Scroll to the bottom for thoughts/discussion questions!
One-sentence summary: The Lord gives Moses instructions for numbering and consecrating the Levites for the work of ministering in the tabernacle, and He gives families of the Levites specific tasks for maintaining the sanctuary.
The Lord commands Moses to tell Aaron to bring the Levites, who will serve Him and the people by ministering in the sanctuary and maintaining the tabernacle. Outsiders may not come near or they will die. He says the Levites will belong to Him instead of every firstborn of Israel, as the firstborn of every man and animal in Israel rightly belong to Him because of what He did for Israel in striking the firstborn of Egypt. The Lord tells Moses to number the Levite males from one month old and above. Moses, Aaron, and his sons are to camp on the east side before the tabernacle to keep charge of the sanctuary for Israel. The Lord tells Moses to count every firstborn male of the Levites. He says the livestock of the Levites will also belong to Him, in lieu of the firstborn of all the livestock of Israel, which is also rightfully His. The Lord says to take redemption money from the firstborn of the children of Israel to give to Aaron and his sons.
The Lord gives Moses and Aaron instructions for how the Levites are to move the tabernacle, and He gives different families of the Levites, along with Aaron's sons, different tasks for maintaining the sanctuary.
And so Moses numbers the Levites as the Lord commands him.
Thoughts/Discussion Questions:
The Lord gave the Levites and different families very specific assignments. What do you believe the Lord has given you as your assignment?
Sometimes, we wish we had someone else's assignment. However, if we could look behind the scenes, we would see many hardships and would likely not want that person's life. God has given us grace for our assignment and not someone else's, and we will find joy and fulfillment only in doing what God has called us to do. What a good God to place His desire for us inside our hearts, and then ask us to do the thing which will make us most happy!