Numbers 3:1

Numbers 3:1 says, These also are the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that the LORD spake with Moses in mount Sinai.  We are now given the descendents of Aaron and Moses.  Verse two adds, And these are the names of the sons of Aaron; Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.  Aaron had four sons, Nadad, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.  Verse three continues,  These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests which were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest’s office.  Aaron's sons were anointed into the priesthood.  They were charged with being the door-keepers in God's house according to Matthew Henry.  Since as followers of Christ today we are a priesthood of believers, this is our responsibility.  We are not to allow anything that is not from God to come into His house.  Verse four states, And Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD, when they offered strange fire before the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children: and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest’s office in the sight of Aaron their father.  Nadab and Abihu died because they brought things not from God into their worship of Him, and they had no children when they died.  Though all four were anointed, only two acted wisely in serving God.  It is not an earthly appointment that makes someone a minister of God, but a divine calling.  Verse five adds, And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him.  Aaron and his descendents were the first priests, and the only ones authorized to be so by God at this time, but God told Moses to bring the tribe of Levi before Aaron to also serve as priests.  They were to minister to Aaron.  We are not all called to equal positions in our service to God, but some of us are called to serve others who are ministering to God.  Verse seven continues, And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of the congregation, to do the service of the tabernacle.  The Levites were to serve the people of Israel under the authority of Aaron.  Verse eight says, And they shall keep all the instruments of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle.  The Levites were also to be in charge of taking care of the instruments of the tabernacle of the congregation.  We all as Christians have the responsibility of taking care of the things of God todsy, both in the church building and in our everyday life.  Verse nine adds, And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons: they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel.  The Levites were to be wholly considered a part of Aaron's family and the priesthood.  Today, as Christians, we are wholly a part of the family of God and the priesthood of believers.  Verse ten continues, And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest’s office: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.  Anyone who was not a part of Aaron's family and the priesthood who attempted to act as though they were would be put to death.  We, as followers of Christ today, are part of the priesthood of believers, and anyone who isn't who attempts to claim the things of God any other way will one day be put to death spiritually.