Originally posted: 05/31/2019
“Thus you shall separate the Levites from among the sons of Israel, and the Levites shall be Mine,” (8:14).
Because the LORD took the Levites and sanctified them for Himself, because the Levites were His Possession, they were permitted to approach His tabernacle to perform the needed service.
“Then after that the Levites may go in to serve the tent of meeting. But you shall cleanse them and present them as a wave offering; 16 for they are wholly given to Me from among the sons of Israel. I have taken them for Myself instead of every first issue of the womb, the firstborn of all the sons of Israel. 17 For every firstborn among the sons of Israel is Mine, among the men and among the animals; on the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for Myself. 18 But I have taken the Levites instead of every firstborn among the sons of Israel. 19 I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the sons of Israel, to perform the service of the sons of Israel at the tent of meeting and to make atonement on behalf of the sons of Israel, so that there will be no plague among the sons of Israel by their coming near to the sanctuary.”… 22 Then after that the Levites went in to perform their service in the tent of meeting before Aaron and before his sons; just as the Lord had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so they did to them, (8:15-19, 22).
Atonement must be made on behalf of all Israel. Claiming the Levites as His own was His gift to Aaron and his sons, providing the necessary assistance in keeping all the LORD’s required offerings.
Any who dared approach His holy Presence, who had not been claimed as His own Possession, would surely die; and worse, the whole camp would suffer as a result of such unauthorized and shameless behavior.
Consider His Provision through His Possession
- His Provision through His Possession: His Permission to approach His tabernacle.
- “Then after that the Levites may go in to serve the tent of meeting,” (8:15)
- His Provision through His Possession: His Protection through atonement made for His congregation.
- “I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the sons of Israel, to perform the service of the sons of Israel at the tent of meeting and to make atonement on behalf of the sons of Israel, so that there will be no plague among the sons of Israel by their coming near to the sanctuary,” (8:19).
- His Provision through His Possession: His Perseverance for the work of His service.
- Then after that the Levites went in to perform their service in the tent of meeting before Aaron and before his sons; just as the Lord had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so they did to them, (8:22).
How do we respond to His Provision through His Possession?
It is only by His Provision that we are able to have fellowship with Almighty Holy God. His Provision is intimate. Can you hear Him claiming the Levites as “Mine?” More importantly, can you hear Him claiming you for Himself? Do you have assurance you are claimed by Him as “Mine?”
- He so loved the world He sent His perfect Provision for a lost and dying world, His only begotten Son.
- For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life, (John 3:16 emphasis added).
- When we place our faith in His Provision accomplished through His Son’s sacrifice, we become His Possession, His children, forever.
- See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are, (1 John 3:1 emphasis added).
- “And I will be a father to you,
And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,”
Says the Lord Almighty, (2 Corinthians 6:18 emphasis added). - “ My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one,” (John 10:27-30 emphasis added).
When we place our faith in Christ’s substitutionary death for our atonement of sin, we become His Possession and we too share in His gracious and glorious Provision:
- Because we are His Possession, through His Provision we have His Permission to approach His Presence by faith.
- Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus… 22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water, (Hebrews 10:19, 22).
- Because we are His Possession, through His Provision we have His Protection from the plague of sin and darkness accomplished through His atonement.
- For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins, (Colossians 1:13).
- Because we are His Possession, through His Provision we have His Perseverance for the work of the ministry by His glorious power.
- …strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light, (Colossians 1:11-12).
Oh, that we would walk by faith in unwavering assurance we are His, “They have been wholly given to Me… I have taken them for Myself… and shall be Mine…” that we too might be given, as His gift, to those in need.
“I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the sons of Israel, to perform the service of the sons of Israel…” (8:19).
As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God, (1 Peter 4:10).