Numbers 12
KingCommentsNumbers 12:1
The Offering of Each Leader
These offerings have to do with the service at the altar, the testimony before God in the tabernacle. God’s great appreciation of the offerings of the leaders is shown by the enumeration of what each leader has given individually, although that seems to be a repetition of what another has given. Repetition is not a tiring activity for God. Thus, the repeated line in every verse of the 26 verses of Psalm 136 – “for His lovingkindness is everlasting” (Psalms 136:1-26) – is an expression of God’s lovingkindness as reaction on what is mentioned in the preceding line.
For God, what each person brings personally counts, and for Him it is not a pure repetition of what another person has brought. He doesn’t say, and we shouldn’t say: “That’s what someone else has already done or said.” God wants to hear it from each individual. Everyone is given the full opportunity to bring his offering and receives the full attention of God.
The fact that all bring the same shows a common understanding. Yet everyone brings it personally. For God, not only the total counts, but also what the individual brings. He sees the separate gift of each of His own, though many will bring the same as what another brings. In praise, we often use the same words, but God never says: “I have heard that before.” God sees in the praise of His people again and again the glorious work of His Son. And about this He gladly hears (Hebrews 13:15).
In the dedication offerings are offerings that are durable, such as the dishes and pans. There are also offerings that are no longer there after use, such as the different offerings. Furthermore, the daily offering is also important. Every day a gift is offered to God.
In the gift of the leaders, the sacrifice of the peace offering occupies a prominent place. But first they offer dishes and pans. Those silver dishes and gold pans represent believers. They can, if they separate themselves from sin, serve at the altar (2 Timothy 2:20-21). Those who have a place of responsibility in the local church can bring such believers to the Lord. They can offer them in the prayers.
The silver dishes are filled to the brim (“full”) with fine flour mixed with oil and the gold pans are filled to the brim (“full”) with incense. In the lives of such believers, God sees abundantly Who the Lord Jesus has been in His life on earth. The fine flour speaks of the perfect life of the Lord Jesus. Mixed with oil speaks of the fact that He has let Himself be guided in everything by the Holy Spirit. The incense indicates that such a life is a pleasant flagrance for God.
As offerings are offered burnt offerings, a sin offering and peace offerings. This shows that the leaders have an insight into the distinction between the offerings. Leaders among the believers know the different aspects of the work of the Lord Jesus. That there are different kinds of burnt offerings indicates that there are different aspects in what the Lord Jesus did for God.
There is only one animal as a sin offering. The aspect of the forgiveness of sins does not occupy the greatest place. They are more filled with Him as a burnt offering and still more as a peace offering. The peace offering is the offering that expresses the fellowship between God and His people and between the members of the people with each other.
The order in which the leaders bring their offerings begins with Judah and ends with Naphtali. That is the same order in which the camp of the tribes is set up described in Numbers 2.
Numbers 12:2
The Offering of Each Leader
These offerings have to do with the service at the altar, the testimony before God in the tabernacle. God’s great appreciation of the offerings of the leaders is shown by the enumeration of what each leader has given individually, although that seems to be a repetition of what another has given. Repetition is not a tiring activity for God. Thus, the repeated line in every verse of the 26 verses of Psalm 136 – “for His lovingkindness is everlasting” (Psalms 136:1-26) – is an expression of God’s lovingkindness as reaction on what is mentioned in the preceding line.
For God, what each person brings personally counts, and for Him it is not a pure repetition of what another person has brought. He doesn’t say, and we shouldn’t say: “That’s what someone else has already done or said.” God wants to hear it from each individual. Everyone is given the full opportunity to bring his offering and receives the full attention of God.
The fact that all bring the same shows a common understanding. Yet everyone brings it personally. For God, not only the total counts, but also what the individual brings. He sees the separate gift of each of His own, though many will bring the same as what another brings. In praise, we often use the same words, but God never says: “I have heard that before.” God sees in the praise of His people again and again the glorious work of His Son. And about this He gladly hears (Hebrews 13:15).
In the dedication offerings are offerings that are durable, such as the dishes and pans. There are also offerings that are no longer there after use, such as the different offerings. Furthermore, the daily offering is also important. Every day a gift is offered to God.
In the gift of the leaders, the sacrifice of the peace offering occupies a prominent place. But first they offer dishes and pans. Those silver dishes and gold pans represent believers. They can, if they separate themselves from sin, serve at the altar (2 Timothy 2:20-21). Those who have a place of responsibility in the local church can bring such believers to the Lord. They can offer them in the prayers.
