The Book Of NUMBERS
Numbers 21:8 "And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole:
and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live."
CHAPTER 17:
In the aftermath of Korah’s rebellion, God is going to prove to His chosen people once and for all His appointed man for the role of high priest, the spiritual leader and intercessor of the nation. Chapter 16 focused on Moses and God’s affirmation to the people, once and for all, that Moses is their corporate leader. Now, in chapter 17, God affirms for the nation His appointment of Aaron as the spiritual leader and high priest. Verses 1-5: God instructs Moses to get a rod of almond wood from each leader of the twelve tribes of Israel. In the cultures of the ANE at this time, a rod or staff served several functions: a symbol of authority for a man over his household (Genesis 38:18, Psalm 110:2), a tool for shepherds (Exodus 4:2, Psalm 23:4), a walking stick, and a method of discipline for a father to his children. (Proverbs 22:15) Each tribal leader is to bring their rod to Moses, and each rod will have that man’s name carved on it. (v.2-3) Aaron’s rod and name represent the tribe of Levi. Moses will then place the rods in the tabernacle before the ark of the covenant. (v.4) The word used here in verse 4 is “testimony”, which refers to the ten commandments that are in the ark. (Exodus 25:16) Though the text doesn’t say specifically, it seems logical to conclude that God is allowing Moses himself to enter the holy of holies since that is where the ark of the covenant is located. We know from Leviticus 16 that only the high priest can enter the holy of holies on the annual Day of Atonement, and even then only after he has thoroughly bathed himself and performed all the necessary blood sacrifices and offerings on behalf of himself. So that leaves only two possible explanations for the LORD’s commandment to Moses in verse 4: 1) God makes a special exception in this case, allowing Moses to enter the holy of holies; or 2) God allows Aaron to enter the holy of holies to place the rods before the ark since he is the high priest. In both cases, of course, the ritual bathing as well as the necessary blood sacrifices and offerings would be done first. Since verse 7 clearly states that it’s Moses – and only Moses – who lays the rods before the ark, we can safely conclude that God made a special exception to His law regarding the high priest and the Day of Atonement. We can also logically infer that Moses completed the ritual cleansing and blood sacrifices, the latter performed by Aaron on Moses’ behalf, before entering the tabernacle. God tells Moses that the rod of the man whom He chooses as spiritual leader will blossom. (v.5) This will, once and for all, end the rebellion of the Israelites against Aaron and Moses. (Numbers 16:5, 11) Verses 6-13: The tribal leaders and Aaron obey Moses’ instructions, bringing their rods to him with each man’s name carved into them. (v.6) Moses lays them before the ark of the covenant in the holy of holies. (v.7) The next morning, when he enters the tabernacle, Moses finds only Aaron’s rod to have “…brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.” (v.8) (Ezekiel 17:24, Hebrews 9:4) For dead wood – having no root in any earth and, thus, no water or any other nourishment by which to naturally blossom and bear fruit – to bring forth new life is a miracle that only God can perform! This is a beautiful picture of every sinner that is saved by grace, being renewed to eternal life by the washing of the shed blood of Christ and being risen with Him to glory! (Ephesians 2:1, 4-5, Colossians 3:1) The stems and lamps of the golden lampstand were shaped and formed to resemble almond branches and blossoms (Exodus 25:33-36), so this miracle is closely connected to the tabernacle itself, thus further cementing in the eyes of the people God’s choice of Aaron to serve there as high priest. Moses takes the rods and lays them before the Israelites so that they can see for themselves whom God has chosen. (v.9) God then instructs Moses to keep Aaron’s rod within the ark of the covenant, alongside the jar of manna and the ten commandments. (v.10) He again states that this should silence the rebellious murmurings of the people against Him, “…that they die not.” In other words, the rod will also serve as a memorial and reminder of God’s wrath against the rebellion and disobedience of the Israelites. (Numbers 16:38, Deuteronomy 9:7, 24) Moses does as God commands him. (v.11) Verses 12-13: As usual, though, the children of