“But the Levites are to camp around the tabernacle of the testimony, so that no anger will come upon the assembly of the people of Israel. The Levites are to be in charge of the tabernacle of the testimony.” -Numbers 1:53
In my last post I just got done explaining why the Levites were not included in the census being taken for the war effort to take the Promised Land.
Instead of serving as soldiers the Levites were to be the sole custodians of God’s Holy Sanctuary.
However, there is another reason why God separated the Levites from the rest of Israel.
Do you recall the principle set down in Exodus that all firstborns automatically belong to the Lord?
Whether of man or beast, the lives of all the firstborn belong to God.
That’s the reason why when God took the lives of all the people and animals in Egypt, His judgement was restricted to only the firstborn.
Here’s the point I want to make.
In separating the Levites away from common Israel, the Lord was substituting or replacing the firstborn of all the other tribes of Israel.
Got it?
Because of this exchange, the Lord’s ownership of the lives of the firstborn was transferred to the Levites.
Tuck this point away in your back pocket as I’ll be going into it in much greater detail later.
Now let’s examine some of the awesome parallels between the Levites during Moses’ time and believers today.
Actually, there are three awesome parallels that have direct relevance to you if you are a believer who has been purchased by the blood of Yeshua.
JUST AS THE LEVITES WERE SPECIALLY ELECTED FOR HOLINESS, SO ARE YOU!!!
If you are a true believer and disciple of Yeshua, you have literally been separated from all other common human beings on this planet forever.
Just as a Levite was not to live and act as others in Israel, so is there to be a very clear and distinct line of demarcation between how you live your life and others.
I can’t think of any other way to put it.
As a believer who has the very Spirit of HASHEM dwelling within you, you have been elevated above all other mankind and been given a special status and favor.
Just as the Levites were, you are now a servant of the Most High and thus are forbidden to attach or affiliate yourself with anyone or anything that has NOT been set apart for God.
Next point.
JUST AS THE LEVITES STILL DWELLED IN ISRAEL ALTHOUGH THEY HAD BEEN SEPARATED FROM ISRAEL, SO TOO IS THE BELIEVER TODAY IN THIS WORLD BUT NOT OF THIS WORLD!!!
Later in our study, we’re going to see that the Levites didn’t exactly go off into the mountains and completely separate themselves from the common Israelite population.
They were actually given their own cities among the 12 tribes so they could perform their assigned divine mission to shepherd and teach Israel how to be in a proper relationship with the Most High.
There is an important lesson here for believers.
God expects us to be active participants and witnesses for Him in this world.
If not, how are we to fulfill the mandate to “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature“.
Next point.
JUST AS THE LEVITES WERE GUARDIANS OF GOD’S HOLINESS, SO ARE BELIEVERS TODAY PROTECTERS OF GOD’S HOLINESS!!!
I’m going to say something that might seem shocking to you.
During the time of Moses, the only thing that stood between the total destruction of Israel by God was the Levites.
And the only thing that stands between the total destruction of the world today by God is you and other believers.
I know this might sound a bit confusing, so let me explain.
If you’ve been reading and following my blog posts carefully over the past couple of years, one very important principle that should be firmly imprinted in your brain by now is that there is nothing more dangerous than to encroach on God’s holiness.
Anyone or anything that violates God’s HOLINESS is instantly destroyed.
HASHEM is so protective of His Holiness that if He has to He will destroy the whole universe to prevent His Holiness from being stained by uncleanliness.
Here’s the thing.
The Levites through carefully guarding God’s HOLINESS served to protect the common Israelite from God’s judgement.
Likewise, the only reason God’s wrath has not yet fallen on this world is due to the presence of HOLY believers.
Once the believers are taken out of this world in an event the church calls the rapture, there will be no more protective barrier shielding this world from God’s wrath.
You should be in awe of this incredible responsibility God has bestowed upon you.
As spirit-filled human tabernacle, it is one of your duties to protect this planet from God’s judgement by safeguarding His Holiness.
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“You were bought at a price.
Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
1 Corinthians 6:20
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