The silver dishes are filled to the brim (“full”) with fine flour mixed with oil and the gold pans are filled to the brim (“full”) with incense. In the lives of such believers, God sees abundantly Who the Lord Jesus has been in His life on earth. The fine flour speaks of the perfect life of the Lord Jesus. Mixed with oil speaks of the fact that He has let Himself be guided in everything by the Holy Spirit. The incense indicates that such a life is a pleasant flagrance for God.
As offerings are offered burnt offerings, a sin offering and peace offerings. This shows that the leaders have an insight into the distinction between the offerings. Leaders among the believers know the different aspects of the work of the Lord Jesus. That there are different kinds of burnt offerings indicates that there are different aspects in what the Lord Jesus did for God.
There is only one animal as a sin offering. The aspect of the forgiveness of sins does not occupy the greatest place. They are more filled with Him as a burnt offering and still more as a peace offering. The peace offering is the offering that expresses the fellowship between God and His people and between the members of the people with each other.
The order in which the leaders bring their offerings begins with Judah and ends with Naphtali. That is the same order in which the camp of the tribes is set up described in Numbers 2.
Numbers 12:3
The Offering of Each Leader
These offerings have to do with the service at the altar, the testimony before God in the tabernacle. God’s great appreciation of the offerings of the leaders is shown by the enumeration of what each leader has given individually, although that seems to be a repetition of what another has given. Repetition is not a tiring activity for God. Thus, the repeated line in every verse of the 26 verses of Psalm 136 – “for His lovingkindness is everlasting” (Psalms 136:1-26) – is an expression of God’s lovingkindness as reaction on what is mentioned in the preceding line.
For God, what each person brings personally counts, and for Him it is not a pure repetition of what another person has brought. He doesn’t say, and we shouldn’t say: “That’s what someone else has already done or said.” God wants to hear it from each individual. Everyone is given the full opportunity to bring his offering and receives the full attention of God.
The fact that all bring the same shows a common understanding. Yet everyone brings it personally. For God, not only the total counts, but also what the individual brings. He sees the separate gift of each of His own, though many will bring the same as what another brings. In praise, we often use the same words, but God never says: “I have heard that before.” God sees in the praise of His people again and again the glorious work of His Son. And about this He gladly hears (Hebrews 13:15).
In the dedication offerings are offerings that are durable, such as the dishes and pans. There are also offerings that are no longer there after use, such as the different offerings. Furthermore, the daily offering is also important. Every day a gift is offered to God.
In the gift of the leaders, the sacrifice of the peace offering occupies a prominent place. But first they offer dishes and pans. Those silver dishes and gold pans represent believers. They can, if they separate themselves from sin, serve at the altar (2 Timothy 2:20-21). Those who have a place of responsibility in the local church can bring such believers to the Lord. They can offer them in the prayers.
The silver dishes are filled to the brim (“full”) with fine flour mixed with oil and the gold pans are filled to the brim (“full”) with incense. In the lives of such believers, God sees abundantly Who the Lord Jesus has been in His life on earth. The fine flour speaks of the perfect life of the Lord Jesus. Mixed with oil speaks of the fact that He has let Himself be guided in everything by the Holy Spirit. The incense indicates that such a life is a pleasant flagrance for God.
As offerings are offered burnt offerings, a sin offering and peace offerings. This shows that the leaders have an insight into the distinction between the offerings. Leaders among the believers know the different aspects of the work of the Lord Jesus. That there are different kinds of burnt offerings indicates that there are different aspects in what the Lord Jesus did for God.
There is only one animal as a sin offering. The aspect of the forgiveness of sins does not occupy the greatest place. They are more filled with Him as a burnt offering and still more as a peace offering. The peace offering is the offering that expresses the fellowship between God and His people and between the members of the people with each other.
The order in which the leaders bring their offerings begins with Judah and ends with Naphtali. That is the same order in which the camp of the tribes is set up described in Numbers 2.
Numbers 12:4
The Offering of Each Leader
These offerings have to do with the service at the altar, the testimony before God in the tabernacle. God’s great appreciation of the offerings of the leaders is shown by the enumeration of what each leader has given individually, although that seems to be a repetition of what another has given. Repetition is not a tiring activity for God. Thus, the repeated line in every verse of the 26 verses of Psalm 136 – “for His lovingkindness is everlasting” (Psalms 136:1-26) – is an expression of God’s lovingkindness as reaction on what is mentioned in the preceding line.
