THEOSISVissarion (Nechaev)
Before the establishment of the Tabernacle, it was primarily the firstborn who participated in the sacrificial rites (as suggested in Exodus 24:5). However, once the Tabernacle was constructed—marking the beginning of the second year of the Israelites' journey through the wilderness while still at Sinai—the Lord instructed Moses to dedicate the descendants of the tribe of Levi for the service of the Tabernacle instead of the firstborn. He proclaimed that, following their consecration, these Levites would be allowed to serve within the Tabernacle, declaring, "These are given unto Me," indicating that they are a gift set apart from among the Israelites.
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This act of designating the Levites as an offering to the Lord was to be performed, as directed by God Himself, through the laying on of hands by the elders of the entire congregation of Israel at the Levites' dedication (Numbers 8:10), akin to how the Israelites would lay their hands on the sacrificial animals presented to the priests. The Lord further stated, "And I will take them and sanctify them unto Me in the place of the firstborn of the children of Israel; this day I will smite every firstborn in the land of Egypt" (Numbers 8:16-17). This highlights that on the very day when God commanded the Hebrew firstborn to be consecrated to Him—coinciding with their exodus from Egypt—He had already predetermined the Levites to fulfill that role. This transition was necessary since the number of firstborn from all Israelite tribes would surpass what was needed for Tabernacle duties, which would have placed an undue burden on the people.
The phrase "God Most High Holy (holy honoured) Israel" does not appear in Scripture. The teachings discussed here are meant to be reflected upon during the Feast of the Purification, as the events commemorated during this celebration stem from the divine directives highlighted in these teachings. The Law mandated the consecration of the firstborn to the Lord and required a ransom for them. To this law, Jesus, the firstborn Son of God the Father, and also firstborn in the flesh from an unmarried mother—though without breaking the seal of her virginity at birth—submitted Himself willingly. He was presented in God's earthly temple as a sacrifice, prefiguring the ultimate sacrifice at Calvary. He, who came to redeem humanity with His invaluable blood, was Himself ransomed for a modest sum, initiating the repayment of the debt owed to divine justice on behalf of all.
According to the Law, every mother, after her days of purification, was required to bring a sacrifice to the temple consisting of a lamb and a dove, or, if she were poor, two young pigeons or turtledoves. In accordance with this requirement, the Virgin Mary also approached the temple with the offering permitted for those of lesser means. Yet, one might wonder why she adhered to the purification law, given that she remained sinless and pure at the birth of her Son, unaffected by the usual troubles associated with childbirth that ordinary mothers experience. This was to avoid any accusation of violating the Law, as the mystery of her immaculate conception and delivery had yet to be revealed to anyone other than herself and Joseph.
Thus, in the Law, the Levites succeeded the firstborn, a shift that foreshadows the abolishment of the Old Testament Levitical priesthood with the arrival of Jesus, the eternal High Priest. His single, perfect sacrifice on the cross stands in stark contrast to the multitude of sacrifices of the Old Covenant, as it is sufficient to cleanse and sanctify all humanity for all eternity.