OVERVIEW:

Korah leads a rebellion against Moses and Aaron; the plague of judgment sent by God; duties for the priests; the tithe offering; the sacrifice of the red heifer.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

The complaints that were hurled against Moses, in chapter 12, came from his own brother and sister. The uprising against him in chapter 16 comes from his own cousins, Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. The sad thing is that Korah, the ringleader of the rebellion, was able to negatively influence 250 of the leaders of Israel against Moses and Aaron. 

Their accusations against Moses and Aaron, the God-ordained authorities in Israel, was that they assumed too much authority, and that there were others, namely THEM(!), who were deserving of an equal voice in the decisions that were made for the nation. They, no doubt, were assured that they were right, and that they were only seeking to champion the “Lord’s cause”, and a cause that was for the “good of the people”. The only problem was, they were wrong; dead wrong! In fact, verse 11 reveals that their actual rebellion was not against the authority of Moses and Aaron, but against the authority of the Lord Himself! In chapter 16 and verse 11, Moses says to Korah, “…both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the Lord”. (16:11) As the Lord recounts this story in Numbers 26:9, He also says that, “they strove against the Lord”.

It is interesting to note in this whole rebellious debacle that Moses and Aaron did not seek to defend themselves. They, rather, let God be their defense. (Psalm 59:9) Moses instructs Korah and his 250 rebels to bring censers (the pots used for burning incense) to the tabernacle so that God could reveal who was right in the dispute. The object lesson was incredible. The ground opened up and swallowed Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and as the 250 princes offered their incense, God breathed out fire and they also went up in smoke!

One would think that the supernatural intervention of God, confirming the authority of Moses and Aaron, would have certainly caused the people to willfully and joyfully submit.  Rather, they murmured once again, actually blaming Moses and Aaron for killing Korah and all of his cohorts! Wow! Needless to say, God was not pleased. He instructs Moses and Aaron to back away so He could consume every one of the murmurers. Moses, rather than relish in God’s judgment upon the people, instructs Aaron to offer atonement for them so that the people would be spared. Before Aaron can offer the atonement, however, 14,700 people were killed!!!

Evidently, even the events of chapter 16 weren’t enough to convince the people of Aaron’s authority in the priesthood. In chapter 17, God wants to settle the issue once and for all.  God instructs Moses to tell each tribe to present a rod (a dead stick) to be placed in front of the ark in the tabernacle. The rod that blossomed would indicate the one He had chosen for the priesthood. Obviously, Aaron’s rod was the only one that budded. But not only did it bud, in a single day, it also blossomed and bore fruit! The other rods were still as dead as a door nail. While each of the princes took back his lifeless rod, the rod of Aaron was placed in the tabernacle before the ark to be a constant reminder to these rebels, and all of the children of Israel, who the high priest of Israel actually was!

Aaron’s rod, of course, is a beautiful picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. Many religious leaders and teachers have arisen throughout the course of time. They all had one thing in common: they died! Today, they are nothing but a “dead stick”, as it were. Only One rose from the dead! He alone is the Source and Giver of life, our great High Priest!   

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

In AARON’S BUDDING ROD – Numbers 17:1–8 (1^st Corinthians 15:20; Acts 17:3; 26:23)

In AARON AND HIS SONS who were responsible to bear the iniquity of the people in the sanctuary – Numbers 18:1 (Isaiah 53:4–7; Titus 2:14)

In the RED HEIFER, which was to be offered as a cleansing from defilement.

• It was to be without spot or blemish. (Numbers 19:2) (Christ was “without blemish and without spot” – 1^st Peter 1:19)
• It was to have never born a yoke. (Numbers 19:2) (A yoke is put on an animal to subdue its wild nature and compel subjection. Christ needed no yoke, but came saying, “Lo, I come to do thy will, O God” – Hebrews 10:7)
• It was to be red. (Numbers 19:2) (A picture of the blood of Christ – Hebrews 9:14; 1^st Peter 1:2, 19)
• It was to be slain without (outside) the camp. (Numbers 19:3) (Christ was crucified on Golgotha, a place outside of the city of Jerusalem – John 19:17)
• Its blood was to be sprinkled seven times before the tabernacle. (Numbers 19:4) (Seven is the number of completion and perfection in the Bible.  Christ offered one complete and perfect sacrifice for sin – Hebrews 10:12, 14)

OVERVIEW:

The 12 spies sent into Canaan; their report; Moses’ intercessory prayer for the children of Israel; God’s pardon, but refusal to allow Israel to enter Canaan, the land that was promised; laws concerning offerings, sins, and the sabbath.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Leaving the wilderness of Sinai, the children of Israel were led northward until they reached Kadesh-Barnea, the southern tip of the land of Canaan. For the first time, they were actually able to see the land God had promised to them. Before going in to possess the land, a leader from each of the 12 tribes was chosen to spy out the land for 40 days.

