Title Number 18 Reasons for Grace
Contents
The reason for the grace
Numbers 18:1 32
In chapter 17, to testify that God has given the priesthood to Aaron's descendants, the staff makes sprouts, flowers, and apricots open. Aaron's sons certainly received great favor compared to other tribes and families.
This was because he was able to monopolize the position of a priest. However, the mission was as great as the grace that Aaron's descendants received. They were given a greater mission that others did not lose. And in order to fulfill that mission, what was given to others was limited.
mission of priests
“Then the LORD said to Aaron, You and your sons and the house of your fathers shall bear the sin against the sanctuary together, and you and your sons shall bear the sin against your priesthood together” (verse 1).
The people had to be kept from their sins so that other people would not sin and die before God. The priests could enter the sanctuary, where no one else could enter, and they could touch the holy things. However, the priesthood and these privileges were given to serve the people, not for their own sake. Therefore, priests were to think of their position not as a privilege, but as a mission. Even today, if you have what others do not have, you must remember that God has a special mission and carry out that mission.
What has been limited to fulfilling this mission
God limited one important thing so that Aaron's descendants and the Levites would serve in the temple and fulfill the mission of protecting the people from sin. The priest gave him special grace, but he did not give anything that hindered him from fulfilling this mission. I didn't give them any land. Land is the most important thing for human survival. From there you can get anything to sustain life. However, they did not give them the most basic and necessary land for their livelihood. This is because if you are farming and working, you will run out of time to do God's work, and there is a risk of losing your heart to the riches of the world.
It must be remembered that God miraculously gives what others do not have to fulfill the mission, but also takes away things that hinder the fulfillment of the mission.
What God has given you to fulfill this mission
The priests of Aaron's descendants and the Levites who helped the priests in the tabernacle could not work for a living. Their job was to offer sacrifices to God and to help sacrifices. But because they were human too, they had to eat. God gave them what they needed for their livelihood.
given to the priests
“Behold, I have chosen your brothers, the Levites, from among the children of Israel, and have given them to you as a gift to do the work of the tent of meeting. is given to you as a gift, and any stranger who comes near it must be put to death. And the LORD said to Aaron, "Behold, I have made you preside over my large offerings, all the offerings that the children of Israel have sanctified; I give to your sons a perpetual portion of food” (verses 6-8).
The Levites were given to the priests. They gave the sacrifices offered to God as their food. He told the people to offer the first fruits of the best when they started farming, but the priests gave these first fruits to the priests. And he gave the tithes of the tithes paid by the Levites to the priests.
given to the Levites
The Levites made a living by giving tithes from the people.
Even today, the eating and drinking of those who do the work of the lord shows that God is in direct responsibility. As many faithful Christians gave up everything and worked for the Lord's work, God provided for their needs. God, who sent a raven to deliver food to Elijah, still supplies food to those who do the Lord's work today.
The greatest blessing Aaron and the Levites received
The priests and the Levites did not receive the land that the people valued most. Even God knew what a great loss it was to not receive the land. The greatest reward for that is that God Himself is their inheritance.
“Then the LORD said to Aaron, “You shall have no inheritance in the land of the children of Israel, nor shall you have any portion among them; but I am your portion and your inheritance among the children of Israel” (verse 20).
Today, we too have received many things by believing in Jesus. And there are a number of restrictions. The greatest blessing I have received by believing in Jesus is that it is my inheritance from God. God itself is our reward, and faith in God itself is our property.