Daily Devotion | Numbers 18:1–20 | May 19, 2026

Title: Daily Devotion | Numbers 18:1–20 | May 19, 2026

Scripture: Numbers 18:1–20 (ESV, reference only)

Date: 2026 May 19

Speaker: Rev. John Chen

Transcribed, translated & edited by: Joseph Wang (Yufan)

All right, dear brothers and sisters, peace to you. We thank God for His grace. We have come to a new day to study the Daily Devotion. The Scripture we are studying today is Numbers chapter 18, verses 1 through 20. Let us pray. Now, Lord, we thank You that You are willing to treat us with such kindness and mercy, and to lead us to understand these regulations concerning the priests. Lord, this is the grace You have given to us. We thank You for being nailed to the cross for us. Lord, thank You for accomplishing all this salvation, so that our spiritual life may also become more abundant. May You be with us. In the name of Christ, amen.

All right, let us look at Numbers chapter 18. Verse 1 says, “The LORD said to Aaron.” This is actually quite a unique thing, because if you look at the whole Pentateuch, most of the time it is “the LORD said to Moses,” or “the LORD said to Moses and Aaron.” The times when He speaks to Aaron alone are very few. If I remember correctly, this should be the second time. It is very rare. This is about the regulations concerning the priests, because this is something related to the household of Aaron, and therefore the LORD directly spoke to Aaron.

“You and your sons and your father’s house with you.” This speaks of the responsibility of the priests. The first responsibility of the priests is to bear iniquity connected with the sanctuary. “You and your sons with you shall bear iniquity connected with your priesthood.” What does this mean? They themselves were priests. They were originally the ones who were to serve in the sanctuary. How then did it become that they had offended against the sanctuary? How had they offended against the office of the priesthood? This may be pointing to the fact that before they served, they had to offer sacrifices for themselves.

In the earlier book of Leviticus, when it speaks about the priestly office, and also in Exodus this point is mentioned, when they were going to serve in the sanctuary, they actually had to first make atonement for themselves. So from this angle, we can understand that they bore the iniquity connected with the priestly responsibility. Another possibility is that it points to the next task below: they were the ones who guarded the tent of meeting. When they guarded it, they had to guard it well. If they did not guard it well, then they would be guilty. This can also be understood in this way.

So verse 2 says that the Levites are to be with you, so that they may join you and minister to you. But you, you and your sons with you, shall be before the tent of the testimony. The Levites are to obey your instructions and keep guard over the whole tent, but they must not come near the vessels of the sanctuary or the altar, lest they die, and you also. They are joined with you, and they are also to keep guard over the tent of meeting and do all the service of the tent. Only an outsider shall not come near you. So here we see the different degrees of holiness. First, Aaron and his sons can serve in the sanctuary and the Most Holy Place. The Levites can take care of the tabernacle. The other outsiders cannot enter.

Verse 4 says that an outsider cannot come near. They are to keep guard, lest wrath come upon the people of Israel. Then God says that He has chosen the Levites. From among the people of Israel He has chosen them out, and He has given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons. They may perform this work and together keep the responsibility of the priesthood. “You shall serve in this way. I give your priesthood as a gift to you, and any outsider who comes near shall be put to death.”

Now the meaning here is relatively clear. What are the priests to do? The priests are to bear the iniquity connected with offending against the sanctuary. Their task is to guard the tabernacle and the sanctuary well, and not allow outsiders to come in. And within it, there are also degrees. The Levites also cannot come near the tabernacle—that is, they can only serve outside. They cannot come near the sanctuary and the Most Holy Place. If they come near, they also must be put to death. But what exactly does this mean? We have recognized clearly what the priestly office means, but what does it mean?

In fact, we can trace this meaning back to Genesis. In Genesis, when the Israelites—no, not the Israelites—in Genesis, after Adam and Eve were driven out of the Garden of Eden, they could no longer return to the Garden of Eden. In Genesis 3:24, God drove the man out, and at the east of the Garden of Eden He placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life. So actually, you can connect this together. What does it mean? It means that the responsibility and task of the priests was to guard this place, lest unholy people enter into the sanctuary.