As the 12 spies brought back their report, there was complete agreement that Canaan was, indeed, “a land that flowed with milk and honey” (13:27), but 10 said that overcoming the obstacles in the land was an utter impossibility. Only Joshua and Caleb said, “Let us go up at once, and possess it for we are able to overcome it.” (13:30) As someone so aptly put it, “The ten put the DIFFICULTY between themselves and God. The two put GOD between themselves and the difficulty; the ten saw with the eye of the FLESH; the two saw with the eye of the FAITH.”

The outcome is history. Israel first refused to believe, then rebelled, even suggesting that Joshua and Caleb be stoned, and that a new leader be appointed to lead them all back to Egypt. The result was 38 years of wandering in the wilderness. (Note: A total of 40 years, one year for each day the spies were in Canaan – Numbers 14:33-34.) What a tragedy! The entire generation of people who were age 20 and above at the time of their glorious exodus from Egypt was condemned to die in the wilderness, having never experienced God’s purpose in bringing them out. They picture many (shall we go as far as to say most?) believers today, who, like Israel, refuse to trust God’s promise to grant them victory over their enemies (the world, the flesh, and the devil), and refuse to trust God to grant them entrance into the fullness of life, rest, fruit, and blessing in Christ (Canaan).

As we enter chapter 15, God begins the transitional part of the book of Numbers (chapters 15-20), which covers the 38 years of wilderness wanderings where the old generation die off. To help us understand just how much “dying” actually took place, Dr. Leon Wood (A Survey of Israel’s History) notes: “Figuring 1,200,000 (600,000 of both men and women) as having to die in 14,508 days (38½ years), gives 85 per day. Figuring 12 hours per day maximum for funerals, gives an average of seven funerals per hour for all 38½ years, a continuous foreboding reminder of God’s punishment upon them.”

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

As the GLORY OF GOD – Numbers 14:22 (Hebrews 1:3; John 1:14; 2^nd Corinthians 4:6)

OVERVIEW:

The complaint of the people; the lust of the people; the complaint of Moses; the 70 elders chosen; the plague of the quail; Aaron and Miriam speak against Moses; Miriam is stricken with leprosy; Moses prays on her behalf.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

As the blessed observance of the passover ended in chapter 9, the guiding cloud lifted from the tabernacle in chapter 10, sending the entire camp of Israel in motion. What an exciting time it must have been as “the ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them in the three days’ journey, to search out a resting place for them.” (Numbers 10:33) moving them ever closer to Canaan! Surely this was a time when the children of Israel were filled with praise, lifting their voices with triumphant singing and rejoicing! One would certainly think that would be the case. But sadly, the opening words of chapter 11 begin this way… “And when the people COMPLAINED.”  In fact, complaining and murmuring becomes one of Israel’s favorite pastimes! Check this out…

• “And when the people complained…” – Numbers 11:1
• “And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses…” – Numbers 12:1
• “And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron…” – Numbers 14:2
• “Now Korah…took men: And they rose up before Moses…and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron…” – Numbers 16:1-3
• “But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron…” – Numbers 16:41
• “And the men, which Moses sent to search the land…made all the congregation to murmur against him…” – Numbers 14:36

There is so much complaining in this book, some have even suggested that rather than being called the Book of Numbers, perhaps the fourth book of Moses might more aptly be called, “The Book of Murmurs”!

But not only did the people fall into the trap of murmuring and complaining, they also fell into the trap of lusting. It seems unthinkable, especially coming off the heels of the glorious reminder of their deliverance from the AFFLICTION of their flesh in Egypt that they had just celebrated in the passover, that only a few days later they would be lusting for the ways their flesh was GRATIFIED in Egypt! (Numbers 11:4–9) Once again, we may need to remind ourselves of what Paul tells us in 1^st Corinthians 10:6, “Now these things were our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.”  Sometimes it’s easy for believers to forget that this world’s system (Egypt) was the snare Satan used to hold us captive at his will! (2^nd Timothy 2:26) Forgetting that it was that very system of evil that almost sent us to hell, we begin to lust for the ways our flesh was gratified when we were in it. May God help us!

Note the disastrous results of the complaining and carnality of the people upon their leader. Moses himself is thrust into great discouragement, and begins to voice his complaint to the Lord. (11:10–15) He basically cries out, “I can’t do this, God! The burden is too heavy. Just kill me!” 

In the remainder of chapter 11, God answers the complaints of both Moses and the people. He gives Moses 70 elders to assist him in his work, and he gives the Jews the meat for which they lusted. Note, however, that in both cases, THEY GOT WHAT THEY WANTED, BUT LOST WHAT THEY HAD! The Spirit of God anointing Moses to lead the people was divided among the 70 elders, and the meat the children of Israel lusted after was a curse that led to their death. (“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James 1:14–15) Perhaps the key lesson here is, be careful what you ask God for!

