Numbers 7:74-79: a reflection

74one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense; 75one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 76one male goat for a sin offering; 77and 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 Pagiel the son of Ochran. 78On the twelfth day Ahira the son of Enan, prince of the children of Naphtali, 79gave 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 tribal leaders bring their offerings for the dedication of the tabernacle, one on each day, the account records each in turn, down to the last. On the twelfth day, Ahira of Naphtali brings his offering, recorded as fully and carefully as the offering of the first leader on the first day. He came last, on the final day; yet his offering was given the same full record as those who came before. The last was not treated as the least; the one who came on the twelfth day was recorded with the same care and completeness as the one who came on the first.

Notice that the last leader's offering was recorded as fully as the first. Ahira came on the twelfth day, at the very end; he might have been treated as an afterthought, his offering summarized or passed over quickly since it was the same as all the others. But instead, his offering was written out in full, with the same care and completeness given to the first. The last was not the least in the record; the one who came at the end was given the same attention as the one who came at the beginning. God's account gave the twelfth day the same weight as the first; the last was honored as fully as the first.

That is worth taking to heart, for in God's sight the last is not the least, and those who come at the end are valued as fully as those who came first. We can feel that being last means being least, that those who come at the end, or late, or after others, matter less; but God gave the last leader's offering the same full record as the first. In God's sight, the last is not the least; he gives the same attention to those who come at the end as to those who came first. Do not think that being last means being of less value to God; he honored the twelfth day's offering as fully as the first. Take comfort that in God's sight the last is not the least, and those who come at the end are valued as fully as those who came first, as Ahira's offering on the twelfth day was recorded as completely as the first leader's; for God gives the same care and attention to the last as to the first, and being last in the eyes of the world does not mean being least in his.

Lord, as the tribal leaders bring their offerings for the dedication of the tabernacle, one on each day, the account records each in turn, down to the last. On the twelfth day, Ahira of Naphtali brings his offering, recorded as fully and carefully as the offering of the first leader on the first day. He came last, on the final day; yet his offering was given the same full record as those who came before. The last was not treated as the least. Show me that the last leader's offering was recorded as fully as the first. Ahira came on the twelfth day, at the very end; he might have been treated as an afterthought, his offering summarized or passed over quickly since it was the same as all the others. But instead, his offering was written out in full, with the same care given to the first. The last was not the least in the record; the one who came at the end was given the same attention as the one who came at the beginning. Take that to my heart, for in your sight the last is not the least, and those who come at the end are valued as fully as those who came first. I can feel that being last means being least, that those who come at the end, or late, or after others, matter less; but you gave the last leader's offering the same full record as the first. In your sight, the last is not the least. Keep me from thinking that being last means being of less value to you; you honored the twelfth day's offering as fully as the first, Lord. Help me take comfort that in your sight the last is not the least, and those who come at the end are valued as fully as those who came first.