As the angel was preparing to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD relented and said to the death angel, “Stop! That is enough!” At that moment the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. When David saw the angel, he said to the LORD, “I am the one who has sinned and done wrong! But these people are as innocent as sheep—what have they done? Let your anger fall against me and my family.” That day Gad came to David and said to him, “Go up and build an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.” So David went up to do what the LORD had commanded him. When Araunah saw the king and his men coming toward him, he came and bowed before the king with his face to the ground. “Why have you come, my lord the king?” Araunah asked. David replied, “I have come to buy your threshing floor and to build an altar to the LORD there, so that he will stop the plague.” “Take it, my lord the king, and use it as you wish,” Araunah said to David. “Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and you can use the threshing boards and ox yokes for wood to build a fire on the altar. I will give it all to you, Your Majesty, and may the LORD your God accept your sacrifice.” But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on buying it, for I will not present burnt offerings to the LORD my God that have cost me nothing.” So David paid him fifty pieces of silver for the threshing floor and the oxen. David built an altar there to the LORD and sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings. And the LORD answered his prayer for the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.
2 Samuel 24:16–25 NLT
As prophet Gad witnessed and reflected the events at Araunah’s threshing floor, he got a glimpse of the redemptive significance:
To King David, the Servant of the Lord,
Peace be unto you from the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. As the smoke of our burnt offerings ascends to the heavens in the aftermath of the Lord’s judgment, a glimpse of the Almighty’s redemptive plan has been revealed to me, and my heart is stirred to share it with you.
My king, in your actions at the threshing floor of Araunah, I witnessed a heart willing to make the sacrifice for the sake of your people, a true shepherd ready to bear the punishment for the sheep. It is a testament to your devotion and love for both God and His people. Your royal subjects, even Araunah, have the same willingness to devote what they have to God and their country. Yet, as I have pondered and prayed, it has become clear that neither our sacrifices nor devotion cease the destruction.
A thousand years prior, our father Abraham stood on this very mount [1], ready to sacrifice his son Isaac, only for the Lord to provide a ram in the boy’s stead [2]. It was a moment of divine provision, a testament to a faith that reckoned God capable of raising the dead [3]. This act of faith and God’s provision have echoed through the ages as a symbol of unwavering trust and divine mercy.
Today in your willingness to sacrifice yourself for your people, you have echoed Abraham’s obedience. The Lord was not willing to take your life or your family, just like He did not take the life of the boy Isaac. This is because only the righteous can pay for the unrighteous [4], therefore redemption can only be made through God’s provision [5]. So, the true lifting of our punishment harkens to a future promise, a hope yet unseen.
A thousand years hence, upon this same mount, an Ultimate Shepherd will come and lay down His life for His sheep [6], not just for Israel, but for all humanity. This Shepherd, greater than Abraham, greater than you, my king, will offer Himself as a sacrifice. In Him, the ram provided for Isaac and the offerings you made this day will find their fulfillment. He will be the true and final sacrifice, bearing upon Himself the iniquities of us all.
Thus, let us understand, O King, that our acts of atonement are but shadows of the substance that is to come in Him. This is the Lord’s redemptive plan – a plan of mercy, love, and grace that spans the ages. Rejoice, for though we see but dimly now, a day is coming when the glory of the Lord will be fully revealed, and His mercy will triumph over judgment. May this knowledge bring you peace, O King, and may your heart be comforted in the assurance of His coming.
In service to the Most High,
Gad, the Seer
Share with your friends: “How can my small sacrifices, whether in time, money, or service, align with and contribute to God’s larger redemption, both now and in the future?”
[1] 2 Chron. 3:1 said that this is Mount Moriah where Solomon built the temple. Genesis 22:2 said that God had a specific mountain in Moriah for the sacrifice.
[2] See Genesis 22 for the full story.
[3] The author of Hebrews 11:19 understood “We will be back” from Genesis 22:5 as Abraham believed that God could even raise the dead.