In chapter 12, the murmuring has ascended to yet another level. Now it flows from Moses’ own brother and sister, Aaron, the high priest, and Miriam, Israel’s prophetess. (Exodus 15:20) They state that their complaint against Moses was the Ethiopian wife he had selected, but note that it is only the smokescreen to mask their own jealousy and pride. Their complaint wasn’t really against Moses’ selection of a wife, it was against Moses’ AUTHORITY! What they really wanted was the authority of Moses’ position. Verse 2 makes their motive abundantly clear. Once again, don’t miss the fact that the more things change, the more they stay the same! Human nature still employs the same tactics in the 21^st century. 

Note that in his meekness (12:3), Moses doesn’t seek to vindicate himself but rather trusts God to handle the situation. God was well able to do His job!

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

In MOSES who “was very meek above all the men which were upon the face of the earth” – Numbers 12:3 (Matthew 11:29 – Jesus said, “I am meek and lowly in heart.”)

OVERVIEW:

Consecration of the Levites; observance of the second passover; the Lord’s guiding presence in the cloud and fire; the two silver trumpets; the children of Israel leave Sinai.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

As we move into Numbers 8, God unfolds for us the consecration of the Levites. God reveals that before these priests were to render their service to God, they were first to be cleansed. (8:7)

There were three different aspects of the cleansing of the Old Testament priests that were certainly binding upon them:

1. The sprinkling of water upon them.
2. The shaving of all hair from their flesh.
3. The washing of their clothes.

These three aspects of their PHYSICAL cleansing, however, serve to picture our SPIRITUAL cleansing as New Testament priests, which as we have previously seen, is inclusive of every born-again believer in Christ. (1^st Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6) Before offering God our deeds of service, just like the Levites of Numbers 8, we too, are to be cleansed. In perfect fulfillment of the type, the New Testament teaches that our cleansing is likewise:

1. By the sprinkling of water upon us. Hebrews 10:22 says, “Having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.” 
2. By the cleansing (shaving) of “all filthiness of the flesh.” From 2^nd Corinthians 7:1 we know that these are those deeds of the flesh that are as much a part of us as the very hair on our body!
3. By the washing of our clothes. Ephesians 5:26 talks about “the washing of water by the word.”

Just as the Levites’ acceptance with God was based on the SIN offering and the BURNT offering (8:8–12), so our acceptance with God is based solely on the atoning offering for sin provided by our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 1:6)

Just as the Levites were to be presented before the Lord and completely surrendered to Him (8:13–16), we too, are commanded to “present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God…” (Romans 12:1)

In Numbers 9, God deals with the issue of FELLOWSHIP and GUIDANCE. In 9:1–14, God details the celebration of the first anniversary of the passover, which speaks of FELLOWSHIP. In 9:15–23, God explains the pillar of cloud and of fire, both of which speak of His GUIDANCE. The passover, of course, relates to the New Testament believer in the Lord’s Supper, where we, like Israel, are put in remembrance of God’s work of redemption, and thus, FELLOWSHIP through the blood of the Passover Lamb. (1^st Corinthians 5:7) The pillar of cloud and of fire which provided GUIDANCE to the Old Testament saints, is representative of the indwelling Spirit in the New Testament believer in Christ. Just as the children of Israel were to be totally surrendered and dependent upon God’s GUIDANCE for their every move, making absolutely no plans of their own accord, so we are to be completely surrendered to the supernatural GUIDANCE of the Spirit of God in us as He directs us through the pages of His word.

In chapter 10, Moses is told to make two trumpets. These trumpets, like the pillar of cloud and fire, were also for GUIDANCE. Whereas the cloud and fire gave guidance for the EYES, the trumpets provided guidance through the EARS. The trumpets were used for four specific purposes:

1. To be a summonsing call to ASSEMBLE the people.
2. To be a signal to ADVANCE the people.
3. To be a sounding blast at a time of war to ALARM the people.
4. To be a melodious song to provide the people with a continued AWARENESS (memorial) of the sacrifices of God.

The sounding of these trumpets point prophetically to:

1. The summonsing call to ASSEMBLE the church of Jesus Christ at the rapture. (1^st Thessalonians 4:16)
2. The signal of ADVANCE, as our corruptible, mortal bodies put on incorruption and immortality. (1^st Corinthians 15:52)
3. The sounding ALARM in Zion (Joel 2:1) as God declares war in the Tribulation Period. (Revelation 8–9)
4. The melodious song that will be ever-sounding in our ears throughout eternity as a memorial of God’s glorious sacrifice on our behalf through His Son!

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

In the PASSOVER – Numbers 9:2 (1^st Corinthians 5:7; John 1:29)

OVERVIEW:

Laws concerning cleansing; laws concerning confession and restitution; laws concerning suspected immorality (jealousy); the princes’ offerings for the dedication of the tabernacle.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

The Bible tells us very specifically and distinctly that we are to “rightly divide the word of truth.” (2^nd Timothy 2:15) This verse also tells us that in order to make those “right divisions”, we must see ourselves as “workmen”, employing one of the most difficult tasks known to man: “STUDY”! Through diligent “study” and hard “work”, God reveals to us the “divisions” HE has made in His word. In each book of the Bible, there are certain keys that help us to unlock the “divisions” that GOD has specifically set, what God calls the “RIGHT DIVISIONS”!