For God, what each person brings personally counts, and for Him it is not a pure repetition of what another person has brought. He doesn’t say, and we shouldn’t say: “That’s what someone else has already done or said.” God wants to hear it from each individual. Everyone is given the full opportunity to bring his offering and receives the full attention of God.
The fact that all bring the same shows a common understanding. Yet everyone brings it personally. For God, not only the total counts, but also what the individual brings. He sees the separate gift of each of His own, though many will bring the same as what another brings. In praise, we often use the same words, but God never says: “I have heard that before.” God sees in the praise of His people again and again the glorious work of His Son. And about this He gladly hears (Hebrews 13:15).
In the dedication offerings are offerings that are durable, such as the dishes and pans. There are also offerings that are no longer there after use, such as the different offerings. Furthermore, the daily offering is also important. Every day a gift is offered to God.
In the gift of the leaders, the sacrifice of the peace offering occupies a prominent place. But first they offer dishes and pans. Those silver dishes and gold pans represent believers. They can, if they separate themselves from sin, serve at the altar (2 Timothy 2:20-21). Those who have a place of responsibility in the local church can bring such believers to the Lord. They can offer them in the prayers.
The silver dishes are filled to the brim (“full”) with fine flour mixed with oil and the gold pans are filled to the brim (“full”) with incense. In the lives of such believers, God sees abundantly Who the Lord Jesus has been in His life on earth. The fine flour speaks of the perfect life of the Lord Jesus. Mixed with oil speaks of the fact that He has let Himself be guided in everything by the Holy Spirit. The incense indicates that such a life is a pleasant flagrance for God.
As offerings are offered burnt offerings, a sin offering and peace offerings. This shows that the leaders have an insight into the distinction between the offerings. Leaders among the believers know the different aspects of the work of the Lord Jesus. That there are different kinds of burnt offerings indicates that there are different aspects in what the Lord Jesus did for God.
There is only one animal as a sin offering. The aspect of the forgiveness of sins does not occupy the greatest place. They are more filled with Him as a burnt offering and still more as a peace offering. The peace offering is the offering that expresses the fellowship between God and His people and between the members of the people with each other.
The order in which the leaders bring their offerings begins with Judah and ends with Naphtali. That is the same order in which the camp of the tribes is set up described in Numbers 2.
Numbers 12:5
Totals of the Dedication Offering
Everything is added up by God. But it is not a great heap for God: it is the sum of the individual parts. After twelve days God counts: 1. twelve silver dishes, each one hundred and thirty shekels (about one and a half kilos) filled with fine flour mixed with oil; 2. twelve silver bowls, each seventy shekels (about eight hundred grams) filled with fine flour mixed with oil; 3. twelve golden bowls, each ten shekels (about one hundred and ten grams) filled with incense; 4. twelve oxen for the burnt offering and the accompanying grain offering; 5. twelve rams for the burnt offering and the accompanying grain offering; 6. twelve male lambs one year old for the burnt offering and the accompanying grain offering; 7. twelve male goats for a sin offering; 8. 24 bulls for a peace offering; 9. 60 rams for a peace offering; 10. 60 male goats for a peace offering; 11. 60 male lambs one year old for a peace offering.
What a joy it must be for Him if at the end of a meeting on the first day of the week, where we have honored Him with the dedication offerings – our sacrifices of praise (Hebrews 13:15) – that each of us has brought to Him, He can add this up.
Numbers 12:6
Totals of the Dedication Offering
Everything is added up by God. But it is not a great heap for God: it is the sum of the individual parts. After twelve days God counts: 1. twelve silver dishes, each one hundred and thirty shekels (about one and a half kilos) filled with fine flour mixed with oil; 2. twelve silver bowls, each seventy shekels (about eight hundred grams) filled with fine flour mixed with oil; 3. twelve golden bowls, each ten shekels (about one hundred and ten grams) filled with incense; 4. twelve oxen for the burnt offering and the accompanying grain offering; 5. twelve rams for the burnt offering and the accompanying grain offering; 6. twelve male lambs one year old for the burnt offering and the accompanying grain offering; 7. twelve male goats for a sin offering; 8. 24 bulls for a peace offering; 9. 60 rams for a peace offering; 10. 60 male goats for a peace offering; 11. 60 male lambs one year old for a peace offering.
What a joy it must be for Him if at the end of a meeting on the first day of the week, where we have honored Him with the dedication offerings – our sacrifices of praise (Hebrews 13:15) – that each of us has brought to Him, He can add this up.
