What the Book of Numbers Taught Me about My Identity in Christ
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Who knew that the book of Numbers could be so deeply spiritual!
Okay, we must admit that God wouldn’t put a book in His holy Word that didn’t have some kind significance for our lives. But all my life I’ve battled with finding the book of Numbers boring.
All the lists of people and offerings…
And yet, tucked inside the repetitive lists of tribes, duties and locations of tents I began asking myself if I truly understand my identity in Christ, as it is so eloquently laid out in the first four chapters of Numbers.
We see that as the Israelites prepare to go to the Promised Land, they number those able to go to war because they will face off with their enemies as they go in to seize the land God had promised them.
Do I know how to battle my enemy? Do I properly use the weapons God has given me to face off with the enemy of my soul and defeat him?
But there was one tribe they did not number: the Levites.
Why?
Because they were the priestly tribe, they held the sacred duty of serving the Lord in the tabernacle. In fact, we see this all throughout chapter 3:
You shall take the Levites for Me – I am the Lord – instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel.
Why would God say that….not just once, but a handful of times?
We see the answer in Exodus 19 and 20.
In Exodus 19 we read these words that God spoke to Moses to tell all the people of Israel. “An you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”
God never intended there to be a tribe of priests, His intent all along was for the nation of Israel to be a kingdom of priests!
But then we see this in chapter 20:
When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.” Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.” The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.
The nation of Israel had experienced an amazing visitation of God unlike anyone in history before had experienced. He came down to them in all His glory and power, and rather than standing in awe of Him, rather than embracing His visitation, they chose to withdraw from Him.
But they didn’t just withdraw from Him, they rejected Him. They said to Moses, “We don’t want to hear from God, we want you to hear from God and then you can tell us what He said.”
The result of their rejection of God was His implementation of plan B – the tribe of Levi becoming the priestly tribe.
Are there times when I withdraw from the presence of God rather than daily standing in awe of His presence?
And yet an amazing thing happens in the New Testament!
After Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection we read Peter’s words:
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people.
God’s redemption of mankind redeemed our position in Christ and once again made us a kingdom of priests unto our God!
Every tribe had its own position surrounding the temple.
Do I know my place in God’s kingdom?
But I saved the best for last!
In chapter four we read how each family in the Levite tribe had a special role in carrying parts of the tabernacle as they traveled through the desert.
This was a very serious thing because each utensil in the tabernacle was consecrated. And then you have the Ark of the Covenant which contained the literal presence of God.
They were not to look up on it nor touch it, or they’d die.
But God no longer dwells in a box.
God dwells in the hearts of mankind and we have become His holy tabernacle!
What do I carry around with me wherever I go? Do I carry around the sacred presence of God? Or do I carry around worthless garbage:
My past
My shame
My hurts
My disappointments
Rejection
Self-condemnation
My perceptions of what others think of me
What am I carrying around with me?
These questions are significant, because our understanding of our identity in Christ will determine how we approach our role in the body.
No one role is more significant than the rest.
No one role is better or higher than the rest.
We are all priests unto our God.
Yes, we all have a different function in the body: some are lay ministers, some are pastors, some are prophets, some are teachers; but we all have a role in the body and just as the kidneys – which we don’t see – are vital to the health of our body, so the head is also vital to the life of the body. One is seen the other is not. But the body cannot exist without either!
Our ability to recognize that our role is vital to the body of Christ will be determined by what we carry around inside of us!
Our ability to recognize our place in His body – just as each tribe knew where their camp was in relation to the tabernacle – will be determined by what we carry around inside of us.
Dear sister in Christ, what are you carrying around inside of you? Do you need to find a place to dump the worthless waste you’re carrying around?
This is really profound- and such great news. I too, have struggled with the book of Numbers. Thank you for sharing what you learned about identity in this book. I had a similar experience with reading Job this year. I had always kind of avoided the book, but decided to give it another try- and was rewarded with some deep truths that had never occurred to me before. It was a reminder to me. that all of God’s word is there for a reason.
I am so glad this encouraged you. I was not very exciting about starting it, but it has been an amazing study. I’ll never look at this book the same again!!
Ok.. I just commented on another one of your post.. clicked here.. and this is very very good! I’ve been listening to alot of sermons on the subject of identity.. so blessed to have found your break down of the book of numbers. Be Blessed always. Misty.
I’m so glad you found me!!
Amen. I am what God says that I am. We were just talking about this in Bible Study.
Amen! Yes!! I just love how such a deep principle is tucked right in Numbers!
I love hearing how others are touched by the books in the Old Testament. I struggle often while reading the OT because I don’t know how to take it. Thank you for sharing your heart on the topic, and for sharing with #TheCozyReadingSpot
Marissa
I have often struggled with the OT, too. But I think seeing it through the prism of Christ – as Christ being revealed through the OT – has helped me so much.