Numbers 4:46-49 - So Moses, Aaron and the
leaders of Israel counted all the Levites by their clans
and families. All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to do the work of serving and carrying the Tent of
Meeting numbered 8,580. At the LORD's command through
Moses, each was assigned his work and told what to carry. Thus they were
counted, as the LORD commanded Moses.
Between three the three clans of Levites…there
were 8,580 priests of age to serve God in some capacity. Each clan had a
specific job to carry out….from the simple care and everyday maintenance of the
tabernacle…to breaking down and packing its pieces… or carrying the ark to its
new location as God showed them where to travel. At 30 years of age...they were deemed ready
for service...they were counted...and given a job to do for the Lord…and were expected
to fulfill this job of service until the age of 50.
I bet it took every single one to move that
enormous tent. The physical labor required great indeed…as they packed each
utensil carefully by the instructions of the Lord….taking care not to touch any
of the holy things directly…lest they die for their disobedience. What a sense
of reverence must have taken over these men as they watched …or maybe cast
their eyes to the sky…while Aaron and his sons walked backward to lay the veil
on the ark…and prepare the table of presences for the carrying poles. What physical
strength it must have taken to carry these heavy gold objects great distances
to the next camp.
Today is no different…we have all been
given a job to do…we have all been assigned a task to spread his holy word
throughout the world. And it will take every one of us to complete just a great
task. Some of us are called to care for his church…to clean it and repair it
for worship. Some of us have been called
to be witnesses and bring the lost to hear his word. Some of us have been called to teach…or
preach…or lead the church into worship with song. It will take every one that
believes in God to complete the task given to us as Jesus ascended into Heaven
that last day he spent on the Earth with us.
John the Baptist began his ministry at 30…just
like these priests. He ushered in our
Messiah…Jesus Christ…who began his ministry at 30 as well. But as he left to be
reunited with his father...he left the great words of commission that gave us
all our orders to begin our own ministries as soon as we believe in him. He said in Matthew 28:19-20, “ Therefore
go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to
obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the
very end of the age.”
There are no age limits anymore on who can
be a worker for God. The youngest Christian
and the oldest are all equipped with his holy spirit to complete the task God
gave us all to do. My 54 years of life gives me no more right to God’s love
than the newest child who has just been born….and once we believe in him….he
expects us to work for him until he blesses us with that trip home to Heaven.
He expects us all to find the task we were placed here to do…and pray for his
strength to complete it…so that his love can be known to all before he returns
to claim his children.
Father…even though I wonder this morning
what my specific job for you really is…I will continue to love and search for
what you have placed me here on this Earth to do. Maybe in the search to know
your perfect will…I have even completed some other smaller tasks by accident. Help
me father to stay focused on you…and continue to study your word and let it soak
deep into my soul…so it can help me to battle the everyday darts of sin that
Satan throws at me to get me off task. Walk with me today…and help me to find
you in everything that I do. Help me to
see Satan lurking up ahead of me…and reveal your path that moves around Satan’s
plan to sidetrack the job you need me to do. Amen.
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