Review & Intro: The sons of Israel had seen Aaron's 2 sons, Nadab & Abihu smitten with fire from the Lord when they offered strange fire. Then they saw Korah, Dathan, and Abiram with their households and possessions swallowed alive into Sheol when they desired the priesthood and raised up a rebellion. After that the 250 leaders who were carrying the censers and putting fire and incense on them (something only the priests were to do) were consumed by the fire of God. Then a plague broke out among the people of Israel that killed 14,700 before it was put in check by Aaron's intercession for them. After Aaron's rod has budded and God has shown His absolute choice for the priesthood through this miracle, the people left are afraid of "perishing completely". God is not killing people at random. They have been shown how to avoid His wrath at every turn, but they are stiff necked and rebellious. God is a God of order and He must be approached on the terms that He has laid out for them. Back then, Aaron was the High Priest and only his sons were the priests that could approach the holy furnishings of the tabernacle. Today, we enter into the very holy of holies through our High Priest, Jesus, who is in heaven, the true tabernacle of God.
Aaron & His Sons, the Priests - the only ones who could be near the furnishings in the tent of meeting -
Numbers Chapter 18 - Observation Questions
1. What would Aaron and his sons and his father's household bear guilt concerning? vs. 1 - Name 2 things
2. Who did the Lord ask Aaron to bring to the tent of meeting to join and serve with him and his sons, the priests? vs. 2
3. What were the Levites to attend to? vs. 3
4. What would be the consequences for both the Levites and Aaron if they were allowed to come near the "furnishings" of the sanctuary and the altar? vs. 3
Note: Although the Levites were to join the priests in serving the tent of meeting, any other outsider was not to come near to it. (vs.4)
5. As Aaron fulfilled his duties with his sons as priests, what was no longer bestowed on the sons of Israel? vs. 5
6. How does this compare to what our faith in Jesus, our High Priest, and mediator between man and the holiness of God? Comment on these verses:
- John 3:36 -
- Romans 5:8,9 -
- 1 Thessalonians 1:9.10 -
7. Back to Numbers 18. What had God Himself given to Aaron and his sons, the priests, and for what purpose? vs. 6
8. Aaron and his sons were to attend to their priesthood for everything concerning the altar and things inside the veil. What would happen if any outsider came near to the tent of meeting? vs. 7
9. The Lord had put Aaron and his sons, the priests, in charge of all of His offerings. He had given the "holy gifts" of the sons of Israel to Aaron and his sons as a perpetual allotment. (vs.8) ... What was Aaron and his sons to enjoy from the offerings made to the Lord by the people? What 3 offerings are mentioned? vs.9,10 -
10. The "wave offerings" of the first fruits and grains were to be for "everyone" in Aaron and the priest's households, including the sons and the daughters. What was the only requirement for them to partake of them? vs. 11
11. What were they to enjoy the "best" of? vs.12-13 - Name 4 things mentioned.
12. The Lord also gave to Aaron and his sons "every devoted thing" that was devoted to the Lord Himself by the sons of Israel. ..... This included the firstborn of the womb (from 1 month old up) of all flesh, whether man or animal. A person was never offered as a sacrifice the way the animals were; rather they were redeemed by money being given in their stead. Redemption means "to buy back". ..... This is why it is so precious to think of Jesus as our Redeemer, Who "buys us back" from the power of sin by the price of His own blood...... If an animal was an "unclean" animal, they were not to be sacrificed, but redeemed also for the valuation of 5 shekels of silver, according to the shekel of the sanctuary. (vs.14-16) ... What were they to do with the firstborn of an ox ... or a sheep ... or a goat ? vs. 17
13. In the same way as the breast of wave offerings and the right thigh - who did these "firstborn" clean animals belong to for the purpose of food? vs. 18
14. What did the Lord call the everlasting covenant that He made with Aaron and the priests along with their sons and daughters and descendants after them? vs. 19
15. Aaron and his sons, the priests, did not have any inheritance in the land. Who was their portion and inheritance? vs. 20
16. What did the Lord give to all the sons of Levi, the Levites, and what was it for? vs. 21
Note: The Lord repeats that no one of the sons of Israel are to come near to the tent of meeting or they would bear their sin and die. vs. 22 ...
17. Who are the only ones that can come near to perform the service of the tent of meeting? vs. 23
18. Would the Levites get inheritance of land with the other tribes of Israel? Why or Why not? vs. 23,24 -
19. How were the Levites suppose to live without land, livestock, etc.? vs. 24
20. What were the Levites to do with the tithe they received that the people gave to the Lord? vs. 26-28 -
21. Who did this "tithe of the tithe" go to? vs. 28
22. The "best" of the offerings went to the priests and then the "rest" went to the Levites. (vs.29,30) ... They could eat it "anywhere" with their households. What was it payment for? vs. 31
23. The Levites would bear no sin by eating the offerings as long as they had tithed the "best" to the priests. They were not to "profane" the sacred gifts of the people. If they did, what would happen? vs. 32
Application:
24. The people gave their freewill and required offerings. The Lord gave the gifts to the Levites and the Priests to take care of the work of the service they rendered in fulltime service in the tabernacle. The Levites even "tithed from their tithe received" the first portion; the best portion to the priests that worked inside the tent of meeting taking care of the furnishings and interceding before the Lord for all of the sons of Israel. Today, we do not tithe or give offerings from livestock, grain, or fruit, but we do give our time, our talents, and our money to help our church leaders be able to serve the people fulltime. Do we seek to give our best or do we get lazy or begin to think we need it more than they do? Comment on the verses below:
- Malachi 1:11-13 -
- Haggai 1:3-9 -
25. There is nothing about a "tithe" mentioned in the New Testament for Christians to follow. We know, however, that we are to give to those who teach us the word, and to help those in need. In fact, Jesus taught us to give everything to the Lord. When we live under grace rather than law, we understand that the Spirit will lead us to take care of our leaders and to give to those in need, cheerfully, with a glad heart, excited to participate in the Lord's kingdom building. Comment on the verses below:
- Matthew 6:24 -
- 2 Corinthians 9:7 -
- 1 Timothy 5:17,18 -
- 2 Timothy 5:12,13 -
- James 1:27 -
- James 2:15,16 -
26. What are you serving the Lord with - in your time, your talents, your spiritual gifts, your money? ... Do you seek to give Him the first of your time, the first of your blessings, the best of who you are? ... Comment on the verse below:
- Romans 12:1,2 -
27. Summarize this lesson and post a prayer if you would like.
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