So here we seem to be able to see this pattern: the tabernacle is actually a symbol of the Garden of Eden. In the Garden of Eden, God was with man. This presence was originally given by God. But because of man’s sin, man was driven out. Therefore now the priests must guard the Most Holy Place, the sanctuary, and the tabernacle, lest outsiders come in, lest they die. Whoever comes in must be struck down.

All right, this is speaking of Genesis chapter 3. But actually this office can be traced even further back. Where? In Genesis chapter 2, verse 15, the LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and keep it. The word used here for serving is a Hebrew word. Adam and Eve were originally in the Garden of Eden, and a task was given to them. What was it? It was that they had to guard around the Garden of Eden. They had to work the trees inside it. And keep what? Guard what? They had to guard so that the evil one, Satan, would not come into the Garden of Eden. Their original responsibility was this. But later they failed. They allowed a serpent to come in. That serpent spoke to them, and then they sinned.

Adam and Eve originally had the function of guarding the tabernacle-like Garden of Eden. So because of these two functions, one being the function of Adam and Eve, and one being the function of the cherubim, now when we come to Numbers chapter 18, it is still emphasizing the function of the Levites. That is, this realm of holiness is divided into degrees. The Israelites could not come near the tabernacle. There had to be one tribe, the tribe of Levi, to help them work and guard this tabernacle. And within this tabernacle, among the Levites, further degrees were also distinguished.

Aaron and his sons served in the sanctuary and the Most Holy Place. So here, in Numbers chapter 18, verses 1 through 7, it points out a path for us. Although this path is rather hidden, under the light of the New Testament we can see it very clearly. That is, in the age of the Garden of Eden in Genesis, God originally entrusted to Adam and Eve a task of guarding the tabernacle, of guarding the Garden of Eden. After they failed, it became the cherubim and the flaming sword that turned every way who guarded the tabernacle. But now, because of God’s mercy, God has moved this Eden-like tabernacle into the midst of the Israelites. God is willing to dwell with His people. God is willing to come into the midst of His people and enjoy fellowship and communion with them. But this tabernacle has strict boundaries. One must obey the different rules of holiness.

Outsiders certainly are not allowed, right? And from among the Levites, Aaron’s household is further set apart. They are the ones who draw near to God. So here what kind of scene do we see? First, man sinned, and God cannot dwell with man. Second, because of God’s love, God is pleased to dwell with man, but He must dwell with man through these complicated procedures. Therefore from this angle, the tabernacle became a symbol of the Garden of Eden. The tabernacle is Eden, and Eden is the tabernacle.

The blessing of God’s presence with man in the Garden of Eden is now here in the tabernacle. Because of the ministry of the priests, God is with His people among the Israelites. But here God especially reminds them that any outsider who comes near must be put to death. Whether it is the Israelites who come near the tabernacle, or the Levites who come near the sanctuary and the Most Holy Place, they must all be struck down. This shows that although this path has been written out in a faint and hidden way, there are very strict procedures by which one can enter the Most Holy Place. Yet in any case, the problem of God dwelling with man has finally been addressed, right? Because man sinned. How can God dwell with man? God Himself designed this way: the tabernacle, the strict regulations of holiness, and through these one may draw near to Him.

Of course, we thank the Lord that as we look further on, it becomes even clearer. The Lord Jesus Christ comes, and He accomplishes reconciliation between God and man. He Himself is the great High Priest. He also offers up the most perfect sacrifice. He also bears the iniquity of our offenses against the sanctuary. Therefore the door of the sanctuary, the door of the Most Holy Place, is opened for us believers. We are able, in the Lord Jesus Christ, to come boldly before the throne of grace. This is such a path completed by Jesus Christ. So from verses 1 through 7 here in chapter 18, we can look from Genesis all the way to the New Testament.

Finally, of course, in Revelation, this path is completely opened. We can behold God with unveiled face. We can be with God forever. This is the best and most beautiful thing. So in the new heaven and new earth, the blessing that was in the Garden of Eden is fulfilled, and it is an even more beautiful blessing. In the Garden of Eden, Adam needed to pass through testing in order to be with God. He could still possibly sin. But in the new heaven and new earth, we will no longer be able to sin. Our humanity will already have undergone a change. We will no longer be able to sin. Therefore the new heaven and new earth is an even more beautiful direction to which Eden pointed.