Israel have no trouble finding the cloud within the silver lining. They are, as always, focused only on themselves, and they utterly ignore the miracle that God has just performed. Rather than rejoice at His love and mercy and return to their tents to go about their day, they complain that they will all perish because they can’t ever come near the tabernacle for fear of God’s wrath! (Numbers 1:51, 53, 18:4, 7) Like Adam and Eve, the Israelites reject all the bounty of God’s provision and what He has given them and allowed them to have and to be, and instead zero in on just His commandments of what they can’t do or should not do. In this case, they’re complaining about his restrictions regarding the tabernacle, and they completely miss the point of this whole demonstration of the budding of Aaron’s rod! “Whosoever cometh any thing near unto the tabernacle of the LORD shall die: shall we be consumed with dying?” (v.13) The LORD, infinite in mercy and longsuffering, responds to this complaint in chapter 18. CHAPTER 18: Verses 1-7: This chapter follows the pattern of God reminding His people of His law following a major incident of sin among the congregation of Israel. This passage is God’s direct response to the people’s fear of His wrath as expressed in the last two verses of chapter 17. God speaks directly with Aaron here since he and his sons are in charge of the tabernacle and all of its furnishings. The LORD reminds Aaron that he and his sons are responsible for ensuring the sanctity of the tabernacle. (v.1) (…bear the iniquity of the sanctuary…) (Exodus 28:38, Leviticus 10:17, 22:16) The other men of the tribe of Levi are also designated to assist the priests as described in Numbers 3 and 4, which was the whole point of Korah’s rebellion. God is, once again, making it clear to Aaron, his sons, and the whole nation the roles and responsibilities of the high priest, the priests, and the other men of the tribe of Levi. (v.2-3, 6-7) The purpose of this instruction is so that the holiness of the tabernacle and its furnishings is not violated, thus causing judgment by God upon Aaron, his sons, or the people. (v.3, 5) Notice here that God doesn’t say anything about the priesthood or the service of the tribe of Levi that He didn’t already give to Moses earlier at Mount Sinai. God’s response to the people’s latest complaint is essentially this: “Yes, you’re correct. Anyone that doesn’t adhere to My instructions exactly as I have given them will suffer my wrath and judgment. Now, let’s go over them again.” The seemingly infinite patience of the LORD is once again shown in this passage as He reiterates for Aaron and Moses His commandments regarding the priesthood and the tabernacle. God also reminds Aaron that the priesthood and its service were given to him and his sons as a gift (v.7) (Matthew 10:8, 1 Peter 5:2-3), as are the three clans of the tribe of Levi that assist them in their service (v.6) (Numbers 3:12, 45) This is the same point that Moses had tried to make clear to Korah: that service to God – no matter the type or role – is a gift, a high honor that should never be taken lightly. It’s a sin against the LORD for us to look at another’s role and responsibility with jealousy or resentment. Rather, we should humble ourselves and thank God for what He has given us as we learn to be content with the tasks He’s assigned to us. That is where we will find true happiness and joy. Verses 8-19: Next, God reminds Aaron of the portions of all the sacrifices that are given to him and his sons for their sustenance and provision. (v.8-10) As described earlier in Leviticus, portions of the meat and sin offerings, firstfruits of the harvest, and the firstborn animals are to be given to the priests to support and provide for them and their families. (v.11, 13) (Exodus 22:29, 23:19, Leviticus 2:2-3, 6:16-18, 10:12-13, 23:20, Numbers 5:9-10, Nehemiah 10:35-36) As long as all members of the priest’s household are clean and in right standing with the LORD, they may partake of his sustenance. Everything that is consecrated in Israel also belongs to the priests because it belongs to God. (v.14) But the people are allowed to give the priests five shekels of silver in lieu of the animal if he/she desires to keep it instead. (v.15-16) (Leviticus 27:6) The only exception to this rule, however, is the firstborn of the clean beasts, for those are to be offered as sacrifices unto the Lord. (v.17) They are holy. (Deuteronomy 15:19) Portions of these offerings, too, belong to the priest for his sustenance. (v.18) (Exodus 