Today’s devotion comes from Numbers 31:25-47. Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2031&version=NASB1995
I quote only the following verses.
“Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “You and Eleazar the priest and the heads of the fathers’ households of the congregation take a count of the booty that was captured, both of man and of animal; and divide the booty between the warriors who went out to battle and all the congregation. Levy a tax for the LORD from the men of war who went out to battle, one in five hundred of the persons and of the cattle and of the donkeys and of the sheep; take it from their half and give it to Eleazar the priest, as an offering to the LORD. From the sons of Israel’s half, you shall take one drawn out of every fifty of the persons, of the cattle, of the donkeys and of the sheep, from all the animals, and give them to the Levites who keep charge of the tabernacle of the LORD.” Moses and Eleazar the priest did just as the LORD had commanded Moses.” Numbers 31:25-31.
——————-
We have heard the expression: “Share the booty!”
It is joyful to get booty, and we know it is a blessing from God to get the booty. We should also be joyful in sharing the booty with the LORD Who has blessed us so that we could get the booty.
Moreover, we have promises from God that when we so honor the LORD from our wealth, the LORD will continue to bless us with more booty.
God loves a cheerful giver.
“9 Honor the LORD from your wealth
And from the first of all your produce;
10 So your barns will be filled with plenty
And your vats will overflow with new wine.” Proverbs 3:9-10.
“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.” Malachi 3:10.
“Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;” 2 Corinthians 9:7-8.
But, despite the reasonableness of sharing the booty with God and the promises of God, we are dead in sin. We are ungrateful. We are greedy. We are selfish. We do not trust God.
But, there is hope!
God has made us alive and has given us His Spirit! God gives us the will to do His will! God works within us! God perfects the good work that He began in us!
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Ephesians 2:4-10.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23.
“for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13.
“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6.