Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
"The Lord said to Aaron, "You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any share among them; I am your share and your inheritance among the Israelites."
"From now on the Israelites must not go near the Tent of Meeting, or they will bear the consequences of their sin and will die. It is the Levites who are to do the work at the Tent of Meeting and bear the responsibility for offenses against it. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. They will receive no inheritance among the Israelites. Instead, I give to the Levites as their inheritance the tithes that the Israelites present as an offering to the Lord. That is why I said concerning them: 'They will have no inheritance among the Israelites.' "
The Lord said to Moses, "Speak to the Levites and say to them: 'When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the Lord's offering. Your offering will be reckoned to you as grain from the threshing floor or juice from the winepress. In this way you also will present an offering to the Lord from all the tithes you receive from the Israelites. From these tithes you must give the Lord's portion to Aaron the priest. You must present as the Lord's portion the best and holiest part of everything given to you.'
"Say to the Levites: 'When you present the best part, it will be reckoned to you as the product of the threshing floor or the winepress. You and your households may eat the rest of it anywhere, for it is your wages for your work at the Tent of Meeting. By presenting the best part of it you will not be guilty in this matter; then you will not defile the holy offerings of the Israelites, and you will not die.' " Numbers 18:20-32
Aaron has received much instruction from the Lord in Chapter 18 on how he is to execute his priestly duties. As we finish the chapter, we see where he receives his final guidance before the Lord turns to Moses for additional instructions.
Primarily, Chapter 18 closes with direction on inheritance and tithes. Of interest, God tells Aaron that neither he nor the Levites would have any part of the Israelite inheritance. The Lord addresses these separately and I would like to look at the Levites first before closing with Aaron and the theme of today’s devotional.
As we look at the Lord’s words toward the Levites, we see that just because they won’t share in Israel’s inheritance this doesn’t mean the Lord is not going to ensure they are cared for. He tells Aaron that He would "give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the Tent of Meeting." Note that the income of the Levites would not be without limit. Their financial sustenance would be limited to the offerings that Israel brought. The Lord didn’t want His spiritual leaders and workers to be corrupted by money. Instead, they were to be focused on taking care of the tabernacle and overseeing Israel’s worship. And the Levites had exclusive access to the Tent of Meeting. Israel was to not go near it unless they wanted to "bear the consequences of their sin and will die".
So the Israelites were required to contribute offerings to the Levites and the Lord. The Levitical offerings would sustain and provide economic means for them as they carried out the work of the tabernacle. But the Levites were also expected to give to God more than just their service. They were to provide an offering as well.
Interestingly enough, this command was given to the Levites not by way of Aaron but Moses. The Lord directs Moses to tell the Levites to "present a tenth" of the tithe received from Israel as an inheritance. . From the tithes, the Levites were to "give the Lord's portion to Aaron" and not just any portion but the "best and holiest part of everything given" to them. And by "presenting the best part", the Levites would not be "guilty in this matter" because they wouldn’t "defile the holy offerings of the Israelites" and thus would not die. Once again, we’re reminded that God expects not just any part of us or what we have but our best…just as He has given us in all things and especially in His only Son, Jesus…our Savior, Redeemer and Friend.
Now let me get back to Aaron and God’s word to him at the start of this passage.
For the Lord said to Aaron, "You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any share among them". Just as the Levites would not share in Israel’s inheritance, neither would their leader. But this is where the similarity ends between Aaron and the Levites. For the Levites received Israel’s tithes as their portion and parcel. Aaron received something far greater. He received God as his "share and…inheritance." The Lord was his portion and all he would ever need to carry out what God wished for him to do.
There are three key points for us to take away from this lesson as we continue to seek how to better journey on our Christian walk.
1. God will provide for us. As we seek every day to discern and carry out His will and way, we need never worry about how we are going to make it because He will always ensure we are cared for.
He will forever give us just what we need at His appointed time. We need never worry…only trust.
2. When God provides for us, He expects us to give Him our best. He gives us His. Why would we do any different? And keep in mind that God gives us more than just money. We should recognize the gifts of time and talent as well when we consider what we might be able to give back to the Lord in honor and return for all He has given to us.
3. In the Lord, we have our portion and all we will ever really need. The world would have us chase after wealth and prestige. The world would have us chase after possessions and material gain. The world would have us chase after status and success. Collectively, all of these hold little or no value when compared to the worth of having the Lord in our lives. Given the choice, would there be anyone crazy enough to choose the world over the One who created it?
Friends, what a blessing these words of the Lord are to us. They are liberating and sustaining…encouraging and edifying…comforting and assuring…all the very things He is as our Provider, Sustainer and Portion. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
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