally dwell in the midst of them (Ex. 25:8). God could just have ‘created’ a tabernacle by speaking the word just as He had created
the entire universe in the beginning of time (Gen. 1). However, God chose to
take offerings from His children to build His sanctuary for His dwelling place
on earth. We should note here that God expected only offerings that were
given out of willing hearts. God would not force His children to offer
anything to Him, but would rather wait and see what they would be willing to offer to Him.
Even today,
God operates on the same principles
that He had set up so many years ago. We are told to give – not grudgingly or
out of necessity – but cheerfully and willing for “God loves a cheerful giver”
(2 Cor. 9:7). Our willing offering should include not only our treasures, but our time and our talents as
well. Ultimately, God expects us to present ourselves
(our bodies) as a living sacrifice in His altar for His use. This is the reasonable service that we can do (Rom.
12:1), and God expects this sacrificial action from us.
Ask yourself
today: “Can I offer myself and all that I
have to God and for His kingdom on earth?”
