Faithful on Fridays Blog

Finding Jesus in Leviticus and Numbers

Mose wrote the first five books of the Old Testament, the Torah, presumably during his extended stay on Mt. Sinai during the exodus. These books are the way of the life for the Hebrew people and tell them how to honor God by maintaining their distinctiveness. As we look at Leviticus and Numbers together I think you’ll find Jesus with a little nudge.

Leviticus is all about holiness; the word is used over 150 times! God wanted a people who would be set apart from all others and developed ways that seem odd to us but brought a fuller revelation of God. To highlight holiness He instructed Moses to use the phrase ‘I AM the LORD’ 38 times in chapters 11-26; it gets your attention. The High Priest is the main character of Leviticus and that’s where we find Jesus.

And so, dear brothers and sisters who belong to God and are partners with those called to heaven, think carefully about this Jesus whom we declare to be God’s messenger and High Priest. Hebrews 3:1 NLT

God’s holiness was to be seen in His people, therefore, Peter quoted from Leviticus in his letter to the Church, which again, shows us Jesus:

But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15, 16 NLT

Please remember that holiness is being set apart for God, not sinless. The covenant people were a foreshadow of the Church as we both represent God to the world. The three feasts of Israel are also foreshadows of Christ. Jesus fulfilled the first two (Passover and Pentecost) and we await the third, the Feast of Tabernacles, to be fulfilled at His Return.

While the Jews were wandering in the wilderness Moses wrote another book: Numbers. The grumbling and complaining people turned an 11 day journey into a 40 year trip but during that time God narrowed the number of people who would enter the Promised Land to those with faith. That’s where we find Jesus. The book of Numbers may seem dull at first but read it with a sense of what it’s like to wander in life without God. The higher life of faith is reserved for those who trust Jesus to forgive them, lead them, and give them life, not aimless wandering. Don’t miss the reference to the Second Coming of Christ in this book.

I see him, but not here and now. I perceive him, but far in the distant future. A star will rise from Jacob; a scepter will emerge from Israel. Numbers 24:17a NLT

This confirms the prophecy that God gave Satan in Gen. 3:15; the seed of a woman, Messiah, will crush his head and we await His return to step into kingdom living for eternity. Enjoy reading Leviticus and Numbers with a new focus.