March 3 | Numbers 1

In Numbers chapter 1, we get a lot of… you guessed it, NUMBERS! The people have received the law from God and are in the second year since leaving Egypt. The book begins with each tribe counted in a census. Every tribe is listed, but if you look closely, you will see that there are only eleven tribes counted. Didn’t Israel have twelve sons? Shouldn’t there be twelve tribes? God gave specific instructions for the Levites not to be counted, and he provides a reason for it in Leviticus 1:47-50. 

“47 But the Levites were not listed along with them by their ancestral tribe. 48 For the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 49 “Only the tribe of Levi you shall not list, and you shall not take a census of them among the people of Israel. 50 But appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the testimony, all its furnishings, and all that belongs to it.”

The Levites had a specific role in this nation of Israel; they were over the Tabernacle. This job is significant because it is where God’s presence resides! God tells the nation of Israel to camp with the Tabernacle set up in the middle of the camp. Numbers 2:2, 

“The people of Israel shall camp each by his standard, with the banners of their fathers’ houses. They shall camp facing the tent of meeting on every side.” 

The Tabernacle was to be the center of the camp. All the tribes were to be located and facing toward the Tabernacle, God’s presence. This reminds us to place God at the center of our lives. Have you put God at the center of your camp today, or is he looking in from outside? 

Not only was the tabernacle at the center of the camp, but read Numbers 1:53. 

“53 But the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the testimony, so that there may be no wrath on the congregation of the people of Israel. And the Levites shall keep guard over the tabernacle of the testimony.”

God’s presence would threaten the congregation and the people because of their sins. The tabernacle housed God’s presence in the holy of holies, but the Levites were another buffer that protected the people from God’s wrath. 

Today, we are not just protected from the wrath of God, but because of Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross, God’s wrath is satisfied. We can enter into God’s presence freely and be accepted by the blood of Christ. Today, celebrate the freedom that the blood of Christ brings and place Him at the center of your life!