“WHAT IS REDEMPTION MONEY?” 

“And Moses took the redemption money of them that were over and above them that were redeemed by the Levites:”
(Numbers 3:49)

It was reported that Frank Sinatra, when he was alive, said to the Pope “How much money would I have to pay for you to hear my confession and clear my conscience?”

Now whether or not it was officially accepted by the Catholic church remains a secret, however this practice is still rife among Catholics today.

But of course, Dear Reader, this is sadly the case among the Christian churches as well.

Somehow, people wrongly have in their mind that they can appease God’s wrath, and get into his good books, by giving money.

Q: But where in the Bible is support for this practice?

A: Nowhere! However with a mindless slice of dispensational and ‘pea-under-the-cup’ bastardry, the following Old Testament verse is wrongly used to support this blasphemous practice.

 “And Moses took the redemption money of them that were over and above them that were redeemed by the Levites:” (Numbers 3:49)

A bit confusing? Let me explain …

Early on in Israel’s exodus into the desert from Egypt, God had Moses number all of Israel’s firstborn over the age of one month, and that number came to 22,273.

Now, in comparison, the number of firstborn Levite children over the age of one month was 22,000.

That meant that Israel had, as a whole, 273 more firstborn children than the Levites.

Now these 273 were considered unholy; and under a curse; and considered as dead to the LORD … and money had to be paid to Aaron and the Levites as a compensation … a redemption … to buy them back and bring them back under the holiness of the Levites.

 “And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine;” (Numbers 3:12)

and again

“And I have taken the Levites for all the firstborn of the children of Israel.” (Numbers 8:18)

But what was the reasoning behind this?

1.   The Levites were the holy of the LORD God (2 Chronicles 23:6)

2.   The Levites were the firstborn of the LORD (Numbers 8:18)

3.  Anyone person outside of the Levite umbrella was considered unclean, cursed and unholy.

4.   Under Aaron, God chose a holy race, the Levites, and all others were deemed as ‘unsaved’ … that meant money had to be paid for their redemption. Money to be paid for their separation from their ungodly state.

BUT TODAY …
All those outside of Christ, his being the new priesthood (Colossians 1:14),(Revelation 1:5) are cursed and NEED REDEMPTION WITH HIS BLOOD … NOT WITH MONEY.

Now there three verses that support this in the New Testament
 

Who (Christ) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: (Colossians 1:15)

And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:18)

To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, (Hebrews 12:23) …this verse meaning that only the firstborns are in heaven … only those in Christ are saved.

The firstborn of anything is the LORD’S
“Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.” (Exodus 13:2)

“And it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the LORD slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of beast: therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all that openeth the matrix, being males; but all the firstborn of my children I redeem.” (Exodus 13:15)

In summary:
The 273 were cursed and unholy … therefore
They needed redemption.
They needed to be bought.
They were not the holy ones.
They were born outside of holiness
In the OT money was redemption to be paid to the Levites who were the holy ones

When God chose the Levites they were  
The first born
The separated ones
The holy ones
The first
The Levites are mine says the LORD
They are the firstborn
None other shall be the firstborn
Holiness came from the Levites

Dear Reader, are you of the firstborn?
“And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.” (Matthew 1:25)

“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Romans 8:29)

You cannot pay redemption money to get saved.

You can only be redeemed by the blood of the Lamb (Revelation 1:5).

Harley Hitchcock

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Australian Bible Ministries, PO Box 5058 Mt. Gravatt East 4122 Qld, Australia
www.AustralianBibleMinistries.com