As we study Numbers, what becomes the key to unlocking the divisions God has set in this book is understanding that there are two very distinct generations of people to whom He is referring. The first group of people is the generation of people that came up out of Egypt, but because of their unbelief, were forbidden to enter the land God had promised, therefore, died in the wilderness. The other generation is the group of people who grew up in the wilderness, but were permitted to enter Canaan because they were under their parent’s authority at the time of Israel’s failure to trust God. (Deuteronomy 1:35–39) Quite simply, they were too young to make an intelligent decision about trusting God, and so God did not hold them “accountable”.

Identifying these two generations neatly divides the book of Numbers into 3 sections:

• The “OLD” generation is covered in chapters 1–14.
• The “NEW” generation is covered in chapters 21–36.
• The chapters in between (15–20), record the period of transition during which the “OLD” generation DIED OFF, and the “NEW” generation GREW UP.

Whereas the first four chapters of the book of Numbers dealt with the OUTWARD FORMATION of Israel’s camp, the next five chapters deal with its INWARD CONDITION. God capsulizes the central theme of this section in chapter 5 and verse 3, saying, “…that they defile not their camps, in the midst whereof I dwell.” Because God was in their camp, it was to be HOLY; completely free from defilement! The New Testament equivalent is 2^nd Corinthians 6:14–7:1. Because God now “DWELLS IN US” we are to “CLEANSE OURSELVES” (7:1) and “SEPARATE OURSELVES” (6:17) “from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (7:1b)

In Numbers 5, God gives the children of Israel several vital pieces of instruction:

• Lepers were to be quarantined outside of the camp. (5:1–4)
• Anything acquired through dishonesty must be confessed and recompensed. (5:5–10)
• Any suspected immorality must be tested before God. (5:11–31) 

In short, God was showing THEM, and is picturing for US, the absolute necessity for purity, honesty, and truth.

Chapter 6 deals with God’s instruction concerning the Nazarite vow. The implications are:

• When a man, or a woman, in the Old Testament wanted to be used in God’s service but did not qualify because they were not a Levite or priest, they could voluntarily take the “Nazarite Vow”. The word “Nazarite” is a Hebrew transliteration that means “dedication by separation.”
• The Nazarite separated himself from certain hindrances to holiness in order to be wholly devoted to the service of the Lord. Although the outward characteristics of the Old Testament “Nazarite Vow” no longer apply, they point to the priority God places in the New Testament on our personal surrender and consecration in order to be used to carry out His will and mission.

Chapter 7 records the “free-will offering” of the princes of Israel, who were the representative heads of each of the tribes of Israel. Several things to note here are that the gifts were totally voluntary, and although the gifts were identical, God took an enormous amount of space to specifically and separately record each one! The New Testament equivalent is the fact that, “God loveth a cheerful giver” (2^nd Corinthians 9:7), and though He doesn’t NEED our treasure, He TREASURES the fact that our heart of love for Him prompts us to give to Him! (Matthew 6:21)

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

In the NAZARITE who “dedicated” himself “by separation” – Numbers 6:1–8 (Jesus willingly dedicated Himself to serve the will of the Father, separating Himself from sin, even to death – John 6:38; Matthew 26:39, 42)

OVERVIEW:

The first numbering (census) of the Israelites; the encampment location of each tribe in relation to the tabernacle; the census and duties of the Levites, the Kohathites, the Gersonites, and the Merarites.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

The book of Numbers was written by Moses in approximately 1445 to 1405 B.C. (Numbers 33:2; 36:13) The book gets its name from the ancient Greek title of this book, ARITHMOI, from which we obviously get our English word ARITHMETIC. Later, Latin translators of the Old Testament gave the book the title NUMERI, from which we get our English word NUMBERS. Interestingly, the word “NUMBERS” (or some form of it) is found 127 times in this book, but it actually gets its name from the two “numberings” (censuses) of the men of war in chapters 1–4 and chapters 26–27. The first “numbering” (census) took place the second year after the Jews’ exodus from Egypt. The second “numbering” was made 38 years later, just as the nation of Israel was about to enter into Canaan.

The book of Numbers picks up the history of the Israelites where the book of Exodus left off. Just one month had passed between the completion of the tabernacle in Exodus 40:17 and God’s command to number the people in Numbers 1:1–2. During that one-month period, the instruction in the book of Leviticus was given. Whereas the book of Leviticus deals primarily with the believer’s WORSHIP, the book of Numbers deals primarily with the believer’s WALK. Whereas PURITY is the central theme of Leviticus, PILGRIMAGE is the central theme of Numbers. 

