Walking Through Ephesians
“Day 8 (Numbers 8)”
Categories: 40 Days in the WildernessGod And His Pattern
Numbers chapter 8 can be summarized as giving instruction concerning how God wanted the lampstand made and arranged. Also, how the priest were to cleanse themselves before they offered sacrifices. Further, how the Levites were to be separated from the rest of the children of Israel.
God is very concerned that His children follow His pattern. Instruction about how the lampstand was to be crafted had been given by Moses. It was to be crafted after that pattern. Also, it was to be arranged in a particular way. It is important that we, regardless of the time in which we live, pay attention to how God wants things arranged and follow His pattern. That is true in our individual life as well as the collective relationship we have. Following God’s pattern is not new. It is not an invention of men. God made the pattern for our lives and the church. We must follow His pattern.
Second, the priests were to cleanse themselves before offering sacrifices. As we offer the sacrifice of our life we must be clean. We must be cleansed by the blood of Jesus. Our sins must be washed away.
Third, this vow was voluntary. A person who desired to consecrate himself to the Lord in a special way, would make the vow either for life or for a certain period of time (Numbers 6:1-21). The rules were:
He could not taste the fruit of the vineyard in any manner.
He could not cut his hair.
He could not come in contact with any dead person.
The most famous Old Testament Nazarite was Samson (Judges 13:7). It is very possible that John the Baptist also took the Nazarite vow to dedicate himself to the task of preparing the way of the Lord. It is possible that Paul voluntarily took this vow himself (Acts 18:19; Acts 21:23).
The Nazarite vow may be an illustration of a Christian. It is a voluntary vow one makes to consecrate their life to God’s work. When one becomes a Christian they present their bodies as instruments of righteousness to be used in God’s service (Romans 6:1-23). What is to typify Christians is seen in perfection in Christ, “Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.” (Hebrews 7:26).
