April 30 – Numbers 3
Chapter 3 records for us the process of setting aside the Levites to be the priestly clan of the nation of Israel. The Levites were tasked with an incredibly important, sacred, and severe responsibility to represent the people of God before God Himself. These men would serve in God’s presence and offer atonement for the sins of Israel. The word atonement is a word that simply means “reparation for a wrong”. When used in a biblical context, it connotes the reality that someone has to pay for our wrongdoing, or sin, before a holy and perfect God. The Levites were the tribe assigned with that task. In so doing, they were commanded to follow the law regarding sacrifices as set forth in places like Leviticus and they were warned that there were grave consequences for disobeying this law.
Chapter 3 reminds us of those consequences when Moses mentions in verse 4 that Nadab and Abihu (sons of Aaron) died before the Lord because they offered “unauthorized fire”. This harkens back to Leviticus 10:1 when these two men flippantly offered incense that was not commanded or ordained by God before Him. The Bible goes on to tell us that these men were consumed by the fire as evidence of God’s judgment and disdain for their disobedience.
Simply stated, the task of the priest in representing the people of God before God was one of incredible importance and danger. The task was dangerous because the men who were to be the high priest were still sinners themselves. In reality, their offering before the Lord was tainted just like the rest of the nation of Israel. They were not qualified to come into God’s presence, but God in His great mercy allowed them to do so for a season.
Today however, we can now enter into God’s presence with boldness and confidence. We can do this because we now serve underneath a perfectly sufficient and wonderful high priest, Jesus Christ. Whereas the Levites could not enter God’s presence with confidence because of their own sin, Jesus can stand before the Lord blameless. He is the perfect High Priest and His offering on our behalf perfectly atoned for our sin. Therefore, you and I can come into the presence of God without worry or fear of consequence because we know that our sins have been totally and finally paid for by Christ on our behalf. Jesus took upon Himself our sin so that those who believe in His payment on their behalf can enter into God’s presence. The author of Hebrews expresses this well saying “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Simply stated, those who believe in Christ can have confidence that God will offer them grace because of our representative before God, Jesus Himself. Our faith then in our standing before God has nothing to do with our works and everything to do with Jesus and His word for us! Today, if you are worried about God’s judgment or condemnation, hold fast to Christ and His work for you and enter into God’s presence knowing that you will find mercy because of Jesus!