Scripture Daily

Context No. 3048 of 4322 · Numbers

Context · Reflection

Numbers 7:50-55: in context

50one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense; 51one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 52one male goat for a sin offering; 53and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elishama the son of Ammihud. 54On the eighth day Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur, prince of the children of Manasseh, 55gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;

This continues the dedication offerings for the altar, each tribe bringing the same silver platter and bowl, the same bulls and rams and lambs. Here Ephraim's leader gives his gift, and then, on the eighth day, Manasseh's leader begins his, identical to all the rest.

Yet again the same offering is written out in full for each tribe. Elsewhere this record reminds us that God names each giver; here notice another thread. The offerings are brought over successive days, one tribe per day, not all at once. There was an order and a patience to it. Each tribe waited its turn, and each day's giver was honored fully when his day came. God's work unfolds in sequence, not in a single rush, and each has an appointed day to give. No tribe was overlooked, and none pushed ahead; each brought its gift in its own proper time.

Can I trust that my "day" to give and serve will come in God's ordering, and give faithfully in my turn without rushing ahead or feeling overlooked?

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