A Divine Plan by I. H. EVANS.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 25, 1908

A Divine Plan

By I. H. EVANS.

The support of God's cause is a matter which the Lord has not seen fit to leave to the caprice of his followers. When Israel left Egypt, it was under the direct leadership of the Lord himself. The angel of God was over the camp by day in a cloudy pillar, and by night in a wall of fire round about. When the cloudy pillar lifted, Israel journeyed forward. When it rested, Israel encamped. The history of the church offers no parallel of divine leadership such as we find in those early days. No one can doubt the presence of Jehovah in that order of things. His glory was visible; his presence was a thing of sight.

In the time of direct leadership, God gave laws for his people to follow, and among others were the plans which God ordained for the support of his church. From the twelve families that left Egypt, God selected the tribe of Levi to serve him in the sanctuary. To this tribe, land was not apportioned, as to the others. They were to minister before God day by day; but their support was not a matter of chance, neither was it left to the uncertain liberality of God's people to supply the needs. God fixed their support by a law which he commanded, and that was the law regulating tithes and offerings. Fearing that Israel might neglect the support of these servants of God, the Lord added precept to precept, charging his people with faithfulness in this respect.

“And the Lord spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel. And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation. . . . But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they shall bear their iniquity: it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel they have no inheritance. But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an heave-offering unto the Lord, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.” Num. 18: 20-24. “Take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest upon the face of the earth.” Deut. 12: 19. “And the Levite that is within thy gates; thou shalt

not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee.” Deut. 14: 27.

Thus we can see how the Lord provided for his servants in ancient times. The Levites were to minister continually before the Lord, and in return their portion, or living, was in the tithe and offerings which God commanded his people to bring to his service.

To-day Seventh-day Adventists are endeavoring to support their evangelical work from the tithes and offerings of God's people. We have never resorted to questionable methods in obtaining funds for the support of the Lord's work. Systematic giving in tithes and offerings is the Bible plan, and this plan we follow. If every Seventh-day Adventist would be faithful in these things, there would be abundant funds in the treasury to carry on the Lord's work.

That precious promise in Malachi should ring in our ears and move us to faithfulness in God's work: “Will a man rob God? Yet, ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts.”

I. H. EVANS.