Numbers 4

The Lord's plan for His people was not only a plan for redemption, but also a plan for mission, for service. For this work of serving Him, He commanded Moses and Aaron to number the males among the clans of the Levites; not all the males from one month and above as he did for counting the Levites as substitutes for the all the firstborn males of Israel, but the males specifically between the ages of thirty and fifty years old.

These were prime years of service for those who were called to be Levites. The call came not through the judgment of their peers or through proving their abilities, but through natural descent. The nature of the service depended on the clan into which a man was born. If you were a male Levite between the ages of thirty and fifty, what you did in life depended on whether you were descended from Kohath, form Gershon, or from Merari.

The male descendants of Kohath, all who were between thirty and fifty years of age, all who could come on duty to do the work in the tent of meeting, were to attend to “the most holy things.” As a worshiping people of the Lord on the move, it would be Aaron and his sons alone who would take down the veil between the holy place and the most holy place in the tent of meeting. They would cover the ark of the testimony with that veil, and then with goatskin, and finally with a cloth of blue. They would put in its poles so that the ark could be properly carried. Aaron and his sons alone would also care for the table of the bread of the Presence in a similar way, but with particular attention to all the holy objects for the system of Old Covenant worship. The same for the golden lampstand and all the objects related to the worship of God used in the Lord's sanctuary.

Once the priests had prepared all of these sacred objects appropriately, the Kohathites would have the privilege and duty of moving them by using the poles for that task. They could not touch the objects themselves or they would die. They could only move them using the poles once Aaron and his sons the priests had prepared them to be moved. Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest would have charge of the oil for light, the incense, the grain offering, the anointing oil, and the general oversight of the whole tabernacle and all that was in it. This limitation on the freedom of the Kohathites was for their own safety, lest they be destroyed.

The descendants of Gershon had different duties than the Kohathites. Those males who were thirty years old up to the age of fifty were to carry the curtains of the tabernacle and the covering of the tent of meeting. They were to perform this important task under the direction of Aaron and his sons, particularly under the direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest,

The men of Merari between the ages of thirty and fifty, the third group of Levites, were to carry all of the frames, bars, pillars, and bases that gave structure to this movable house of worship. These men were also under the direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron.

These were the three groups of Levites who were numbered for this holy service, this supportive role under the direction of God's high priest, Aaron. There were 2,750 Kohathites, 2,630 Gershonites, and 3,200 Merarites who were able to come on duty for service in the tent of meeting.

The sanctuary of God was at the very sacred heart of the camp of Israel. Though only Aaron and his sons could perform certain functions in that sanctuary, this movable house of worship could not have been carried through the wilderness by Aaron, Eleazar, and Ithamar. They needed thousands of helpers alongside them. This was the way that God chose to move His house of worship through the wilderness and into the Promised Land.

God did not need Levites. He chose to use them. This was a gracious blessing to them for God to give them a part in such a strategic work. Christ our High Priest has not only found our names on His list for redemption. God has prepared works of service that we might walk in them under the direction of our High Priest.

The works that the Lord has for us are not distributed based on our clan. Jesus gives His congregation gifts from heaven according to the mystery of the Lord's holy will. He has made some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Others give watch over the saints of God as those who must give an account to the Lord. Some lead the churches in manifold works of love and service. Many are called to help in a supportive role like the Levites of the Old Covenant.

Everyone has something to give. This is the way that Christ has determined to build up His living sanctuary. He has made us a body, where each member supplies some gift that comes from the Lord. Jesus does not need us to create His kingdom. His calling upon our lives is an expression of His merciful grace.

We have been numbered for redemption. We have also been numbered for the Lord's service. Thanks be to God for all His mercies.