Now in this whole process, what you see is the tabernacle, the temple, these types, these symbols and types. In the end, the true sanctuary, the true temple, the true Eden is the Lord of the Lord, Jesus Christ. He becomes that true temple, so that God and man can truly have fellowship. Therefore Numbers chapter 18, verses 1 through 7, speaks about the Levites and Aaron’s household: how they serve, how the tabernacle must be well guarded to prevent outsiders from entering. This matter first writes out a path. Although this path is very complicated, and one needs to pass through continual sacrifices and through the people chosen by God in order to come before God, nevertheless, overall speaking, this path has been opened. Although it is very complicated, we thank the Lord that in the New Testament, in Jesus Christ, this path becomes very clear. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. This path is opened for us by Jesus Christ. Therefore, by trusting in Jesus Christ, we are able to come boldly into the Most Holy Place, before the Father’s throne of grace.

So this is grace. This is exceedingly great grace: that we can be with God. Therefore from this angle, we say that the Old Testament Scriptures are actually very precious Scriptures. Do not think that reading the Old Testament is meaningless. Some people say that when they read about Old Testament sacrifices, they feel it is very boring and uninteresting, and they are too lazy even to read it. Actually, it is not like that. Every page is speaking about what Jesus accomplished. Such a complicated path, a path on which whoever comes near must die, a path on which outsiders who come near must die, has become in Jesus Christ an unobstructed path. Therefore we love Jesus, and we thank Jesus, because being with God is the most beautiful blessing for a creature.

All right, this is verses 1 through 7. In verses 8 through 20, it speaks about God’s blessing for the priests. They have to guard the tabernacle. They have to offer sacrifices. They have to do these things, and they will receive a reward. Here, the holy things of Israel that are given to Me, that is, all the grain offerings, the grain offering, and all the offerings that are preserved and not burned by fire, are most holy things. They are to belong to you and to your sons. So all the good things that the Israelites offer are for the priests to eat. Verse 10 says that you shall take these and eat them as holy things. Every male may eat them. You shall regard them as holy things. They are also given to your sons and daughters.

Verse 12 says that the best of the oil, and the best of the new wine and the grain, the firstfruits that the Israelites offer to the LORD as consecrated things, I give them all to you. So the priestly class enjoys the best blessing of God.

On the surface, these things are received from among Israel, but actually the Israelites are offering them to God, and God then gives them to the priests. This is an extremely beautiful blessing given to the priestly class. Because God does not need these things. God lets the priestly class enjoy these things, and also lets them give glory to God. Then verse 14 says that everything devoted in Israel shall be yours. You see, all of it belongs to the priests. Everything that they offer to the LORD, both man and beast, whatever is firstborn, is yours. You see, all of it is the best: the firstborn, the best new wine, grain, and oil, all belong to this priestly class. But the firstborn among man and certain animals must be redeemed, and those from one month old and upward must be redeemed. The firstborn of cattle, sheep, and goats cannot be redeemed.

Their blood must be sprinkled, and their fat must be offered as a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the LORD. But you may eat their flesh. The breast that is waved and the thigh that is contributed—this is the contribution offering, the peace offering. And in the sin offering, if the blood has not been brought into the Most Holy Place, you may also eat it. You may also eat the meat of the peace offering. So this is a very beautiful blessing, right? “I give it to you and to your sons and daughters as a perpetual due.” This is an everlasting covenant before the LORD for you and your offspring. Now the meaning of this covenant is that it is a covenant that cannot be broken.

It refers to the covenant God made with the priestly class: that is, I will give the best to you. And this blessing is ultimately fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus, as the true great High Priest, when He accomplished all these things, then God the Father said, “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies Your footstool.” This shows that the best provision is given to the Lord Jesus Christ. So why does the New Testament say that all fullness is hidden in Him? It is pointing to this: Jesus Christ has won all the most beautiful things. Gifts, power, wisdom, and authority are all in Jesus Christ, the Lord. And Jesus Christ is also pleased to give all these good things to His people.

