February 6th - Burden Bearers

Burden Bearers

(Numbers 3:14 – 4:49)

Levites in the Wilderness

Author Unknown

Can a burden be a blessing?

We talk about burdens, as if they were a bad thing. Perhaps a loved one might share a weighty concern, unloading a season of suffering for shared prayer and personal encouragement. Possibly, someone might ask for assistance with some heavy lifting – physically, psychologically or even spiritually.

In God’s economy, burden bearing can be a great honor.

Consider the Levites.

Today’s reading details at length the Lord’s instructions for the sons of Levi (Gershon, Kohath and Merari) and how they are to care for and carry the various components of the Tabernacle of God.

The Hebrew people were wandering through the wilderness, led by the Lord, so the Tabernacle was still a portable structure. When the Lord lifted the cloud of His Presence, the people knew it was time to pack up and move on to the next location He would show to them.

God clearly delineated which members of the Levite priestly line would care for the fabrics, the frames and the other fine items of the Tabernacle. Each Levite family had no doubt about their responsibilities.

As the Hebrew people traveled by foot into unfamiliar territory, following the Lord’s leading, the priests would tote the Tabernacle. The other tribes would serve as sentries and soldiers.

Who wants to be a burden-bearer?

God surely calls each of us to specific tasks in His master plan. Perhaps He has given you a ministry, even for a season, as a burden-bearer. Has He called you to care for His sacred things in some way? Has He called you to intercession? Has He called you to help maintain His house?

How often do we plead with the Lord to place us on the front lines of battle, where we think we might find signs, wonders and spiritual excitement? Might we not find God’s greatest blessings by serving Him in secret and sacred ways?

Could a pole-carrier, a frame-folder or a candlestick-polisher find greater honor in the Kingdom of God? Where does the real heavy lifting occur in the Lord’s ministry?

The Levites picked up poles and parcels. What are we willing to pick up and carry for the Lord? How about the cross of Christ?

“For My yoke is easy

and My burden is light.”

(Matthew 11:30, NIV)

Let’s carry on for the Lord.

Will you pray with me?

Loving Lord,

Why do we groan and murmur,

As if we carried heavy loads,

When You have borne

The most weighty one of all?

You carried the weight of the world,

Our sin

For us.

Grow our desire

To honor You

By becoming burden-bearers.

Strengthen our faith,

And our will to serve You

Wherever You will.

Amen.

February 5th - Marshalling the Masses

Marshalling the Masses

(Numbers 1:1 – 2:34 and 9:1-12)

With the Tent of Meeting constructed and the priests ordained, the Hebrews were ready to celebrate their first Passover after the Exodus from Egypt.

The priests and the people marked this memorable occasion, following God’s instructions exactly.

Next, it was time for the people to be numbered. God ordered Moses to rally the clan leaders from the twelve tribes of Israel to perform a census of the people. (Bible scholars believe this occurred around 1445 B.C.) The clan leaders registered the people, keeping count of all men over age 20:

The Census of Israel (c1445 B.C.)

From the tribe of Reuben: 46,500 men aged 20 and older

From the tribe of Simeon: 59,300 men aged 20 and older

From the tribe of Gad: 45,650 men aged 20 and older

From the tribe of Judah: 74,600 men aged 20 and older

From the tribe of Issachar: 54,400 men aged 20 and older

From the tribe of Zebulun: 57,400 men aged 20 and older

From the tribe of Ephraim: 40,500 men aged 20 and older

From the tribe of Manasseh: 32,200 men aged 20 and older

From the tribe of Benjamin: 35,400 men aged 20 and older

From the tribe of Dan: 62,700 men aged 20 and older

From the tribe of Asher: 41,500 men aged 20 and older

From the tribe of Naphtali: 53,400 men aged 20 and older

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Total: 603,550 men aged 20 and older

(The tribe of Joseph became two tribes, Ephraim and Manasseh, as the Levite tribe was not counted. The Levites were dedicated to the priesthood and priestly duties.)

At this point, the Israelites knew how many fighting men they would have, when the Lord called them to battle.

God then outlined exactly how the tribes were to be positioned, as they traveled and when they set up camp. Of course, all positions were based on proximity to the Tabernacle of the Lord, which was the center and focus of God’s people.

Personally, I find the camping instructions particularly interesting. The Lord instructed the tribes, totaling perhaps two million people (counting women and children), to camp around the Tabernacle, so that His dwelling place would be at the center of their community. Here’s a diagram of the positioning of the tribes, as they camped.

(The Gershonites, Kohathites and Merarites were divisions of the Levites, assigned priestly responsibilities, so they were to camp nearest to the Tabernacle.)

At the same time, of course, the Lord encamped around the people with His protection and His heavenly hosts, even as He does with those who honor Him today.

“The angel of the Lord encamps

around those who fear Him,

and He delivers them.”

(Psalm 34:7, NIV)

What a blessed mystery, that God can reside at the center of our lives and yet surround us at the same time. It cannot be otherwise for God’s faithful, for Jehovah intends to be both our priority and our protection.

May it be ever so, even as He has promised.

Will you pray with me?

Almighty and awesome God,

Who led Your people

Out of bondage

And into Your divine deliverance,

Have promised to deliver us as well.

Teach us to recognize

The things that bind us.

Be the center of our lives.

Be the boundary about us

That protects us from danger.

Be both our top priority

And our powerful Protector.

You amaze us.

May we honor You.

Amen.

February 4th - The Welcome Wave

The Welcome Wave

(Numbers 3:1-13 and 7:1 – 8:26)

Have you ever done “The Wave” in the stands of a baseball, basketball, football, hockey or soccer game? This team spirit exercise starts in one section and continues, row by row, until the whole crowd has stood and waved. Can you just imagine who this show of unity and enthusiasm might encourage the home team on the field?

In ancient Israel, the wave was a completely different entity.

Throughout today’s Bible reading, we have found references to the wave offering. The Levite priests would make sacrificial offerings, both animal and grain, and wave the offering before the Lord. Afterwards, the consecrated meat or grain would belong to the priests and their families. This was God’s provision for feeding the Levite clans.

How might we participate in wave offerings today?

In many congregations, folks will applaud, rise to their feet or raise their hands during the music or message. Some may wave flags, streamers or other items during worship as praise offerings to God.

Although believers’ primary intent may be to honor the Lord by such actions, they may also encourage those who are serving Him. Any believer who offers a welcome wave, whether with a single hand or otherwise, surely affirms the faith of those who are ministering, as well as the Lord.

Isn’t personal affirmation as nutritious as meat or grain, at least spiritually and emotionally? And doesn’t our willingness to worship wholeheartedly bless the Lord?

Can we give God a hand?

God does not need our help, to be sure. But He certainly desires our enthusiastic participation in His service.

Think back to your childhood, when you were a student in elementary school. If a teacher asked a question, what did you do? If you knew the answer, how did you respond?

Most likely, you raised a hand. If you were a particularly eager student, you might have thrust a palm straight for the ceiling, while squealing, “Ooh! Ooh! Call on me!”

How I long to volunteer for the Lord, when He asks.

“Ooh! Lord, call on me!”

"Here am I. Send me!"

(Isaiah 6:8b, NIV)

Will you pray with me?

God of wonders,

God of all,

How awed and amazed we are

Whenever we behold You.

May we be quick to answer

When You call.

May we honor You

And those who serve You

Wholeheartedly.

Here we are, Lord,

Even as You are calling us.

Amen.