Our Sunday reading takes us to chapter five and six of Numbers.

Chapter 5 –

If the organization of the Israelites traveling to the promised land was important their sanctification – that is their status as set apart people of God – was critical. God’s holiness was manifested in a visible way in the tabernacle, which was in the center of Israel’s camp and served as symbol of God’s presence.

The regulations of chapter five spell out the stipulations isolating as “unclean” anyone among them having a skin disease, anyone with a discharge, or anyone who was defiled. Because of contact with a corpse. Such people must go outside the camp.

There were procedures for cleansing and restoring the affected person back into camp. In verse 5-6 regulation is presented here involved a person who committed any sin against another. Since such a sin was some kind of moral or legal violation serious steps had to be taken to make it right.

The offended human victim of sin has to be compensated. The remaining chapter deals with a husband who had a feeling of jealousy. Adultery was a sin that could not be tolerated under Mosaic law. The process began with the husband bring his wife to the priest, along with an offering of barley flour to deal with possible guilt. The priest would then take holy water in a clay bowl and mix it with dust from the tabernacle floor to make a bitter drink which the woman would be required to drink affirming she was innocent or accepting a curse if she was guilty.

If the woman were innocent no harm would come to her but if she was guilty the curse would render her sterile

Chapter 6 –

Serving the Lord in the tabernacle was limited to the priests and other servants who belonged to the tribe of Levi.  But any Israelite could consecrate himself or herself for special separation and devotion by taking the Nazirite vow. Two Old Testament Nazirites were Samuel who honored his vow and Samson who dishonored his vow.

Ehen the period of consecration was over the Nazirite ws to present themselves to the Lord with three unblemished animals at the tabernacle as a burnt offering…a sin offering and a fellowship offering. Then the Nazirite would shave his consecrated head and throw the hair into the fire on the altar symbolizing the completion of his vow. This chapter ends with a beautiful priestly blessing to palce the Lord’s name on the people.  

What do you believe about the prophecy of a second return of Jesus? Do you believe it will happen, if so what will happen to mankind? Is there a heaven for believers and a hell for the unbeliever? Much of the prophecy we see in the Bible is from the Old Testament and at that time much of it was sealed and unknown by the average person. But the New Testament reveals much about the second coming of Jesus.

Join us tomorrow at 9:00 AM at 2704 South Highway W in Foley or if you cannot attend join us here on Facebook. The message is entitled “Secrets Revealed Through the Parables of Jesus” from Matthew 13:34-35 as we look at the parable of the Good Samaritan.

Numbers 3 may contain the most important item in the Israel camp that is the tent of meeting.  – the tabernacle that housed the holy presence of the Lord.

Chapter 3 –

So it follows that the most important assignments any Israelite could have were those that pertained to the worship in the care of the structure. Before the nation departed Moses assigned duties of the tabernacle to the Levites.

The first of the Israelites to be listed were Aaron and his four sons, the anointed priests, who were ordained to serve. Two of his sons had died when they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord in the Wilderness of Sinai.

God directed Moses to bring the tribe of Levi near and present them to the high priest Aaron to assist him.

When it came time to count the Levites and assign their duties and positions they were divided according to Levi’s sons by name: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari who were also heads of the clans (3:19-20). They were responsible for the tabernacle, the tent, the covering, the screen for the entrance to the tent of meeting.

Next came the Kohathites who camped on the south side their duties involved the furnishings of the tabernacle, including the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the sanctuary utensils…and the screen.

The third group of Levites consisted of the Merarite camp who camped on the north side of the tabernacle. Their responsibilities were to dismantle, carry, and set up the tabernacles’ wooden framework all other wood and metal items to connect it.

The east side of the tabernacle occupied by Moses, Aaron, and his sons the priests who had overall responsibility for ministry of the tabernacle.

The next thing the Lord commanded of Moses was to number every firstborn male of the sons of Israel from a month old and upward and make a list of their names.  The reason for this was that the LORD told Moses to take the Levites for Me, I am the Lord. Taking the Levites for the LORD meant that they belonged to Him and were dedicated to lifetime service to Him.

