Determining the Debt Owed to God

Scripture: For they are wholly given to Me from among the children of Israel; I have taken them for Myself instead of all who open the womb, the firstborn of all the children of Israel. For all the firstborn among the children of Israel are Mine, both man and beast; on the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them to Myself. I have taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn of the children of Israel. Numbers 8:16-18

Observation: The Lord claims the Levites for himself and for service in the temple. He does this not as a benefit or reward for the Levites, but rather for the benefit of all the rest of Israel. In redeeming Israel from Egypt by means of the plague of the firstborn, it means that all firstborn of Israel actually belong to the Lord. In exchange for EVERY firstborn, the Lord instead takes the Levites into service.

To be clear, God is both fully merciful and fully just. It is not just his right, but his responsibility due to his nature, to hold us accountable for our actions. It is also in his nature to provide for us a merciful means to escape justice. When the Jews owe their firstborn to the Lord, he provides mercy by setting aside just one tribe for service, which in turn even honors that tribe.

Application: How much do I owe to the Lord? He sacrificed his son for my redemption, provided me with love and a family and earthly blessing, and has given me happiness and joy at many times throughout my life. If I had to repay him like-for-like ... I couldn't. I would owe him simply everything. More than my firstborn or a tenth of my income, I would owe him my entire life, and that's a debt I can't truly pay.

Perhaps this was Paul's ultimate point about making my life a 'living sacrifice'. I can't give everything to God, but Jesus did pay the dept. Therefore, I can give my heart and purpose and thoughts and direction to the service of the Lord. In that context, leading a prayer team, or a mowing team, or a finance class, certainly isn't a burden at all.

Prayer: Lord, you yourself provided the example of truly paying your my debt. I owe you everything, but you ask instead for so little. When I feel burdened, or tired, or frustrated, may I recall your great love and mercy. Amen.