LEADERSHIP IN GIVING (Numbers 7-8)

In the first chapter of Numbers, Moses appointed one man from each tribe of Israel to assist in taking the census.

By chapter 7, we see that those men had grown into leaders. They worked in a clearly coordinated, planned, effort, to present offerings for needs they perceived in beginning Tabernacle worship.

In chapter 8 we read the repetitive list of silver and gold vessels, grains, incense, livestock. Each tribe gave exactly the same items, none of which were commanded by God. They gave willingly and in a coordinated effort.

But back in chapter 7, they began with a very practical need: wagons to carry the furnishings of the Tabernacle, and oxen to pull them.

Their offering flummoxed Moses. I can see him now, scratching his head, asking God what he was supposed to do with the unexpected offering. He must have been puzzled, because God had to spell out the answer: "Receive these so that they can be used to transport the Tend of Meeting."

I love it. Men recognized as leaders, acting under Moses's direction, and then acting on their own initiative. And the first thing they wanted to do was to give back to God. They did nothing to puff themselves up.

May our leaders today do the same.