Numbers 3:40-41
“GOD spoke to Moses: “Count all the firstborn males of the People of Israel who are one month and older. List their names. Then set apart for me the Levites—remember, I am GOD—in place of all the firstborn among the People of Israel, also the livestock of the Levites in place of their livestock. I am GOD.””
“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Now count all the firstborn sons in Israel who are one month old or older, and make a list of their names. The Levites’ must be reserved for me as substitutes for the firstborn sons of Israel; I am the Lord. And the Levites’ livestock must be reserved for me as substitutes for the firstborn livestock of the whole nations of Israel.””
The Lord, twice in this passage, reminds Moses and Israel, “I am God,” so it requires special attention. In Egypt God protected Israel from the plague of the firstborn. He introduced redemption into Israel’s story before he gave the Law. God is first a redeemer. He gave the law to show us our need for redemption, our need for him. In reserving the firstborn for himself he calls individuals who are part of families and tribes. He shows himself personable and intimate. At first reading God seems a distant authoritarian. Using scripture to interpret scripture this other picture emerges and is it beautiful.