In the book of Numbers, beginning with the 11th chapter we are following the Israelites after they have left Sinai and are heading toward their promised land. This is a people who have seen the miracles of the Lord, have even heard his voice giving them the Ten Commandments and the entire calamity after that. We follow these people with wonder as they complain about having 'only manna to eat'.
4Now the(G) rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also(H) wept again and said,(I) "Oh that we had meat to eat! 5(J) We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. 6But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at." (Numbers 11:4-6)
This manna that they were complaining about they could boil it, grind it and bake it into cakes that 'tasted like cakes baked in oil' (Num 11:8). That sounds to me like cake doughnuts! Wow, cake doughnuts every morning, yet they were complaining, and wanting meat. As an avid meat eater, I can understand about wanting meat every now and then. Again, we read this with wonder at times, and we say to ourselves, 'wow, they have daily miracles presented to them, they don't have to work hard for their food they are provided daily, and yet they grumble at God!
This story goes on, and reaches its' high point with the sending of the spies in to Canaan to search out the land. They were to report back what they found, the fortifications of the cities, and what the agricultural aspects of the land were like. We remember the story as the eight spies return with fearful reports, but Caleb and Joshua try to remind the people that The Lord is on their side. Yet the people rebelled against God:
1Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people(A) wept that night. 2And all the people of Israel(B) grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, "Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or(C) would that we had died in this wilderness! 3Why is the LORD bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword?(D) Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?" 4And they said to one another,(E) "Let us choose a leader and(F) go back to Egypt." (Numbers 14:1-4)
If Moses and Aaron had not fallen on their faces immediately and prayed and interceded for the people, The Lord would have destroyed the people right there and then. Instead, the Lord meted out a judgment that was to remind the people in the future that God is farsighted, fair yet strong in His judgment:
20Then the LORD said, "I have pardoned,(AB) according to your word. 21But truly, as I live, and as all(AC) the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD, 22(AD) none of the men who have seen my glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have put me to the test these(AE) ten times and have not obeyed my voice, 23(AF) shall see the land that I swore to give to their fathers. And none of those who despised me shall see it. (Numbers 14:20-23)
Yet within all this miraculous story, this is not what was brought to my attention this morning. My study took me on to chapter 15 of Numbers, and again there were these laws about sacrifices (ugh, more sacrificial laws. To a priest they would be like amortization tables to a CPA), yet tucked into these laws is this little jewel:
13Every native Israelite shall do these things in this way, in offering a food offering, with a pleasing aroma to the LORD. 14And if a stranger is sojourning with you, or anyone is living permanently among you, and he wishes to offer a food offering, with a pleasing aroma to the LORD, he shall do as you do. 15For the assembly,(P) there shall be one statute for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you, a statute forever throughout your generations. You and the sojourner shall be alike before the LORD. 16One law and one rule shall be for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you."
17The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 18(Q) "Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you come into the land to which I bring you 19and when you eat of(R) the bread of the land, you shall present a contribution to the LORD. 20(S) Of the first of your dough you shall present a loaf as a contribution; like a(T) contribution from the threshing floor, so shall you present it. 21(U)
Some of the first of your dough you shall give to the LORD as a contribution throughout your generations. (Numbers 15:13-21)(emphasis mine)
God is talking to Moses about the future; "and when you eat of the bead of the land"… He is promising these rebellious people that yes God will honor his promise and His people will live in the land, not them personally, but their families will. He goes on to talk about when they make bread dough, something so simple that was done on an almost daily basis.
Contributions to the Lord are to be from our plenty. If you haven't made bread by hand before, once you get all the dough mixed together, you've got to let it rest and rise. Now you are at the point of dividing the dough out into separate loaves. This is when you have your plenty; now I can divide out my loaf as a contribution for the Lord. I have this huge mound of dough, yes my arms and back are tired from mixing, but I've got this beautiful, fragrant, elastic mound of potential bread ready to be divided and shaped into separate loaves for the family. They will be so happy when they bite into this fresh warm bread. But first, make a contribution loaf for the Lord; it was He that supplied the essentials to make the bread. Through His grace and mercy I can provide for my family and myself.
Is that what I am doing, writing my check for my contributions to the church, or whomever I give my money to, out of my plenty? Or, do I look at what's left in the account and go, uuhm, I'll write a check for this much; God knows I mean to give more later. Yes, I used to do that too.
One law one rule for all alike, native or sojourner. All who attend, or even the visitor are to make their contributory offerings to the Lord. Does that mean, if I visit my sisters church I need to make a contribution to them also? My feeling here is for me personally; if God puts it on my heart to contribute to the mission of their church I had better do it, and out of the plenty He has provided; He has promised that He will supply our need if we are faithful.
Read Psalm 112 chaverim and Praise His Name
Baruch HaShem
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