The book of Numbers has incredible implications and applications for believers today.  God makes that abundantly clear in 1^st Corinthians 10:1–12, and Hebrews 3 and 4. In this book, we will see the nation of Israel, after being gloriously delivered from the bondage of Egypt by the blood of the lamb, failing to take God at His word, and thus, wandering in the wilderness of unbelief rather than entering into their inheritance in Canaan.

As has been mentioned repeatedly in this 365 Days of Pursuit, don’t ever lose sight of the fact that Israel of the Old Testament is a picture of the individual believer in the New Testament. Just like Israel, after being gloriously delivered out of the bondage of Egypt (sin/Satan/self…the world!) by the blood of the Lamb, failing to take God at His word, we too, wander in the wilderness of unbelief rather than entering into the fullness of our inheritance in Christ. (Ephesians 1:18; Colossians 1:12) The lessons to be learned in Numbers are “numerous”!

Note that the census that God commanded Israel to make was not of the entire nation, but only the men age 20 and above who were able to go to war. The total was 603,550. (Numbers 1:46) One of the saddest realities in the entire Bible is that of these 603,550 men, 603,548 of them would die in the wilderness, having never experienced God’s purpose for their exodus! As God made abundantly clear from the beginning, the purpose for the exodus wasn’t just to bring them OUT of EGYPT, it was to bring them IN to CANAAN! (Exodus 3:8; Deuteronomy 6:23) As God warns us to learn from Israel’s failure in the wilderness in 1^st Corinthians 10:5–6, it makes one wonder whether out of every 603,550 believers today, would there be more than two who actually fulfill God’s purposes for their exodus by allowing God to bring them into their “Canaan”, the fullness of life in Christ? What an incredibly sobering reality! If those statistics are right, will you be one of the two? Will you trust God, not only to save you from the PENALTY of sin, but from the POWER of sin? Will you rise above the spiritual discouragement, disillusionment, defeat, and death of the wilderness, and live in the spiritual peace, productivity, and power of Canaan?

Note also, that if there were 603,550 men at the time of the census, it would strongly suggest that Israel’s’ total population would have been somewhere around 2 million to 2.5 million people! It has been estimated that it would have required nearly 50 railroad box cars full of manna per day just to feed the people on a daily basis! The land mass needed to accommodate this multitude when they camped at night would have exceeded 100 square miles!

As we come through the first four chapters of Numbers, one of the things that is very apparent is that God always does things “decently and in order.” (1^st Corinthians 14:40) God gave specific instruction for Israel to arrange itself into an orderly camp with its “mobile worship center” (the tabernacle) at the very center. God did not want Israel to be a chaotic mob in the midst of their journeys, but rather, intended Israel’s orderliness, organization, and structure to be one of the key ways His people stood out from the rest of the world, so they would have the opportunity to tell them of their God! (See Numbers 1:52; 24:2, 5)

As we journey through the midst of the chaotic world of the 21^st century, with the lives of its people in such disarray, God wants the orderliness of the lives of His people, as we arrange them according to the instruction of His word with worship at the very center, to be one of the key ways our lives stand out from the rest of the world, so we might have the opportunity to tell them of our God! (1^st Peter 3:15)

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

Through MOSES as he led the people – Numbers 1:54 (John 10:14, 27)

Through AARON, the high priest, who was served by the Levites – Numbers 3:6 (As a holy and “royal priesthood”, we serve Christ, our great High Priest – John 12:26; 1^st Peter 2:5–9; Hebrews 4:14)

OVERVIEW:

Laws concerning personal property; the sevens of rest and liberty; the blessing of obedience and the cursing of disobedience; vows and tithes explained.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

From a strictly practical standpoint, the weekly sabbath (the seventh day of the week) was intended by God to give “REST” to both MAN and BEAST. Also, from a strictly practical standpoint, the sabbatical year (the seventh year in a week of years) was intended by God to give “REST” to the LAND. (Leviticus 25:1–7) From a prophetic (futuristic) standpoint, whether it be God’s system of working according to a pattern of seven DAYS, seven WEEKS, seven MONTHS, seven YEARS, seven WEEKS of YEARS, or seven DECADES, it all points to the fact that after six millenniums (6000 years) the seventh MILLENNIUM will be 1000 years of “REST” on this planet (Revelation 20:1–6), when our Lord Jesus Christ rules and reigns on the earth, finally receiving “the glory due unto his name.” (1^st Chronicles 16:29; Psalm 29:2; 96:8)

The year of jubilee, at the end of seven weeks of years (7×7 = 49 – Leviticus 25:8), the 50^th year, was intended by God to allow any of the children of Israel who, because of their debts, had been forced to sell their land and/or sell themselves into servanthood, to RETURN to their FAMILY and REGAIN the POSSESSION of their PROPERTY. Note that this JUBILANT RELEASE and PROCLAMATION of LIBERTY just happened to be enacted by the sounding of a trumpet, and on, of all days, the day of atonement! (Leviticus 25:9)

Because of the atoning death of our Lord Jesus Christ (obviously, pictured in the day of atonement), Paul talks in 1^st Corinthians 15:52 about the trumpet sounding in the very near future, proclaiming the release from our corruptible bodies, when we are finally “delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.” (Romans 8:21) Paul likewise tells us in Ephesians 1:14, that we are given the indwelling Holy Spirit inside of our mortal bodies as the down payment, guaranteeing “our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession,” when we will receive, as he goes on to tell us in Philippians 3:21, a body “like unto his (Christ’s) glorious body”! This is the “jubilee” for which every child of God is presently “groaning” (Romans 8:23), and the “jubilee” being pictured in Leviticus 25.

