Passage Read: Leviticus 27 - Numbers 3
Meditation Verses: Numbers 3:12-13
Thought
God chose Aaron and his sons to be priests for Israel and serve the Lord. They weren't consulted; they had no choice or say in the matter. And they were chosen because Moses refused to speak to Pharaoh as God commanded, otherwise, the priesthood would have been his and his sons'. Now the Levites were taken as servants of the priests and of the congregation on behalf of the Lord. A whole tribe dedicated and devoted to serving the Lord, because they had been the tribe to rally to Moses on behalf of the Lord when the congregation made the golden calf. A whole tribe had their life work decided for them without consulting them. They too had no choice in the matter. This would also affect their inheritance in the land of Canaan. While other tribes inherited fields and towns and cities, all the Levites and priests would get were cities and towns and limited pasture lands. Their opportunity to farm would be limited, but they would be given the tithes of all the other tribes. On the other hand, members of the other tribes were excluded from serving the Lord in the priesthood and as a Levite. They could come close to the Lord, but were kept at a distance beyond even the Levites. We make so much of individual freedom and self-determination, but it doesn't exist in the same way in God's worldview. We belong to God and what He chooses to do with us, all we can really do is accept and make the best of it, living within the parameters God sets. Unless we chose to resist, rebel and determine our own lives. That's what it means to be God, He gets to direct our lives.
Application
If I'm wise, I'll accept the limits He imposes on me; the only reason I'd be angry at God is because I think I'm entitled to direct my own life. But if I can give up such a thought and submit myself completely to Him, I'll at least be at peace with Him, and I might even find the joy in what He has chosen for me. I actually enjoy a privilege today that they didn't have back then, I can live as a priest to God through Jesus Christ. All who believe in Jesus are to be a kingdom of priests, but not all chose to live as such. We see the treasures of this world and are distracted into thinking those things are of greater value than being set apart to serve the Lord as priest. I don't have to complain against God for choosing my life purpose for me, but if I choose to devote myself to some earthly purpose, I won't be able to complain against God for the poverty of my eternity. God offers me this privilege of serving as priest as part of this tribe of Christ, I would be a fool not to pursue and enjoy that to the fullest. There is no better vocation on earth.