This whole Desert Wandering thing seems a lot like God's Israeli boot camp. It's God's way of training up His people, telling them 'you are not a special snowflake!' before building them up into real worshipers with a sense of mission and identity. We get to see some Levites graduate from boot camp in Numbers 8. Hope your own personal boot camp with God is getting you tough.
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Based on ESV.com's Chronological Bible In a Year schedule. If anyone would like to join in, this blog's comments sections would be a good forum in which to share insights from the text.
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Numbers 7 The 12 tribe leaders (starting with Nahshon of Judah - noticing a pattern?) give the same offering each of a certain amount of gold, silver, and animals. The fact that the Bible doesn't just say "and all 12 of them gave the same exact thing" shows that God sees each act of worship on its own and pays special attention to each one. Each of your acts of sacrifice and each moment of your obedience actually matters to God. God sees each act of worship that you give.
Numbers 8 In Numbers 8.5-22, we have an initiation rite for fledgling Levites where they become new men - they come in groups and shave the hair off 'all their body,' wash their clothes, are sprinkled with water, and offer sacrifices. All Israel shows up to see this. It's like a boot camp experience: a bunch of recruits go in together and come out as the initiated, ready for service. Do something to mark your passage from one part of life to another.
Numbers 8 In Numbers 8.5-22, we have an initiation rite for fledgling Levites where they become new men - they come in groups and shave the hair off 'all their body,' wash their clothes, are sprinkled with water, and offer sacrifices. All Israel shows up to see this. It's like a boot camp experience: a bunch of recruits go in together and come out as the initiated, ready for service. Do something to mark your passage from one part of life to another.
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