Family Blessings

O. T. #305  "Family Blessings"
June 9, 2014
Numbers 3-Part 1
And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons: they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel.  Numbers 3:9

LET IT GLOW

Don't we all want God to bless our family? He blessed Levi's family. You remember, don't you, Levi was one of the twelve sons of Jacob (later called Israel). Go back with me to Exodus 32:26 and we will find out the reason for his being blessed. What happened was Moses came down from Mt. Sinai talking with God and found the people worshipping a golden calf. He ground the idol into powder, sprinkled it upon water, and made the children of Israel drink it.  

Then Moses stood I the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD's side? Let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.

It would seem that God's original perfect will was to set apart to special service the first-born from all the tribes (Ex. 13:1-2), but because of sin God would limit His choice to the tribe of Levi. Partly of the reason for this was, undoubtedly, the faithfulness and loyalty of Levi during the terrible sin of the golden calf.   (Falwell)

The entire tribe of Levi was given to serve the needs of:

• Aaron, the high priest,
• other priests,
• the congregation at large,
• the Tabernacle itself.

The Levites were under the direction of Aaron, not "doing their own thing," but Aaron's thing.
In some ways, being a priest was far more visible and perhaps "glamorous" than being a Levite. But the service of the Levites made the work of the priests possible, and was seen by God as having equal value.
God didn't want human sacrifice (first-born) as the first-born lamb, so He took the tribe of Levi as Israel's first-born.  (Guzik)

Do we serve others in the name of the Lord?

LET IT GROW

Hebrews 2:17 says, Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

David Guzik explains:

• If Jesus were not like us, He couldn't be our High Priest, representing us before the Father and making atonement (propitiation) for our sins.
• The high priest wore names of the tribes of Israel on his chest and shoulders, so he would be in constant sympathy with the people of God, carrying them on his heart and in he work (on shoulders). 
• He didn't wear a breastplate of the high priest, but Jesus was wounded in His chest and the cross on His shoulders is an even more eloquent testimony to His heart for us and work on our behalf.
• Because Jesus added humanity to His deity, and has experienced human suffering, He is able to aid those who are being tempted, and when we are suffering. He really does know what you're going through!

Is Jesus your High Priest, interceding to the Father on your behalf? He has provided the sacrifice for our sins by dying on the cross. Will you accept Jesus as your Savior today?


LET IT GO

Jesus is my High Priest.

Ask His forgiveness of my sins.

God to Jesus with my needs and requests.