Numbers 3-4 Doing Our Jobs

8,580 men, aged 30-50, from the tribe of Levi, were tasked with packing, moving, unpacking, and setting up the Holy Tent of Meeting in which God was said to reside among the Israelites as they wondered through the desert.  The elaborate design details of the Tent and its courtyard had been given by God, and now God tells Moses:  “Tell each man exactly what to carry.”  So for the approximately 40 years they wondered the desert following the construction of all this, men 30-50 years old had one job and it was given to them by Moses.

Only Aaron and his sons could view the Ark.  They had to cover it appropriately before anyone else could come in.  So the men of the tribe of Levi did their jobs without ever being allowed to see the object at the heart of that job. 

Of course, they also had their own belongings which had to be moved.  So I suppose those men younger than 30 and older than 50 did this, along with the women and children.

This seems to give new meaning to the thought that all believers have a place in the church.  After all, the common formula today is that 20% of the people do 80% of the work.  I wonder if God wanted us to see through this that all service to Him is important and that we each should contribute and not simply be consumers.  And the task, whether it appears menial or of high importance to us, is both given by God and acknowledged by Him as important.

Father, I pray that You will “activate” more people to be involved in ministry today, not just “consuming” what they find there.  Give them a sense of worth for their tasks.  Show them that it is God-honoring work, and that’s what’s most important.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford