We can be Specialties!

Based on Numbers 6-8

We've seen many different ways in which the tribes of Israel were called to do the service & burden of The Lord. All of them had specific roles & ways for the "family to function," but some even chose to go a little deeper and do something special unto God. Outside of their normal sacrifice, they chose to give even more! When we give special sacrifices like this, we can become a specialty unto God!

"Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the Lord: He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried." Numbers 6:2‭-‬3.

A Nazarite vow was different than the common calling or specific duty of a tribe. This was a CHOSEN method of giving oneself more over to God! Besides abstaining from strong drink, they were also called to keep their hair long:

"All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the Lord , he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow." Numbers 6:5.

There was power in these special sacrifices because they showed deeper dedication. Although all the work of The Lord was needed & important, this was a unique choice with unique identifiers attached to it. It made those who devoted themselves to a Nazarite law stand out, which made them a specialty unto God!

That's what we should strive for! Let's go a little deeper! Let's go beyond the norm! Yes, we may look a little different, but to God, that difference makes us special!

"All the days of his separation he is holy unto the Lord." Numbers 6:8.

Separation keeps our holiness strong! Sometimes a little less is a good thing!

Chapter 7 breaks down the offerings of all the Israelite leaders. These were not all those consecrated as Nazarites, but their sacrifices were still needed & important. Here is one example:

"On the fourth day Elizur the son of Shedeur, prince of the children of Reuben, did offer: His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering: One kid of the goats for a sin offering: And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Elizur the son of Shedeur."
Numbers 7:30‭-‬35.

This is quite a packed passage, but if studied carefully along with the other listed sacrifices, they are all the same. Remember, patterns & order are most definitely important to God-that's why this book is the book of Numbers! There are many lists and details which are important to God!

...But sometimes, there are Nazarites. There a specialties. There are some who break the mold (they don't break the law, they just take it a few steps further!). That's what we are called to do today! That's what Jesus came to do, and He is the best role model!

The Levites were also, as we mentioned, set apart in a special way. They were the firstborns dedicated to special tabernacle service out of all the children of Israel. Chapter 8 describes their sanctification unto God. They were born into that tribe and unique calling, which is very much special to God. But again, the CHOICE of the Nazarite law makes it significantly special. You can take it upon yourself!

Let's be Nazarites! Let's choose to go further with God!