Bible Studies

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After finding the warning from God on greed in the collecting of tithes. First, in the parallels of the fruit of the land to the manna. Then, in the oath of Abraham to not 'take to a shoe' with Amos's commentary. The promise to not take gain of oppressions that is spelled and sound like 'maaser' (tithe). The first principle of strong drink purchased by tithe money for the greedy shepherds of Isaiah 56. The synergy of the three in Malachi 3: presumption, gain, and builded.

I then asked the question about Jacob's oath. Is there a warning from God given with Jacob's vow to give a tenth? A warning about greed just as there had been a warning given through Abraham's oath to not 'take to a shoe'. The only two mentions of tithing aside from the law of the tithe given to Moses is of the account given of these two patriarchs.

Not only did I find a warning, I found a prophecy of the practice of tithe collecting. If you have your eyes focused on the problem of greed as shown through the prophets can you see this warning. This prophecy is not found in the prophets as was the warnings through Isaiah, Amos and Malachi. It is found in Genesis in the narrative of Jacob's life.

After having received the promise of the land, Jacob then gives his vow, "If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God: And this stone , which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee."

Most of this vow is a repeat of the promise that God made just prior to the giving of this vow. God had said, "The land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it and to thy seed...I....will keep thee in all places whither thou goest." What is added in Jacob's vow is his own volunteer effort to give a tenth of the land he has just been promised.

It is later that God speaks to Jacob again after he has found wives, children, and cattle that God reminds him of his vow. God says 'vow' to remind Jacob of his part of the vow, not of the part of the vow that repeats the promise God had already given. What I am saying here is that God is saying 'tithe'. This is the only part of the vow that is Jacob's part and not God's. That, and the fact that he was to return to the land to inherit the promise.

So here we have God saying 'tithe' without saying the word. He says instead, 'Vow, your part.' Now we get to read of something very interesting to the modern tithe collector and payer. This is the first time God says tithe in the first person. God is talking tithe. What is recorded afterward should cause great pause in the tithe collecting church world.

"And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him (Jacob), Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father's house? Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money (silver)."

If you read commentarys of the early church fathers and others on Leah and Rachel, you will find references to their being prophetic of the church. Some say Leah represents the church, others such as Augustine say that Rachel represents the church.

Without getting into this subject of church prophecy, I will say it is quite interesting that the first mention of 'tithe' by God, though in an oblique fashion, brings liberty to those who are having their money wrongfully taken.

What else could we glean from this narrative that might apply to us today who are being told from all sides, to 'pay your tithe'.

How about all those marked cattle becoming Jacob's instead of the father's. 'Ringstraked and speckled'? Is this from being in bondage of some kind? Then there is the bad attitude of Laban (the father) saying, "All that thou seest is mine:" How about this manipulation, "I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp." Bondage with music. But it would still be 'give me the money'.

It was the mature sheep (rams) leaping on the cattle that caused them to be ringstraked and speckeled. This could be the mature Christians bring them into bondage, or it could be the mature Christians showing them of their condition that caused them to go from Laban's flock to Jacob's.

What of Rachel's attitude that caused her to steal the idols of her father. Isn't it covetousness that is called idolatry?

Rachel and Leah had said, our father has sold us. This is what Amos says of those who take to a shoe. They 'sell the poor for silver.'

Silver or money continues to be the problem with tithing in God's word. Is anyone paying attention!

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