A wave offering - Numbers 8

by Paul Ice

The Levites were a tribe of Israel devoted entirely to service to the Lord.  They were ordinary Israelites with one exception; because they had chosen the Lord during the golden calf incident, God promised them a special blessing - they were to be inducted into the service of the Lord.

Exodus 32:29

And Moses said, “Today you have been ordained for the service of the Lord. . ."

So here in Numbers 8 they are presented to the Lord as a wave offering.  We have seen the wave offering referred to many times in Exodus.  It is significant that the wave offering was used in conjunction with the Levites.   Moses did not bring the usual material that was used in a wave offering (a harvest of grain).  Rather, he was to present the Levites themselves as the wave offering.

Numbers 8:11

             . . .and Aaron shall offer the Levites before the LORD as a wave offering from the people of Israel, that they may do the service of the LORD.

The Levites take the place of the tradition wave offering and become a “living sacrifice.” They were the offering, not a sheaf of grain.

Interesting that Paul repeats this charge to Christians in Romans 12:1

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.