Numbers 12:7
Totals of the Dedication Offering
Everything is added up by God. But it is not a great heap for God: it is the sum of the individual parts. After twelve days God counts: 1. twelve silver dishes, each one hundred and thirty shekels (about one and a half kilos) filled with fine flour mixed with oil; 2. twelve silver bowls, each seventy shekels (about eight hundred grams) filled with fine flour mixed with oil; 3. twelve golden bowls, each ten shekels (about one hundred and ten grams) filled with incense; 4. twelve oxen for the burnt offering and the accompanying grain offering; 5. twelve rams for the burnt offering and the accompanying grain offering; 6. twelve male lambs one year old for the burnt offering and the accompanying grain offering; 7. twelve male goats for a sin offering; 8. 24 bulls for a peace offering; 9. 60 rams for a peace offering; 10. 60 male goats for a peace offering; 11. 60 male lambs one year old for a peace offering.
What a joy it must be for Him if at the end of a meeting on the first day of the week, where we have honored Him with the dedication offerings – our sacrifices of praise (Hebrews 13:15) – that each of us has brought to Him, He can add this up.
Numbers 12:8
Totals of the Dedication Offering
Everything is added up by God. But it is not a great heap for God: it is the sum of the individual parts. After twelve days God counts: 1. twelve silver dishes, each one hundred and thirty shekels (about one and a half kilos) filled with fine flour mixed with oil; 2. twelve silver bowls, each seventy shekels (about eight hundred grams) filled with fine flour mixed with oil; 3. twelve golden bowls, each ten shekels (about one hundred and ten grams) filled with incense; 4. twelve oxen for the burnt offering and the accompanying grain offering; 5. twelve rams for the burnt offering and the accompanying grain offering; 6. twelve male lambs one year old for the burnt offering and the accompanying grain offering; 7. twelve male goats for a sin offering; 8. 24 bulls for a peace offering; 9. 60 rams for a peace offering; 10. 60 male goats for a peace offering; 11. 60 male lambs one year old for a peace offering.
What a joy it must be for Him if at the end of a meeting on the first day of the week, where we have honored Him with the dedication offerings – our sacrifices of praise (Hebrews 13:15) – that each of us has brought to Him, He can add this up.
Numbers 12:9
Totals of the Dedication Offering
Everything is added up by God. But it is not a great heap for God: it is the sum of the individual parts. After twelve days God counts: 1. twelve silver dishes, each one hundred and thirty shekels (about one and a half kilos) filled with fine flour mixed with oil; 2. twelve silver bowls, each seventy shekels (about eight hundred grams) filled with fine flour mixed with oil; 3. twelve golden bowls, each ten shekels (about one hundred and ten grams) filled with incense; 4. twelve oxen for the burnt offering and the accompanying grain offering; 5. twelve rams for the burnt offering and the accompanying grain offering; 6. twelve male lambs one year old for the burnt offering and the accompanying grain offering; 7. twelve male goats for a sin offering; 8. 24 bulls for a peace offering; 9. 60 rams for a peace offering; 10. 60 male goats for a peace offering; 11. 60 male lambs one year old for a peace offering.
What a joy it must be for Him if at the end of a meeting on the first day of the week, where we have honored Him with the dedication offerings – our sacrifices of praise (Hebrews 13:15) – that each of us has brought to Him, He can add this up.
Numbers 12:10
The LORD Speaks to Moses
Moses enters the tent of meeting to speak with God. Moses is a picture of the Lord Jesus as the Teacher Who hears and reveals the thoughts of God. It is significant that this happens after the description of the voluntary offerings brought by the leaders. God then makes His thoughts known. He can only really share His thoughts when we have a willing heart that is full of admiration for the Lord Jesus.
Despite all the hustle and bustle of his leadership, or perhaps for that very reason, Moses finds and takes the time to be with the LORD, to speak with Him and to listen to Him. The silence of the sanctuary is the appropriate place for this.
Numbers 12:12
The Golden Lampstand
The description of the lampstand has not got lost and accidentally found its way to this place. The Author of the Bible, the Holy Spirit, has given this description here with a purpose. It connects directly to the last verse of the previous chapter. There we see Moses going into the tent of meeting to speak with the LORD. Moses speaks the Word of God to the people.
