Provision for Poverty

“But if she doesn’t have sufficient means for a sheep, she may take two turtledoves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. Then the priest will make atonement on her behalf, and she will be clean.” (Leviticus 12:8 CSB)

In the purification laws of Israel, following a prescribed period after childbirth, a mother was to take an offering to the temple. The instruction of the law was that this was to be a year-old male lamb and a young pigeon or turtledove. There was a “loophole” in this law so to speak, however, that provided for mothers who were in extreme poverty. In place of the lamb they could give another pigeon or turtledove.

So, why should you care about this?

Luke tells us why. He wrote that after Jesus was born, Joseph and Mary took Him to the temple at the prescribed time for his dedication to the Lord, and they took their offering according to the law: “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” This law was a provision for those who were in extreme poverty.

Remember that Joseph and Mary were a young couple just starting out in life. Joseph did not have much money as a carpenter in those days. And what he had, he had to give to the Roman government since a tax decree had gone out from Caesar Augustus. This simply underscores for us that the Lord Jesus, the Savior of the world, was born into extreme poverty. There were no Christmas trees, no shiny ornaments, no parades, no glitzy glamor of any kind. Just cold and poverty.

We may sometimes wonder why God allowed His Son to be born into circumstances like that. We do not know how to answer that, but it is clear that God demonstrated His power through His One and only begotten Son to change the world and to save people from the penalty for their sins, regardless of His circumstances.

Lord, Teach us today the truth that the only real Resource we have and need is You. Amen.