- The Sons of Aaron were assigned by God as priests over Israel and the Levites were given to them as their assistants. The Levites work had to do with taking care of the setting up and cleaning of the Tabernacle.
The Levites were placed around the Tabernacle, between the Tabernacle and the rest of the tribes of Israel.
A couple of things that I have been thinking about from this chapter are:
1. The death of Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aaron, for offering unholy fire before the Lord.
What did they do that they died instantly?
I did a little research on this and found a very interesting article about it: http://www.zianet.com/maxey/reflx63.htm
2. The Redemption of the Firstborn
Numbers 3:11-12 'And the Lord said to Moses, “Look, I have chosen the Levites from among the Israelites to serve as substitutes for all the firstborn sons of the people of Israel. The Levites belong to me, for all the firstborn males are mine. On the day I struck down all the firstborn sons of the Egyptians, I set apart for myself all the firstborn in Israel, both of people and of animals. They are mine; I am the Lord.”'
So, after counting all males 1 month up in Israel, there were 22,273 but there were only 22,000 Levites to substitute them.
The Lord sets the price of Redemption to be of 5 shekles or 20 pieces of silver, which were to be given to Aaron and his sons. That tradition is called Pidyon Ha'ben and is observed on the 31st day after a first born male is born who is redeemed by 5 pieces of 110 grams of silver (Five U.S. silver dollars are often used, though the specific type of coins depends on where you are in the world).
Why 5 Shekels? I don't know. Some people relate that to the price paid for Joseph when he was sold by his brothers. You know? They sold him without knowing that he would later save them all. Yep. another figure of Christ.
The Levites are a figure of Christ, too, who later would come to redeem His people. Who stands between us and God, to bring us into reconciliation with Him.
Even when there not enough Levites to redeem all firstborn, there was a price to be paid. Redemption is costly. It cost God the life of Christ, His own firstborn, to redeem us all.
For us, gentiles (and for all), there is no other than Christ who would be willing to take our place. To be the Mediator between us and God. Once and for all.
There's not enough enough money to buy our redemption. Only through Christ.
We are loved in such a way that God himself provided a way to bring us back to Him, to redeem us.
So much grace, so much love.
1 Timothy 2:5-6
"For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time."
