How does Numbers 3:16 demonstrate Moses' obedience to God's command? Passage Under Consideration “ So Moses numbered them according to the word of the LORD, as he had been commanded.” — Numbers 3:16 Setting the Scene • Chapter 3 begins a new section in which the LORD assigns the tribe of Levi to serve in the Tabernacle. • Before their duties are defined, God orders Moses to take a census of every male Levite one month old and upward (Numbers 3:14–15). • Verse 16 records Moses’ immediate response. What the Verse Reveals About Moses’ Obedience • Obedience was prompt – The wording implies no delay: God spoke, “so” Moses counted. • Obedience was precise – “According to the word of the LORD” shows he followed the instructions exactly—age, tribe, purpose, and method. • Obedience was personal – Scripture singles out Moses: “as he had been commanded,” emphasizing his personal responsibility and faithful fulfillment. • Obedience honored divine authority – The census was not Moses’ idea; it came straight from God. Moses’ compliance acknowledged God’s sovereign right to direct His servant. Supporting Examples from Moses’ Life • Exodus 40:16 — “ Moses did everything just as the LORD had commanded him.” • Numbers 27:22–23 — He lays hands on Joshua “just as the LORD had instructed.” • Deuteronomy 34:5 — He dies “according to the word of the LORD,” completing a life marked by submission to God’s commands. Theological Significance • God’s instructions are meant to be obeyed, not merely admired. • Faith and obedience walk hand in hand (James 2:22). Moses believed God, therefore he acted. • Precise obedience safeguards true worship. The Levites’ census ensured that only those appointed by God would serve, maintaining the holiness of the Tabernacle (compare Numbers 3:5–10). Takeaway for Us Today • Swift, detailed obedience honors God’s word and character. • God still values wholehearted compliance over partial or delayed responses (1 Samuel 15:22). • Like Moses, believers are called to demonstrate faith by doing “everything without complaining or arguing” (Philippians 2:14), trusting that God’s commands are always right and for our good. |
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