Rev. Tom Park, Assistant Professor of Theology at Concordia University Irvine, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Numbers 8.

Numbers 8 starts by talking about menorahs, the lampstands that you seen around Advent and Christmas when Hanukkah is celebrated. Only, these menorahs are a little different: they have seven lamps which can be pointed in different directions within the dark Tabernacle. What’s that about? Why are there seven lamps, anyway?

The chapter continues with the dedication of the Levites. We already read about this in chapters 3 and 4, but remember that Numbers “started over” in chapter 7. This time, we get details we didn’t have before. The Levites are offered as a “wave offering.” What does it mean that people are presented as a sacrifice? This prefigures our Lord Jesus, who was both consecrated and offered up as the ultimate firstborn. He is the firstborn of God, and He is also the firstborn of the dead, the first “wave” of the resurrection.