King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Sunday, March 03, 2024
Chapters: Numbers Chapters 18-19
Message: The Gift of God Like No Other
Hello My Friend,
My brother and his wife just welcomed a baby girl into the world yesterday afternoon, she is beautiful, has a look of her own, and strong, but she is having a hard time breathing whenever she eats. They have her on oxygen until they can figure out what is causing the problem. And while we were awaiting the news of when my sister-in-law was going into labor my husband got word that a friend’s daughter was murdered. When things happen that we cannot explain there really is no words that can be said, the only thing that we can do is trust that God has things under control. Those who do not know that God gives us options of where we are going when their soul leaves this earth need to be told that eternity has nothing to do with how good or bad they are, and everything to do with Christ, [John 3:16,18 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.]
Since creation, salvation, does not and has not been grated to anyone based on how righteous they are, and do you know why? We all come short of our own righteousness saving us. Besides, even if we were able to get to heaven based on our works we would ruin heaven boasting about everything we did to get there, [Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.]
The gift of God’s grace, now, that is something that we ought to never get over as without it every soul except for Jesus and those who never got a chance at life here would be in hell. Believe it or not, God, does not want to see one soul in hell, which is why He sent His Son, and why Jesus also sends His ministers. Now, after the fiasco’s with the rebellion and death of so many Israelites since being told that they could not go into the promise land for forty years, I am sure that it was refreshing to know that God was not going to consume them all. And since it was now confirmed that Aaron had some authority over the Israelites, it was time to get back to business. As we continue in the reading of Numbers, God, reconfirms Aaron’s authority as the high priest, his sons positions as priests, and the responsibilities that the rest of the Levites would have.
[Numbers 18:1-3 And the LORD said unto Aaron, Thou and thy sons and thy father’s house with thee shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary: and thou and thy sons with thee shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood. 2 And thy brethren also of the tribe of Levi, the tribe of thy father, bring thou with thee, that they may be joined unto thee, and minister unto thee: but thou and thy sons with thee shall minister before the tabernacle of witness. 3 And they shall keep thy charge, and the charge of all the tabernacle: only they shall not come nigh the vessels of the sanctuary and the altar, that neither they, nor ye also, die.]
[they may be joined unto thee…but thou and thy sons…shall minister before the tabernacle of witness.] The tabernacle of witness is the part of the sanctuary where the high priest and priests would minister to God. It was called the holy place, which was on the outside of the veil of the Tabernacle and was before the most holy place, where the Ark of the Covenant was above the mercy seat. They were to attend to the duties of the golden altar, the table of shewbread, and candlestick, which no other Levite was able to approach or touch. There is a reason why God calls those He has separated for His ministry for certain duties, we cannot all be pastors, teachers, or choir members, but we can all be ready for what He calls us to do, [Ephesians 4:11-12 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:]
[that neither they, nor ye also, die.] They were to warn the other Levites not to come near the holy place as it was detrimental to all of them if they were not and someone died ignorantly. Did you know that once you receive Christ as your Saviour that you are to witness the Gospel to others so that they too do not need to die out of ignorance? And while we cannot lose our salvation we will stand before Jesus and give an account of those whom we were led to tell and did not, [Matthew 12:36-37 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.]
When God chose the Levites to be the tribe to serve Him in His ministry, He did not chose them because they were more righteous than the rest. In fact, it was Levites who rebelled against God first when He told them they could not enter the promise land just yet. He chose them because there needed to be someone set apart from the rest of the tribes who understood the Law and could teach it to them. God explains this further.
[Numbers 18:6-8 And I, behold, I have taken your brethren the Levites from among the children of Israel: to you they are given as a gift for the LORD, to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation. 7 Therefore thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your priest’s office for every thing of the altar, and within the vail; and ye shall serve: I have given your priest’s office unto you as a service of gift: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death. 8 And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Behold, I also have given thee the charge of mine heave offerings of all the hallowed things of the children of Israel; unto thee have I given them by reason of the anointing, and to thy sons, by an ordinance for ever.]
[I have given your priest’s office unto you as a service of gift:] Whatever it is that God called us to do, we need to value it as a great gift. We also need to be cautious because that means that the greater the trust of work and power that committed to us, the greater danger there is of betraying that trust. This is a good reason why we are not envy others who have more responsibility than we do, [Ephesians 4:4-7 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.]
Christ’s Church is made up of more than just preachers, deacons, and teachers, it is a body of saved, born again believers serving wherever Jesus needs them to be. And let me tell you, when we are willing accept the job offer that Jesus gives to us we are well compensated for. God, goes on to tell Aaron how he, his sons, their families, and the Levites will receive compensation for their service.
[Numbers 18:14-15,17,20-21 Every thing devoted in Israel shall be thine. 15 Every thing that openeth the matrix in all flesh, which they bring unto the LORD, whether it be of men or beasts, shall be thine: nevertheless the firstborn of man shalt thou surely redeem, and the firstling of unclean beasts shalt thou redeem. 17 But the firstling of a cow, or the firstling of a sheep, or the firstling of a goat, thou shalt not redeem; they are holy: thou shalt sprinkle their blood upon the altar, and shalt burn their fat for an offering made by fire, for a sweet savour unto the LORD. 20 And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel. 21 And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.]
[But the firstling of a cow…thou shalt not redeem;] These were considered holy because they were set apart for God and therefore not to be used in common by men and solely for the Levites use. The priests were to be wholly devoted to their ministry, not diverted from it, or disturbed in it by worldly cares. They were to be examples of living by faith, not only in God’s Word, but deed as well. All who receive Christ as their Saviour are spiritual priests, and God has promised to take care of them through their faithfulness, [1 Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.]
[Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land,] God’s employees do not get an earthly inheritance because He is their inheritance. Think about it, when we accept Christ as our Saviour we belong to Him, and yet He belongs to us. Praise God! Out of all the things we can inherit, there is nothing better then Jesus Himself, [John 17:20-21 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.]
Although the Levites provisions were assured from the gifts of Israel, they were not exempt from giving tithes either in the service of God, they too are to offer a tenth of what they received for the support of the priests.
[Numbers 18:26-27,30-32 Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the LORD, even a tenth part of the tithe. 27 And this your heave offering shall be reckoned unto you, as though it were the corn of the threshingfloor, and as the fulness of the winepress. 30 Therefore thou shalt say unto them, When ye have heaved the best thereof from it, then it shall be counted unto the Levites as the increase of the threshingfloor, and as the increase of the winepress. 31 And ye shall eat it in every place, ye and your households: for it is your reward for your service in the tabernacle of the congregation. 32 And ye shall bear no sin by reason of it, when ye have heaved from it the best of it: neither shall ye pollute the holy things of the children of Israel, lest ye die.]
[And ye shall bear no sin by reason of it,] There was no reason to fear that anything they had received for their service was sinful, unless they received it in vain. Even the gifts that we are giving to God need to be holy, meaning they are to be earned with honest money. Do you know how many people give money to churches that has been won by gambling? Do you think that God is going to accept money that was gotten by gambling, or any other polluted thing? Local churches might accept filthy money and perhaps even encourage it (aka bingo, lottery), but God will not, [1 Peter 5:2-4 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.]
As we walk this earth many things will defile our flesh, which is why we need to be cleansed spiritually every day. While God allowed ordinary fresh water as a means to cleanse the flesh of it’s impurities, sometimes the plain water was not enough, He introduces a special water in addition to the normal offerings that had to be used to cleanse the soul of any person who became defiled, and it was called the water of separation.
[Numbers 19:2-6 This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke: 3 And ye shall give her unto Eleazar the priest, that he may bring her forth without the camp, and one shall slay her before his face: 4 And Eleazar the priest shall take of her blood with his finger, and sprinkle of her blood directly before the tabernacle of the congregation seven times: 5 And one shall burn the heifer in his sight; her skin, and her flesh, and her blood, with her dung, shall he burn: 6 And the priest shall take cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer.]
[cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet,] The was a reason why these three things were thrown on the sacrifice, the cedar wood represented the inexhaustible strength of life, the hyssop represented its purifying properties, and scarlet represented the intensive power of life. The ashes of these things along with the red cow represent everything that was full of the highest life and strength, and that the price of sin is always death, [Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.]
In order to remind the congregation that death is the wages of sin, this cure against the uncleanness of death was taken from a sin-offering. The sin offering was not enough in this case, they also needed to separate themselves from the rest of the congregation for seven days, wash their clothes and themselves.
[Numbers 19:7-10 Then the priest shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp, and the priest shall be unclean until the even. 8 And he that burneth her shall wash his clothes in water, and bathe his flesh in water, and shall be unclean until the even. 9 And a man that is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and lay them up without the camp in a clean place, and it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for a water of separation: it is a purification for sin. 10 And he that gathereth the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: and it shall be unto the children of Israel, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among them, for a statute for ever.]
[and shall be unclean until the even…And he that gathereth the ashes…be unclean until the even:] All you need to do to understand this is to stand next to someone or thing that gives off smoke. That smell and even the smoke itself sinks into the fabric and even sticks to your body. This is why salvation must be now, we cannot delay in our receiving Christ as our Saviour as we never know when our last breath on this earth will be, [James 4:8-10,13-14 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. 13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.]
Now, it was not the sacrifice in this case that cleansed them, it was the water, even of someone touched a dead body, they had to have this water sprinkled on them on the third day of their separation.
[Numbers 19:13,17-19 Whosoever toucheth the dead body of any man that is dead, and purifieth not himself, defileth the tabernacle of the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from Israel: because the water of separation was not sprinkled upon him, he shall be unclean; his uncleanness is yet upon him. 17 And for an unclean person they shall take of the ashes of the burnt heifer of purification for sin, and running water shall be put thereto in a vessel: 18 And a clean person shall take hyssop, and dip it in the water, and sprinkle it upon the tent, and upon all the vessels, and upon the persons that were there, and upon him that touched a bone, or one slain, or one dead, or a grave: 19 And the clean person shall sprinkle upon the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day: and on the seventh day he shall purify himself, and wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and shall be clean at even.]
[toucheth the dead body of any man that is dead,] This is not a typo in the Bible, anyone who’s soul is not saved is a dead body, meaning their soul is not alive. In other words, this is not a dead body that has died physically, it is one that does not have the Spirit of God in it. Before Christ’s passion, the water of separation had to be applied to anyone who even went near a grave, but thank God that Jesus is our permanent water of separation that keeps our soul alive, even when our body has given up and is as Jesus puts it, sleeping until He returns and we unite with our new glorified bodies,
[1 Corinthians 15:51-54 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.]
Jesus Christ Revealed/Magnified: [Numbers 19:2 This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke:]
Today’s Prayer:
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure You Are Going To Heaven?: https://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/ready-to-follow-jesus/
Receive The KJB Daily Devotions In Your Email: http://eepurl.com/2WMzT
Read Previous Devotions: https://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/
Read The Bible: http://kingjamesbible.imfollowingjesus.com/
Visit I’m Following Jesus: http://imfollowingjesus.com/index.html
Like I’m Following Jesus On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/byhisstrength
Copyright © 2024 I’m Following Jesus, All rights reserved.