Today's Reading:

Numbers 3
Numbers 4
Numbers 5

 
All jobs are important, from the CEO to the garbage man, a teacher, a fast-food worker , and even the Levite tent peg carriers. The Levites had very specific roles based on their family names. The blessing was that they were exempt from fighting in any war, but they had to protect the Tabernacle from outsiders at all times. The grace moment reminds us that God sees and values every role, no matter how small or “behind the scenes” it may appear. The Kohathites carefully wrapped and carried the Ark of the Covenant, the Gershonites hauled the curtains and coverings, while the Merarites hauled the heavy poles and tent pegs that literally held everything together. Without the pegs, the whole structure would not stand. Yet, each task was assigned by God with a purpose in mind. So, no matter if your job is a secretary, mechanic, or president of a company, rank and status are not seen by God. The Levites carried God’s presence on their shoulders, and you, too, may be carrying something sacred. Keep the love and integrity in your tasks and in everything you do, for His glory.  He sees you carrying the load , and that is what is most important. 

 

 

The book of Numbers was setting up the Wilderness instructions on how to break down the camp when it was time to move to a new location. Moses was to keep the people, as well as the Tabernacle and items, organized and holy. When God freed the Israelites from the Egyptians and spared their firstborns during the plague, he claimed all firstborn as His own. Due to the Golden Calf incident, where the Levites were the only ones to stand with Moses and God, God decided to keep all Levites instead of the firstborn from each family; they became favored and substituted for the firstborn.  

Aaron (Moses’ brother) and his two sons, Eleazar and Ithamar (remember two died by God when they offered unapproved fire) were the priests in charge of all sacrifices and the holy items. The rest of the Levites were divided into three clans based on Levi’s sons: Gershonites, Kohathites, and Merarites. 

The Gershonites were in charge of the Tabernacle’s curtains and coverings. The Kohathites were exalted with greater responsibility because they were from the line of Moses, Aaron , and Miriam; therefore, they were in charge of the sacred furniture and the Ark of the Covenant. An important detail is that only Aaron and his sons could cover the items and prepare them for travel. If one snuck the slightest peek at the items, it was instant death! There were layers of coverings to keep the holy items safe and secured, including using poles to carry the Ark so as not to touch it (extremely important). It was imperative that only the Kohathites carry the sacred items. The Merarites oversaw the heaviest items: the poles, tent pegs, frames, ropes, etc.   

In total, the Levite males who were counted from 1 month and older totaled 22,000. The firstborn from the other tribes were 22,273 , which left the Levites short by 273, and therefore each surplus firstborn had to be ransomed for a payment of 5 shekels of silver that was then given to Aaron to redeem the extra firstborns. God was making equal provisions among the people.   

Chapter 4 provided the job descriptions for packing up and moving the Tabernacle so that no one died in the process. Of the above counted Levites, the males of working ages 30-50 numbered 8,580. This was like the ultimate Boy Scout survival guide crossed with an OSHA regulation chart, just to move locations. Notice that the work was done for the “Tent of Meeting” to emphasize the importance of God meeting with the people there for atonement and guidance for the purpose of worship, and to remind them that it is a temporary structure. Carrying the tent, furniture, and structural elements was a sacred responsibility assigned to the Levites to keep everything portable and in order while traversing the wilderness.  

The purity of the camp was to remain spotless for God in a literal and spiritual sense. No one who was unclean could live in the camp- they had to be quarantined outside of the camp to avoid spreading any disease or impurity. It did not matter if you were male or female; the rules were across the board. God wanted to dwell with clean and holy people. To keep the camp holy, there were personal sins that had to be addressed as well. This was at the heart level. Restitution was to be paid along with 20 percent. If it was restitution to a family member, then the extra percentage was paid to the priest instead.  

The jealousy offering was a test for suspected adultery (see Deuteronomy 22:22 for laws on adultery). If a husband suspected that a wife had cheated on him (he did not need proof or a witness), he was to take her to the priest. Her hair was to be let loose in demonstration of shame. The dirt from the floor was mixed with holy water and the curse was written on a scroll to make the water bitter. When she drank it, if she was found guilty, her stomach would swell (pregnancy) and she would become infertile and possibly miscarry. If she was not guilty then she would be able to continue to have children. Infidelity was serious, and the repercussions of actual adultery were worse. Sin affected the entire community by breach of faith. This was quite the lie detector, but it was brought before God to keep peace and purity within the camp.   
 

Today's Discussion question: 

Given the meticulous rules for the Levites' being in and near the Tabernacle and the severe penalty of death for any "outsider" who came too near the sanctuary, what does this say about the nature of God's holiness, and how does the New Testament concept of every believer being a priest (1 Peter 2:9) redefine "access" in a modern context?

 
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