Dedication of the Firstborn

December 20, 2015 Background Scripture: Exodus 13:11 – 16; Leviticus 12:1 – 8; Numbers 3:5 – 13; Luke 2:21 – 39 Lesson Passage: Exodus 13:13b – 15; Luke 2:22 – 32 The dedication of the firstborn of Israel was one of several memorials the Lord established to be a teaching tool from generation to generation throughout Israel’s history. This memorial was to be used to teach future generation about the final plague God used in Egypt to deliver their ancestors from bondage. God sent a death angel throughout Egypt to kill the firstborn of mankind and beasts but He protected the firstborn of Israel under the blood of the Passover lamb. Since God delivered Israel’s firstborn from destruction by the death angel, He claims all of Israel’s firstborn as His own, forever. Initially, Israel was commanded to acknowledge God’s claim to the firstborn by setting them apart for God’s service at the time of birth. The firstborn males of animals were to be offered as a sacrifice to God or redeemed. This commemoration by setting apart or redemption of the firstborn of animals and children at the time of birth in Israel was to be practiced throughout Israel’s generations after they were delivered from Egyptian bondage. However, during the wilderness years before Israel entered into Canaan, God changed the redemption process for firstborn children. God chose to separate the tribe of Levi as holy unto Him to serve as priests of the Lord rather than the firstborn from each family. All of the Levites were taken, instead of the firstborn, and set apart for the Lord’s service. (This was in keeping with the blessings Jacob pronounced on his sons before he died. Jacob declared that Levi and Simeon would not both inherit because of the brutal way in which the two brothers massacred an entire village to defend the honor of their sister who had been violated by one of the villagers. When their father Jacob learned of their deed, he was in awe of it and concerned as to how it would appear to the neighbors seeing that the Israelites were foreigners in Canaan at the time it occurred. Jacob remembered the incident as he blessed each of his sons prior to his death.) Not only were the firstborn children required to be set aside for the Lord and redeemed, but the mother who had given birth had to follow a purification process prescribed by God. Although the Levites were charged with serving the Lord as priests all of their days instead of the firstborn of Israel, the firstborn were still required to be presented before the Lord after the days of purification of the mother. After the process was completed, she had to bring an offering to the priest to be presented to God to atone for her. All mothers in Israel were required to comply with the purification process but the offering to be sacrificed afterwards varied depending on the family’s ability based on their substance. No one was exempt because of poverty or lack. It is this provision of the Law that gives us some insight into the financial status of Jesus’ earthly parents. Mary’s offering after her days of purification is an indication that she was a poor person but yet obedient to the Law. It was this obedience that led her to dedicate her firstborn, Jesus. Robert C. Hudson November 16, 2015

Acceptable Offerings

December 13, 2015 Background Scripture: Leviticus 22:17 – 33; 23:9 – 14, 31 – 33; Deuteronomy 22:6, 7; Micah 6:6 – 8; Isaiah 1:10 – 20; Romans 12:1, 2; 1 Corinthians 10:14 – 22 Lesson Passage: Leviticus 22:17 – 25, 31 – 33 When we believe that the one receiving is the most blessed, then our attitude about giving is anything but what God requires of us. With this attitude, the giver is likely to think that he is bestowing the blessings himself. However, if we begin with the precepts about giving that are found in the word of God, then our understanding—and hence our attitude—about giving will be quite different. Through the bible, God shares much about giving and receiving. A very important biblical precept is not included in the background scriptures but it says “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” When our thinking is twisted about the human act of giving to others, then it can be difficult to understand God’s requirements concerning our gifts to Him. God requires that we respect His choice of human channels through whom we are to give gifts to Him—or through whom He will receive them. Sadly, many never make it pass that stumbling block. Once we get beyond the people God uses, we are then expected to understand and comply with God’s standard of acceptability of offerings. This may be a newsflash for some: God does not have to accept whatever we choose to give Him! I warn you not to get too far “off the chain” because God may choose to take it all from you and give it to someone who will honor His standard. So let’s look to the bible to gain an understanding of God’s standard of acceptability of offerings. First, offer one’s self to God by being just, merciful, and humble. In other words, we should first make sure our vessels are acceptable to God by examining our attitude and motives concerning giving. We offer ourselves to God by allowing our character to be shaped by the word of God. We accept what God says in His word as the standard for right and wrong. No matter how perfect the gift or offering, it is made acceptable or unacceptable by the character of the giver. Perhaps some people insist you should take whatever they offer you because they do not yet realize this. Or, they don’t want their character to be examined in light of the gift or maybe the gift is being used as a smokescreen to hide some character flaw. I am suspicious of people who believe the worth of the gift is based on the fact that they are the ones offering it. Secondly, offerings for God should be brought to God’s house or the place(s) where God chooses to place His name. How do we know if a location is such a place? We know by the fruits of those who congregate there. God is at work in His house and the results speak for themselves. If the congregation convening at a specific location is being led by God, their works will manifest it. If they are doing the works of God, then this is a proper place to bring an offering for God. Your offering should not have a blemish, or in other words, should be what you would desire to keep for yourself. If it is being offered in thanksgiving, then it should be a freewill offering and not coerced or the amount determined by someone else. We should offer the first fruits to God and only consume for ourselves after this offering is made. After we have humbled ourselves, we honor God by giving Him the first and the best of what we have. This is an acceptable offering. Robert C. Hudson November 16, 2015