We are in chapter twenty-five of Exodus with our word for today used for the first time in the Bible. תְּרוּמָה contribution, offering, gift. It is used 76 times in the Old Testament, used 3 times in our chapter. We find our word used to describe fund raising to set up the sacrificial system. Exodus 25:1-7 The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me a תְּרוּמָ֑ה contribution. From every man whose heart moves him you shall receive the תְּרוּמָתִֽי contribution for me. And this is הַתְּרוּמָ֔ה the contribution that you shall receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze ... for the ephod and for the breastpiece. Exodus 35:5, 21, 24 Whoever is of a generous heart, let him bring the Lord's תְּרוּמַ֣ת contribution: gold, silver, and bronze ... And they came, everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, and brought the Lord's תְּרוּמַ֨ת contribution to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the holy garments ... Exodus 36:3 And they received from Moses all הַתְּרוּמָה֙ the contribution that the people of Israel had brought for doing the work on the sanctuary. They still kept bringing him freewill offerings every morning. We also see our word used in reference to how the priests and their families were supported for their work. Numbers 18:24, 26, 28 For the tithe of the people of Israel, which they present as a תְּרוּמָ֔ה contribution to the Lord, I have given to the Levites for an inheritance ... Moreover, you shall speak and say to the Levites, ‘When you take from the people of Israel the tithe that I have given you from them for your inheritance, then you shall present a תְּרוּמַ֣ת contribution from it to the Lord, a tithe of the tithe ... So you shall also present a תְּרוּמַ֣ת contribution to the Lord from all your tithes, which you receive from the people of Israel. And from it you shall give the Lord's תְּרוּמַ֣ת contribution to Aaron the priest (Numbers 18:11, 19; Leviticus 7:32; Numbers 5:9) Did you notice that the priests were also to tithe from their income which came from the tithes of the people? God knows that giving is good for us because it reminds us that all of what we have comes from God. It is an act of trust that God will continue to provide. Notice how God provided over abundantly when the people trusted him. 2 Chronicles 31:10, 12 Azariah the chief priest, who was of the house of Zadok, answered him, “Since they began to bring הַתְּרוּמָ֜ה the contributions into the house of the Lord, we have eaten and had enough and have plenty left, for the Lord has blessed his people, so that we have this large amount left.” ... And they faithfully brought in הַתְּרוּמָ֧ה the contributions, the tithes, and the dedicated things. These gifts belong to God and are to be used as He instructs. Numbers 18:29 Out of all the gifts to you, you shall present every תְּרוּמַ֣ת contribution due to the Lord; from each its best part is to be dedicated. Malachi 3:8-10 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and וְהַתְּרוּמָֽה contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Did you see that when people fail to follow God's instructions on giving He calls them robbers? This practice of supporting God's work is continued in the New Testament. I'll close with this great section on supporting the work of the good news of Jesus Christ through His church. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, 12-13 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work ... For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God ... they will glorify God because ... of your contribution for them and for all others.
