Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Numbers 8 - Standing in the Gap

The Levites were selected by God himself to stand in the gap for the people. Priests who offered the sacrifice for sin of the people were from the tribe of Levi. From the very beginning, God made it clear that people could not approach Him in their own way ad on their own merit. He is Holy and those who approach Him must be holy too. 

We see in this chapter the ceremonial cleansing ritual for the Levites and their role a substitutes for the first born of the nation. They were set apart for God even as God set apart the first-born in the plagues on Egypt. Levites were to be given wholly to God's service. 

Even during their service there were phases. Prior to age 25 they would not serve I the Tent of Meeting, but I am sure they were being prepared for service and taught the precepts given from God and learning about their role as that subtitle for the people. At age 25 they would enlist for service until age 50 where they would step down from service and become consultants to the younger men. The concept of retirement in this chapter is not the life of leisure with no responsibility but a change in intensity of work as the man grows older. Wisdom continued to be passed on but they would no longer be required to do the physical labors of the Levites. 

Work was established before the fall of man and gives a means of contributing to the world. It allows us to have purposeful activity. Work is not a punishment, but a means for us to fulfill our purpose here on Earth. 

I don't want to leave this chapter without making reference to this passage as a foreshadow of Jesus' fulfillment. Jesus was the only holy, sinless person who could fulfill the role of our substitute. He was the only on who could bridge the gap between God and man. He alone paid the penalty for our sin and offers us the hope of forgiveness of sin and eternity in Heaven. We, a sinner from birth have no merit to approach a holy God. No good works, no good character that could earn us a place in Heaven or earn God's favor here. We are saved and forgiven not because of who we are, but because of who Jesus is. He paid our penalty so we could go free. We can now approach God directly in prayer through Jesus. There is no other prophet, no other Messiah who could do this. We owe every breath to Him who stood in the gap so we could have life. 

May God richly bless you as you seek Him and as you serve Him. 

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