Numbers 2-3

“Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the people of Israel instead of every firstborn who opens the womb … The Levites shall be mine…” (3:12).  Within the tribe of Levi, Aaron’s descendants served as priests, and the other Levite men were tabernacle/temple custodians and guards, caring for the costly objects and guarding the complex (v6-8).  Rather than each Israelite family giving their firstborn to temple work, the Levites and priests represented everyone before the Lord.

Worship was so central to the life of Israel that it claimed the work of an entire tribe.  Likewise, as God’s “royal priesthood and holy nation,” we center our lives on Jesus and proclaim Him in the world (I Peter 2:9).