Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
"The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: "Take a census of the Kohathite branch of the Levites by their clans and families. Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work in the Tent of Meeting. "This is the work of the Kohathites in the Tent of Meeting: the care of the most holy things. When the camp is to move, Aaron and his sons are to go in and take down the shielding curtain and cover the ark of the Testimony with it. Then they are to cover this with hides of sea cows, spread a cloth of solid blue over that and put the poles in place. "Over the table of the Presence they are to spread a blue cloth and put on it the plates, dishes and bowls, and the jars for drink offerings; the bread that is continually there is to remain on it. Over these they are to spread a scarlet cloth, cover that with hides of sea cows and put its poles in place. "They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand that is for light, together with its lamps, its wick trimmers and trays, and all its jars for the oil used to supply it. Then they are to wrap it and all its accessories in a covering of hides of sea cows and put it on a carrying frame. "Over the gold altar they are to spread a blue cloth and cover that with hides of sea cows and put its poles in place. "They are to take all the articles used for ministering in the sanctuary, wrap them in a blue cloth, cover that with hides of sea cows and put them on a carrying frame. "They are to remove the ashes from the bronze altar and spread a purple cloth over it. Then they are to place on it all the utensils used for ministering at the altar, including the firepans, meat forks, shovels and sprinkling bowls. Over it they are to spread a covering of hides of sea cows and put its poles in place. "After Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy furnishings and all the holy articles, and when the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites are to come to do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy things or they will die. The Kohathites are to carry those things that are in the Tent of Meeting. "Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest, is to have charge of the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the regular grain offering and the anointing oil. He is to be in charge of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, including its holy furnishings and articles." The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "See that the Kohathite tribal clans are not cut off from the Levites. So that they may live and not die when they come near the most holy things, do this for them: Aaron and his sons are to go into the sanctuary and assign to each man his work and what he is to carry. But the Kohathites must not go in to look at the holy things, even for a moment, or they will die."
"The Lord said to Moses, "Take a census also of the Gershonites by their families and clans. Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting. "This is the service of the Gershonite clans as they work and carry burdens: They are to carry the curtains of the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, its covering and the outer covering of hides of sea cows, the curtains for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the curtains of the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar, the curtain for the entrance, the ropes and all the equipment used in its service. The Gershonites are to do all that needs to be done with these things. All their service, whether carrying or doing other work, is to be done under the direction of Aaron and his sons. You shall assign to them as their responsibility all they are to carry. This is the service of the Gershonite clans at the Tent of Meeting. Their duties are to be under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron, the priest."
"Count the Merarites by their clans and families. Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting. This is their duty as they perform service at the Tent of Meeting: to carry the frames of the tabernacle, its crossbars, posts and bases, as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, ropes, all their equipment and everything related to their use. Assign to each man the specific things he is to carry. This is the service of the Merarite clans as they work at the Tent of Meeting under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron, the priest."
"Moses, Aaron and the leaders of the community counted the Kohathites by their clans and families. All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to serve in the work in the Tent of Meeting, counted by clans, were 2,750. This was the total of all those in the Kohathite clans who served in the Tent of Meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord's command through Moses. The Gershonites were counted by their clans and families. All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting, counted by their clans and families, were 2,630. This was the total of those in the Gershonite clans who served at the Tent of Meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord's command. The Merarites were counted by their clans and families. All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting, counted by their clans, were 3,200. This was the total of those in the Merarite clans. Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord's command through Moses. 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." Numbers 4
In Numbers, Chapter 3, the Lord told Moses to "Count the Levites by their families and clans. Count every male a month old or more." The sons of Levi were also mentioned as "Gershon, Kohath and Merari." As Chapter 4 begins, the Levite count begins with the Kohathites, Gershonites and the Merarites all counted.
Chapter 4 included more than just a count of these Levitical families. It also included specific tasking and assignment of responsibilities, specifically regarding the Tabernacle.
First, the Lord tasks the Kohathites to carry "those things that are in the Tent of Meeting" after "Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy furnishings and all the holy articles, and when the camp is ready to move."
Next, the Lord tasked the Gershonites "to carry the curtains of the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, its covering and the outer covering of hides of sea cows, the curtains for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the curtains of the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar, the curtain for the entrance, the ropes and all the equipment used in its service"…all "done under the direction of Aaron and his sons."
Finally, the Lord tasked the Merarites "to carry the frames of the tabernacle, its crossbars, posts and bases, as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, ropes, all their equipment and everything related to their use."
Additionally, the Lord specifically tasked Aaron’s son, Eleazar, commanding him to "have charge of the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the regular grain offering and the anointing oil. He is to be in charge of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, including its holy furnishings and articles."
So how does this apply to us today? Well, just as the Lord had a specific plan in mind for the Kohathites, Gershonites, Merarites and Eleazar, so too does He have a plan in mind for each one of us.
Consider these verses from God’ word:
"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21
"In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will…" Ephesians 1:11
"…we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
Through these verses, we discover that although we might have our own ideas about what our lives should accomplish, the Lord’s purpose will prevail. For we were chosen by God from the moment He created us and have been predestined according to His plan. In other words, the Lord already has a destiny for each of us and we can be assured it is purposed by His will and intended to result in His glory. And when we are obedient to answering the Will of God in our lives, we not only discover His purpose for us but we also see where God is always working for our good because He loves us.
Question: Have you realized your purpose yet…not your own personal desired purpose but rather God’s purpose for you? Do you understand that your life is already purposed by the One who created you and all other things?
Friends, God has a plan for us and we should exhaust every effort toward seeking that plan and carrying out to completion. The Lord expects nothing less.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
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