We are in chapter twenty-two of Exodus with our word for today. נָתַן give, hand down, set, place, lay, allow, surrender, turn into. It is used 2,010 times in the Old Testament, 5 times in our chapter. Most of the uses of our word are in the sense to transfer possession of something concrete or abstract to somebody. Let’s look at all the uses in our chapter. Exodus 22:7, 10-11, 17 If a man יִתֵּן֩ gives to his neighbor money or goods to keep safe, and it is stolen from the man's house, then, if the thief is found, he shall pay double … If a man יִתֵּן֩gives to his neighbor a donkey or an ox or a sheep or any beast to keep safe, and it dies or is injured or is driven away, without anyone seeing it, an oath by the Lord shall be between them both to see whether or not he has put his hand to his neighbor's property … If her father utterly refuses לְתִתָּ֣הּ to give her to him, he shall pay money equal to the bride-price for virgins. Since we have already looked at these verses with our words from previous days let’s focus on the next two uses that refer to people giving to God. Exodus 22:29-30 You shall not delay to offer from the fullness of your harvest and from the outflow of your presses. The firstborn of your sons תִּתֶּןyou shall give to me. You shall do the same with your oxen and with your sheep: seven days it shall be with its mother; on the eighth day תִּתְּנוֹyou shall give it to me. We have previously looked at our words for firstfruits here the fullness of harvest or fat of the land. God’s generosity to us is emphasized throughout the Bible. It is interesting that God gives us everything we have and then asks us to give some of what he has already given to us back to him. He does this because it is the best thing for us to be reminded where everything comes from so that we don’t think we created it by ourselves. And to keep us trusting in God’s provision by giving back to him and his work. The firstfruits belong to the Lord, whether it’s a firstborn son, a firstborn animal, or the firstfruits of the field and orchard. If it is wrong to withhold a man’s garment or wages, how much worse is it to withhold from the Lord the gifts that He gives us to return to Him?
I’ll close with a few verse that show God’s generosity to us which is good for us to remember when it’s our time to not delay in giving back to Him. 1 Chronicles 29:14 But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. Acts 17:25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. Psalm 145:16 You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