Then verse 20 says to Aaron, “You shall have no inheritance in their land among the people of Israel, and you shall have no portion among them. I am your portion and your inheritance.” What does this mean? The Israelites were going to divide up the land, were they not? They all had their own land, right? But you cannot have land. Why? “I am your inheritance, and I am your portion in the cup.” Then is this a good thing or a bad thing? This depends on whether the Israelites are godly. If the Israelites are godly, then just as we see in this passage, the Levitical household and the priestly household will receive the best things. But if the Israelites are not godly, haha, then the scene in the book of Judges will appear. The priests will have no food to eat. They will have to go work and find jobs themselves.

Of course, it is very obvious that the ungodliness of the Israelites is related to the corruption of the priestly class, right? If you properly teach the law, if you properly teach them to serve God, then you yourself can also have provision. You can also have the provision given by God. Right? So here we see, first, the previous verses 1 through 7 speak of the responsibility of the priests, the duty of the priests. Verses 8 through 20 speak of God’s blessing to Israel, to the priestly class. God is especially willing to treat the priestly class with grace. You do not need another portion. I am your portion. I am your inheritance.

How is this kind of worship applied to us? I think it is especially suitable for application to us. For example, we are all priests, yes. Peter tells us that we are a royal priesthood and a redeemed people. We are the kingdom of the covenant, a royal priesthood. First Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession.” Our task is to proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. This is what Peter tells us. So for us, as such people of God, what are we to do? We are to proclaim the excellencies of God, and then God Himself is our portion.

So what is the reminder given to us here? Brothers and sisters, you may say, “I am not a priest. I am not an ordained officer of the church.” Actually, you are. As a child of God, you must remember: who is your portion? Who is your inheritance? It is the LORD. All our hope is in the LORD. Therefore all provision is in the LORD. As long as we firmly hold to this, the LORD God will give us all the most beautiful things that He has. This is an unbreakable covenant. This is what God has established with His people.

Among us, this group of people who trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, God is pleased to give His reward. It is just like what is said here: the best of the oil, the new wine, and the grain. We will all receive them. But if we do not rely on God, if we do not regard God as our portion and our inheritance, and instead go and chase some inheritance for ourselves, go and make some so-called portion in the cup for ourselves, and chase after this world, this is what God is not pleased with. What the priestly class receives is all given by God. It is not something we go and do, snatch, or fight for by ourselves. Of course, this is absolutely not telling us not to work, not to go to our jobs. It does not mean that. It means that even when you work, when you go to your job, this income is actually also given by God.

You must have this kind of vision. Do not think that work is given by God—no, that this is given by the boss. Do not think that the ability to work belongs to yourself. This is the thinking of a foolish person. This is the thinking of a foolish person whose eyes have not been opened. Everything about us—our life, our movement, and our being—belongs to God. That we are able to work, that we are able to have a salary, all of this is God’s reward to us. We must rely on God even more.

The worst thing is that because of work, because of your so-called busyness with the things of the world, in the end you become far from God. This is the most unprofitable transaction, and also the most foolish decision. Why? You have neglected the God who gives blessing. How could you possibly receive blessing? So, of course, this blessing does not mean that you have income. It does not mean that you have money or physical health. This blessing refers to the blessing in heaven. I believe that by now, every one of us who has listened to the Daily Devotion should already have this concept. That is, our final blessed portion is in heaven. It is not earthly blessing. And you must truly be able to sense the joy of that heavenly blessing.

If you truly cannot sense this joy, then first, you must repent. You must confess your sins and ask God to give you heavenly joy. Because if you do not have this joy, you will indeed be enticed by the world. You do not want the portion of the LORD; you want an inheritance. If the world can still stir up passion within you, rather than Christ stirring up passion within you, then you truly need to repent. You need to think about eternal life. You need to confess your sins before God.

Why am I so unclear about eternal life? Why do I still love this world? May God have mercy. May we, in Jesus Christ, love God more, receive heavenly joy, and know the beautiful thing He has accomplished. That path has already been opened by Him. We can already be with God. How good and beautiful this is. May God lead us to live a life in this present age that glorifies His name. All right, our sharing will simply stop here. Thank you, everyone.