Numbers 1:44 says, These are those that were numbered, which Moses and Aaron numbered, and the princes of Israel, being twelve men: each one was for the house of his fathers. Moses and Aaron counted the people of Israel with the help of the heads of the twelve tribes. This was a big task, but it was made easier by sharing in the work. God also expects all His people to share in His work today. Verse forty-five adds, So were all those that were numbered of the children of Israel, by the house of their fathers, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war in Israel; Verse forty-six continues, Even all they that were numbered were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty. The number of men over twenty who were able to go to war totaled six hundred three thousand, five hundred and fifty. This number did not include women and children, or men over twenty who were unable to go to war for some reason. Yet, God had not only sustained them in Egypt, He had multiplied them. God is not limited in the number of people that He can bring salvation to, but He can sustain all who come to Him, even when the number multiplies. Verse forty-seven states, But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them. This also did not include the Levites, who had been set aside for service as the priests of God. We could make this a statement that says that priests should not go to war, but since we are all a part of the priesthood of believers today, I don't believe that this would be accurate. Verse forty-eight adds, For the LORD had spoken unto Moses, saying, Verse forty-nine continues, Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel: God had told Moses to not count the Levites, and this was not just a decision that Moses made on his own. We cannot decide to separate ourselves from other Christians unless we have proof that this is what God wants. I personally don't believe God will ever lead us to do so. Verse fifty says, But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle. The Levites were given the responsibility of taking care of the tabernacle and all the things that were associated with it. This was a day by day responsibility, and as a part of the priesthood of believers today, we have a daily responsibility to take care of the things of God. Verse fifty-one adds, And when the tabernacle setteth forward, the Levites shall take it down: and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death. The Levites alone were responsible for setting up, tearing down, and transporting everything associated with the tabernacle, and anyone else who tried to do so was to be put to death. There was a strict division between the things of God and who could handle them then, but Jesus Christ removed all those barriers. Verse fifty-two states, And the children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp, and every man by his own standard, throughout their hosts. The rest of the people of Israel were to set up their tents by tribe and according to their own standard. God did not give them a set way to set up camp, just as He does not give us a set way to worship and serve Him today, but it must be done in accordance with His word and by the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Verse fifty-three adds, But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony. The Levites were to set up camp around the tabernacle to keep it safe from the other tribes and also to keep people from the other tribes safe from inadvertently coming into contact with it. As stated earlier Jesus removed all these restrictions, and each follower of Christ can come freely into God's presence. Verse fifty-four concludes, And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they. Just as the children of Israel did in that day, we must do according to all that God commands of us today as Christians. When we do, everything will work together for His glory.
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