JACOB’S TITHE
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Jacob’s tithe appeared in the bible before the coming of Moses’ law. Few people notice it. Nobody every preached a tithing sermon with this example, which is good. But just in case someone try to quote this episode as an example of tithing before the law, let us look into it first:
Gen 28:18 Then Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put at his head, set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on top of it. Gen 28:19 And he called the name of that place Bethel; but the name of that city had been Luz previously. Gen 28:20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, Gen 28:21 so that I come back to my father's house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God. Gen 28:22 And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God's house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.
So there it is.
What Is The Nature of Jacob’s Tithe?
Is Jacob’s tithe anything like the tithe of Abraham or the tithe of Moses? Of course not.
1) At that time, there was still no requirement to give tithes to God
2) Jacob made a voluntary offer to tithe
3) Jacob made the offer to tithe as a vow
4) Jacob set conditions for God to fulfill before he would pay the tithe, i.e. :
· God be with him and guide him AND
· Kept him fed AND
· Kept him clothed SO THAT
· He can return to his father’s place in peace THEN
Shall the Lord be his Lord and he shall give a tenth to the Lord
What Shall We Conclude?
1) Jacob made a vow on his own accord
2) Jacob was asking for future benefits
3) He would pay the tithe only after God has met all ( notice the ‘ands’ and the ‘then’?) his conditions
4) The tithe was to be given after the blessings were received, not before.
Further questions which beg an answer would be –
1) Did Jacob actually fulfill that vow? The bible does not say anything about it, but we will just assume that he did.
2) When Jacob gave a tenth to the Lord, how did he give it? Did he give it through some personages? Did he give it to any temple? Did he burn a tenth of all he had received from the Lord as tithe to Him?
Well. Nobody knows the answers. We only know that there was no temple and there were no priests to receive it.
So then, should anyone be telling to tithe in the way Jacob tithed? Should anyone be saying that Jacob’s tithe is an example for a new testament believer to follow because it happened before the law of Moses?
Should you made such a vow to God? It is up to you, but the bible says that God does not require you to made any oaths to Him. Remember He always blesses first?
The unpleasant truth is that when a story in the bible does not serve the monetary interest of the church, it is never used.
The unpleasant truth is that when a story in the bible does not serve the monetary interest of the church, it is never used.
Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
This was taken in Ipoh, nearby the New Town Market. I wonder if this registered dentist is still operating, since the photo was taken in the evening. If it is, it is definitely a dying profession, supplanted by the Dental Surgeons qualified from universities.
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