Mon, 24 April, 2006: Today’s Bible readings.

Numbers 1:47-54

⁴⁷ But the Levites were not listed along with them by their ancestral tribe. ⁴⁸ For the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ⁴⁹ “Only the tribe of Levi you shall not list, and you shall not take a census of them among the people of Israel.⁵⁰ But appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the testimony, and over all its furnishings, and over all that belongs to it. They are to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings, and they shall take care of it and shall camp around the tabernacle. ⁵¹ When the tabernacle is to set out, the Levites shall take it down, and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up. And if any outsider comes near, he shall be put to death. ⁵² The people of Israel shall pitch their tents by their companies, each man in his own camp and each man by his own standard. ⁵³ But the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the testimony, so that there may be no wrath on the congregation of the people of Israel. And the Levites shall keep guard over the tabernacle of the testimony.” ⁵⁴ Thus did the people of Israel; they did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses.

The book of Numbers begins, not surprisingly, with a census (numbering — hence the name of the book) of the Israelites. (This census is significant, because these are the people who will later refuse to enter the land of Canaan, and will be doomed to wander in the wilderness forty years. At the conclusion of that time, there is another census, and only Joshua and Caleb remain from this first census.)

The Levites are exempted from this census of the fighting men. They are given a different role: they are in charge of the care of the tabernacle.

What do we learn from this?

The people of Israel were given a great privilege. God condescended to dwell among them. He displayed His presence in a special way in the tabernacle over the ark of the covenant. It is quite an amazing thing for an all holy God to dwell among a sinful people, and God does not do this unconditionally.

The sinful people do not have unrestricted access to God. There must be a buffer between the people and God’s presence. There must be a mediator on their behalf. For the protection of the people, there must be ones appointed who guard God’s presence and keep out that which is offensive to Him.

For the nation of Israel, coming out of Egypt, the descendants of Levi served this purpose. They were dedicated to God for the purpose of serving Him and the people. They served as the mediators between God and the people, protecting the people from God’s wrath. So, once again we see that people can’t approach God on their own terms, but rather must be careful to come to God as He commands. The Levites served this purpose as they enforced God’s standards for approaching God.

Where is Christ in this passage?

Even today, we can not approach God unmediated. We must have a High Priest who will act on our behalf, representing us before the Father. Jesus Christ is our mediator. He has paid the price for our sins, and who gives us His righteousness. He is the one who presents us to the Father, faultless because of His work that has been applied to us.