Everyone who is numbered, from twenty years old and over, shall give the contribution to the Lord. The rich shall not pay more and the poor shall not pay less than the half shekel, when you give the contribution to the Lord to make atonement for yourselves. You shall take the atonement money from the sons of Israel and shall give it for the service of the tent of meeting, that it may be a memorial for the sons of Israel before the Lord, to make atonement for yourselves. Exodus 30:14-16
Part of the worship prescribed by God through Moses was a tax. Everyone 20 years and older was to give money that would be used for the ‘service of the tent of meeting’. It would help with the operational costs of the priests. The rich and poor paid the same amount. The reason is that the payment God demands for sin is the same regardless of the sinner. God is not a respecter of man in this sense. A rich mans sins and a poor mans sins are both grave enough to separate them from God. The Bible says “the wages of sin is death”. It also says “but, the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus”. This flat tax reminds every believer that we need Jesus vicarious atonement.
Do I think too less of my sins? Do I get caught up in comparing myself to others, thinking somehow I am better than them?
Lord, thank you for the reminder that the ground is level at the foot of the cross. I am so grateful that Jesus paid the penalty for my sin. I accept what He did for me. I feel privileged that You invite me into Your tent of meeting.
