October 31, 2025 Morning Devotional

Morning Devotion: Read Exodus - Atonement Money

Exodus 30:11  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 12  When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the LORD, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them. 13  This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel shall be the offering of the LORD. 14  Every one that passeth among them that are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering unto the LORD. 15  The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when they give an offering unto the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls. 16  And thou shalt take the atonement money of the children of Israel, and shalt appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; that it may be a memorial unto the children of Israel before the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls.

As we read this passage of scripture we must understand that these instructions were for those who were old enough to grasp the concept of atonement or ransom of the soul.

At first glance you might say, “There it is; we can be saved, ransomed, atoned  by giving to the church. We can be saved by doing good works namely giving.”

My friend if that were so, Jesus would never have had to go to the cross. If any type of giving or working or operating in order to be saved, Jesus would never have gone to the cross. We could just do good, give and work and serve God and be saved. No! No! No!

Salvation is only by the grace of God and that through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Titus 3:4  But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6  Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

Well, you may ask, why then did they have to give this money?

As you read the scripture closely, you will find it says: “When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the LORD…”

You will also find it says: “And thou shalt take the atonement money of the children of Israel, and shalt appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; that it may be a memorial unto the children of Israel before the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls.”

The money was used “for” the ransom of the soul or “for” the atonement of the soul.

The word “for” always means “in order to” or “because of” In this case it means “in order to” meaning the money was to be used to build the tabernacle so there would be a place of worship and a place of sacrifice to atone for the soul.

Remember, the tabernacle was the place were God met with man at the mercy seat on the ark of the covenant. The tabernacle had to be built, the money was a tribute for ransom and for atonement. No tabernacle, no atonement. Even after the tabernacle was built, tribute money was used to maintain the tabernacle “for” the atonement of the soul. In verse 16 we read: “and shalt appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of the congregation”

Today, we give the tithes and offerings in the church. A tithe is one tenth of the gross of ones prosperity. If a person made a thousand dollars, he would give one hundred dollar to the Lord. Tithe is always given because of prosperity. Today it is not for the atonement of the soul nor for the redemption of the soul of that has already been accomplished in Christ Jesus. (The giving today is for the service of the church.)

I remember when we sold our home, we gave to he church one tenth of the equity after the sale. God blessed and we were able to purchase another home. When we sold that one we did the same thing and so on. God blesses the tithe. When we bought and sold cars we did the same thing. Every time we prospered we gave tithes to the church. Every time we receive a pay check we do the same thing. It is God’s way; it is God’s way of blessing.

The atonement today has already been paid in Christ Jesus. Today the money is for the church to prosper, maintain and spread the gospel of Jesus Christ around the world so others can be saved, ransomed, atoned. Do you want God to bless? give, give tithes, give offerings, give of yourself. (We do not give for the atonement of our souls we give for the saving of other souls and to worship the Lord who redeemed us and was our atonement.)

Are you a giver?

The choice is still yours,

Pastor Cook