The number “22,273” referred to those firstborn males born after the tribe of Levi was designated as set apart to the LORD, or perhaps after the redemption requirement was given after the first Passover in Egypt.

The LORD then instructed Moses concerning the ransom of the 273 of the firstborn of the sons of Israel who are in excess beyond the Levites. The Levites numbered 22,000 (v. 39), leaving an excess of 273. The 22,000 were to be redeemed man for man with 22,000 male Levites. That left 273 firstborn unredeemed. God will now make provision for them in order to redeem these men from service in the sanctuary. This provision would maintain family unity while fully satisfying the legal requirement for the firstborn to be sanctified unto the LORD.

In order to sanctify the 273 firstborn who did not have a Levite male to substitute for them, the LORD required a ransom. The assigned ransom was for the people to pay five shekels apiece, per head.

Now that the ransom had been collected, Moses gave the ransom money to Aaron and to his sons, and he did this at the command of the Lord, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. Moses once again obeyed the word of the LORD explicitly. In this instance the people also obeyed the LORD’s command.

Chapter 4 –

Those performing the service were men between the ages of 30 and 50. In order to determine who they were a census was taken. The Kohathites were responsible for transporting the most holy objects.

The Gershonites were in charge of the cloth and leather parts of the tabernacle including the curtains, , the screen, the hangings of the courtyard along with all the equipment for service.

The Merarites were heavy haulers transporting the wooden and metal parts for the tabernacle over which the cloth and leather hangings were hung. This group was led by Ithamar.

 When the census was taken there was more than enough Levites to share the work.  

Today our reading begins with the Book of Number and the rules for locating the tribes in the camp.

Numbers picks up where Leviticus left off – recounting events that happened one month later than what is recorded there (40:; Num 1). The Israelites have been free from the Egyptians now for a year, have entered into a covenant with the Lord, and have received God’s law through Moses.  As a result of Israel’s national sin the people descended from Israel (Jacob) would wander in the wilderness for forty years.  Numbers covers the period from their departure from Sinai (1:1) to their arrival by the Jordan across from Jericho (36:13). They are on the verge of entering the Promised Land.

Chapter 1 –

Once the Israelites were living under a covenant with the Lord, it was time to set out for the promised land. But first, of the two million souls had to be organized into a coherent and orderly traveling community. As it turns out they would also need chastening, cleansing, repentance, and restoration in order to live in the presence of a holy God.

The twelve tribes listed all descended from the sons of Jacob except Ephraim and Manasseh (1:32-35) who replaced the Levites, these two tribes descended from Jacob’s son Joseph.  The Levites received no land inheritance since they were to serve the as the Lord’s priests and temple servants.

The census revealed 603,550 of those twenty years old and more. Again it is noted the Levites were not counted in case of war they worship continued.

The Israelite camp was laid out in a cross shape with three tribes grouped on each side of the tabernacle, which was situated in the middle. The Levites camped around the tabernacle within the perimeter of the camp and stood between the people and God. Note what happens to a person who approaches the tabernacle (1:51).

Chapter 2 –

The twelve tribes were to camp around the tent of meeting at a distance from it. This gave the Levites room to camp around it.

The placement of the tribes around the camp , three tribes to a side generally followed groupings by Jacob’s sons.

The three tribes on the east side were Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, all sons of Jacob and Leah. The east was the direction the tabernacle faced. This meant they led the way as the procession moved.

The next tribes on the south were Reuben, Simeon, and Gad. Rueben was Jacob’s first born with Leah, Simeon was Leah’s second son. Gad was the son of Leah’s maidservant Zilpah they replaced the Levites.

The west side of the camp included the tribes of Benjamin, Manasseh, and Ephraim. Benjamin and Manasseh were the sons of Jacob represented the two sons of Rachel; they were Jacob’s youngest sons. Benjamin’s tribe ultimately becomes absorbed into the tribe of Judah and it was the smallest of the tribes,

The last group and on the north side was the tribes of Dan, Asher, and Naphtali who would move out last. Dan and Naphtali were the of Bilhah while Asher was the son Zilpah.

