Community

Throughout this chapter the mature males, between 30 years and 50 years, were assigned their part of the work as the tent of meeting was to be disassembled and moved to the next camp site. Each tribe was assigned a different but specific task to carry out the moving of the tent of meeting. It rather paints a picture of today, where different person or groups of people have specific tasks in the body of Christ to continue the spreading of the gospel of Christ. 1Cor 12:28  And God set some in the church, firstly, apostles; secondly, prophets; thirdly, teachers, then works of power, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, kinds of languages. 

Numbers 4 Summation of the duties of the Levites: Kohathites  2,750  took care of the ark, and vessels of worship Gershonites  2,630  took care of all the cloth, curtains, etc Merarites 3,200 took care of the boards and pillars Total Levites  8,580 There was a total of 8,580 men that handled the tabernacle. When the cloud moved, indicating it was time for them to break camp and move each of these guys had a job to do. These guys began training for their individual job at age 25 And began service at age 30. So, they each knew EXACTLY what their job description and duties were. With this many men all working together and doing his individual part, they probably accomplished this job in half an hour. What if one of them said, "you know, I've been handling this board, or piece of cloth for 20 years and nobody seems to care". What if he decided he was sick of being under appreciated and didn't carry that particular part of the tabernacle that day? When they stop to reset camp and reset the tabernacle, that part would be missing. Don't ever think that what you do for God is unimportant, just because no one recognizes what you're doing. Jesus was all over the Pharisees because they went around in public making sure EVERYONE saw what they were doing and how important they were. He said we're to do things for Him without recognition, otherwise, we lose our reward in heaven. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 12, we're all members of one body. If one member suffers, we all suffer.  The foot can't say he's not a member because he's not a hand. The ear can't say because he's not an eye he's not important. How often do we even give a single thought to our little toe? Have you ever woken in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom and stubbed your little toe? Well, I'll tell you, I have, and my whole body was instantly aware of that little toe. So, no matter how insignificant our place in the body of Christ seems, if that job isn't done, it'll be noticed. God sees all we do for Him, and we probably won't be recognized here on earth, but will receive huge rewards for our faithfulness in heaven. Papa God, please keep me ever mindful that this earth isn't my home. Life is just a vapor. I blink, and another year has gone by. Give me the grace to do what you've given me to do no matter how thankless it may seem, as I store my riches in heaven where moths and rust will never corrupt, in Jesus name, Amen

It is amazing how God always has a similar pattern. I think of the reference in 1Cor 12:4-6 But there are differences of gifts, but the same Spirit. (5) And there are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. (6) And there are differences of workings, but it is the same God working all things in all.

Moses followed each command of God, doing exactly what he was told to do. If we followed God's word that closely today the world would be a better place.

Each person was assigned their work meaning everyone had something different to do. We are all created special with special talents if we don't use what we are gifted with then something will go missed. Everyone is important and every thing makes a difference no matter how small of a task it may seem its important.

This is so wonderful. Each of the clan of the Levites were assigned to carry different parts of the tabernacle. The work was divided among them so that no one clan do all the work. This shows us that in the church, we need to divide up the work evenly among the brethren. No one should do everything and no one should be idle either. The church is like a body, every part has to work in order to have a functional body. Do not despise the tasks given to you, even if it means setting up chairs for the church, or helping to clean up after fellowship. Each and every task we do glorifies God so nothing is consider useless or unimportant, just as every part of the body is important for the health of the entire body.

This whole chapter rather emphasizes the massive work to move the tabernacle and how God instructed the organization of that tremendous task, with 8,580 men assigned to the task.

Keeping over 600,000 people together and taking care of EVERYONE required a community effort working together with each person doing what they were assigned to do. What a testimony of what can happen when people work together not for themselves but for each other. What an inspiration for us. I pray for the day P & L once again stands for People and Lives rather than Profit and Loss.