Numbers
chapter 8 describes the procedure prescribed to “set
apart”
the tribe of Levi for their service in the Tent of Meeting. In
Leviticus chapter 8 the sons of Aaron were dedicated as priests for
the spiritual service. Here the Levites are presented to God by the
nation of Israel to do the physical work of ministry. God commands,
“The
Levites will be Mine“.
First the purification process is described to make them
ceremonially clean. “Sprinkle
the water of cleansing on them; then have them shave their whole
bodies and wash their clothes and so purify themselves.”
When we try to purify ourselves by making outward changes, it is
only a preliminary step. The Levites are then presented by the whole
assembly of Israel at the Tent of Meeting “before
the Lord“.
The Israelites are to lay their hands on the Levites, then Aaron is
to present them “as
a wave offering from the Israelites so they may be ready to do the
work of the Lord“.
Remember, the wave offering was a symbolic expression indicating,
“This belongs to you God”. This is an essential step in
our spiritual maturity too. It is impossible to accept Jesus Christ
as our Savior, until we first acknowledge Him as our Lord.
The
next step in the dedication of the Levites explains, “After
the Levites lay their hands on the head of the bulls, use the first
one for a sin offering to the Lord and the other for a burnt offering
to make atonement for the Levites“.
Remember from Leviticus chapter 1, this atonement (meaning to
cover), symbolized the blood of the sacrifice to temporarily cover
the sin. The priests were to slaughter the animal, sprinkle its
blood on the side of the altar, and then “burn
all of it on the altar“,
symbolizing our need to give our whole life to God. Also remember
from Leviticus chapter 4, the sin offering was symbolic of our
repentance. The priest must remove all of the fat and burn it before
the Lord on “the
altar of burnt offering“.
Everything else, the hide and the valuable parts, along with the
worthless parts, were to be taken outside the camp to the place where
the ashes were thrown, and burned on the ash heap. In comparison to
the righteousness of God, our best efforts are just junk. We really
only come to true repentance when we stop trying to earn our way to
heaven with our own good works.
The
chapter ends with another reminder that the Levites are the full
payment that God required for sparing the nation of Israel at
Passover. God declares, “I
have taken them as My own in place of the first born… from every
Israelite woman… I have taken the Levites in their place“.
And notice the reaction, “The
Levites came to do their work at the Tent of Meeting“.
Just like the Levites, you and I are accepted completely by God as
His own when we accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as being our
atonement. I receive forgiveness when I believe His blood was shed
for me. 2 Corinthians 5:21 reminds us “He
made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might
become the righteousness of God in Him“.
It is this unmerited grace God gives that drives me to serve Him.
“Freely
you have received, freely give”
(Matthew 10:8). May you experience His grace in your life today.