Charles (Chuck) Kensinger

Numbers 8 talks about something that might seem insignificant to us.  The lampstands in the Tabernacle.  Why was this important?  Jesus tells us He is the light of the world.  Light was precious to the Israelites.   Lamps or candles were used inside and after the sunset as well as on cloudy or dreary days.  Most of the time, the wilderness was hot and bright.  At night it was cold and scary.  They needed lamps inside, and therefore this stand is very important.

Another strange custom to us is the purification of the Levites.  This tribe was to be the priests that served in the Tabernacle and later the Temple.  This custom could be likened to the ordination of ministers in most Christian churches today.  An ordinary human is dedicated by the assembly to be a special servant of the people and to God.

Two years have now passed in Numbers 9 since the Israelites left Egypt.  It is the second celebration of the Passover.  The question of some of the congregation observing the feast came about when they were unclean due to a dead body.  God gave them the instruction to cleanse themselves per the law and present the sacrifices on the fourteenth of the second month.

The pillar of cloud and fire is discussed at length here.  The obedience of the Children of Israel to stay put or move depending on these signs is specifically mentioned.  This visible sign of God’s will could be followed.  Obedience to other instructions was not kept.

Trumpets begin Numbers chapter ten.  They were used to summon the people, just the leaders or announce the time to move out of camp.  After this, we read about the Israelites breaking camp after almost two years and finally making their way to Canaan.

The Israelites moved out in the order that God had instructed them.  The thousands of people and animals took a while to get moving.  The tents were taken down, including the Tabernacle of meeting.

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger