ORDER IN GIVING GIFTS. Numbers 7 The events in this chapter occurred before the nation's census was conducted. The Tabernacle was erected on the first day of the first month of the second year after Israel departed from Egypt. That was when Moses sanctified and dedicated the Tabernacle, and the glory of God settled into the Holiest place where God would dwell among His people. The consecration of the priests happened afterward. Then, for twelve days, the gifts mentioned in this chapter were offered. After this, the census was taken on the first day of the second month, and on the twentieth day of that month, the cloud lifted, and they set out from Sinai toward Moab.
God has a schedule of events for the lives of His people and the gatherings of God's people who come together in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Our duty is to recognize God's will through the doctrines and principles taught in His Word and to submit to the guidance of the Holy Spirit in all of our activities. We should never take God's words lightly because of who He is and our limited understanding of divine matters. His Word and Spirit must guide us in any service we do for Him. What is done for God is never forgotten, no matter how small or large it may be.
From start to finish, the Israelites built and furnished the Tabernacle with eager hearts and willing hands. They gladly and freely offered the abundant materials of gold, silver, and precious stones taken from the Egyptians when they were freed after four hundred years of bondage. They dedicated themselves to the work of constructing the Tabernacle with enthusiasm and devotion. The work the Lord entrusted to them was at the forefront of their minds.
The same principle applies to our service to the Lord. When we give, it should be done generously and with gratitude for the privilege of being part of God's kingdom. Whatever work we are called and gifted to do should be performed “as unto the Lord.” Our eagerness to take part in such meaningful things is not driven by obligation but by thankful and grateful hearts.
Although the Israelite tribes varied in size, there was equality in what they offered to the Lord. Each of the twelve tribes brought the same items in the same amounts. The work of building the Tabernacle was done willingly and without coercion, and the same was true when each tribe brought their gifts for its use. Interestingly, the gifts were presented in the order of the tribe's position around the Tabernacle and in the specific order they followed when traveling. The gifts they offered were costly, but each was treated equally despite differences in the camp's size and position. Everyone came in the same way, and each had a designated day to present their offerings. No tribe was overshadowed by another.
Giving gifts and free will offerings to the Lord starts in the heart and mind of the giver. Even though every gift brought to God in Israel was the same, God took note of and repeated every single thing each time. Every act of service we do and every gift we give to God is meaningful to Him. Even if it is the same as what others have given, God does not overlook individual actions. Each leader's name was mentioned. What he brought to give on behalf of his tribe was not ignored.
God is fair and precise in His record of what is done for Him. The offering was acknowledged, including what it was and the amount. When we give to God, the manner in which we give is also known by the Lord, who "loves a cheerful giver." Giving reluctantly and comparing what we give to what others give diminishes its value. A "hilarious giver" enthusiastically gives God what he or she can, knowing that God understands the heart and motive behind the gift.
God intended everything in the Tabernacle to be dedicated to the service it was made for. It was not just a formality but the foundation for the worship of God. Oxen and carts were dedicated to carrying the Tabernacle. Twelve lists of identical gifts were presented to the Lord according to an arranged plan to start the worship of God’s people at the Tabernacle. The value was no longer in the material itself, but in the purpose it served. While the building was being constructed, skilled workers handled the same materials. After the dedication, people would have died if they touched anything outside their responsibility.
As all those gifts accumulated for the work of the Tabernacle, it became clear what their purposes would be. The Gershonites and Merarites used the wagons to carry the heavy parts of the Tabernacle as appropriate. The plates, bowls, and other utensils were assigned to be used in specific places. The animals were allocated for the sacrifices to be offered. The dedication was carried out as God had planned. God and His people enjoyed a joyful fellowship together. What a wonderful time that must have been. Then, Moses entered the Tabernacle as the leader responsible for the people, and God spoke to him from the mercy seat.
As the Tabernacle worship began, there was a spirit of gratitude for God's faithfulness, a recognition of God's holiness, and an awareness among the people that “God is in this place.” This same consciousness is meant to be among God’s called-out and gathered people today. When the Holy Spirit is ungrieved and unquenched, He guides God’s people's worship in ways that fit the occasion. There is a sense that God is present; we are in the Lord's presence.
Without the divine Presence, the gathering would be merely ritual, entertainment, and religious form without meaning or the Lord's presence. The communion between the Lord and His people draws us together. The Tabernacle in this passage is called “the tent of meeting” because the Lord communicated with His people there. Our Lord communicates with us as His people in a special way when we are called together in the place of His choosing.
The Voice of God that spoke then connected what had happened with what God planned to happen next. The Voice was heard aloud several times, as recorded in the scriptures. Israel had Moses as their advocate with God. We have “an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous.” Moses recognized that the Lord was speaking to him and paid close attention to every word He said.
Every word that God says, whether spoken or written, holds equal importance. It reminds us that God knows everything we do and the motives behind it. He has reasons for making some things clear and withholding others from our understanding. He is the Sovereign God, and He knows what is best for us. He knows the end from the beginning and has the right to expect us to trust Him and obey His word. What we can and should do is always straightforward and easy for those who are willing to follow His guidance. Even giving unsolicited gifts should never be done carelessly or randomly. He deserves our best every time and in every way.
We hear the word of the Lord through the Bible when we recognize that written words are just as important as God’s spoken words. The written scriptures are more accessible to us and meet our needs because we can review what God has said again and again. There are many ways God speaks without using audible sounds. Creation proclaims the glory of God, and the sky shows His handiwork. Our inner consciences are used to give warnings and corrections from Him. The goodness of God speaks to us and leads us to repentance when we reflect on all His acts of grace toward us. The Lord’s Supper is a visible reminder of the cross and our Lord’s death as we worship together. The consistent life of a believer is a silent testimony of God’s faithfulness to those who do not know Him.
It is very important for believers to read the Bible and familiarize themselves with its truths in order to hear God's voice and know Him better. The guidance and filling of the Holy Spirit never contradict the scriptures of truth contained in the Bible. By praying for guidance and understanding, reading the Bible, and meditating on what we read, we receive messages from God that meet our needs, fill our minds and hearts, and direct us in decision-making and our daily walk with God. “Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee.”
Everything was in order; all the work had been completed. The pattern given by God was carefully followed, and the work was finished. The house of God sat in its glorious splendor, and from all parts of the camp, each tribe brought their share. This list of things to bring was the same for everyone - but something was missing.
The tabernacle was placed in the center of the camp, correctly positioned and facing the right way. The fence was built, allowing just enough space between the people and God's dwelling. The people watched, understanding this place was significant because it belonged to the nation. Their gathering spot was at the tabernacle of the congregation—but something was missing.
Then, each day for twelve days, a cart arrived with its load of magnificent treasure, as each tribe, in turn, brought fine gifts to God. There were silver plates of just the right size filled with fine flour. Sprinkling bowls were also there, filled with flour, all lined up—but something was missing.
Golden dishes filled with sweet incense are unloaded and placed in proper spots. Twenty-four bulls are brought for sacrifices, along with sixty rams, goats, and lambs—there are no more to gather. Everyone lifts their heads, searching for what might still be needed. “What is wrong? What comes next? Why are we waiting?” Something was missing.
Moses entered the Tabernacle at God’s call, and his tingling ears heard the Voice of God speaking from the mercy seat. God had taken His place among His people that day. Similarly, God still meets us in this way when His people come together at the place of His name. We gather in His name, under the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, and with Him among us, God’s voice is still heard.
The outward religious appearance is not enough, even if it looks good visually. The decorations and accessories don’t mean that God is close to us. We need the confidence that God is present among us. When He speaks through His Word, His Voice is heard, and He is the One in whom we trust – and God speaks.
When God speaks to us, the wise will all listen to what He has to say through His word. What He tells us to do is what we will make haste to do at His bidding. We will be eager and willing to find and seek guidance from His word for everything He calls us to do. His Voice in His Word. It is not absent for those who will do His will. With reverence and awe, we know nothing is missing.