Overview
God commanded Israel to present the firstfruits of their harvest and flocks as an offering to Him. This act of worship symbolized recognition that all blessings came from God's hand and that He held first place in their lives. The firstfruits were given to the priests as part of their sustenance and support in serving the tabernacle.
Key Scriptures
"The firstfruits of your grain, your new wine and your oil, and the first wool from the shearing of your sheep, you shall give to him" (Deuteronomy 18:4, ESV).
"When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance and have taken possession of it and settled in it, take some of the firstfruits of all that you produce from the soil of the land the Lord your God is giving you and put them in a basket" (Deuteronomy 26:1-2, NIV).
Application
Believers today honor God by giving Him the first and best of their resources, trusting that He provides for all their needs.