Numbers 7:62-67: a reflection

62one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense; 63one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 64one male goat for a sin offering; 65and 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 Abidan the son of Gideoni. 66On the tenth day Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, prince of the children of Dan, 67gave 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;

As the leaders of the tribes bring their offerings for the dedication of the tabernacle, each on his own day, the text records offering after offering, and they are identical: the same silver platter and bowl, the same incense, the same animals for the same sacrifices. Ahiezer of Dan brings exactly what those before him had brought, following the same pattern of faithful giving. He does not need to stand out, to bring something different or grander; he is content to do the same good the others had done, taking his place in the pattern of faithful offering.

Notice that Ahiezer brought the same offering as those before him, content to do the same good. He did not seek to distinguish himself with a grander or more original gift; he brought exactly what the others had brought, following faithfully in the same pattern. There is no note of his wanting to stand out, to be different, to outdo the rest; he simply did the same good, faithfully, in his turn. He was content to take his place in the line of faithful givers, doing the same good the others had done, not needing to be singular or to draw attention to himself.

That is worth taking to heart, for we too can be content to do the same good as others faithfully, rather than needing to stand out. We can want our good to be distinctive, to stand out, to be grander or more original than others', chafing at simply doing the same good faithfully; but Ahiezer was content to bring the same offering as those before him, doing the same good in his turn. There is no shame in doing the same good others have done; faithfulness, not distinctiveness, is what matters. Do not despise the ordinary good that others have done before you, craving instead to stand out; be content to do the same good faithfully, in your turn, as Ahiezer brought the same offering as the rest. Be content to do the same good as others faithfully, taking your place in the pattern of faithful giving, rather than needing your good to stand out or be singular, as each leader brought the same offering in his turn; for faithfulness in doing the same good matters more than standing out, and there is no shame in following faithfully where others have gone.

Lord, as the leaders of the tribes bring their offerings for the dedication of the tabernacle, each on his own day, the text records offering after offering, and they are identical: the same silver platter and bowl, the same incense, the same animals for the same sacrifices. Ahiezer of Dan brings exactly what those before him had brought, following the same pattern of faithful giving. He does not need to stand out, to bring something different or grander; he is content to do the same good the others had done. Show me that Ahiezer brought the same offering as those before him, content to do the same good. He did not seek to distinguish himself with a grander or more original gift; he brought exactly what the others had brought, following faithfully in the same pattern. There is no note of his wanting to stand out, to outdo the rest; he simply did the same good, faithfully, in his turn. He was content to take his place in the line of faithful givers. Take that to my heart, for I too can be content to do the same good as others faithfully, rather than needing to stand out. I can want my good to be distinctive, to stand out, to be grander or more original than others', chafing at simply doing the same good faithfully; but Ahiezer was content to bring the same offering as those before him. There is no shame in doing the same good others have done; faithfulness, not distinctiveness, is what matters. Keep me from despising the ordinary good that others have done before me, craving instead to stand out; help me be content to do the same good faithfully, in my turn, Lord, as Ahiezer brought the same offering as the rest.