Numbers 7:38-43: a reflection

38one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense; 39one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 40one male goat for a sin offering; 41and 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 Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 42On the sixth day, Eliasaph the son of Deuel, prince of the children of Gad, 43gave 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;

In the dedication of the tabernacle, each tribal leader brought an offering, and the offerings were identical: the same silver platter and bowl, the same golden ladle, the same animals for the various sacrifices. Yet Scripture records each one's offering separately, in full, day after day, naming each leader and listing his gift, even though it was the same as all the others. God did not lump the identical offerings together as one; he had each recorded individually, each leader's gift named and noted in its own right.

Notice that God had each offering recorded individually, even though they were identical. The offerings were the same, and the account could have simply noted that each leader brought the same thing. But instead, each one's offering is written out in full, named, recorded in its own right. God did not overlook or merge the individual gifts because they looked alike; he noted each one, valuing each leader's offering individually, even though it was no different from the rest. Each gift was seen and recorded, each in its own right, however identical to the others.

That is worth taking to heart, for we can feel our gifts to God are lost among the many identical ones others bring. We can think that what we give or do for God is nothing special, the same as what countless others give, and so is not particularly noticed; but God recorded each identical offering individually, valuing each in its own right. Your gift to God, your offering, your service, is not lost among the many, unnoticed because others bring the same; God sees and values each one individually, as he had each identical tribal offering recorded in full. Do not think your gift to God unnoticed because it is the same as what others bring; God notes each one individually, valuing yours in its own right, as he recorded each leader's identical offering separately, seeing and valuing each gift, however alike, in its own right before him.

Lord, in the dedication of the tabernacle, each tribal leader brought an offering, and the offerings were identical: the same silver platter and bowl, the same golden ladle, the same animals. Yet Scripture records each one's offering separately, in full, day after day, naming each leader and listing his gift, even though it was the same as all the others. You did not lump the identical offerings together as one; you had each recorded individually. Show me that you had each offering recorded individually, even though they were identical. The account could have simply noted that each brought the same thing. But instead, each one's offering is written out in full, named, recorded in its own right. You did not overlook or merge the individual gifts because they looked alike; you noted each one, valuing each individually. Take that to my heart, for I can feel my gifts to you are lost among the many identical ones others bring. I can think that what I give or do for you is nothing special, the same as what countless others give, and so is not particularly noticed; but you recorded each identical offering individually. My gift to you, my offering, my service, is not lost among the many; you see and value each one individually. Keep me from thinking my gift to you unnoticed because it is the same as what others bring; you note each one individually, valuing mine in its own right, Lord, as you recorded each leader's identical offering separately. Thank you that you see and value my gift, however alike to others', in its own right before you.