Loving What God Chose

From: August 2 – 8, 2011 TOPIC: “Loving What God Chose” Numbers 3:6-12

God chose men to serve Him in the ministry of the tabernacle. In those days Aaron, his sons and the other priests were in the ministry at the service of God and the people. To this day we cannot forget this. It is easy to go thru the Church and criticize those who serve in the ministry of priesthood, pastors, missions, etc. Matthew 10:5-10 says: “These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: …Do not take along any gold or silver or copper …or extra tunic, …for the worker is worth his keep.” In 1 Corinthians 9:14 we are also told that those who preach the Gospel should receive their living from the Gospel. Galatians 6:6 says, “Anyone who receives instruction in the Word must share all good things with his instructor” Also, Philippians 4:14–17 says, “…it was good of you to share in my troubles…you sent me aid again and again when I was in need…” 1 Timothy 5:18 says, “Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain, and the worker deserves his wages.” How can one be a child of God born again and break all the rules when one is claiming to be converted? Those who know the Scriptures, as God’s people, should know how to conduct themselves in everything and which should be their correct attitude and appreciation for the priesthood. For example, our missionaries go to distant and difficult places, then they should receive their pay. It is God who orders it that way. We need to acknowledge, knowing that the affairs of God work in this way. From the beginning God called Aaron and his sons for the service. In Exodus 28:1, 2 God calls Aaron and his sons to be His priests. There was a temple or tabernacle in the desert, but before there was a temple there was a nation that God Himself had called and wanted to guide. The Lord asked them to prepare holy garments for the priests for honor and beauty. God separated them to be His priests, to be guided and consecrated for Him. In these verses, with great details, God reveals that He wanted consecrated men for His people. For this Aaron, his sons, and the Levites would be taking care of the temple, the tabernacle of reunion (The Tent of Meeting). In Deuteronomy 12:5 – 12 Israel was instructed about the place that the Lord would choose among all the tribes to exalt God’s name. They would all arrive at the presence of God to worship and praise Him. They could not arrive empty-handed in the presence of God as the priests were ministering; they had to come before the Lord with all the necessary things for the holocausts and for the offerings and sacrifices. They arrived at the temple with offerings, tithes, vows, the first fruits of the cows, etc. Verse 12 says, “And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you, your sons and daughters…your servants…and the Levite that is within your gates; who have no allotment or inheritance of their own.” Numbers 18:1–12 says that Aaron and his sons would be in charge of the priesthood, and that the rest of the Levi tribe would be before Aaron to serve him. Notice God’s order, the firstborn were no longer the most prominent like when they left Egypt, now it would be the Levites. Now there were priestly duties for Aaron and his sons. In Numbers 18:1 God entrusted the sanctuary to Aaron and the Levites. The priestly sin would be Aaron’s responsibility; he would be responsible for any negligence for not complying with the holy care. For a greater duty, a greater responsibility, and therefore, the

consequences. The Levites were the assistants to the priests, but they could not enter the tabernacle in the services of the priesthood because they would die. The pastor who receives this message must consider Verse 26 which instructs them what to do when the tithes were taken to the Levites. The Levites did not receive lands like the rest of the Israelites. If there were many of them in one of the towns they were entitled to more territory, but if there were fewer they were entitled to less territory. Numbers 35:2 Now it wasn’t around the tabernacle where the priests and Levites were to establish as it was done in the desert. They would give them cities in the suburbs and green pastures (but not lands for labor). They were given cities so that they could live close to each other, so they could talk about the law and consult one another in doubtful cases. They would have sufficient pasture for their flocks. This way each tribe would manifest practically their recognition towards God. Each tribe would enjoy the benefit of having among them the Levites to teach them conveniently the knowledge of Jehovah. In Deuteronomy 12:19 and Deuteronomy 14:27 we are taught about the duties of the people to not forsake the Levites. Nehemiah 13:10 says, “I found that the portions of the Levites were not given, and the Levites and the singers who worked in the service had each fled to their inheritance.” The portions of food and sustenance for the Levites had not been given to them. The people who had to give it, kept it. To forget about the Levites was to forget about God. When people want to sin they forget about the person who can lead them to God. No one can say that they do not depend on their pastor to guide them. We must be careful with this; one day you will lack strength and you will see that you’re not able. The devil wants you to have the same thoughts of those people who walked away from God and His laws by going after their gods, the devil, and the ugly. When someone wants to walk away from God the first thing they do is to ignore the pastor and escape. Let us be faithful to those appointed by God for the priesthood and let us in this way please God who placed them here for our care and for our well-being and for the good of our sons and daughters. Amen.