Numbers 8:1

Numbers 8:1 says, And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,  Verse two adds, Speak unto Aaron, and say unto him, When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick.  God told Moses what to tell Aaron about lighting the lamps.  The lamps served to bring light into the tabernacle so that the priests and then the people could see what they were doing.  Jesus Christ is the light for the world today, but of course we must accept Him as our Savior and Lord for His light to do us any good.  Verse three continues, And Aaron did so; he lighted the lamps thereof over against the candlestick, as the LORD commanded Moses.  Aaron did as the LORD commanded him to do through Moses.  We must do what God tells us to do, sometimes through the Bible or a preacher, but always through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  Verse four concludes, And this work of the candlestick was of beaten gold, unto the shaft thereof, unto the flowers thereof, was beaten work: according unto the pattern which the LORD had shewed Moses, so he made the candlestick.  Moses had made the candlesticks according to God's design, and Aaron was tolight them according to God's direction.  Like Moses and Aaron, we as followers of Christ do not have the same role in the church, but if we all work together under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, then we will get God's work done effectively.  Verse five states, And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,  Verse six adds, Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse them.  God next told Moses to take the Levites from the other people of Israel and cleanse them.  We as Christians are to be separated from the world and to be cleansed by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.  We should then be set aside from the world to do God's work according to His calling in our life.  Verse seven continues,  And thus shalt thou do unto them, to cleanse them: Sprinkle water of purifying upon them, and let them shave all their flesh, and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean.  Aaron was given specific instructions about how to have the Levites cleanse themselves and their clothes.  People today are given specific instructions about how to be cleansed spiritually, and the only way to do that is to be cleansed by putting one's faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse eight concludes, Then let them take a young bullock with his meat offering, even fine flour mingled with oil, and another young bullock shalt thou take for a sin offering.  After the Levites were physically clean, they were to offer a meat and sin offering to God to be spiritually cleansed.  All we can offer today in order to be cleansed spiritually is ourself to Jesus Christ.   Verse nine says, And thou shalt bring the Levites before the tabernacle of the congregation: and thou shalt gather the whole assembly of the children of Israel together:  The Levites were the to be brought before the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the people of Israel were to be assembled there as well.  I believe that once we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, we should let people know, beginning with a local  congregation that we will then be a part of.  Verse ten adds, And thou shalt bring the Levites before the LORD: and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites:  The Levites were to be dedicated to God, and the people of Israel were to put their hands on them signifying their understanding of the role of the Levites and their support of them.   We also need to support one another in  God's work, especially those who have been called into the ministry and other positions in the church.