Numbers 1-2

The first two chapters in the book of Numbers are about the census and division arrangement of the tribal camps, one concept I have found fascinating is the concept of mediator between God and Man, specifically in today's reading through the tribe of Levi. Throughout the book of Job there are instances where Job bemoans that there is no mediator between man and God to make a just case for man's righteousness or innocence before a holy, just and good Creator God. 

Job 9:2,33 (NIV) "[H]ow can mere mortals prove their innocence before God? If only there were someone to mediate between us"

Job is primarily concerned with sin, he acknowledges the sinless character of God knowing there is a large gap between purity and impurity, Job wrestles with the reality that mortal man cannot be pure or righteous - which is true, apart from a redemptive mediator. Job speaks about this heavenly mediator giving a glimmer or prophetic hope many hundreds of years before Jesus the Messiah would walk the earth.

Job 16:19-21 (NIV) "Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high. My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; on behalf of a man he pleads with God as one pleads for a friend. 

Job 19:25-27 (NIV) "I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes - I, and not another."

The Levites functioned as a human mediator between God and man, specifically the Israelites, we see this most clearly in Numbers 1:53. It was necessary for there to be a holy people set apart as priests to approach the LORD in his greatness and conduct the covenant law of God. Verse 53 demonstrates how important mediating between God and man is, the wrath of God is an eternally serious matter that requires reverence and humility for it is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. For Christians today looking at the letter of the law outlined in the old covenant of the Pentateuch, it is a mere shadow of the superiority of Jesus the high priest of the new covenant, the author of Hebrews perfectly encapsulates this:

Hebrews 8:6 (NKJV) "But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises."

There is an endless depth of theological discussion of the concept of mediator in the context of pre-covenant (Job), first covenant (Moses) and new covenant (Jesus) with all the time periods of life in between. Today I am thankful that Jesus is the great high priest who sacrificed himself for our sins so that we might have covenantal relationship with God himself, our great mediator high priest as Job prophesied lives and was powerfully resurrected from death. My redeemer lives! He is alive with resurrecting power and is my witness in heaven interceding for believers as our advocate and eternal mediator.

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