Numbers 7:21-25: a reflection

21one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 22one male goat for a sin offering; 23and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nethanel the son of Zuar. 24On the third day Eliab the son of Helon, prince of the children of Zebulun, 25gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was a hundred and 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 chapter records the offerings brought by the leaders of the twelve tribes at the dedication of the tabernacle. What is striking is that each leader brought an identical offering, the same silver platter, the same bowl, the same animals; and yet each offering is recorded separately, day by day, leader by leader, named and detailed in full. God did not simply summarize them as twelve identical gifts; he had each one written out individually, by name.

Notice that God records each offering separately, though they were all the same. He could have noted that the twelve leaders each brought the same gift, and left it at that; but instead, each leader's offering is set down individually, named and detailed. To God, each gift was not an anonymous copy of the others; it was this person's offering, noticed and valued as his own, even though it matched all the rest.

That is a quiet encouragement about our own gifts and service to God. We may feel that what we bring to God is nothing special, the same as what many others bring, lost in the crowd of similar offerings, unnoticed. But God notices and values each person's offering individually, as he did these; your gift is not merged into an anonymous mass, but seen and counted by God as yours. Do not think your offering to God is overlooked because it looks like everyone else's. God records each gift by name; what you bring to him is noticed and valued as your own. Offer to God what you have, however ordinary or similar to others', knowing that he sees and treasures your particular gift.

Lord, at the dedication of the tabernacle, each leader brought an identical offering, yet you had each one recorded separately, named and detailed, valuing each as that person's own gift rather than an anonymous copy. Encourage me with that about my own gifts and service to you. I may feel that what I bring to you is nothing special, the same as what many others bring, lost in the crowd of similar offerings, unnoticed. But you notice and value each person's offering individually; my gift is not merged into an anonymous mass, but seen and counted by you as mine. Keep me from thinking my offering is overlooked because it looks like everyone else's. You record each gift by name; what I bring to you is noticed and valued as my own. Help me offer you what I have, however ordinary or similar to others', knowing that you see and treasure my particular gift. Thank you that my offering is seen by you.