PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Numbers 1-3
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“The Levites are mine, for all the firstborn are mine.” (Numbers 3:12-13)
In ancient times, birth order mattered – the firstborn had the prime position.
Theirs was both the blessing of privilege and the burden of responsibility.
The Levites were assigned to be the firstborn and placed at the heart of the camp.
This idea of ‘election’ (or being chosen) was not intended as favoritism.
It was a huge responsibility, with serious expectations and important work.
Everything rests on the firstborn to keep things right, or to make things right.
Knowing this helps us understand why Jesus was called ‘the firstborn’ (Colossians 1:15,18)
Jesus takes on the responsibility to make things right, AND HE DOES! (Romans 8:29)
Too often ‘being chosen’ is viewed more as privilege, rather than as responsibility.
We are chosen to stand with the firstborn, to be like Him and make things right with Him.
This is the only way I speak about ‘election’ (or God’s choosing)… as a serious calling.
We are the Levites of today, not just doing church work but doing kingdom work.
God has placed us in the heart of our community to represent Him and His ways.
How will we serve Him and our neighbours in love, like Jesus did?
PRAYER
Lord, just like the Levites, we have a place and task in the world. Forgive us for focusing more on the privileges of our salvation, and neglecting our responsibilities.
AS I was reading I imagined the pattern – with the tabernacle in the center – the bulls-eye spot surrounded by the Levite tents and then the 4 branches of 3 groups each on the the 4 corners of the compass branching out from the center. I imagined the pillar of fire at night and the cloud by day – if one had a drone at that time or flyng overhead – what a beautiful picture of God being present in the center of His people! That is where God wants to be – in the center of my being as well! Love the picture – and the numbers – no wonder they needed the desert space!