Num. 1-2
603,550 men from the age of 20 and up…That is somewhere between the size of Colorado Springs and Denver. Of course, this number did not include any females or boys under 20 or any of the Levites, so I figure the total population of the Israelites at this time was easily 1.5 – 2 million, which would be a city the size of Phoenix or Philadelphia wandering around out there in the wilderness. I am in awe…
Mark 12:1-27
We see in the OT passage that the Levites – the religious leaders – were given a special place in the camp; a place closest to the Tabernacle, which was closest to God. This passage in Mark makes it clear that the religious leaders completely missed the notion that a special place of importance in God’s kingdom does not equate to a place of power and privilege over others but, rather, a place of service and sacrifice for others. They did not like Jesus, because He threatened what they wanted to be theirs, even though they had no right to it.
But, again, this isn’t just true of the religious leaders. We have all been left in charge of something that belongs to God. I want to be mindful of what I do with what God has given me, but it is, for whatever reason, hard. The spirit is willing, but oh, the flesh is weak!