Bible Talks

From: Messages of God's Love: 1973

Narrator: Chris Genthree

• 3 min. read • grade level: 9

Numbers 3:27-51²⁷And of Kohath was the family of the Amramites, and the family of the Izeharites, and the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites: these are the families of the Kohathites. ²⁸In the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were eight thousand and six hundred, keeping the charge of the sanctuary. ²⁹The families of the sons of Kohath shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle southward. ³⁰And the chief of the house of the father of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel. ³¹And their charge shall be the ark, and the table, and the candlestick, and the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary wherewith they minister, and the hanging, and all the service thereof. ³²And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be chief over the chief of the Levites, and have the oversight of them that keep the charge of the sanctuary. ³³Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites: these are the families of Merari. ³⁴And those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were six thousand and two hundred. ³⁵And the chief of the house of the father of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail: these shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle northward. ³⁶And under the custody and charge of the sons of Merari shall be the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and the sockets thereof, and all the vessels thereof, and all that serveth thereto, ³⁷And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords. ³⁸But those that encamp before the tabernacle toward the east, even before the tabernacle of the congregation eastward, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel; and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death. ³⁹All that were numbered of the Levites, which Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the Lord, throughout their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty and two thousand. ⁴⁰And the Lord said unto Moses, Number all the firstborn of the males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names. ⁴¹And thou shalt take the Levites for me (I am the Lord) instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstlings among the cattle of the children of Israel. ⁴²And Moses numbered, as the Lord commanded him, all the firstborn among the children of Israel. ⁴³And all the firstborn males by the number of names, from a month old and upward, of those that were numbered of them, were twenty and two thousand two hundred and threescore and thirteen. ⁴⁴And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, ⁴⁵Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be mine: I am the Lord. ⁴⁶And for those that are to be redeemed of the two hundred and threescore and thirteen of the firstborn of the children of Israel, which are more than the Levites; ⁴⁷Thou shalt even take five shekels apiece by the poll, after the shekel of the sanctuary shalt thou take them: (the shekel is twenty gerahs:) ⁴⁸And thou shalt give the money, wherewith the odd number of them is to be redeemed, unto Aaron and to his sons. ⁴⁹And Moses took the redemption money of them that were over and above them that were redeemed by the Levites: ⁵⁰Of the firstborn of the children of Israel took he the money; a thousand three hundred and threescore and five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary: ⁵¹And Moses gave the money of them that were redeemed unto Aaron and to his sons, according to the word of the Lord, as the Lord commanded Moses. (Numbers 3:27‑51)

The sons of Kohath were to pitch on the south side of the tabernacle. “And their charge shall be the ark, and the table, and the candlestick, and the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary wherewith they mister, and the hanging, and all the service thereof.” They had an inner service, the care of the ark, the table, the candlestick, the altars and the holy vessels of the sanctuary. This speaks then of worship and praise, presenting to God the Person of Christ, His beloved Son, His divine glory, and His perfect devotedness to the Father, as well as the jealous care for all that concerns Him. May we all know more of this blessed occupation with Christ and all that He means to God.

To the sons of Merari fell the burden of the heavy materials or framework of the tabernacle, its boards, bars, pillars, sockets and pins, and so on. In a typical way the service of Kohath has to do with what Christ is to God and what He has done for His glory, whereas the service of Merari is more connected with His meeting the needs of men. Included then in the service of Merari in type is that labor of love for the Lord’s people. If these boards were heavy, each one was precious, for they were all covered with pure gold. Sometimes the care of the people of God is “heavy” work, often little appreciated or noticed. We know from Paul’s own words that he experienced disappointments of this kind — “Though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.” 2 Cor. 12:15¹⁵And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved. (2 Corinthians 12:15). But let us remember that the saints are dear to God — covered with “gold” in His sight — so may we each persevere in loving service to one another as unto the Lord.

We can see that there were different forms and characters of service appointed by God to the different families of the Levites. Yet in all they were very closely connected and were dependent on one another. Every piece of the tabernacle was a shadow of good things to come, a foreshadowing of Christ, and thus it was their privilege to all work tether in happy service to Him.

Surely the Lord has a lesson for us here in our day. We have all been redeemed by His precious blood. The same Spirit dwells in each. We all are journeying on to that same blessed home — the heavenly Canaan. Each too has his proper place in the army of God. All fight under the same banner, having but one Captain. All are priests under God and therefore privileged to serve in His sanctuary.

He has not given to each alike the same talents but all are stewards of some gift for which each must one day give account. Let each endeavor to find out what that particular work is which God has given him, and let him not despise any position or work however humble, if it be of God’s appointment. If He has given one a work to do he may be sure it is the most honorable, and it will be the Lord’s joy to reward faithfulness in the coming day.

To the work! to the work! let the hungry be fed,

To the fountain of life let the weary be led!

In the cross and its banner our glory shall be,

While we herald the tidings, “Salvation is free!”

ML-03/18/1973

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