God’s Word is important for walking in the wilderness. In doing so, the goal is that we see the glorified Lord in heaven. But we can only see Him in the light that the Holy Spirit gives. The model for our walk through the wilderness is Christ in glory (John 17:19). In directing our hearts on Him we can live on earth to His glory. In the sanctuary we see Aaron busy, as a picture of the Lord Jesus as the High Priest Who knows what we need on our journey through the wilderness. When our eye is on Him in the sanctuary, our feet know where to go in the world.
The lamps of the lampstand must be placed in such a way that their light falls on the lampstand itself. The light of the Holy Spirit always falls upon the Lord Jesus (John 16:14). Anyone who spreads light should radiate it from and upon the Lord, not upon himself (cf. Matthew 5:16). The Lord Jesus is the lampstand who carries the seven lamps. The believers are the lamps through which the Holy Spirit shines. The believers should not present themselves when they stand before God in the sanctuary, but the Lord Jesus. They talk to each other about heavenly things, about what each one has found in his examination of the Scriptures. The lampstand carries the lamps. The believers are supported by the Lord Jesus.
The priesthood of the Lord Jesus keeps the light burning. It is about the connection with Christ in the sanctuary in the presence of God on which everything depends. This can only be seen by the spiritual believer.
Numbers 12:13
The Golden Lampstand
The description of the lampstand has not got lost and accidentally found its way to this place. The Author of the Bible, the Holy Spirit, has given this description here with a purpose. It connects directly to the last verse of the previous chapter. There we see Moses going into the tent of meeting to speak with the LORD. Moses speaks the Word of God to the people.
God’s Word is important for walking in the wilderness. In doing so, the goal is that we see the glorified Lord in heaven. But we can only see Him in the light that the Holy Spirit gives. The model for our walk through the wilderness is Christ in glory (John 17:19). In directing our hearts on Him we can live on earth to His glory. In the sanctuary we see Aaron busy, as a picture of the Lord Jesus as the High Priest Who knows what we need on our journey through the wilderness. When our eye is on Him in the sanctuary, our feet know where to go in the world.
The lamps of the lampstand must be placed in such a way that their light falls on the lampstand itself. The light of the Holy Spirit always falls upon the Lord Jesus (John 16:14). Anyone who spreads light should radiate it from and upon the Lord, not upon himself (cf. Matthew 5:16). The Lord Jesus is the lampstand who carries the seven lamps. The believers are the lamps through which the Holy Spirit shines. The believers should not present themselves when they stand before God in the sanctuary, but the Lord Jesus. They talk to each other about heavenly things, about what each one has found in his examination of the Scriptures. The lampstand carries the lamps. The believers are supported by the Lord Jesus.
The priesthood of the Lord Jesus keeps the light burning. It is about the connection with Christ in the sanctuary in the presence of God on which everything depends. This can only be seen by the spiritual believer.
Numbers 12:14
The Golden Lampstand
The description of the lampstand has not got lost and accidentally found its way to this place. The Author of the Bible, the Holy Spirit, has given this description here with a purpose. It connects directly to the last verse of the previous chapter. There we see Moses going into the tent of meeting to speak with the LORD. Moses speaks the Word of God to the people.
God’s Word is important for walking in the wilderness. In doing so, the goal is that we see the glorified Lord in heaven. But we can only see Him in the light that the Holy Spirit gives. The model for our walk through the wilderness is Christ in glory (John 17:19). In directing our hearts on Him we can live on earth to His glory. In the sanctuary we see Aaron busy, as a picture of the Lord Jesus as the High Priest Who knows what we need on our journey through the wilderness. When our eye is on Him in the sanctuary, our feet know where to go in the world.
The lamps of the lampstand must be placed in such a way that their light falls on the lampstand itself. The light of the Holy Spirit always falls upon the Lord Jesus (John 16:14). Anyone who spreads light should radiate it from and upon the Lord, not upon himself (cf. Matthew 5:16). The Lord Jesus is the lampstand who carries the seven lamps. The believers are the lamps through which the Holy Spirit shines. The believers should not present themselves when they stand before God in the sanctuary, but the Lord Jesus. They talk to each other about heavenly things, about what each one has found in his examination of the Scriptures. The lampstand carries the lamps. The believers are supported by the Lord Jesus.
The priesthood of the Lord Jesus keeps the light burning. It is about the connection with Christ in the sanctuary in the presence of God on which everything depends. This can only be seen by the spiritual believer.
Numbers 12:15
The Golden Lampstand
The description of the lampstand has not got lost and accidentally found its way to this place. The Author of the Bible, the Holy Spirit, has given this description here with a purpose. It connects directly to the last verse of the previous chapter. There we see Moses going into the tent of meeting to speak with the LORD. Moses speaks the Word of God to the people.
