Readings for today: Numbers 3-5
The first command given to human beings in the Bible comes from Genesis 1:28. “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Human beings were set up by God to serve as His priests and priestesses over all creation. To serve as His instruments of blessing and glory in the world. They were given His image and called to bear that image into all the earth. Essentially, they were called to lead all of creation in worship and praise of the Living God. As they cared for and cultivated and nurtured all God had made, each living thing would live in peace and harmony with one another and with the One who had created them. I love how the Westminster Confession puts it, “Human being’s chief end is to worship God and enjoy Him forever.” And I would simply add we are not just to do this for ourselves but to lead all God has made to this same chief end.
Fast forward several generations. Past the Fall. Past the Flood. Past the call of Abram and Sarai. Past the Exodus. Now God’s people stand on the cusp of the Promised Land. And God is revealing Himself to them once again. Reminding them of His claim on their lives. Reminding them of the role He has called them to play. It is so easy to read through Numbers and get lost in the weeds. Lost in all the genealogies and details over how many silver plates and how many animals to bring to sacrifice. But if one pauses and takes a step back, one can see how God has fulfilled His original command. Israel has been fruitful. Israel has multiplied. Israel is filling the earth. Israel is beginnng to exercise dominion. It’s remarkable! In fact, it’s miraculous what God has done. From one family, He is filling the earth. From one promised son, He has brought many descendants. They truly outnumber the stars and the sands on the seashore. Out of brokenness, God has brought redemption. Out of slavery, God has brought freedom. Out of despair, God has brought hope.
Why would God do all these things? Because God remains committed to His original mandate. God’s great desire is to fill the earth with His glory. He will have the worship He deserves and the worship He demands. So He sends us - His people - out to the ends of the earth. To bear His image. To bear His likeness. To give the world a picture of what life looks like in the Kingdom. He sends us out to fulfill our original calling. To serve as priests and priestesses for the world. To lead the earth and all that is in it - every living creature - in praise of the One who created us. God wants us to enjoy Him! God wants us to delight in Him! God wants us to treasure Him above all else! This is why were created. This is why we were called. This is why we were saved. To declare His praises among the nations.
Friends, how are you fulfilling your priestly calling? Do you intercede in prayer regularly for those God has put in your life? Do you encourage them and lift them up? Do you lead them to worship God in spirit and in truth? Do you invite them into a relationship with Jesus Christ? And how are you cultivating your own relationship with God? Do you delight in Him? Do you enjoy being in His presence? Do you seek His face? Do you believe God wants to make you fruitful? Multiply your influence? Send you out to proclaim His gospel to all the earth? Give you dominion over all He has placed in your care? It’s a sacred trust. The implications are enormous. It means everything you do carries eternal weight and significance. God wants to use you right where He has you for His glory in the world. Believe this! And trust His grace to see you through!