Numbers 3:40

Numbers 3:40 says, And the LORD said unto Moses, Number all the firstborn of the males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names.  Moses was then instructed by God to number all the first born males from one month old.  Verse forty-one adds, And thou shalt take the Levites for me (I am the LORD) instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstlings among the cattle of the children of Israel.  The Levites and their cattle were then to be dedicated to God instead of the first born male of all the people of Israel and of their cattle.  Verse forty-two states, And Moses numbered, as the LORD commanded him, all the firstborn among the children of Israel.  Moses did as God  commanded, which is all we can ever do.  Verse forty-three adds, And all the firstborn males by the number of names, from a month old and upward, of those that were numbered of them, were twenty and two thousand two hundred and threescore and thirteen.  There were twenty-two thousand, two hundred and seventy three males.  That was a significant number.  We need to simply trust God to guide us to doing what He calls us to do, and He will decide who does what.  Verse forty-four says, And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,  Verse forty-five adds, Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be mine: I am the LORD.  God then told Moses once again that He was going to take the Levites as His instead of the first born, and said once again that Moses was to do this because He was the LORD.  I don't believe that God will ever leave us in doubt about what we are to do or about Who He is if we are Christians.  Verse forty-six states, And for those that are to be redeemed of the two hundred and threescore and thirteen of the firstborn of the children of Israel, which are more than the Levites;  Verse forty-seven adds, Thou shalt even take five shekels apiece by the poll, after the shekel of the sanctuary shalt thou take them: (the shekel is twenty gerahs:)  God said that Moses was to take a shekel for each of the first born above the number of the Levites.  This would in effect be to redeem them.  Jesus is now our only way to redemption, and there is nothing that we can substitute for Him.  Verse forty-eight continues, And thou shalt give the money, wherewith the odd number of them is to be redeemed, unto Aaron and to his sons.  This money was to be given to Aaron and his sons who were priests.  Verse forty-nine states, And Moses took the redemption money of them that were over and above them that were redeemed by the Levites:  Verse fifty adds, Of the firstborn of the children of Israel took he the money; a thousand three hundred and threescore and five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary:   Verse fifty-one continues, And Moses gave the money of them that were redeemed unto Aaron and to his sons, according to the word of the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses.  Moses collected the money and gave it to Aaron and his sons as God had instructed Him to do.  We as followers of Christ should always seek God's guidance and do what He instructs us to do.