Numbers

Numbers 3: God claims those He has rescued

Begin in prayer

Before hearing how the rescued firstborn belonged to God, let us thank Him for the mercy that gives life. Pray that He will teach us what it means to belong to Him through Jesus.

Your hands have made me and formed me. Give me understanding, that I may learn your commandments.

Psalm 119:73

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Help us understand Your claim over those You rescue, and show us the Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

At Sinai, God appoints the Levites to help Aaron and his sons care for the Tent of Meeting. Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu have died for offering strange fire before the Lord, so priestly service must be guarded. God takes the Levites in place of Israel’s firstborn, whom He spared when He struck Egypt. He gives their families their duties and their places around the tent. Moses counts the firstborn, and redemption money is paid for those who exceed the number of Levites.

As you read Numbers 3, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God claims His rescued people and gives servants to care for His holy tent.

The firstborn belonged to God because He spared Israel’s firstborn when He struck Egypt. Now He takes the Levites in their place, so rescue becomes a calling to serve. They are given to Aaron to help with the care of God’s tent. This does not make every Levite a priest, for God keeps the priesthood with Aaron and his sons. The families receive different parts of the work, and their camps guard the holy place. When the firstborn outnumber the Levites, God sets a price to redeem the remaining firstborn. Every part of this arrangement rests on God’s claim over the people He has spared.

How does Numbers 3 show us that God claims His rescued people and gives servants to care for His holy tent?

God’s rescue gives Him a claim over His people.

God reminds Israel of the night He struck Egypt’s firstborn and set apart Israel’s firstborn for Himself. The Levites now stand in their place. Their service grows from a rescue God has already given.

God gives helpers to care for the place where He meets His people.

Gershon’s family cares for the coverings, Kohath’s for the holy furnishings, and Merari’s for the frame. All serve under the priests whom God appoints. An outsider who approaches the priestly service must be put to death, because God’s holiness cannot be ignored.

God sets the price to redeem the remaining firstborn.

There are more firstborn than Levites, so God commands a payment of five shekels for each remaining firstborn. Redeeming means releasing someone through the price God requires. Moses gives the money to Aaron and his sons as God commands.

Memorise

Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites instead of their livestock; and the Levites shall be mine.

Numbers 3:45

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what part of my life do I keep from the Lord who saves sinners?

God says, “for all the firstborn are mine.” He remembers the rescue He gave in Egypt. The firstborn who were spared belong to Him, and He takes the Levites to serve instead of them.

We need a rescue deeper than escape from Egypt. Our sin leaves us guilty before God. Jesus gave His life as the price of His people’s freedom, as Mark 10 verse 45 teaches. He bore their sin and punishment on the cross, then rose again. That ransom was fully paid, and His work needs nothing added.

Turn from the sin that holds you, and come to Jesus, trusting Him to save you. He forgives those who rely on His redeeming death. Christ’s people belong to the Savior who bought them. They can give themselves to His service with gratitude, because their freedom has already been won.

Parent's note

Tell your children that Jesus paid for His people’s freedom by bearing their sin, and they must come to Him in faith. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for claiming the people He rescued and giving servants to care for His tent, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

In my Father’s house are many homes. If it weren’t so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you.

John 14:2

Lord God, thank You for the life You spared in Israel and the Redeemer You sent for sinners. Please turn us from keeping our lives for ourselves. Give us faith in Jesus and willing hearts to serve You. Teach us to thank Him for His redeeming death this week. Amen.