Command the children of Israel, that they give unto the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in; and ye shall give also unto the Levites suburbs for the cities round about them. Numbers 35:2
Heartwarming stories have been coming out of Ukraine of the valiant efforts by Assemblies of Christians there providing humanitarian aid and comfort for those suffering from the impacts of the ongoing Russian invasion. Our prayers and thanks to God go up for those involved in this great work. Many personal accounts can no doubt be told of those who have been blessed both materially and spiritually because of those Assemblies being where they are at this critical time. They are in an environment where their efforts to serve their Lord in this great way stand out even among the unconverted folks around them. But there is a measure in which Assemblies of the Lord’s people everywhere should stand out in their communities because of their devotion to service for our Lord. Just like the Levites were to do in ancient Israel.
Our text describes how the Israelites were to give the Levites cities to live in. That is because, unlike the eleven other tribes, the Levites did not have an inheritance as a tribe. Their inheritance was their devotion and service to God. Christians today are – or should be – like that role of the Levites. We do not have an inheritance in this world; our inheritance is in Heaven. Our role is not to occupy or immerse ourselves in this world’s affairs but to conduct our Lord’s business as ambassadors for Him until he returns for us. In all, the Levites were to be given 48 cities, fairly evenly sprinkled throughout the land. Just so, the Lord has His people, and companies of people, sprinkled throughout this world to be a testimony for Himself. The Levites were to serve as priests in the tabernacle and later the temple, and were to study and share the Scriptures with the people around them. Just as the Lord’s people are to do today, especially in the sharing of the Gospel message.
The suburbs mentioned in our text were actually grazing grounds for the cattle and sheep that the Levites owned, and property for their gardens. The Lord was making sure that the Levites had the ability to provide for their own families’ needs. In the same way, our Lord knows that we need to live in this world and support and provide for our families, even though we recognize that this world is not our final heritage. Or at least we are supposed to recognize that.
God has given to us the privilege of being a blessing to those around us; let us make sure we appreciate that privilege and honour our obligation. – Jim MacIntosh