FBC Morning Light – March 4, 2023

Good Saturday morning, people of faith. We're in Numbers chapter 7 and 8 today. We're going to talk a little bit about 7, a little bit about 8, and then focus on the end of chapter 8 today. So in Numbers 7, all of the leaders of the different tribes of Israel present an offering to the Lord.

The Tribal Offerings in Numbers 7

And so each day for 12 days, they present an offering, and it's pretty much the same offering for each of the 12 tribes, except there's one tribe that's missing. And you say, how is there one tribe that's missing?

Well, remember that the tribe of Joseph was divided into two tribes, and the Levites were taken out of consideration for being part of the 12 tribes. And then in chapter 8, it's all about the Levites being dedicated to the Lord.

The Levites’ Dedication and Service Limits

And we're going to look at the end of chapter 8 now, and it says in verse 23 of chapter 8 of the book of Numbers, then the Lord spoke to Moses saying, this is what pertains to the Levites. From 25 years old and above, one may enter to perform service in the work of the tabernacle.

Of meeting.

And at the age of 50 years, they must cease performing this work and shall work no more. They may minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of meeting to attend to needs, but they themselves shall do no work.

Thus you shall do to the Levites regarding their duties. So when you hear that from 25 years old to 50 years old is the timeframe in which they are to minister, let's look at Luke chapter 1, starting in verse 5.

Zacharias and Elizabeth in Luke 1

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias. Of the division of Abijah, his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in.

Years.

So while we don't know how old Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth were, we are told that they were well advanced in years, and we're told that they also were walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

That would mean that Zacharias was not yet 50 years old. So to be childless, though, and likely well into their 40s, to have their first child at that time would be an unusual and strange thing. And yet, we see here that the Lord is working mightily in Zacharias and Elizabeth.

We know the rest of the story. The angel appears to Zacharias, tells him about his son, and how he's going to name his son, and all those things, and Zacharias ends up being mute because he doesn't believe the initial report of the angel.

And all these things, we know just a little bit more about them because of what we read in the book of Numbers. Let's take a moment and pray. Lord, as we ponder today the things that we can know from Scripture, sometimes those things that we can know are just a little bit more than we originally thought.

Thank you for your word. Help us to walk in such a way that we think on these things, and you are glorified in.

Our lives.

It's in your son's name, Jesus, we pray, amen. Have an excellent day, people of faith.