Numbers 4:21-33 – Every One With His Job

The Gershonites are in charge of all the drapery of the tabernacle, the curtains, and hangings, and the coverings of badgers’ skins. These they are to take down when the cloud moves, and the ark and the rest of the holy things are carried away, to pack up and bring with them, and then to set up again, where the cloud rests. Aaron and his sons allot to them their respective jobs. Ithamar is to take the oversight of them.

The Merarites are charged with carrying the boards and bars, the pillars and sockets, and the pins and cords. An inventory is given them of everything, so they don’t have to search for anything when the tabernacle is set up again. Though these jobs seem less important than the other jobs of the sanctuary, God still is very exact about it all and takes care that nothing is lost. This shows the care God takes of His church, and every member of it.

Here are thousands of men employed in these jobs, even though a much smaller number could have coped with the work; but it is important that the tabernacle can be taken down and set up quickly, and many hands make quick work, especially when every one knows his work. They have tents of their own to take care of, and to take along with them, but the young men under thirty, and the old men above fifty, can look after them; nor is there any mention of them, for God’s house must always be put before our own.

Question

1. Why is God so precise about all the details here?
2. What were the Levites to set up before they set up their own tents?

Prayer Points

1. Pray that we would put God’s house before our own.
2. Use prayer points from your congregation.
3. Pray for family matters.