Here we read The Israelites did everything the Lord commanded.

Our reading today in Leviticus 26 and 27 concludes the Book of Leviticus. Tomorrow we will begin looking at the Book of Numbers as the Israelites prepare to travel to the Promised Land.

Chapter 26 –

This chapter discusses the laws of obedience and disobedience. It is a chapter on obedience and disobedience to the laws of Moses similar in form to the ancient treaties between kings and their subjects found in the land of Israel.

What blessings would God provide in return for faithfulness?

• Abundant rain,
• A rich harvest,
• Protection form their enemies

The land would be fruitful, in fact, the people would have to clean out the uneaten portions to make room for the new.

But how different the life would be if Israel rejected the Lord and His covenant? In that case God would rain down curses on Israel – literally reversing the blessings God had laid out for obedience.

The curses of disobedience also fell on the land. God warned that He would make the sky like iron (the) land like bronze. That is a picture of drought and famine so severe the people’s efforts to raise crops would be useless. Continued disobedience would bring a sword against Israel, to execute the vengeance of the covenant.

Yet continual rejection would bring worse judgement on the people. When God’s patience finally ran out He would send enemies against them, conditions would be so desperate in the coming siege that the people would resort to cannibalism.

Chapter 27 –

It makes sense that a book that begins with the Israelites making sacrifices to conclude with offerings and vows that they were under no obligation to make, but which God took seriously.

There were vows made and payments outlined in the concluding verses in chapter 27. Animals could be used to pay a vow, but they had to be redeemed if a person were to withdraw them from  being used as a sacrifice.

Property could also be used to make a vow, but there were various rules here and it was more complicated. No firstborn animals could be redeemed because they belong to the Lord.

Leviticus ends with the instructions for giving the tithe. Vows were voluntary, but the tithe was required. Every tenth of the land’s produce…belongs to the Lord…because it is holy.

One reason for requiring the tithe was this is the way the temple was funded. But the tithe was also a reminder to the Israelites, and us today even though we might earn our salaries we are not the originators of the our blessings.

Today we read of the responsibilities the priests have in the tabernacle. Chapter 24 outlines these responsibilities then chapter 25 the year of jubilation and the treatment of poor countrymen are addressed.

Chapter 24 –

The priests were to keep the lamps burning in the tabernacle. This is a reference to the pure gold lampstand in the Lord’s presence. They were to continually tend to it with olive oil.

The second of the priests’ duties was to bake twelve loaves of bread and arrange them on the pure gold table before the Lord.  These twelve loaves represented the twelve tribes and the bread was known as the Bread of the Presence (Exod. 25:30).

Anyone who cursed and blasphemed the Name of the Lord would be dealt with. But the interesting thing here is that it must have been the first occurrence because they did not know how to deal with it so they put him in custody until Moses could seek the Lord on it.

They brought him into camp, all that heard him laid their hands on his head as testimony or witness of the offense that they heard him and he ws stoned. Between the pronouncement of the offender’s sentence and his execution the Lord gave a series of laws called the laws of retaliation.

But these laws, including such detailed instructions as fracture for fracture, eye for eye, and tooth for tooth have been twisted and misapplied and ridiculed over history that there original purpose and meaning have been lost. These are not an invitation to “get even” or vengeance they were statues established to prevent excessive revenge by limiting the severity of the crime. The penalty for cursing God was the most severe.

Chapter 25 –

 The subject changes here to the Sabbath year. The Sabbath Year was to be observed once the Israelites were living in Canaan and planting crops. There was to be a Sabbath of complete rest for the land in the seventh year ….(they were) not to sow (a) field or prune (a) vineyard.

After the seven sabbatical years – that is seven times seven years – the fiftieth year was the year of Jubilee.  The primary reason for the year of Jubilee was to return all property in Israel to its original owners (25:14-17).

The rules of Jubilee also applied to the people of Israel who were poor, who had been sold themselves into some type of servitude to pay a debt. The poor were to be treated with respect and not charged interest.

