“Now behold, I Myself have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of every firstborn who opens the womb among the children of Israel. Therefore, the Levites shall be Mine” (Numbers 3:12).
Human eye colour charts were at one time used to “predict” the eye colours of children. It was believed that brown eyes were dominant over blue and green eyes, and green eyes were dominant over blue.
All of this is generally true, but the genetics of how eye colours are inherited is more complicated than we once thought. Though it is uncommon, it is possible for two blue-eyed parents to have a brown-eyed child.
Parents also have an influence on the characters of their children. Solomon observed, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). But the dispositions of children are not completely determined by genetics or the upbringing of their father and mother. Our first parents, Adam and Eve, ended up with two completely different children—Cain and Abel. Manasseh, the wickedest king of Judah was the son of Hezekiah, a godly king.
Levi was the third son of Jacob and Leah. He has the dubious distinction (along with his brother Simeon) of slaughtering Shechem and all the males of his city to punish him for violating his sister, Dinah. He also participated in the plot against Joseph. While lying on his deathbed, Jacob cursed Levi (and Simeon) because of their cruelty and wrath and predicted they would be divided and scattered (see Genesis 49:5–7).
Yet there are bright spots in the descendants of Levi. His three sons were each founders of a tribal family from which Moses and Aaron de- scended. At Mount Sinai, when Moses confronted Israel over the gold calf, he called out, “ ‘Whoever is on the Lord’s side—come to me!’ And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to him” (Exodus 32:26). This tribe did not take part in the idolatrous worship and were honoured for their loyalty to God.
The Lord will honour you as well when you obey Him, no matter what genes you inherited.
Lord, thank You for the freedom to choose my own destiny. Today, I choose to follow You.
