Focus: The Blessing Of Levi

Text: Dt.33:8-11

"And of Levi he said, Let thy Thummim and thy Urim be with thy holy one, whom thou didst prove at Massah, and with whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah…"

Levi is the third son of Leah, and his name means 'joined.' One powerful lesson about Levi is that favor is a thing that no one should trifle with. There is this thing about grace that makes it seem unfair. Simeon and Levi committed a great evil that prompted Jacob to curse them, and declares that they would be scattered in Israel. In the moment of blessing, Jacob has nothing good to say about them. As a matter of fact, Moses excludes Simeon altogether. He makes no mention of Simeon. But God chose Levi to serve as the priestly tribe in Israel. Levi was indeed scattered in Israel, but it was for good. There is need for them to be everywhere to deliver the divine mandate of spiritual worship. While the scattering of Simeon was for judgment, that of Levi was for a blessing. Divine favor sets apart Levi for a sacred work before the Lord. Grace is a thing of beauty and wonder.

Grace really transforms. Moses says of Levi, "Let thy Thummim and thy Urim be with thy HOLY ONE, whom thou didst prove at Massah, and with whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah." Levi, through Aaron and his children, has become the holy one. Grace has sanctifying effects. Through grace God saves the sinner and turns him into a saint. Grace never leaves a man the way it meets him. Grace purges one of his sins and makes him holy.

Levi, through Aaron and his family, is now in possession of God's Thummim and Urim of God, an instrument by which Aaron can decipher and discern the will of God for His people. Urim speaks of light or clarity of vision, and Thummim speaks of perfection or excellence. Aaron wears it on his chest when he goes into the presence of the Lord. It is contained in the breastplate, which also has the twelve names of the children of Israel embedded on it. Levi has the grace of intimacy with God. He functions in the presence of God and receives divine intelligence and guidance. Levi's ministry is such that Israel would not be left in the dark, because he receives light from God - the Urim and the Thummim.

At the waters of Meribah, God taught Moses and Aaron a lesson on divine sanctity and chastity. He prevented them from entering the promise land for their disobedience. He says to them, "Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them" (Num.20:12). From this encounter Levi learns of the holiness of God. Read Ex.32:26 and Num.25:11, and see how Levi stood up and stood out for God in the wilderness. To honor God and do His will, they wouldn't mind brush aside all family considerations and sentiments. Moses says, "They observed thy word, and kept thy covenant." Levi is a changed man. Levi is a courageous man. Levi is a consecrated man. Levi is a committed man, committed to upholding the ways of God and teaching the word of God.

Moses says, "They shall teach Jacob thy judgments, and Israel thy law: they shall put incense before thee, and whole burnt sacrifice upon thine altar." Levi is commissioned by God to discharge holy duties. Levi is totally concentrated on God and concerned with the things that concern God. Levi is passionate about what God is passionate about. He teaches the people of God the word of God and leads them in pure worship.

They are given no inheritance in Israel, for God says to them, "I am your inheritance." Moses prays for Levi, "Bless, LORD, his substance, and accept the work of his hands: smite through the loins of them that rise against him, and of them that hate him, that they rise not again." Prosperity is found in every tribe of Israel, and Levi is not an exception. He has substance and security. God provides for and protects him, and takes pleasure in the work of his hands. Ezekiel says, "And the first of all the firstfruits of all things, and every oblation of all, of every sort of your oblations, shall be the priest's: ye shall also give unto the priest the first of your dough, THAT HE MAY CAUSE THE BLESSING TO REST IN THINE HOUSE" (Ezk.44:30). Levi is given the power to bless Israel as they share their substance with him. Giving to Levi is a secret of blessing. They are blessed that bless Levi, and they are doomed that hate or try to harm him. Moses is saying, 'Be careful how you treat Levi or you will incur the wrath of God.'

The believer in Christ is a Levite. We offer spiritual sacrifices to the Lord. Peter says we are "an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ" (1Pet.2:5). The believer is blessed beyond measure. He is the apple of God's eyes. He belongs to the priestly body of Christ. He is being shielded by God in this world. Amen.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter