This week’s Parashat begins with giving tithes and offerings. We are in the giving season this week’s Parashat speaks about. There are 2 types of gifts given now one every year and one given every 3rd year. When these 2 gifts are given there is a decrees that goes along with these gifts.
Decree every year:
Deuteronomy 26:5-10
““You must then say in the presence of the Lord your God, ‘My ancestor Jacob was a wandering Aramean who went to live as a foreigner in Egypt. His family arrived few in number, but in Egypt they became a large and mighty nation. When the Egyptians oppressed and humiliated us by making us their slaves, we cried out to the Lord, the God of our ancestors. He heard our cries and saw our hardship, toil, and oppression. So the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a strong hand and powerful arm, with overwhelming terror, and with miraculous signs and wonders. He brought us to this place and gave us this land flowing with milk and honey! And now, O Lord, I have brought you the first portion of the harvest you have given me from the ground.’ Then place the produce before the Lord your God, and bow to the ground in worship before him.”
Decree every 3rd year:
Deuteronomy 26:12-15
““Every third year you must offer a special tithe of your crops. In this year of the special tithe you must give your tithes to the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows, so that they will have enough to eat in your towns. Then you must declare in the presence of the Lord your God, ‘I have taken the sacred gift from my house and have given it to the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows, just as you commanded me. I have not violated or forgotten any of your commands. I have not eaten any of it while in mourning; I have not handled it while I was ceremonially unclean; and I have not offered any of it to the dead. I have obeyed the Lord my God and have done everything you commanded me. Now look down from your holy dwelling place in heaven and bless your people Israel and the land you swore to our ancestors to give us—a land flowing with milk and honey.’”
The first decree is because of Jacob
Genesis 28:20-22
“Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God. And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.””
Jacob made a vow he did not keep therefore his descendants are required to honor it because he made a vow to God. Once Israel enters the Promised Land and they have peace God kept His end of the deal. Jacob never had peace in his home. God kept him safe and he gave him clothes and food. Jacob when it came to family there was not peace. That is why his sons sold Joseph into slavery. Jacob then mourned for decades.
The decree made every third year is not set to a particular year. This year could be the 3rd year for me but not for you. This is a personal offering time based on when you begin giving tithes and offerings. The purpose of this gift is for the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows. It is given to take care of others. Now you may not have realized that we are not just to give to widows and orphans. We are to give to foreigners and Levites. Did you know that anyone who works in ministry would be considered Levites? It is our job to take care of those who minister to others. It is our job to be a blessing to those do the work of God. We are required every 3rd year to make sure we do our part to support those who have laid down their lives to serve others. Now that you know this what are you going to do about it?
When you give these gifts you make a declaration reminding God of what He has done. This shows God you know what He has done for you. You show appreciation for Him and His Blessings. This is the equivalent of your child being thankful for what you have done for him. What does it make you desire to do when your child shows they appreciate you not just the gift? It makes you desire to do more for them. When we make these declarations it makes God desire to do more for you. Are you making God desire to do more for you?
