- “If you bring a grain offering of firstfruits to the Lord, offer crushed heads of new grain roasted in the fire. Put oil and incense on it; it is a grain offering.” A specific occasion for a grain offering is the offering of firstfruits, an acknowledgement of God’s providence in harvest. This helps us to understand that the grain offering is an offering from the fruit of our work. In modern church practice this would usually be in the form of money. Apart from the offering of firstfruits, why would people offer a grain offering? Is this something that is required?
Thanksgiving and acknowledgement that God is our provider. No.
- “The priest shall take a handful of the flour and oil, together with all the incense, and burn this as a memorial portion on the altar, a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.” There is a memorial element in a grain offering and this is pleasing to the Lord. What does the offeror of a grain offering seek to commemorate?
That God has been good and kind to us all and we are grateful. God is our God; he watches over us and takes care of us and we acknowledge this relationship and celebrate it. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
- “The rest of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the food offerings presented to the Lord.” While the burnt offering is completely burnt, a portion of the grain offering belongs to the priests and is considered holy. Those who work for the Lord should receive a portion of what Christians give from the fruit of their work because they have no other means to support themselves. Would you agree?
Yes and how we take care of God’s workers reveals how we are grateful to God for taking care of us.
- Only the finest flour is to be used. Oil and salt are permitted to be added and incense for the portion that is burnt as a memorial to the Lord. The offering is not to be mixed with yeast or honey. Once again we see very specific instructions, telling us that God is particular about how we approach him and relate with him. What would be your takeaway from this?
We must be deliberate and intentional in our giving. We must be generous. We must be joyful for opportunities to show our gratitude to God. This is because our giving is primarily a giving to God whom we owe our life and all that fills it. Careless, grudging and “leftover” giving (and service) shows our arrogance and humiliates God (if he could ever be humiliated).
- Why do you think God creates a way for people to “give” to him out of what they have received from him? He obviously does not need any of what we offer.
Thanksgiving and gratitude are good for the soul and sets our sense of who we are and who God is in the right perspective. We should go beyond the regular weekly giving and create ways where we can celebrate God’s goodness towards us often, especially if we have a family because this will be a wonderful way to inculcate this gratitude in them.