Numbers 3:11

Numbers 3:11 says, And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,  Verse twelve adds, And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine;  God told Moses that He had taken the Levites instead of the first born of every family to be His.  Verse thirteen continues, Because all the firstborn are mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: mine shall they be: I am the LORD.  God reminded Moses that since He had passed over the first born of the people of Israel when He had killed the first born of the Egyptians that the first born male of men and beast were His.  God is due everything we have as followers of Christ, since He set us free from the penalty of sin, which is death.  Verse fourteen states, And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying,  Verse fifteen adds, Number the children of Levi after the house of their fathers, by their families: every male from a month old and upward shalt thou number them.  God the told Moses to count the children of Levi by the house of their fathers, but this time he was to count every male from one month old, and not from the age of twenty who were able to go to war.  I don't believe that this means that as Christians we are not to be ready to fight for our believe in Jesus Christ, though some Christians disagree.  Verse sixteen says, And Moses numbered them according to the word of the LORD, as he was commanded.  Moses did what God commanded him to do, and so must we as followers of Christ today.  Verse seventeen adds, And these were the sons of Levi by their names; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari.  Levi had three sons named Gershom, Koheth, and Merari.  Verse eighteen states, And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families; Libni, and Shimei.  Then we are told the names of the grandsons of Levi, starting with the sons of Gershon, who had two sons, Libni and Shimei.  Verse nineteen continues, And the sons of Kohath by their families; Amram, and Izehar, Hebron, and Uzziel.  Kobath had four sons, Amram, Izehar, Hebron, and Uzziel.  Verse twenty concludes, And the sons of Merari by their families; Mahli, and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to the house of their fathers.  Merari had two sons named Mahli and Mushi.  There were a total of eight grandsons and their families, and they were all equal in God's sight.  We as Christians are all God's children, never a grandchild, and we are all equal in God's sight.  

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. 

Numbers 2:25

Numbers 2:25 says, The standard of the camp of Dan shall be on the north side by their armies: and the captain of the children of Dan shall be Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.  On the north side was to be the house of Dan, completing the circle around the tabernacle.  God will always protect us as Christians from all sides.  Verse twenty-six adds, And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were threescore and two thousand and seven hundred.  The number of fighting men was given.  Verse twenty-seven says, And those that encamp by him shall be the tribe of Asher: and the captain of the children of Asher shall be Pagiel the son of Ocran.  Verse twenty-eight adds, And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty and one thousand and five hundred.  Next to the tribe of Dan was the tribe of Asher, and we are given the name of their captain and their number.  Verse twenty-nine states, Then the tribe of Naphtali: and the captain of the children of Naphtali shall be Ahira the son of Enan.  Verse thirty adds, And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.  The final tribe placed was the tribe of Naphtali and we are given their captain and number in the tribe.  If nothing else, we can learn from this that God is very organized in His work, if we as His people listen to Him.  We are all as followers of Christ to work together for God's honor and glory.  Verse thirty-one says, All they that were numbered in the camp of Dan were an hundred thousand and fifty and seven thousand and six hundred. They shall go hindmost with their standards.  The total number of the three tribes falling under the camp of Dan was given.  We are also told that they would be at the rear of the tribes when they were moving.  They were no less as important as the ones at the front.  Whatever our position in God's kingdom, we are all equally important.  Though listed as under the house of Dan, the other two tribes were equally important.  We as Christians may be under the stewardship of different pastors today, but we are equally Important to God.  Verse thirty-two adds, These are those which were numbered of the children of Israel by the house of their fathers: all those that were numbered of the camps throughout their hosts were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.  The total number of the men over twenty who were able to go to war is given again.  This was far from the total number.  Hopefully, as Christians, God can count on us to be a part of His army and ready to go to war against the evil in the world.  Verse twenty-three declares, But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses.  The Levites, the priestly tribe, were not numbered in the children of Israel, though they were very much a part of it.  They were called to take care of the spiritual matters related to God, and not among those ready to go to war.  Today, since we are a part of the priesthood of believers, and we don't have physical things associated with God's presence, I am not sure that there is any believer in Christ who is exempt from fighting the war against sin.  Verse thirty-four adds, And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses: so they pitched by their standards, and so they set forward, every one after their families, according to the house of their fathers.  The people of Israel did according to God's word, and so must we today as followers of Christ. 

