Faith’s Provision
A few weeks ago, when I first began working on today’s message, I received an unexpected text from my daughter Clarissa asking about the requirement of tithing and whether it remains in effect for New Testament Christians. Apparently, she was challenged by someone who believes that tithing is part of the Old Testament law that was fulfilled with Christ’s death on the cross. Those who believe this say that we are no longer required to give the tithe but are now living under grace giving in which the amount given is determined only by personal conscience. While we do agree the good conscience of believers necessarily encourages giving, we also believe grace giving informs us of a higher standard than the law. Grace will never lead us to do less than the law required.
There is no reason to argue for lesser requirements since it is God who providentially supplies everything we have. Deuteronomy 8:18 says it is God who gives us the power to get wealth. Even under the law the principle of cheerful giving and giving above the tithe was operable and was never expected to be a cause of complaint. Giving God the firstfruits and the best was acknowledgement that God Himself is always faithful to supply whatever He requires.
One of God’s most surprising acts of providence was His method of providing the materials for the tabernacle. In months gone by, we have spent much time studying the magnificent demonstrations of Christian doctrines expressed through tabernacle worship. The theological implications are astounding but no less miraculous is the way God providentially supplied the costly physical materials for a ragtag group of slaves to make such a place of worship. Unless we are acquainted with divine intervention in the way Israel received this wealth, we would never believe the structure they built in the desert was possible. It would not have been without God since this group of wanderers had just left 200 years of bondage in Egypt barely accumulating more than a few animals and the clothes on their backs. How was it possible this place of worship would be awash in the finest gold, silver, and precious jewels that God required?
We would not imagine the Egyptians whose economy was dependent on slave labor would pay their servants to leave and to get out as fast as they could. This is what happened after God thoroughly thrashed them by bringing upon them ten devastating plagues. This practically caused the Egyptians to chase them out to ensure their own survival. When Israel left in the exodus, God told them to ask the Egyptians to give them what they needed for their journey. Their former taskmasters complied with such bounty and favor that Israel was loaded down with all the goods God would later require. The purpose was unknown at the time, but this is how God’s providence works. In a few weeks, the purpose for these valuables was revealed.
Rather than commanding Moses to force the people to give up their newfound wealth, God told him to ask for freewill offerings. They responded with such enthusiasm that Moses had to halt their giving. It was enough, and poor Israel kept the rest for themselves. This is surely an example for us. We should not be anxious for what we do not have. Is our God able to supply every need even from unexplained sources?
In today’s message, we see another example. When Israel entered the Promised Land, their first conquest was Jericho. God commanded that all spoils of their victory should be brought to His treasury. Instead, one was greedy, and his disobedience was repaid with his life and the lives of his family. He lost more than he stole not knowing that in the next conquest all the spoils of victory would belong to the people. He only needed to trust God for what He could not see.
These are good examples for our faith in never being anxious for our provisions. How much do we lack because we do not trust God’s providence? It is the corner that you have not yet turned that God asks you to trust Him for. He always knows the next step because He planned it. Unwavering faith permits us to take it without fear.
Pastor V. Mark Smith