In Genesis, God gave us a picture of what was to come. He promised Abraham that even though he was extremely old he would have children and build a nation of people from him and eventually bless the world through him. Abraham waited and got even older. He eventually did have Isaac. God then told Abraham to take Isaac up the mountain and kill him in sacrifice to God.
Abraham was faithful. He prepared to kill Isaac. There are a couple of interesting things to note. Abraham knew that he was going to kill his son and yet he told his servants that “they” would be back. (Gen 22:5) God had told him that he was going to kill his son, but God had also told him that a great nation would come from his son. He might have thought that after he killed Isaac, God would raise him from the dead. We don’t know what he thought, but he said, “we will be back!” He had great faith in God’s promises. This great faith is why we are all blessed through Abraham.
Most importantly, God showed Abraham the kind of love He has for us. He made Abraham go right to the point of stabbing his son. He required the sacrifice. But at the last moment stopped him and told him that He did not need Isaac and that instead He would provide the lamb which needed to be sacrificed. So Abraham, the father of us all, was able to feel exactly what God would later feel. If you can remotely imagine having to kill your child, perhaps you can imagine something of this sacrifice.
God gave this “first fruits” sacrifice to you. He paid a tithe of the first and best Son and citizen of the Kingdom of God to mankind, so that they might share in the blessing.
So don’t underestimate the importance of the principle of the tithe. Even God Himself paid it, so that He could have the blessing of living eternal life in perfect communion with you.
When you understand this, is it really too much to ask that you give God your first 10%?
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