Numbers 2:18

Numbers 2:18 says, On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim according to their armies: and the captain of the sons of Ephraim shall be Elishama the son of Ammihud.  The tribe of Ephraim, Joseph's son, was to be the west side, with Elishama as their captain.  Verse nineteen adds, And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty thousand and five hundred.  We are once again given the number of men capable of going to war in his tribe.  Verse twenty states, And by him shall be the tribe of Manasseh: and the captain of the children of Manasseh shall be Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.  Verse twenty-one adds, And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred.  Next to the tribe of Ephraim was the tribe of Manasseh, Joseph's other son, and all of his host, which included those who had been numbered.  Verse twenty-two says, Then the tribe of Benjamin: and the captain of the sons of Benjamin shall be Abidan the son of Gideoni.  Verse twenty-three adds, And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and five thousand and four hundred.  These was the descendants of Joseph's only brother who was not a half-brother.  Verse twenty-four states, All that were numbered of the camp of Ephraim were an hundred thousand and eight thousand and an hundred, throughout their armies. And they shall go forward in the third rank.  Then we are given the total number of the camp of Ephraim, which included all three tribes.  They were to go forward as the third rank.  God planned for everything to move and work in an orderly fashion, and He still does I believe. 

Numbers 2:10

Numbers 2:10 says, On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their armies: and the captain of the children of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur.  This is a continuation of the placement of the people around the tabernacle, and they were to be on the south side.  Verse eleven adds, And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were forty and six thousand and five hundred.  The name of their captain and the number in the tribe was also reported.  Verse twelve states, And those which pitch by him shall be the tribe of Simeon: and the captain of the children of Simeon shall be Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.  Then,we are given the names of the tribes near Rueben, beginning with Simeon.  Verse thitteen adds, And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred. Again, we are given the name of the captain and the number in the tribe of Simeon.  Verse fourteen says, Then the tribe of Gad: and the captain of the sons of Gad shall be Eliasaph the son of Reuel.  Verse fifteen adds, And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty and five thousand and six hundred and fifty.  The tribe of Gad, their captain and number were to camp next to Simeon.  Verse sixteen states, All that were numbered in the camp of Reuben were an hundred thousand and fifty and one thousand and four hundred and fifty, throughout their armies. And they shall set forth in the second rank.  Then, we are told of the total number in the camp of Rueben, which included the camps of Simeon and Gad.   They were separate camps, but united with Rueben first, and all of Israel overall.  We may ne physically separated as Christians today, by country even, but we are still a part of the family of God, and He expects us to work together for His glory.   Verse seventeen adds, Then the tabernacle of the congregation shall set forward with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camp: as they encamp, so shall they set forward, every man in his place by their standards.  The camp of the Levites, the priestly family, was to be in the midst of the camp.  They were to be protected by the others, and we today should do all that we can to protect and support our fellow Christians, especially those who are called to preach God's word.

Numbers 2:1

Numbers 2:1 says, And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,  Verse two adds, Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of their father’s house: far off about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch.  God then told Moses and Aaron how the camp  was to be set up when the people of Israel were stopped.  Each man was to pitch his tent with his own standard, which would have the ensign of his fathers house on it.  They were to set up away from the tabernacle, encircling it.  God is still a God of order and not confusion, and He still expects families to gather together.  Verse three states, And on the east side toward the rising of the sun shall they of the standard of the camp of Judah pitch throughout their armies: and Nahshon the son of Amminadab shall be captain of the children of Judah.  God then begins to tell Moses and Aaron how the tribes were to set up around the tabernacle, and who would be the captain of the group.  We may identify as the children of some relative who was a Christian, but we still have God's calling to continue His work today.  God, not Moses and Aaron, decided the order.  We should allow God to decide where we fit in His kingdom today.  The first to be placed was the tribe Judah, with Nahshon as its captain.  They were to be on the east side of the tabernacle.  Verse four continues, And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred.  All of the descendants of Judah were to be in this camp.  Verse five says, And those that do pitch next unto him shall be the tribe of Issachar: and Nethaneel the son of Zuar shall be captain of the children of Issachar.  Verse six adds, And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred.  The house of Issachar was placed next to the house of Judah, and it's captain identified and its number stated. Those placed next to the house of Judah were his closest kin, and this would be the pattern for the rest of the placement.  As Christians, our closest brothers and sisters in Christ should be our closest relatives, because we should spend more time with them naturally.  Verse seven states, Then the tribe of Zebulun: and Eliab the son of Helon shall be captain of the children of Zebulun.  Verse eight adds, And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred.  The tribe of Zebulun was next, with their captain named and numbers stated.  Verse nine concludes, All that were numbered in the camp of Judah were an hundred thousand and fourscore thousand and six thousand and four hundred, throughout their armies. These shall first set forth.  They were to lead out when the people were moving. Though separated by tribe, these three were all counted together as the tribe of Judah.  We today, no matter who our ancestors may be or where we may be in the world, as followers of Christ are still a part of the same family of God, and we need to be where God calls us to be.

Numbers 1:44

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.