God’s Word is important for walking in the wilderness. In doing so, the goal is that we see the glorified Lord in heaven. But we can only see Him in the light that the Holy Spirit gives. The model for our walk through the wilderness is Christ in glory (John 17:19). In directing our hearts on Him we can live on earth to His glory. In the sanctuary we see Aaron busy, as a picture of the Lord Jesus as the High Priest Who knows what we need on our journey through the wilderness. When our eye is on Him in the sanctuary, our feet know where to go in the world.
The lamps of the lampstand must be placed in such a way that their light falls on the lampstand itself. The light of the Holy Spirit always falls upon the Lord Jesus (John 16:14). Anyone who spreads light should radiate it from and upon the Lord, not upon himself (cf. Matthew 5:16). The Lord Jesus is the lampstand who carries the seven lamps. The believers are the lamps through which the Holy Spirit shines. The believers should not present themselves when they stand before God in the sanctuary, but the Lord Jesus. They talk to each other about heavenly things, about what each one has found in his examination of the Scriptures. The lampstand carries the lamps. The believers are supported by the Lord Jesus.
The priesthood of the Lord Jesus keeps the light burning. It is about the connection with Christ in the sanctuary in the presence of God on which everything depends. This can only be seen by the spiritual believer.
Numbers 12:16
The Dedication of the Levites
Seeing Christ in the sanctuary as the model of our walk, as depicted in previous verses, also gives us ability to serve. The dedication of the Levites, of the servants, is done according to the purity of the sanctuary, for that is the field of their service. They are an offering from the people to the LORD, and the LORD gives them to the priests. They can only be pleasing to God in their service in the value of the offering Christ has brought to God and the Divine judgment of sin.
At the dedication of the Levites we see a special involvement of the people, more so than in the dedication of the priests. Priestly service is not primarily aimed at fellow believers, but at God. Levite service is focused on each other. The service of the Levites is to the church.
By a separate ceremony the Levites are separated from the people. What happens to them is not a picture of the conversion of the sinner, but of making the believer fit to serve God in a way that is pleasing to Him. Here we see how first the persons are made fit, and then they come to a service that is pleasing to God. We must first give ourselves to the Lord, and only then give Him our service (2 Corinthians 8:5).
The first action is to be sprinkled with the purifying water. The cleansing does not consist of washing, but of sprinkling. Sprinkling is the transfer of the value of that with which is sprinkled on the object which is sprinkled. By sprinkling it comes under the power of it. We see this with the sprinkling of blood. Sprinkling with water is done here. The purifying water is not used here because the Levites have sinned. That is not the case here. But a special awareness is needed of the work of the Lord Jesus through which the sins have been removed. The flesh must have no place, nothing of that which has to do with sin.
The second action is the shaving of all the hair from their bodies (cf. Leviticus 14:8). Hair speaks of what comes from natural man. That must be shaved. The razor represents the judgment that is passed over the flesh. Pride, for example, is such a hair growth that needs to be shaved, judged.
Then they have to wash their clothes. Clothes show what is public from man, how he behaves, the habits he has. Washing the clothes indicates that the whole revelation of the servant comes under the power of the Word.
After their cleansing the offerings can be brought, in this case two young bulls. The first is purposed as a burnt offering, together with the accompanying grain offering; the other is a sin offering. Both the burnt offering and the sin offering is a great offering. Both offerings represent the degree of insight into the work of the Lord Jesus, on the basis of which they can perform their service. The service is performed at the level of the servant’s understanding of both the burnt offering – this represents what the work of the Lord Jesus means to God, the honor He has given to God through it – and the sin offering – this represents what the work of the Lord Jesus means in view of the problem of sin.
The laying on of hands by the Israelites shows their identification with the service of the Levites. All Israelites are involved, because the Levites are instead of the firstborn of the Israelites (Numbers 8:16-18). It is also important that the field of their service is the people of God. It is important that the church can identify herself with the service of servants. God involves the whole people.
The Levites are moved back and forth as a wave offering before God’s face. God wishes His people to bring His servants before Him. God’s people should not speak of the weaknesses every servant has, but of the way in which these servants remind them of the Lord Jesus, the true wave offering. After the people have moved the Levites back and forth as a wave offering, the priests also have to move the Levites back and forth. The service of each servant is in connection with both the daily life of God’s people and the priestly service.