29:26, Leviticus 7:31) Salt is mentioned again in verse 19. (Leviticus 2:13, 2 Chronicles 13:5, Mark 9:49-50) According to the Moody Bible Commentary, “Salt often suggested inviolability or permanence, thereby indicating an unbreakable covenant. A ‘covenant of salt’ can also be taken as an idiomatic expression expressing loyalty or agreement. The notion is that if a person shares ‘salt’ (in a meal) with someone, that one is a recipient of the host’s hospitality, and the guest was to look after his gracious host’s interests (Ezra 4:14).” In summary, God is reminding Aaron and his sons of their responsibility as priests of the tabernacle, but He’s also reminding them of the many blessings and provisions that come with that role. God was pleased by Aaron’s intercession on behalf of the people in chapter 16, and these blessings are proof of that. Verses 20-24: Next, God reminds Aaron that he and his sons are to have no inheritance of tribal land once the nation finally conquers the promised land. (v.20) (Deuteronomy 10:8-9, 12:12, 14:27, 18:1-2, Joshua 13:14, 33) Instead, the LORD Himself is the inheritance of the priests! (“…I am thine part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel.”) (Psalm 16:5, Ezekiel 44:28) There is no higher honor or blessing in this life than to be in full time service to the LORD. That’s what it means to have Him as one’s inheritance. The Levitical priests were entirely dependent on God for their daily sustenance and provisions. To put this in today’s parlance, the priests could not have a second job in addition to their pastoral ministry in the church. That’s why God commands the Israelites to tithe of everything they brought to the priests for sacrifice, which is what He reiterates in verses 21 and 24. He tells Aaron that the tithes of the nation are not only for the priests but also for the whole tribe of Levi, which includes those of the clans that were assigned to assist the priests in their daily service. (Leviticus 27:30, Deuteronomy 14:22, Nehemiah 10:37, 12:44, Malachi 3:8, Hebrews 7:4) God closes his statements to Aaron by repeating the warning He gave in verses 1-5. No one outside the tribe of Levi is to come near the tabernacle itself or touch any of the holy things within it. Only the priests and the three clans of Levi may serve in the tabernacle. (v.21-22) (Leviticus 22:9, Numbers 1:51) Anyone that violates this commandment, whether Israelite or stranger, will bear his/her own iniquity and suffer the wrath and judgment of the LORD accordingly. What God is making clear to Aaron, his sons, and the rest of congregation is that the people were correct in their complaint at the end of chapter 17. They were right to fear God and His wrath for anyone that would disobey His commandments. But fear of punishment is not what should be motivating the Israelites – or us today – to obey God. We should obey because we desire to do what’s right. The Israelites are still missing the entire point of God’s Law. Obedience will bring fellowship with the LORD, but disobedience will break that fellowship. They should be seeking God and obeying His commandments from a desire to have God dwelling among them, not just in order to escape His wrath and punishment. Verses 25-32: God now turns to Moses with further instructions and reminders about tithing. The first is that the Levites and the priests are to tithe of their portion of tithe that they receive from the people. (v.26) (Nehemiah 10:38) That tithe is to be offered up as a heave offering to the LORD, as though it were the firstfruits of their own grain or vineyard harvest. (v.27) Every tithe is to be the best part of their portion from the people (v.29), and only afterwards may the priests and Levites take it as their portion for them and their families to eat. (v.30-31) This is the reward for their service to Him. (Matthew 10:10, Luke 10:7, 1 Corinthians 9:13, 1 Timothy 5:18) Again, God is not saying anything new here. All of these commands regarding tithing were given in Exodus and Leviticus. God is merely restating them for clarity’s sake, and one can almost hear the patient, gentle sigh in His voice here as he speaks to Moses, like a teacher explaining – yet again – to His disciples a basic concept they all should have easily understood in the first lecture. As before, God closes this passage with a warning. Those who do not obey these commandments will bear their own iniquity and suffer judgment accordingly. (v.32) (Leviticus 19:8, 22:2, 15-16, Ezekiel 22:26)
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