Numbers 7:1-5: a reflection

1On the day that Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle, and had anointed it and sanctified it with all its furniture, and the altar with all its vessels, and had anointed and sanctified them; 2the princes of Israel, the heads of their fathers’ houses, gave offerings. These were the princes of the tribes. These are they who were over those who were counted; 3and they brought their offering before the LORD, six covered wagons and twelve oxen; a wagon for every two of the princes, and for each one an ox. They presented them before the tabernacle. 4The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 5“Accept these from them, that they may be used in doing the service of the Tent of Meeting; and you shall give them to the Levites, to every man according to his service.”

When the tabernacle is set up and consecrated, the leaders of Israel bring an offering, but not of the usual kind: they bring six covered wagons and twelve oxen, practical means for carrying out the service. And the LORD tells Moses, Accept these from them, that they may be used in doing the service of the Tent of Meeting. The leaders gave, not incense or symbolic gifts only, but the practical resources the work of God required, the wagons and oxen to carry the heavy things; and God accepted these practical gifts for his service.

Notice what the leaders gave: practical resources for the work of God. They did not give only symbolic or ceremonial offerings; they gave wagons and oxen, the practical means by which the service of the tabernacle could be carried out, the heavy things transported. And God accepted these, directing that they be used in the service. The work of God had practical needs, and the leaders met them with practical gifts. Their offering was not less spiritual for being practical; God accepted the wagons and oxen as an offering for his service, given to support the work.

That is worth taking to heart, for the work of God has practical needs, and we can offer practical resources to meet them. We can think of offering to God only in spiritual or symbolic terms, forgetting that his work has practical needs, resources, means, labor, that we can supply; but the leaders gave wagons and oxen, practical gifts for the service, and God accepted them. Offering practical resources for God's work is a real offering, accepted by him. Do not think that only symbolic or spiritual gifts count as offerings to God; the practical resources you give to support his work are accepted by him too. Offer practical resources to support the work of God, the means and help it needs, as the leaders gave wagons and oxen for the service of the tabernacle, which God accepted; for the work of God has practical needs, and the practical gifts we give to meet them are real offerings, accepted for his service.

Lord, when the tabernacle is set up and consecrated, the leaders of Israel bring an offering, but not of the usual kind: they bring six covered wagons and twelve oxen, practical means for carrying out the service. And you tell Moses, accept these from them, that they may be used in doing the service of the Tent of Meeting. The leaders gave, not incense or symbolic gifts only, but the practical resources the work of you required; and you accepted these practical gifts for your service. Show me what the leaders gave: practical resources for your work. They did not give only symbolic or ceremonial offerings; they gave wagons and oxen, the practical means by which the service could be carried out. And you accepted these, directing that they be used in the service. Your work had practical needs, and the leaders met them with practical gifts. Their offering was not less spiritual for being practical. Take that to my heart, for your work has practical needs, and I can offer practical resources to meet them. I can think of offering to you only in spiritual or symbolic terms, forgetting that your work has practical needs, resources, means, labor, that I can supply; but the leaders gave wagons and oxen, and you accepted them. Keep me from thinking that only symbolic or spiritual gifts count as offerings to you; the practical resources I give to support your work are accepted by you too. Help me offer practical resources to support your work, Lord, the means and help it needs, as the leaders gave wagons and oxen for the service.