[4] 1 Peter 3:18
[5] In Psalm 40:6–8, David literally wrote in Hebrew, “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but an ear you have pierced for me; burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require. Then I said, ‘Here I am, I have come—it is written about me in the scroll. I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart’” which could be translated in some Greek Septuagint manuscripts “but a body you have prepared for me” and the author of Hebrews 10:4–10 explained more fully that God did not desire sacrifices and offerings, but instead prepared a body for Jesus to offer for sin.
[6] John 10:11
The sacrifices that I have made for God’s provision are serving the media team, and helping Jenney to cook for church. My small sacrifices are aligned with God’s larger redemption because I know that not matter how much I sacrifice, it can never be compare to what Jesus has done for us. Yet, I want to be like Him to make sacrifices. And my sacrifices shall be like Jesus’s sacrifice, aligned with God’s redemption. And not matter sacrifice and suffering I have in my life, I won’t dead. Because my unrighteous soul cannot pay another unrighteous.
(from Steve)
I believe our sacrifices to the Lord is nothing compared to the sacrifice of Jesus for our sins therefore the sacrifices I’ve made has been nothing but a small dot on a larger scale map but yes I do believe small sacrifices can lead to a larger redemption because God is so mighty yet so loving and caring so I believe he will always provide as long as we are willing to accept him as our Lord and Savior so yeah I’m probably off topic. I always feel like my sacrifices are small and never enough but I guess that’s all in my own head for God loves me just the way I am. I do need to sacrifice more of my time to him in reading scripture and praying, I don’t any funds to spare tho, and I try to be of service to others the best I can. 😇
The small sacrifices that I make, be it time, money, or service, are part of a bigger picture in advancing God’s Kingdom. The Lord calls us to be steadfast, unmovable, and always abounding in His work, as our labor in the Lord is not in vain. I remember sacrificing much of my time and resources onto international students in college. There were times when I felt discouraged, unsure if I was making any impact in these students’ lives. However, years later one of our students messaged me and told me that she got baptized. She was thankful for the work I did for the fellowship, and that part of it led her to where she was now. It was a humbling and clear reminder that our sacrifices do contribute to God’s larger redemption.
it becomes evident that David opted for the third choice, entrusting himself to the mercy of the Lord. Verse 14, David articulates his decision: “Let us now fall into the hand of tIhe Lord, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man.” This verse highlights David’s preference to place himself in the hands of the Lord, emphasizing the greatness of the Lord’s mercies. This demonstrates David’s confidence in God’s compassion and willingness to forgive. David’s choice reflects his comprehension of God’s character, underscoring his desire to seek God’s mercy and grace instead of facing the consequences solely at the hands of human authorities. Consequently, we can reasonably conclude that David chose to rely on the Lord’s mercy and grace in this particular situation. In our lives, discerning which choices are better when they all seem good or bad can indeed be challenging. Similar to David, we may not always have a clear answer. The key lies in our relationship with God and our understanding of His character, just as David knew God well. As we deepen our knowledge of God through prayer, studying His Word, and seeking His guidance, we can gain wisdom and discernment. God’s Word serves as a compass, helping us navigate life’s complexities and distinguish between what aligns with His will and what doesn’t. However, it’s natural to feel apprehensive when God confronts certain aspects of our lives, even if they may seem good on the surface. These could be the “idols of our heart” that we’re reluctant to let go of. Yet, as we grow in our faith and understanding of God’s love and purpose for us, we may come to realize that His plans are always better than our own.
From Rose
What stood out to me the most is this part of the passage
“Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and you can use the threshing boards and ox yokes for wood to build a fire on the altar. I will give it all to you, Your Majesty, and may the LORD your God accept your sacrifice.” But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on buying it, for I will not present burnt offerings to the LORD my God that have cost me nothing.” So David paid him fifty pieces of silver for the threshing floor and the oxen. David built an altar there to the LORD and sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings. And the LORD answered his prayer for the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.”
We see that David did not accept the offerings for free and insisted on buying it as he would not sacrifice anything that did not cost him anything. We see God answered his prayer and He stopped the plague.
