So I have to admit, this thought should not have stopped my reading, should not have surprised me. My husband and I were reading in Exodus (part of a study Bible we do the nights that we can). Exodus 30:11-16 to be exact. It is entitled “Atonement Money”.
“Then the Lord said to Moses ‘When you take a census of the Israelites to count them, each one must pay the LORD a ransom for his life at the time he is counted…. Each one who crosses over to those already counted is to give a half shekel…. The rich are not to give more than half shekel and the poor are not to give less…”‘
excerpts from Exodus 30:11-16
This sounds very…un-Christian.
First you must realize that I believe we are to read the Bible as a living book; this is written specifically regarding the Israelites as God had Moses lead them miraculously from their lives of slavery in Egypt. However, we as Christians should realize this also applies to a Christian life, as God has given His Son Jesus to redeem us from our lives of slavery to sin. These people were so down-trodden, 200 plus years removed from the healthy and free life that God wanted for them, that the LORD gave them the Pentateuch (the first 5 books of the Bible) to guide them. So we also, as Christians living in a world of sin so long that we do not know what the FREE life that God offers us should look like, should read these books with a forward thinking of how it applies to our lives.
Now, back to Exodus 30 and the ‘un-Christian’ idea that an atonement should be paid for. God was in the middle of telling Moses about the Tabernacle (the church for the Israelites where God was to dwell while they were in the wilderness), when He interrupted Himself to tell Moses this important bit. So why is it important and why do we get uncomfortable when we read it. Because we firmly believe that Salvation is free, the “gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our LORD.” This is clearly stated throughout the Bible.
Yet what does it say in Exodus? In verses 12-16 it says “each one must pay the LORD a ransom for his life…..then no plague will come on them when you number them…is an offering to the LORD….use it for the service of the Tent of Meeting.” So at the time someone is counted as one (or a family) that chooses to follow the God of Israel, they owe a standard set amount which will go towards providing for His temple and workers; it will cover the cost of redeeming a life and God will allow that no plague will come on them.
It will be a memorial for the Israelites before the LORD, making atonement for your lives.
verse 16
Now we should not miss-read this to say that if we pay money then we have paid Christ back for his sacrifice. As stated numerous times in the Bible, Christ’s gift of eternal life is free to any who would receive it.
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God–children born not of natural descent,, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
John 1:12-13
No, salvation is free. But to be counted as a Christian, to be counted as one of Christ’s followers or even his family (as it said in John stated above), to be in a relationship with Christ…we owe God. And if we follow the directives of Exodus 30, we all owe the same amount, no matter if we’re rich or poor. And the money isn’t for God, the Bible clearly says that He own the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalms 50:10) and that God would rather we give of our hearts than money (Hosea 6:6 “for I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.”) But if we get literal again, the silver/money that was to be paid for our ransom at the time of entering a relationship with God was to be for the ‘upkeep of the Sanctuary‘ (Clear Word version). God’s place of meeting with us. It’s our responsibility.
And what do we get for this ransom money? This is beautiful. Exodus 30:16 Clear Word version “This money is for the upkeep of the Sanctuary that it may continue to be a memorial before the Lord to protect you.” (emphasis applied). Earlier in the passage ‘so no harm will come to them’ (Clear Word) and in the NIV “Then no plague will come on them”. What had the Israelites just gone through? A release from a kingdom which had placed them into slavery and the ultimate near-destruction of an entire empire by ten plagues brought on by God Almighty; first frogs, followed by gnats, flies, destruction of livestock, boils, hail, locusts, darkness and then death. They knew what was possible. And God not only had led them out to allow them to worship Him and become a great nation in His name, but He was now promising them that if they chose to accept his payment for their lives (be His) and gave of themselves to maintain His temple, He would protect them.
Beautiful. Simple. And yet, so often forgotten. (Or not even read). How many who call themselves Christians do not realize that they are claiming to be of God’s family because it’s free but then acting as if they do not belong. And God’s thought of this, in Jesus’ own words, is harsh.
[Jesus said] “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: ‘these people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules’. Jesus called the crowd to him and said, ‘Listen and understand. What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.'”
Matthew 15:7-2, Jesus quoting Isaiah 29:13
Are you a Christian? Have you accepted God’s free gift of salvation, his paying of your ransom? Have you, then, paid to be a member of God’s family? Do you upkeep the meeting place of God? Do you behave like a Christian? Do you speak like one who is in Christ’s family?
I’m just going to let you mull this over. As I have been. As always, take it to God. See what He impresses you with. Praise God for his living word and the promise of the Holy Spirit to help us read with discernment.
