Number 3-4

“Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister to him” (3:6). Logically, the Israelites needed every able-bodied man to be able to fight, and later, to farm. However, God wanted worship to be central to Israel’s life, and so He took the entire tribe of the Levites to serve and support the ministry of the tabernacle, presided over by the priestly descendants of Aaron (also Levites). The Levites belonged to the Lord as the symbolic “first born” of all Israelite families (3:12).

“They shall be mine” (3:13). As a “kingdom of priests,” through Jesus, we now belong to God like the Levites – serving Him wherever we are, proclaiming Jesus as Lord.