I think when we sacrifice time, money, or services it should not be of convenience but of it intentional just as David intentionally declined something that did not cost him anything and intentionally made sure that his sacrifice costed him something. We see that God too sacrificed his own son for our redemption and so the theme of sacrifice with a cost is important. It depends on what we sacrifice in order to know if it contributes to Gods redemption. If we sacrifice time, money and service for others and to build the kingdom then yes it would contribute to Gods redemptive plans but if we sacrifice without cost or intention then I’m not sure if it will contribute to anything other than bringing glory to ourselves.
Kathy
It’s crazy to think that the place where the first sacrifice God asked (from Abraham-Issac) to David’s sacrifice to the ultimate sacrifice by Jesus on the cross are all the same/similar location-Mount Moriah (threshing floor).
To invest in anything that is meaningful it takes many types of sacrifice. And there are days when it is harder even for those we love. On those harder days I remember the ultimate sacrifice Jesus made bc His sacrifice was so much greater than mine. The pain he went through, not only physical but emotional-separation from His Father.
During the more challenging days my problem can be the attitude. Am I sacrificing with a joyful heart or grumbling heart?
It’s comforting to know that God stopped the plague even before David spoke of his wrong or before his sacrifice on the threshing floor by answering David’s prayer.
“Stop! That is enough!” V16
“And the LORD answered his prayer” v25
God is so gracious and merciful.
Only the righteous can pay for the unrighteousness so the small sacrifices I make I pray that they align and contribute to God’s larger redemption as I look to His guidance trusting in His goodness as I obey day by day, growing in His grace and mercy. I feel privileged to be part of His greater plan with great hope.
“only the righteous can pay for the unrighteous [4], therefore redemption can only be made through God’s provision [5]. So, the true lifting of our punishment harkens to a future promise, a hope yet unseen.”
The small sacrifices I make align with and contribute to God’s larger redemption, both now and in the future because they are “shadows of the substance that is to come in him.” This reminds me of Jesus’ sacrifice he made for us and our sins. His death is the biggest sacrifice that can be made that contributes to God’s larger redemption in my life.
I think that even the smallest sacrifices are what can make the difference in God’s plan for us. One example of this in my life was when I was playing club volleyball and we had the work program which contributed to my overall tuition at the club (this will be a long read). My sacrifices were my time and services. My contribution to the club was “peer coaching,” meaning that I helped with a couple teams. Although I only saw this as a way for me to get a lower cost for my family, it made a larger impact that I thought it would. The team that I peer coached for was an 11’s team, and the head coach they had was not the most encouraging coach in the club. For the girls I turned into a maternal figure and made them feel safer during their practices and tournaments. As a coach I strive to teach my players all I can about volleyball and giving them the space to grow. In my coaching, I try my very best to spread the love and kindness I have learned from Christ, because they are only kids and learning pretty much requires them to make mistakes. One of the girls I had in the past once told me that she doesn’t face performance anxiety much anymore because of my encouraging coaching style. I didn’t see how I could make such a big impact to the girls I coached before but I get reminded every time I see the girls at our club. This one story alone shows how small sacrifices “shadows of the substance that is to come in him” because there is always more substance when you are striving to live as Jesus. I strive to continue to be an encouraging figure to my players and try to impact my players in the same way.
I would hesitate to describe the time or money I contribute to the kingdom of God as a sacrifice. What I possess is not truly mine, so labeling them as sacrifices seems inadequate. God, on the other hand, sacrificed His very life for me. Nothing I give up could ever compare to the magnitude of His sacrifice.
In 1 Samuel 15:22-23, it is written, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.” This passage underscores that God desires our obedience above all else, even more than our offerings.
Obedience precedes sacrifice, just as we observe in Abraham’s obedience to God’s command to sacrifice Isaac. Throughout history, from Adam to David and beyond, we witness God’s boundless mercy upon His people and all of humanity. His love for us is so profound that He willingly sent His Son to be a sacrifice for us all.
Oh God, I am filled with gratitude for Your immeasurable love!
Small sacrifices, whether in time, money, or service, contribute to God’s larger redemption and to expand His work on Earth. Activities such as attending church, participating in small groups, tithing, cooking food, or committing to Bible reading challenges let us learn and grow in our spiritual life and help spread the message of the Gospel to others. Each little thing we do together plays a part in the growth and expansion of God’s kingdom.