Deuteronomy 18: 1 – 8 “The Levitical priests—indeed the whole tribe of Levi—shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel. They are to eat the offerings made by fire to the LORD; that is their inheritance. Although they have no inheritance among their brothers, the LORD is their inheritance, as He promised them.
This shall be the priests’ share from the people who offer a sacrifice, whether a bull or a sheep: the priests are to be given the shoulder, the jowls, and the stomach. You are to give them the firstfruits of your grain, new wine, and oil, and the first wool sheared from your flock. For the LORD your God has chosen Levi and his sons out of all your tribes to stand and minister in His name for all time.
Now if a Levite moves from any town of residence throughout Israel and comes in all earnestness to the place the LORD will choose, then he shall serve in the name of the LORD his God like all his fellow Levites who stand there before the LORD. They shall eat equal portions, even though he has received money from the sale of his father’s estate.”
It all began with a disaster that nearly forced God to wipe out the Israelites! Exodus 32:26 tells the horrible story. While Moses was up on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments, the Israelites became impatient. Never mind that seventy of their elders had already been up on the mountain, feasting in the presence of God. The Israelites pressured Moses’ brother Aaron into creating a copy of the Egyptian god Hathor, whose worship included orgies. When the idol was complete, the party started. God ordered Moses to go down to the camp quickly because the people had perverted themselves.
“Moses saw that the people were out of control, for Aaron had let them run wild and become a laughingstock to their enemies. So Moses stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “Whoever is for the LORD, come to me.” And all the Levites gathered around him.
He told them, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Each of you men is to fasten his sword to his side, go back and forth through the camp from gate to gate, and slay his brother, his friend, and his neighbor.’”
The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people fell dead. Afterward, Moses said, “Today you have been ordained for service to the LORD, since each man went against his son and his brother; so He has bestowed a blessing on you this day.” (Exodus 32:25 – 29)
That day when the Levites slaughtered all those engaged in the golden calf orgy, they were unwittingly making a choice. Moses issued a general call, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me!” Anybody could have answered that call, but it was the Levites who did so, and it was not even all the Levites. God ordered the Levites to slay their brothers, their friends, and their neighbors, and they did so. Some Levites might even have been forced to kill their own sons. (v. 29)
What the Levites didn’t realize was that God will be no man’s debtor. While the Levites were purging the camp from lust and perversion, God was already preparing an eternal heritage for them. Because the Levites stood for God, no matter the cost, God selected the Levites to be priests before Him forever. Any offerings, any sharing of first fruits, any good things brought to the Lord were to be shared with the Levites. In the future, wherever the Levites found themselves, they could expect help from their Israelite brothers and sisters.
APPLICATION: Inheritances! There are few experiences more wrenching than hearing a will being read and listening to the heirs arguing afterwards. One brother and sister didn’t speak to each other for nearly five years because of a dispute over their grandmother’s estate. In the end, the things these two argued over remained in boxes in storage somewhere, benefiting nobody.
The Levites could inherit whatever possessions their fathers left to them; however, they were not given large tracts of land or many cities. God wanted the Levites to focus their attention on Him and not on conducting business. God wanted the Levites to realize that their hope was in Him and that He was the One who would reward them, giving them an eternal inheritance.
One day, the Apostle Peter came to Jesus to ask him a question. “Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!”
“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. (Mark 10:28-30)
The Levites gave up their most precious possessions – their own family members and their friends. God answered that sacrifice by giving them rewards wherever they would find themselves. God knows our needs even before we do. When we willingly choose to serve God faithfully, God will provide for us in ways we cannot even imagine.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Help us to trust You and to worship You, knowing that You can care for us far better than we can care for ourselves. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
Burunche's Blog 
Leave a comment