Israelites were not to be sold as slaves because they were God’s servants brought out of Egypt. Foreigners whom the Israelites owned were not eligible for release during the Year of Jubilee.

The principles of Jubilee relating to servitude, redemption, and freedom have great meaning to us today. We are God’s possession since He brought us back from slavery to sin by the blood of Jesus Christ. We are free from sin and death but are servants of God.

Leviticus 22 and 23 for today’s reading. More about laws and special festivals in these chapters.

Chapter 22 –

The priests were responsible to deal respectfully with the holy offerings in order not to profane God’s holy name. Again he reiterates “I am the Lord who sets them apart. If a mistake was made and an Israelite ate a holy offering in error, he was to add a fifth to its value and give the holy offering to the priest.

All animals presented must be without blemish or defect of any nature. The Israelites needed no better reason to serve the Lord than the fact He had brought them out of Egypt.

Chapter 23 –

Leviticus 23 is about an emphasis on Israel’s holy days and festivals – the times of the Lord that they were to proclaim as sacred assemblies. Perhaps the most important and well known is Passover commemorating their deliverance out of Egypt.

Connected to Passover was the Festival of Unleavened Bread, during which the people were to eat unleavened bread for seven days a reminder they had left Egypt rather quickly. During the week they were to bring the first sheath of the barley harvest to the priest who give an offering to God.

After seven complete weeks starting from the day after the Sabbath day (they) brought the sheath of the presentation offering fifty days after the Feast of Firstfruits. Then on the first day of the seventh month, the people held a sacred assembly with rest, commemoration, and trumpet blasts.

Ten days after the Festival of the Trumpets was the Day of Atonement. This is when the high priest would enter the most holy place on the day to make atonement for the sins of the people. Lastly, the Festival of Shelters which was observed for seven days.

Chapters 19, 20, and 21 offer us details of the laws of everyday life, laws for the offences requit=ring the death penalty, and laws concerning the priests.

Chapter 19 –

The laws in this chapter are wide ranging, but throughout these verses are the principles of the Ten Commandments applied to everyday life. God says, I, the Lord your God, am holy. In fact He repeats that phrase in one way or another several times in our reading. God’s standards for people include respect for mother and father, keeping the sabbaths, and rejecting idols.

Repeatedly God expresses His concern for the poor. It’s a concern His people should share, the poor are to treated fairly, with dignity and justice. Notice the part they are required to leave part of the harvest for the poor. There is a timeless opportunity to help the poor.

Treating the poor as outlined is an example of Biblical justice. God’s people are not to steal, bear false witness, oppress their neighbor, defraud workers of their wages, hinder the blind and deaf, render unjust decisions, give preference to one group over another, spread slander, harbor hatred against a brother, or take revenge. Love one another, do them no harm.

All the provisions outlined in chapter 19 were intended to set apart God’s people to keep them holy.

Chapter 20 –

The Israelites were to avoid certain conduct in order to enter into Canaan. If they were to engage in any of the practices outlined it would result in the death penalty.

Consecrate yourselves and be holy, for I am the Lord your God. Keep my statutes and do them; for I am the Lord who sets you apart. Again the central theme of Leviticus: God is holy and requires holiness from His people. God has set His people apart.

Moses turned to consider offences against the family, with honor for parents at the head of the list. Adultery, homosexuality, incest, bestiality all these are forbidden. If the Israelites wanted to live in Canaan, they had to follow the laws of God or they would also be driven out.

Chapter 21 –

Next, He outlines the laws of the priests. Defilement was a significant matter of concern for Israel’s priests, who ministered in the holy presence of God.

A priest would be defiled by contact with a dead body. The only exception was a member of his immediate family. Priests were also restricted from service based on their various physical defects and infirmities. Moses is not making a statement about the value of a person they are no less loved by God, he was referring to the necessity for priests to represent wholeness in relation to a holy God. Priests with physical deformities could not perform ceremonies but they were taken care of.

Leviticus 16,17, and 18 are the chapters we are reading today.

