Numbers 4:1-20 – Worthy service for the Holy God

Numbers 4 described the roles of the three clans of Levites. Verses 1-20 began with the Kohathites, the descendants of Kohath. They were assigned to carry and transport the furnishings in the Holy of holies, the holy place, as well as those at the courtyard of the Tabernacle. The furnishings in the Holy of holies and the holy place were the Ark of the covenant, the table of shewbread, the golden lampstand, and the golden altar of incense. The articles in the courtyard included the brazen altar, the firepans, the forks, the shovels, and the basins as well as the laver. These were the more important articles pertaining to the Tabernacle. The transportation of them should have rightly been assigned to the clan of Gershon, who was the older of the three clans of the Levites. But God had assigned the role to the clan of Kohath.  

What lesson can we draw from why God chose the Kohathites to handle the more important articles? It tells us that God is no respecter of persons. He does not assess us based on our looks, position, or status. He often uses people deemed less popular for the more important task. How man values us is often quite different from how God will value us. He knows best who to use for what ministry.  

Here in these verses are also the description of how the articles were carefully wrapped. The more important articles were wrapped more elaborately than the less important ones. So beginning from the Ark of the covenant, the table of shewbreads, the golden lampstand to the brazen altar of the courtyard, verses 7-14 describe how each of the articles was wrapped. While the Kohathites were assigned to carry and transport these articles, it was the priests’ responsibility to pack them. Why? It was because they were consecrated articles and considered holy and must not be mindlessly and carelessly handled by anyone. The Kohathite's task was to carry them only after they were safely wrapped. All these God did to protect the Kohathites so that they would not be destroyed for touching the holy things of God.  

What lessons can we learn? How God views us for a role may not be the same as how others would view us. The joy is that in whatever role we are to play in the ministry, it is God who qualifies us for the task. And when He assigns us, He will enable us and even protect us. We also need to know that God will consecrate us for the role. Hence, no one consecrated for a task should offer Him shoddy service. To God, only the very best from us will do!