Shalom!

 
The book of Vayikra/Leviticus ended with the counting of flocks to determine how many animals would be set apart to the Holy One. We then roll right into Bemidbar/Numbers where YHWH will build on that understanding to show how He will set His chosen ones apart from the rest of the world. Each Israelite was counted individually, but was also part of a tribe. Each person was an important part of the unified people of Israel. This order which separated and divided, yet kept unity is the way YHWH intends for His people to function:
 
1 Corinthians 12:14 For in fact the body is not one member but many. 15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18 But now Yah has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no need. But Yah composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now you are the body of Messiah, and members individually.
 

How did the Elohim of Israel intend to teach His chosen ones this lesson? First He redeemed them, He set them free and then brought them out to the wilderness. His idea of first taking them to the wilderness, not the Promised Land, was always part of the plan:

 
Shemot/Exodus 3:18 "Then they will heed your voice; and you shall come, you and the elders of Israel, to the king of Egypt; and you shall say to him, 'YHWH Elohim of the Hebrews has met with us; and now, please, let us go three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to YHWH our Elohim.'

 
Why the wilderness? The wilderness is a place where He could speak to them, teach them, and establish intimacy with them through His Presence and through the giving of the Torah. The wilderness was His choice for their journey. He had a plan and a purpose in each stop...that's why the stops were recorded. Testing occurs there and rebellious hearts are revealed:
 
Devarim/Deuteronomy 8:2 "And you shall remember that YHWH your Elohim led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.
 
1 Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
 

The ultimate goal, however, was to arrive in Canaan. They left Egypt as a mob of people. Now, a little over a year later, He will begin to establish order. YHWH wanted the tribes to organize in lines, and rows, by households with banners. It was a beautiful sight to behold. Even the pagan, Balaam, took notice:

 
Bemidbar/Numbers 24:5 "How lovely are your tents, O Jacob! Your dwellings, O Israel! 6 Like valleys that stretch out, Like gardens by the riverside, Like aloes planted by YHWH, Like cedars beside the waters.
 

But let's change directions now. The firstborn in Israel were redeemed in Egypt, right?

 
Shemot/Exodus 6:6 "Therefore, say to the Israelites: 'I am YHWH, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.
 

How was their redemption secured? The way they avoided death was to select a Passover lamb, slaughter it and put its blood on the doorposts, roast its body and eat the lamb that gave its life for the firstborn. But now...in our Torah portion, another redemption of the firstborn is required. Does a second redemption seem odd to you?

 
Bemidbar/Numbers 3:45 "Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites instead of their livestock. The Levites shall be Mine: I am YHWH. 46 "And for the redemption of the two hundred and seventy-three of the firstborn of the children of Israel, who are more than the number of the Levites
 

Why were the firstborn redeemed twice? Once in Egypt and once on Mt. Sinai? Once with the blood of the Passover Lamb, and once with a living son of a Levite? In the second redemption, there was no death or blood. The redemption seems to be connected with service. In ancient times, the firstborn was given a double inheritance because he had several extra duties, including caring for his parents in their old age and any needy family members. The firstborn would become priest of the home. The position of priest would include much more than sacrifices.

 
Malachi 2:6 The law of truth was in his mouth, And injustice was not found on his lips. He walked with Me in peace and equity, And turned many away from iniquity. 7 "For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, And people should seek the Torah from his mouth; For he is the messenger of YHWH of Hosts.
 
The firstborn as priest of his home, helped his family to maintain their relationship with the Almighty by teaching them the Torah and leading them towards repentance. As priest, he was a mediator between his family members and the Almighty. So back to the question on the two redemptions. Both are pictures of the work of our Messiah. The first redemption from Egypt is easy for us to see. Yeshua is our Savior. He has redeemed us from the slavery of sin in this world. So what more could be necessary? One word - maintenance. Constant, daily practice. This is also the redemptive work of our High Priest, Yeshua, who is of the priestly order of Melchizedek:
 
Hebrews 7:17 For He testifies: "You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek."
 
Yeshua's one time sacrifice accomplished redemption. But we have an invitation to live in the Kingdom NOW! That means I am invited to be a living sacrifice, to give of myself everyday. To offer sacrifices, I must become part of the priesthood of our High Priest, Yeshua!
 
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of Yah, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to Yah, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of Yah.
 
To take up my cross daily and follow Him.
 
Luke 9:23 Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
 
That's the work of the priesthood, following our Great High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
 
1 Peter 2:5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to Yah through Yeshua the Messiah... 9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light
 
To be part of the firstborn assembly of Yeshua:
 
Hebrews 12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living Elohim, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23 to the general assembly and assembly of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to Yah, the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect
 
Yes, we are still trudging through the wilderness, as we have not yet fully arrived at our destination, the heavenly Jerusalem. As believers in Yeshua, we are exhorted to remember the price of our first redemption as motivation to personal holiness, as pictured this week by the second redemption:
 
1 Peter 1:13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Yeshua the Messiah; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy." 17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Messiah, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
 

This week the Jewish nation is celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the liberation of Jerusalem. HaYovel is partnering with Bridges of Peace and Israel365 to celebrate live (Thursday, May 25th) with speeches by several including Knesset member Yehudah Glick. Sign up here to listen: Rejoice with Jerusalem

 
Following are other videos that will give you historical information that will prove to you that His Hand is involved in the restoration of His Land and His people!
 
 
And one more to show you the amazing way that Israel celebrates on the walls of Jerusalem!

 
Be a part of celebrating Jerusalem!
 
Shabbat Shalom!
Ardelle