Context No. 4201 of 4322 · Numbers

Numbers 18:8-13: in context

8The LORD spoke to Aaron, “Behold, I myself have given you the command of my wave offerings, even all the holy things of the children of Israel. I have given them to you by reason of the anointing, and to your sons, as a portion forever. 9This shall be yours of the most holy things from the fire: every offering of theirs, even every meal offering of theirs, and every sin offering of theirs, and every trespass offering of theirs, which they shall give to me, shall be most holy for you and for your sons. 10You shall eat of it like the most holy things. Every male shall eat of it. It shall be holy to you. 11“This is yours, too: the wave offering of their gift, even all the wave offerings of the children of Israel. I have given them to you, and to your sons and to your daughters with you, as a portion forever. Everyone who is clean in your house shall eat of it. 12“I have given to you all the best of the oil, all the best of the vintage, and of the grain, the first fruits of them which they give to the LORD. 13The first-ripe fruits of all that is in their land, which they bring to the LORD, shall be yours. Everyone who is clean in your house shall eat of it.

Because the priests and Levites had no tribal land of their own to farm, God made a special provision for them: the offerings the people brought to him would be the priests' portion. I have given you the charge of my offerings, God tells Aaron; the holy gifts, the oil, the wine, the grain, the firstfruits that the people bring, these will be your support. Those who served at God's altar would be provided for from God's altar.

What stands out is God's care for those set apart for his service. The priests gave up the ordinary means of livelihood, a portion of land to work, in order to serve at the tabernacle. And God did not leave them to fend for themselves; he arranged their provision, giving them a share in what was offered to him. Their needs were met, not by their own farming, but by God's deliberate provision.

There is a principle here that runs through Scripture: God provides for those who give themselves to his service. Those who dedicate themselves to God's work can trust that he will supply their needs, arranging their provision even when they have set aside ordinary means to serve him.

Do I trust that God provides for those who give themselves to his service, arranging their sustenance as he provided for the priests from the offerings, so that I can serve him without anxious fear that my needs will go unmet?

Sources

Numbers 18:8: "I myself have given you the command of my wave offerings, even all the holy things of the children of Israel... as a portion forever."
Numbers 18:12: "I have given to you all the best of the oil, all the best of the vintage, and of the grain, the first fruits of them which they give to the LORD."
1 Corinthians 9:13-14: "Those who serve the altar share in the altar. Even so the Lord ordained that those who proclaim the Good News should live from the Good News."