Journal Through the Bible: Week 22 Monday

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Numbers 8:1-9:14

The Levites are consecrated for service and the second Passover is commemorated. It was the first anniversary of the people's freedom from bondage in Egypt!

Does God make any promises in this passage?

• None specified, but it is inferred that obedience brought blessings. This can be assumed because the man who refused to observe the Passover brought a curse, or punishment, upon himself. He would be cut off from the people.

Does this passage teach anything about Jesus?

• The lighting of the candlestick is a wonderful picture of Christ and His churches. In Revelation chapter 1 John saw Jesus in heaven walking among similar candlesticks that represented 7 churches in Asia. The churches are to be the pillar and ground of the truth (I Tim. 3:15) that shine the light of the gospel into men's hearts so that they may hear the good news that Jesus has atoned for sins and made a way for men to be friends with God once more.
• Each individual Christian, who are also to be members of a local church to help them shine brighter, are to be the lights of the world (Matt. 5:14 - see blog header above), that let their light so shine before men that they will see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven (see Matt. 5:16). This was originally God's intended purpose for the Hebrew nation. Their placement on the kings' highway and the situation of their capital city of Jerusalem (the city on the hill) was to be a shining testimony of God's goodness to His people so that the Gentiles would want the blessings that were granted to the Israelites. These are the people to whom Jesus was preaching in Matthew chapter 5.
• Jesus was the firstborn among many brethren (Romans 8:29). The Levites were the substitution of the firstborn of the people, Jesus was the substitute for all who are also called the firstborn in Romans chapter 8 (those who are called according to his purpose: just like the firstborns and then the Levites! Romans 8:28). Remember that it was the firstborns of Egypt that had died and God had preserved the firstborns of Israel alive because of the Passover blood over the door. God had bought them for His service!
• Aaron, the High Priest, was a picture of Jesus, our High Priest. All of the Levites who were sanctified for service were given to help Aaron complete the work. So are all of the sanctified believers given to Christ to help him complete the work on earth. (It wasn't angels that were given the task of spreading the good news. It was people!)
• The Passover was a picture of redemption through the blood of Jesus. It was first celebrated by the people prior to the death of the Egyptian firstborns.

Does this passage teach anything about yet-future events?

• Much of the tabernacle furniture will be represented in Heaven, including the candlestick. (Revelation 11:4, for example)

Does God issue any commandments?

• God commanded the lamps on the candlestick to be lighted. 
• The Levites were to be cleansed and ordained for service in the tabernacle including through the giving of sacrifices on their behalf. They were to belong to the LORD in the stead of the firstborns
• God called the Levites who were between the ages of 25 and 50 to the service of the tabernacle and the congregation. At age 50 they were to retire from active service but could help their brethren keep the charge of service. (Perhaps this meant that they could help with some of the lesser tasks but were not required to help with the ceremonies or the loading and bearing of the tabernacle burdens as described in the previous chapters.
• The Children of Israel were told to keep the Passover in the wilderness of Sinai on the first anniversary of their freedom from Egypt. There were a few questions about who could partake in the Passover and God clarified the instructions concerning the ordinance.