devotional post # 2265

Numbers 3:44-51

Num 3:44 And Yahveh spoke to Moses, and this is what he said,
Num 3:45 “Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the sons of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle. The Levites will be mine: I am Yahveh.
Num 3:46 And as the redemption price for the 273 of the firstborn of the sons of Israel, over and above the number of the male Levites,
Num 3:47 you will take five shekels per head; you will take them according to the shekel of the sanctuary (that shekel being twenty gerahs),
Num 3:48 and give the money to Aaron and his sons as the redemption price for those who are over.”
Num 3:49 So Moses took the redemption money from those who were over and above those redeemed by the Levites.
Num 3:50 From the firstborn of the sons of Israel he took the money, 1,365 shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary.
Num 3:51 And Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, according to the word of Yahveh, as Yahveh commanded Moses.

costly free redemption

There were more firstborn males in Israel than there were Levites to stand in their place. So, the LORD demanded a redemption price for each of the firstborn males who was not replaced by a Levite. The redemption was free, but the service and worship to follow it was obligatory. The reasons is that the “free” redemption cost the LORD dearly. It was his firstborn son who purchased the redemption of which the Egyptian rescue was but a shadow.

LORD, thank you for the price you paid for our redemption. Make us into servants and worshipers who reflect the value of that sacrifice.