My wife Sandy and I are reading through the Bible together each day, and this week we read Numbers 7, the 2nd longest chapter in the Bible . . . and eighty-nine of the most monotonous, repetitive verses in all of Scripture!
I'm sorry, but read 'em for yourself and tell me it's not so!
In Numbers 7 we are told of the gifts that each of the twelve tribes gave for the service of the Tabernacle.
So in verses 12-17 we read:
The one who brought his offering on the first day was Nahshon son of Amminadab of the tribe of Judah. His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; one male goat for a sin offering; and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Nahshon son of Amminadab.
Okay, that's not so bad. I mean you expect to encounter a paragraph like that in a book like Numbers.
But then you come to verse 18 and read:
On the second day Nethanel son of Zuar, the leader of Issachar, brought his offering. The offering he brought was . . ."
And then come the very same words that you just read in the paragraph above! Nethanel brought the exact same gifts on Day Two as Nahshon brought on Day One!
Immediately after that, you read the very same words about the offering brought by Eliab on Day Three, and then the same thing for the offering of Elizur on Day Four, of Shelumiel on Day Five, and so it goes all the way to Day Twelve!
Twelve repetitive paragraphs devoted to twelve men bringing the very same gifts twelve days in a row!
Wouldn't you think God could just list the men once and say "and they all brought . . ."? Just use ditto marks or something?
No! Our Lord makes special mention of each one by name and gives the specific details of everything offered by each man. Even a teaspoonful of incense gets mentioned (12 times!).
The point is that God relates to us personally and takes special note of what each individual gives Him.
Yesterday I sent out a mass "Thank You" to all of the subscribers of TentMakersTips, and it occurs to me that this might have given the wrong impression.
Perhaps you think that because many people were told about my friend Japheth's plight that there was an overwhelming response and your gift might not be needed. That is just not the case.
In the first place, this newsletter goes out to a relatively small circle of friends (you could expand that number by clicking on the "Forward to a Friend" link at the bottom and that would be great--or just send your friends to the signup form at www.goinghigher.faithweb.com ). Second, out of that small circle just a few (six if I count myself) have indicated that they would like to give something toward meeting Japheth's needs.
So, if you are one of those six, I just want to let you know how much your gift is appreciated. Don't think that the response was so great that your contribution is not needed.
We will send our gift via Western Union on March 30. If you would like to join yours to ours in order to save the transfer fee and get a tax receipt, please send your check or money order payable to Adgateville Baptist Church before that date. The address, once again, is:
Adgateville Baptist Church
Mrs. Fannie Waits
1242 College St. 4-A
Monticello, GA 31064
Don't forget to note "Kenyan Missions" on the memo line and state whether it is a one-time gift or a monthly gift. If the latter, you can sign up here for a gentle monthly reminder. I would like to send you a thank you gift if you send your mailing address. You needn't worry about my keeping it to send you junk mail (I couldn't afford the stamps). And I certainly will not give it to anyone else.
If you would rather have a digital gift, I can send that to you via email, and that's what I will do if I don't get your address by next Friday.
Thanks for your love of the Savior and His servants. I know you will follow through with whatever the Lord lays on your heart to do (2 Cor 8.11).
If I can serve you, please let me know.
Tags:
giving, kenya, missions
Posted at: 10:23 AM | Add Comment
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