The Twelve Tribes Of Israel Part 3 Levi, Benjamin, Joseph, Manasseh Ephraim Series

The Twelve Tribes of Israel (Part 3) Levi, Benjamin, Joseph, (Manasseh, Ephraim)

“And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together,

that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.” (Genesis 49:1)

Intro: We continue to look at the sermon series titled “The Twelve Tribes of Israel”

We have talked about The Tribes of Reuben, Simeon, Gad, Dan, Naphtali, and Asher.

(Remember God made a covenant with Abraham…,

an agreement that God would make Abraham the father of a great nation,

and in return this great nation would become the people of God.)

And so through Abraham, his son Isaac, and Isaac’s son Jacob…

God changed the name of Jacob to Israel…

Now Israel…, Jacob is dying…, and on his death bed,

he calls each of children…

One by one and announces blessing and curses, judgments and promises about their destiny…

Today we are going to talk about the tribes of Levi, Benjamin and Joseph.

Let review all the names of the Twelve tribes…

1. Reuben Leah

2. Simeon Leah

3. Levi Leah

4. Judah Leah

5. Dan Bilhah

6. Naphtali Bilhah

7. Gad Zilpah

8. Asher Zilpah

9. Issachar Leah

10. Zebulon Leah

11. Joseph Rachel (Manasseh, Ephraim)

12. Benjamin Rachel

Jacob said…

I. Levi

"Simeon and Levi are two of a kind-- men of violence." Genesis 49:5 (NLT)

We talked in the first sermon of this series about the retribution

that Simeon and Levi handed out to the Hivites after the rape of their sister Dinah.

And how there was no blessing from Moses on the tribe of Simon

And for the most part the Tribe of Simeon passed away in silence (Deut. 33).

The book of Numbers describes God’s announcement and calling of Aaron to the roll of priest

And the tribe of Levi connected with the priesthood.

to assist in the performance of the sacred duties in the Tabernacle of the Covenant.

"The Levites must join with you to fulfill their responsibilities for the care and maintenance of the Tabernacle, but no one who is not a Levite may officiate with you." Numbers 18:4 (NLT)

Because of this sacred duty to the Tabernacle…,

When the 12 Tribes of Israel were at rest…

Or in other words when they were not on the move during the 40 years in the wilderness…

And the Tabernacle of God was set up.

And camp was made…

The Levites place in the encampment…

Was representative of the position that Jesus Christ takes between God and humankind.

Let’s get this…

the Levites stood between the sanctuary and the other tribes

to represent the fact that Jesus stands between God and us

so that God’s wrath falls on them before it falls on us.

But the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the testimony,

so that there will be no wrath on the congregation of the sons of Israel.

So the Levites shall keep charge of the tabernacle of the testimony. Numbers 1: 53

Learn this Lesson: God has a plan for your forgiveness of sin and your salvation.

"The law of Moses could not save us, because of our sinful nature.

But God put into effect a different plan to save us.

He sent his own Son in a human body like ours, except that ours are sinful.

God destroyed sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins." Romans 8:3 (NLT)

Billy Graham once said - "I find no pleasure in the knowledge of the fact of hell,

but I find it my solemn duty to remind you that the same book that proclaims the wonders of heaven also describes the terrors of eternal banishment from God."

We can know through the Holy Spirit that Christ has set us free from the punishment of sin and death, when we know and put our trust in Christ…,

we believe that our life will extend beyond this world…, into the next life of eternity bathed in the love of God.

What a great blessing!!!

Right now we may worry about: growing old… having wrinkles…, not being the best looking…,

not being the most popular…, not being the best dressed…., not being the wealthiest

not having the same talents or being endowed with great gifts like someone else….

(Did I hear someone say speak for yourself preacher? I’m not buying any of those things? LOL?)

BUT as a child of God your security is in the great love that God has for you.

Our acceptance does not depend on the approval of the world but on the Grace of God.

You don’t have to worry about - illness and death

- if you take ill = God is perfectly able to heal you

and if you are not healed for some reason or another as many aren’t