Chapter 26 is very clear and direct. The simple reality is, obeying God’s word brings BLESSING, and disobeying God’s word brings CURSING (conflict). The New Testament equivalent is Galatians 6:7–8: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” Not understanding this inviolable biblical principle, many believers in the 21^st century don’t seem to connect the circumstances of their lives to the choices they have made in terms of the word of God. For God’s glory’s sake, let us always choose OBEDIENCE!

Looking back through the book of Leviticus we can see two clear divisions:

1. Chapters 1–10 describe our POSITIONAL STANDING before God. (SALVATION)
2. Chapters 11-27 describe our PRACTICAL STANDING before God. (SANCTIFICATION)

As we close today, let’s remind ourselves of the high points of Leviticus:

First, REMEMBER that the path to peace and fruitfulness starts with WORSHIP.

Next, REJOICE that through Jesus Christ’s finished work, God has made us a SACRIFICE (Romans 12:1–2), a PRIEST (1^st Peter 2:5), and a PLACE (Ephesians 2:22).

Finally, REALIZE that God’s calling on our lives is that we be holy, for He is holy! (Leviticus 11:45; 1^st Peter 1:15–16)

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

As the REDEEMER of the kingdom of heaven – Leviticus 25 (Acts 3:20–21; Revelation 11:15)

OVERVIEW:

The qualifications of priests; God sets the dates of the Jewish feasts; the death penalty instituted and carried out.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

As was mentioned when we began making our way through the book of Leviticus, most Christians have a hard time actually getting through this book for the simple fact that they don’t see how it has application to those of us living in the Church Age. But, as we’ve seen, the book of Leviticus is the book of the PRIESTHOOD. That alone should perk up our spiritual eyes, ears, and minds, because God tells us in 1^st Peter 2:5 that He has set you and me apart as “…an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” Wow! The connection is obvious! The priesthood of the Old Testament provides us graphic pictures of our New Testament priesthood!

The reality is, every born-again believer is a priest. (Revelation 1:6) No, not in the same sense as an Old Testament priest, and certainly not in a Roman Catholic sense, but in a very BIBLICAL sense! As New Testament priests, we have been entrusted with the responsibility of teaching unbelievers to worship God properly; we call that teaching “evangelism.” We have been commissioned to “go…and TEACH all nations.” (Matthew 28:19) But, as New Testament priests, we have also been entrusted with the responsibility of offering up “spiritual sacrifices” that are pleasing to God. Biblically, some of the “spiritual sacrifices” we are to offer to God is our FAITH (Philippians 2:17), our FINANCES (Philippians 4:18), our PRAISE (Hebrews 13:15–16), our WITNESS (Romans 15:16), and most importantly, our LIVES! (Romans 12:1–2; 2^nd Corinthians 2:15) Note that all of these “spiritual sacrifices” are symbolically represented by the physical offerings presented by the Old Testament priests.

As we acquaint ourselves with this spiritual/biblical concept, keep in mind that as priests, we are ambassadors, or representatives of God, and as such, have been called by God to represent Him on the earth in HOLINESS! Peter said, “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1^st Peter 1:15-16)

In Leviticus 21, God presents a list of physical blemishes that prevented a potential priest in the Old Testament from offering “the bread of his God.” (Leviticus 21:16–17) Keep in mind that these “physical blemishes”, that were certainly binding upon the Old Testament priesthood, are simply representative of the “spiritual blemishes” that limit our ability to function in our New Testament priesthood. Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:27 that we “should be holy and without blemish.” When our holiness is “blemished” by sinful attitudes and actions, we are hindered in our effectiveness to offer the word of God (the bread of God) to the lost world and are unable to offer up acceptable “spiritual sacrifices”! Let’s briefly examine some of the “blemishes” that are pictured for us in Leviticus 21:

1. BLINDNESS. (21:18) In the New Testament, a blind man is one who is not adding to his faith the seven things God specifically intended for our spiritual growth and development. (2^nd Peter 1:5-9) It is someone who is not SPIRITUALLY MATURE.
2. A BLEMISHED EYE. (21:20) An Old Testament priest with a blemished eye was unable to see his reflection in the bronze laver where he was to wash/cleanse himself in preparation for service. (Exodus 30:18) In the New Testament, we allow our eyes to be blemished when we hear the word of God and choose not to obey it. (James 1:22-25)
3. A FLAT NOSE. (21:18) A flat-nosed Old Testament priest would not be able to smell the incense on the golden altar, picturing prayer, of course. A flat-nosed New Testament priest is a believer who neglects prayer, and therefore, experiences no power in his walk with God.
4. LAMENESS. (21:18) Obviously, a lame Old Testament priest was very simply one who could not WALK. It is a picture of New Testament priests who, because of spiritual blemishes in their lives, are no longer walking in obedience to the word of God and is no longer walking in the Spirit. (Galatians 5:16–17, 22–23)
5. A SUPERFLUOUS (or extra) BODY PART. (21:18) An extra body part has no feeling, no place, no function, and interferes with the service to be offered by the priest. A New Testament priest is one who has allowed superfluous things to be attached to us that were never intended to be a part of our lives. Namely, bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking, and malice. (Ephesians 4:31-32) These superfluous things have no place in the life of a believer and will cause us to be unable to function properly in our responsibility to offer up spiritual sacrifices.
6. A BROKEN FOOT or BROKEN HAND. (21:19) An Old Testament priest with a broken foot would not be able to keep his balance, walk, or run. A New Testament priest with a broken foot would likewise be unable to balance his spiritual responsibilities (Colossians 3:1-17), “walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16), or “run with patience the race that is set before us.” (Hebrews 12:1; Galatians 5:7)
7. BROKEN “STONES.” (21:20) Obviously, “broken stones” would have caused an Old Testament priest to be unable to reproduce. It is a picture of New Testament believers (priests) who have broken God’s revealed will through His word, causing them to be unable to reproduce spiritual offspring. (2^nd Peter 1:8)

Some of us may find ourselves “blemished” in one of these areas pictured in Leviticus 21. May I remind you today that our Lord Jesus Christ has proven through His earthly ministry that He has the power to open the eyes of the blind, cause the lame to walk, and heal any deformity or abnormality in our lives. Let us humble our self before Him today that we might receive His spiritual healing.

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

As our PERFECTLY SPOTLESS HIGH PRIEST – Leviticus 21:16–23 (Hebrews 8:1)

As the UNREVEALED REALITY of the eternal feasts of Israel – Leviticus 23:2, 21, 42 (Colossians 2:16–17)

OVERVIEW:

God forbids Israel from worshipping other gods and eating blood; laws protecting the sanctity of sex; the declaration of civil laws.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

The first thing God made clear to Moses in Leviticus 17 was the ACCEPTABLE PLACE the sacrifice was to be offered. That PLACE was “the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.” (17:4) Notice that not bringing the sacrifice to the ACCEPTABLE PLACE was a crime worthy of DEATH! (17:9) The next thing God emphasized to Moses in Leviticus 17 was the ACCEPTABLE PRICE that was to be offered in the sacrifice. That PRICE was BLOOD!

These two key things picture perfectly what God likewise emphasizes to us in the New Testament! The fact that there is only one ACCEPTABLE PRICE that can be paid for sin, and it is “nothing but the BLOOD of Jesus!” (1^st John 1:7; Hebrews 9:22; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14) That blood was the blood that was shed from the one ACCEPTABLE PLACE: the cross of Calvary! (Galatians 3:13) Anyone who goes to anything other than the PRICE that was paid through the BLOOD of Christ, and/or anyone who goes to any PLACE other than the CROSS of Christ to find the forgiveness of sin, will become the recipient of ETERNAL DEATH! Just as the BLOOD was to be offered at the “DOOR of the tabernacle,” in perfect fulfillment of the type, Jesus said, “I am the DOOR” (John 10:9), and “He that entereth not by the DOOR into the sheepfold, but climbeth up SOME OTHER WAY, the same is a thief and a robber.” (John 10:1)

As we make our way further into Leviticus 17, God continues to teach the children of Israel, and us, about the sanctity of BLOOD. Several hundred years ago, people used to think that one of the ways a sick person could be healed was by draining out a good portion of their blood. Had they simply read and believed Leviticus 17:11, they would have known what science had not yet discovered, “the life of the flesh is in the blood”! That is a principle science now knows is true PHYSICALLY (sick people today are often given blood transfusions!), but this is also a principle that believers in Christ know is true SPIRITUALLY: the only way we can have spiritual life inside of our fleshly bodies is through the shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ! The life of the flesh is truly IN THE BLOOD!

Because of the sanctity of blood, God also forbids, in this passage, the eating or drinking of it. (17:10) That, too, was an offense worthy of death! (17:10) Note also that this forbiddance is likewise repeated in the New Testament in an epistle addressed to those of us in the Church Age! (Acts 15:20) Apparently, God never wanted us to lose sight of what a special substance blood actually is, and wanted to be sure that we kept ourselves completely distanced from anything even remotely connected to devil worship (17:7), or the way the Egyptians worshipped their pagan gods (18:3). May this admonition serve as a reminder to us today to distance ourselves from any of the “idolatry” (see Colossians 3:5) we may have been involved in when we were slaves in the bondage of Egypt (Egypt picturing our bondage to sin, Satan, and self)!

Over and over in today’s reading, God calls us to holiness against the backdrop of a tremendously powerful spiritual reality:

• 18:2 – “I am the Lord your God.”
• 18:4 – “I am the Lord your God.”
• 18:30 – “I am the Lord your God.”
• 19:3 – “I am the Lord your God.”
• 19:4 – “I am the Lord your God.”
• 19:10 – “I am the Lord your God.”
• 19:25 – “I am the Lord your God.”
• 19:31 – “I am the Lord your God.”
• 19:34 – “I am the Lord your God.”
• 19:36 – “I am the Lord your God.”
• 20:7 – “I am the Lord your God.”
• 20:24 – “I am the Lord your God.”

Oh, may we realize today that there was a time when we were separated from the one true God, the God of the Bible. We walked, rather, according to “the god of this world.” (2^nd Corinthians 4:4) But the light of the glorious gospel shined past the blinders Satan sought to use to keep us bound to him and his worldly domain, and God now says to us: “I am the Lord your God!” 

Against the backdrop of that glorious reality, may we heed what “THE LORD OUR GOD” says to us today from 2^nd Corinthians 6:14-18, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

As the HOLY WORD OF GOD that protects our private and public lives from rampant wickedness – Leviticus 20:8 (John 1:1-2, 14; Revelation 19:13)

OVERVIEW:

The purification of lepers; purification of those with unclean issues; instructions regarding the Day of Atonement.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

God is invisible and many of His truths relate to the unseen realm, and thus, the need for faith! Hebrews 11:1 tells us that “…faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of THINGS NOT SEEN”! Though the spiritual realm is invisible, God is an expert at teaching spiritual truths through physical realities. Leviticus chapter 15 is a perfect example of God exercising this method of teaching. 

One of the beautiful things about this section of scripture is the fact that God recognizes that we all have “issues”. God provides instructions here regarding “unclean issues”, for the obvious reason of preventing the spread of infectious illnesses among the Israelites.  However, God’s stringent physical rules regarding “unclean issues” also teach us spiritual truths about “unclean” thoughts, attitudes, and words that “issue” out of our hearts. Jesus reminded us that “…those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man.” (Matthew 15:16-18) No wonder David prayed, “Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.” (Psalm 141:3)

In Leviticus chapter 16, God introduces a special holiday into the Jewish calendar: the Day of Atonement. On this day, both the sin nature and the individual sins of the entire nation of Israel were atoned for, or covered. A simple way to remember the significance of this holy day is by breaking the word “atonement” into three hyphenated words: “at–one–ment”. This is the day when Israel’s sin was covered, making them “at-one-ment” with God. The Day of Atonement, detailed in Leviticus 16, is a very descriptive picture of the person and work of our High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ.

In this chapter, the high priest enters the “Holy of Holies” with the blood of a sin offering, picturing the fact that our High Priest, Jesus Christ, would one day pour out His own blood as the ultimate atonement for sin upon the true altar in the third heaven! Hebrews 9:24 states it like this: “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.”

Once the high priest in the Old Testament had completed this offering, he laid his hands upon the head of the scapegoat and confessed the sins of the children of Israel (16:21), symbolizing that the scapegoat had carried away their iniquities. Isaiah prophetically described this portion of Christ’s work saying, “…the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6) Praise God, our Lord Jesus Christ has carried our sins to a place that is as far as the east is from the west! (Psalm 103:12) In other words, Jesus permanently eliminated the record of our sins; God remembers them no more! 

Note, through what is being pictured through the record of the Day of Atonement, that God is teaching us that our Lord Jesus Christ has effectually dealt with both our sinful NATURE, and our sinful ACTIONS. Praise the Lord!

Though there are many parallels of the high priest of the Old Testament to the person and work of our High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ, two monumental differences must be recognized. First, the Old Testament high priest had to provide a sin offering for himself because he was as guilty of sin as the rest of the children of Israel. Jesus Christ, our High Priest, however, never offered a sin sacrifice for Himself because He was completely free and void of sin! (Hebrews 9:14; 7:22–28) Secondly, the Day of Atonement was celebrated every year because “it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man [Jesus Christ], after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.” (Hebrews 10:4, 11-13) Because of Christ’s offering for sin, no other sacrifice will ever be necessary!

For those of us who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, we can glory today in the fact that our Saviour offered Himself ONE TIME to PERMANENTLY and FOREVER pay the price for our sin, and sins! Hallelujah!

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

As our SIN OFFERING, which effectually crucified our sin nature – Leviticus 14:19–32 (Romans 5:8)

As our SCAPEGOAT, which carried away our sins – Leviticus 16:5–34 (2^nd Corinthians 5:21)

As our eternal HIGH PRIEST who intercedes for us – Leviticus 14:20 (Hebrews 7:24–25)