Chapter 16 –

The Day of Atonement was the most important solemn day on Israel’s calendar. The emphasis in this chapter is on the necessity of sin being atoned for so that God’s people may be forgiven and reconciled unto Him. The ministry of the high priest was crucial in facilitating this. God set out clear instructions on how this was to be carried out.

Aaron entered and left the most holy place three times during the day’s sacrifices and rituals. The first time ws to burn fragrant incense before the Lord. The second time was to get some of the bull’s blood from the sin offering and sprinkle it against the east side of the mercy seat and before the mercy seat seven times. His third entrance into he most holy place was to bring  the blood of the male goat for the people’s sin offering and sprinkle it on and in front of the mercy seat.

Once Aaron had purified the most holy place in this way for all Israelites sins, he would the same for the tent meeting itself. The ritual of the male goat was another unique feature of the Day of Atonement.  Aaron was to lay both his hands on the head of the goat and confess the sins over it of the people.

Following this ritual Aaron was to bathe again, the he offered the burnt offering that made the atonement for sins.

The Day of Atonement was to be established as an annual event to make atonement for the sin of the people.

Chapter 17 –

Chapter 17 discusses living before a holy God. Beginning in chapter 17 the focus of Leviticus focuses on hoe god’s people were to be holy in their everyday lives. The Lord spoke to Moses and gave him instructions for Aaron and his sons and the Israelites.  The first command was a prohibition against sacrificing animals anywhere except the tabernacle. This provided two things, one they would offer proper sacrifices and secondly it would eliminate any opportunity to offer a sacrifice to a foreign god.

The second prohibition was against eating blood. This had been stated earlier bur the verses give the reason that eating it was forbidden: the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have appointed it to you to make atonement on the altar for your lives, since it is the lifeblood that makes atonement.

The final verses deal with the handling of any animal that was to be eaten. If the animal was hunted and killed the blood and to be drained and covered with dirt, if someone did this improperly they were unclean until the evening and had to ceremonially bathe.

Chapter 18 –

The laws relating to sexual relations are covered in chapter 18. The prohibitions in this chapter are outlined to provide for the sanctity of marriage and family. God left no doubt about the importance of sexual purity in His sight.

He begins the chapter with these words I am the Lord your God. He established these laws in order for the Israelites sexual practices to be completely different from those of the Egyptians. No matter where they lived, they were to follow His law.

It is very clear here what His laws were and what they are today. He outlines laws against having sex with anyone outside a martial relationship and even addresses the men laying with men in verse 22 which today people are tuning their backs on a heterosexual relationship. It seems clear He is speaking against a homosexual relationship. Do not defile yourselves.

The laws of becoming clean were quite explicit and to be followed in exact detail, however the sacrifices made allowed for people of all levels of wealth to participate. Today from chapters 14 and 15 we read of the laws of cleansing a leper, his house, and the cleansing of unhealthiness.

Chapter 14 –

The importance and solemn nature of the ritual to restore a person cured of a skin disease was indicated by yet another repetition of the words. The Lord spoke to Moses. Following these procedures allowed a person to rejoin the community.

The cleansing process involved several stages. A person who believed he ad been cured of his disease would send for the priest who would go outside the camp and examine him. If the priest verified the cleansing had taken place he them offered a sacrifice.

Though the person was clean again, there were sacrifices to be offered on the eighth day as part of the restoration. This included the various types of sacrifices presented earlier in the book such as grain, guilt burnt, and sin offerings.

Here to the provision is made for what he could afford.

There were also laws for cleansing mildew which these regulations were similar to those cleansing their garments. Again the responsibility was that of the priests for inspection and certifying it was clean.

Chapter 15 –

This chapter outlines the laws of cleansing the body. The subject of cleanness and uncleanness is further covered through laws regarding what to do for periodic discharges for both men and women. Anyone being touched or touching an unclean person must bath and be unclean until the evening.

There are specific instructions given for both men and women. These verse provide a summary and signal the close of the discussion on uncleanliness. God’s regulations were to keep the Israelites from their uncleanliness, so they do not die by defiling (God’s) tabernacle that is among them. God’s holiness and his demand for holiness from His people, gave laws life and death importance.