Substitution

Scripture: And the Lord said to Moses, “List all the firstborn males of the people of Israel, from a month old and upward, taking the number of their names. And you shall take the Levites for me—I am the Lord—instead of all the firstborn among the people of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the cattle of the people of Israel.” So Moses listed all the firstborn among the people of Israel, as the Lord commanded him. And all the firstborn males, according to the number of names, from a month old and upward as listed were 22,273. Numbers 3:40-43

 

Observation: The firstborn males of all the tribes of Israel is within 1 percent of the males of the Levites. It's effectively a statistical margin of error. The Lord is laying claim to Israel, and instead of placing into service all the firstborn, he substitutes the Levites.

 

Application: God substituted Jesus in place of me for my sins. I can only imagine what he could have decided to take from me instead:

 

-- My firstborn son?

-- My own life, as a firstborn son?

-- My wife, as the blessing of my life?

 

In so doing, I would have resented him. I would have wondered how a loving God can take such a great price from me. So instead ... he offered a price of his own choosing and his own sacrifice, which was infinitely greater in value than anything I could ever give. In light of this knowledge, how can I ever refuse God anything in my life? I can't and I won't.

 

Prayer: Lord, I love you all the more when I understand how you first loved me!! Your love for me began in the desert of Sinai, thousands of years ago, as you demonstrated your willingness to not take from your believers, but rather to give to them. Your love is beyond what I deserve even in my best moments. I can't even pray to try to be worthy. Instead I can only pray ... thank you.

 

p.s. Tonight, one of my best friends contacted me, just to say he missed me and hoped I was alright. This is a man who has had a similar journey as me, though he was always better and stronger than I was. He did not stray as far as I did (physically or emotionally or spiritually), and he returned before me. In my mind, he is simply a man I would aspire to be like. He is one of only two or three men I truly trust ... probably one of only two men in the world whom I would truly say I trust with my life. I am again so blessed to have someone in my life who - even when we go months without speaking and live a thousand miles apart - would still do anything I needed, as I would do anything for him. I look forward to playing golf with him in heaven, where MAYBE I'll be able to outdrive him ... but probably not.