Numbers 18
God's Gift to Israel (Numbers 18:1-7)
Verse 6: “I myself have selected your fellow Levites from among the Israelites as a gift to you, dedicated to the Lord to do service in the Tent of Meeting.”
The fundamental problem for every person is that they have rebelled against the Creator God and are caught in destruction.
Only by realizing this through the Bible, repenting, and clinging to the covenant of Christ—the path of salvation established by God—can the true
joy and gratitude of salvation be restored. However, even the Israelites had lost their reverence for God, and as a result, Korah's rebellion
occurred. The people, terrified by God's judgment, cried out that they would now surely die and be ruined.
They said, “Anyone who even comes near the Lord’s tabernacle will die.” They feared as they witnessed God's almighty work,
making Aaron's staff bud, blossom, and bear fruit. Before that God, they recognized their wrongdoing, that is, their sin.
1. God's Gift to Solve the People's Sin Problem
1) He is showing the terrified people again the way to atone for sin.
2) The establishment of the priests and the tribe of Levi was God's gift for the people.
3) Aaron's priesthood and the duties of the Levites are not something to be envied.
4) Thanks to the service of the priests and Levites, a way of life was opened for them.
2. The Priestly Office Given to Aaron's Family is Also God's Gift
1) It is said that the priestly office is also a gift from God (verse 7).
2) Therefore, this office was given to Aaron by grace.
3) In verse 6, it is stated that the Levites are also a gift from God to the priests.
4) Similarly, we must understand that church offices are also a 'gift' from God.
3. The Regulation of Tithes for the Priests and the Tribe of Levi
1) God, who set apart the firstborn, chose the tribe of Levi.
2) God ordained tithing to provide for the livelihood of the landless tribe of Levi.
3) The Levites who received tithes were also required to give tithes (verse 26).
4) The tithes offered by the tribe of Levi were to be given to the priests.
Conclusion: Tithing is Partnering in God's Work.
1) In verse 29, it is said to offer "the best" as the tithe.
2) God commanded to offer the very best to Him first.
3) This is because no one has money to spare.
4) Even the Levites, who did not receive an inheritance of land, were not exempt from tithing.
Everything in the world belongs to God. We are merely His stewards, aren't we? The fact that we can take nothing with us when we leave
this world is proof of that. God Himself came as Christ for us, dying a substitutionary death on the cross, giving His all for us. Having received
this great love and eternal life, it is simply regrettable if we cannot also give our all for God's work. As in 1 Peter 2:9, all of us who believe
today are priests. The priesthood comes not only with privileges but also with responsibilities. We must worship with our community
and pray to God for the salvation of the souls of those we are called to evangelize around us. I bless you in the name of the Lord,
that you may be honorably used in the work of saving souls dying in sin, with this precious office given by God.