All Have A Part To Play
OPENING PRAYER:
In you Lord are wisdom, power, and tender love. Today I thank you, that as I turn to you, you have already turned toward me.
The Kohathites
4 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: 2 “Take a census of the Kohathite branch of the Levites by their clans and families. 3 Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting.
4 “This is the work of the Kohathites at the tent of meeting: the care of the most holy things. 5 When the camp is to move, Aaron and his sons are to go in and take down the shielding curtain and put it over the ark of the covenant law. 6 Then they are to cover the curtain with a durable leather,[a] spread a cloth of solid blue over that and put the poles in place.
7 “Over the table of the Presence they are to spread a blue cloth and put on it the plates, dishes and bowls, and the jars for drink offerings; the bread that is continually there is to remain on it. 8 They are to spread a scarlet cloth over them, cover that with the durable leather and put the poles in place.
9 “They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand that is for light, together with its lamps, its wick trimmers and trays, and all its jars for the olive oil used to supply it. 10 Then they are to wrap it and all its accessories in a covering of the durable leather and put it on a carrying frame.
11 “Over the gold altar they are to spread a blue cloth and cover that with the durable leather and put the poles in place.
12 “They are to take all the articles used for ministering in the sanctuary, wrap them in a blue cloth, cover that with the durable leather and put them on a carrying frame.
13 “They are to remove the ashes from the bronze altar and spread a purple cloth over it. 14 Then they are to place on it all the utensils used for ministering at the altar, including the firepans, meat forks, shovels and sprinkling bowls. Over it they are to spread a covering of the durable leather and put the poles in place.
15 “After Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy furnishings and all the holy articles, and when the camp is ready to move, only then are the Kohathites to come and do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy things or they will die. The Kohathites are to carry those things that are in the tent of meeting.
16 “Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest, is to have charge of the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the regular grain offering and the anointing oil. He is to be in charge of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, including its holy furnishings and articles.”
17 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 18 “See that the Kohathite tribal clans are not destroyed from among the Levites. 19 So that they may live and not die when they come near the most holy things, do this for them: Aaron and his sons are to go into the sanctuary and assign to each man his work and what he is to carry. 20 But the Kohathites must not go in to look at the holy things, even for a moment, or they will die.”
The Gershonites
21 The Lord said to Moses, 22 “Take a census also of the Gershonites by their families and clans. 23 Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting.
24 “This is the service of the Gershonite clans in their carrying and their other work: 25 They are to carry the curtains of the tabernacle, that is, the tent of meeting, its covering and its outer covering of durable leather, the curtains for the entrance to the tent of meeting, 26 the curtains of the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar, the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard, the ropes and all the equipment used in the service of the tent. The Gershonites are to do all that needs to be done with these things. 27 All their service, whether carrying or doing other work, is to be done under the direction of Aaron and his sons. You shall assign to them as their responsibility all they are to carry. 28 This is the service of the Gershonite clans at the tent of meeting. Their duties are to be under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron, the priest.
Footnotes
[a] Numbers 4:6 Possibly the hides of large aquatic mammals; also in verses 8, 10, 11, 12, 14 and 25
Numbers 4:1-28
REFLECT:
‘The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul’ (Psalm 19:7). Ask God to do this today by his Word.
In most workplaces, including churches, clear job descriptions ensure everyone knows what needs to be done. It is not enough to simply ‘hope for the best’.
Such care is seen when the Israelites begin their onward journey. Everybody has a role. The priests have special responsibility to pack up the tabernacle: curtains are taken down, plates and bowls wrapped, the golden altar covered (vs 5–14). The Kohathites carry the ark of the covenant and the holy utensils. This task comes with a warning. Carelessly touching the things of God will bring instant judgment (v 15). The Gershonites have their own responsibilities. They will carry the outer parts of the tabernacle using oxen (see 7:6–9). And for the rest of Israel? Most serve in the army to attack and defend when needed (1:45–46).
Here is a vivid reminder of the biblical principle that all have a part to play in serving God. He is sovereignly working out his plan, but everyone has a task. Each must cooperate with others to reach the final goal.
What about us? Every member of Christ’s body has been given a gift or a cluster of gifts from the Holy Spirit ‘for the common good’ (1 Corinthians 12:7) – serving, leading, teaching, praying, and more. It is as we exercise these gifts that we move forward together as God’s pilgrim people to reach our heavenly home.
APPLY:
Do you know your gifts? How can you exercise them today?
CLOSING PRAYER:
Loving Lord, so often I am a somnolent saint, sleeping on the job. I need to be revived again, so I can use my gifts to do my part in your great mission to the world.
Syndicated via Scripture Union. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.