Wed.’s Devo - A Change of the Law

Read: Numbers 2:1-3:51; Mark 11:27-12:17; Psalm 47:1-9; Proverbs 10:24-25
The tribes were divided into four different groups which traveled together in a certain order. Judah went first because we enter into God’s presence with praise which is what “Judah” means. When they camped they camped in their groups: three to the east, three to the west, three to the north and three to the south with the Levites in the center. The other tribes were a protection around the most valuable possession - the Tabernacle. When the tribes camped they looked like a cross from heaven’s viewpoint.
Within the Levites were three families with three different jobs. The Gershon family were in charge of all the coverings and the curtains. The Merari family were in charge of the poles, pillars and crossbars. The Kohath family was in charge of all the sacred furniture and the ark. Eleazar, the High Priest was in this family.
God changed the law about the first born and said that the Levites would be substitutes for the first born. There were not enough Levites to cover every first born so a price of five pieces of silver were given for every first born not covered.
When the Jews rejected Jesus, Jesus invited the Gentile. This is that picture. Five is the number of grace and silver means redemption. The Gentile was grafted into the vine and took the place of the Jew FOR A SEASON. I do not believe in replacement theology. The Jewish people will have their eyes open and come in. They are the first born son sof God and we are the Levites who are set apart but we will be reunited one day and be one happy family of God.
In Mark, we see the same shift happening. John the Baptist had come baptizing people and removing their sins. This was unheard of. No one had ever done that. The priest was the only one who could remove their sins on the Day of Atonement. God was doing something new which was good news to the people, but threatening to the religious leaders because they were losing control.
The religious leaders were afraid of the crowd so they were afraid to do anything to John or make a statement about what they thought of him.
Jesus gave them a parable that pointed out to the religious leaders just how he saw them. They had killed every prophet God had sent to point them back to God, and now they would kill God’s son.
They realized the parable was about them but they were powerless to act because Jesus was so favored among the people. They would have to be more crafty so they sought to trick him in his doctrine. Of, course it didn’t work. Jesus was much more shrewd than them.
Lord, we pray that the eyes of your first born and your chosen would be opened. We pray for revival in our land. We recognize that you are doing a new thing in our day. May we not miss it or be afraid of it.