With Us in the Wilderness: A Study of the Book of NumbersSample

The Sons of Levi

Pause. Breathe. Pray.

Read Numbers 3:1-39.

In chapter 3 the Lord turned His attention to the tribe of Levi. They were excluded from the military census. The Levites were set apart and given special duties concerning the tabernacle and the people of Israel. But why the tribe of Levi? The answer to this question leads us to the first (of many) odd and violent stories in our study.

Exodus 32 describes the people of Israel as restless. Moses had been on Mount Sinai receiving the Law from God, but it took quite a bit longer than the Israelites anticipated. For forty days and forty nights, Moses was a no-show. At some point during this waiting, someone had the bright idea to ask Aaron (Moses’ brother) to make gods for them. Aaron went with the crowd and took all their gold and fashioned a golden calf out of it. (In Aaron’s version of the story, he took their gold, threw it in the fire, and out came this calf! Hmm—sounds a lot like a story my kids would tell.)

The Lord told Moses what happened and threatened to consume the people and start from scratch. Moses pleaded with the Lord to remember His covenant with Abraham and preserve the people, and the Lord relented. However, when Moses saw the debauchery with his own eyes, the mercy he previously had toward the people evaporated. He was so overwhelmed with anger that He threw down the tablets containing the Law, and they broke.

Read Exodus 32:26-33.

The sons of Levi followed his orders. Did Moses forget commandment number six—“You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13)? Surely not! So what could be going on here? We can tell from verses 30-33 that Levi’s sons were not randomly killing people. Instead, they were carrying out the punishment for those who sinned against the Lord. The severity of the crime is reflected in the severity of the consequences. The people had sinned against a holy God. They had forsaken their Maker for what their hands had made.

It can be hard to reconcile what seems to be the harsh nature of God seen here with Jesus, who is called the Image of the Invisible God (Colossians 1:15)—who laid down His life for His friends (John 15:13). But there is not a discrepancy like we might think at first glance. Jesus went on in John 15 to outline who His friends are—those who keep His commandments.

Read 1 John 4:10.

God knew we could not regain our favor or goodwill on our own. As we will clearly see in the Book of Numbers, humans are unable to keep the Law, so God made a way for us through His Son.

The Levites proved they were willing to obey God even at a personal cost. Because of this, God gave them the privilege and duty to take care of and guard the tabernacle and its furnishings.