ORDER IN THE TABERNACLE. Numbers 3 God sanctified both the Tabernacle and the firstborn. The Tabernacle was God's dwelling place, and the firstborn were designated to serve Him. However, because the children of Israel made a golden calf to worship while Moses was on Mount Sinai speaking with God, only the Levites came forward to Moses when the call went out, "Who is on the Lord's side?" From that moment, the tribe of Levi replaced the firstborn of Israel. Jacob prophesied that Levi would be a rebellious tribe who would not regard parents, family, or children. But God is able to take those He chooses and transform them into the people He desires.
It is a great honor to serve in what is sacred. God is holy, God’s throne is holy, and God’s name is holy. God’s house is holy, God’s Word is holy, and God’s judgments are holy. Being part of such work requires a sense of awe and reverence so we can approach the Lord with respect and dignity, worshiping Him as we should.
Helping God’s people in any way is meaningful work. Assisting them involves meeting their needs, which might seem insignificant to us now, but we can't know the outcome. Coming alongside those who are struggling in life’s trials is sometimes necessary, even if we feel we haven't made much difference. Fulfilling a need that might otherwise be ignored is an act of grace.
Ministering to a holy people is a great honor because they are the people of God. Waiting on the Lord—and on His people—is a blessing in life that we are capable of doing. To grow by serving in some way, something still unfinished, and to support a work that God began is a privilege for those called to serve others in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
There were three identifiable groups in the congregation in the wilderness. There were warriors from eleven tribes in the nation. Then, there were workers, the Levites, who were non-combatants responsible for the house of God. There were also worshipers from every tribe, but the priesthood from Aaron's family served as the representatives of the people to God and from God to the people. The tribe of Levi had been notably cruel and perhaps would be the last group of people expected to do the work of the Lord.
However, there came a time when they all had to be washed, shaved completely with a razor, and then go to the altar with two bullocks. As those bald-headed men placed their hands on the sin-offering, they identified with that sinless animal as the substitute for their sin. Then they moved from that bullock to the other one, laying their hands on its head as a burnt offering to God, symbolizing their acceptance into service because of the perfection of the sinless sacrifice—a representation of the perfections of Christ.
The entire tribe of Levi, from Aaron and his sons to all others, reminds us of the great grace of our Sovereign God, who cleanses us from all sin. God expects us to practice self-judgment to address polluting habits, symbolized by all those men shaving with a razor and showing themselves to God as they truly are. The calling of God to special service is a serious matter. Those warrior-like people then became those on whom God had placed a special task to accomplish for Him. They were numbered from one month old and upward. The affairs of those involved in spiritual work impact our children from their earliest days. We must be very careful when speaking about the things of God, the work of God, the people of God, and the Word of God. Little ones around us may not speak up, but impressions are being formed that will last a very long time. It’s easy to imagine young people learning from their parents how to serve God acceptably by observing, listening, and participating with them in the work they do for the Lord.
The priests, the sons of Aaron, had special access to God under the Old Covenant. Now, Christians are in a new covenant with God, and all believers are part of a new temple and a holy priesthood that offers “Spiritual sacrifices to God that are acceptable through Jesus Christ.” This is known as “the priesthood of all believers.” The priests were to keep “the charge of the sanctuary.”
One of the defining features of a scripturally gathered New Testament assembly of believers is the public practice of the priesthood of all believers. Men serve in the roles outlined in the scriptures, which include audible worship, teaching, and preaching, while women serve in inaudible ways, demonstrating the church's attitude toward the Lord Jesus Christ. The work of the priests was to “keep the charge of the sanctuary.” The different roles of believers in a local church aim to uphold the public testimony by ensuring everything is done “decently and in order.”
Nadab and Abihu, two of Aaron’s sons, failed in their priestly duties right at the very start of their service and died immediately. They had been consecrated to serve God in His way under His authority, but the result of offering their own fire instead of God’s fire was their instant death. This served as a warning to everyone involved in divine service about the seriousness of doing our assigned tasks according to the way God’s word instructs.
At different stages of salvation outlined in the scriptures, judgments fell on those who carelessly disobeyed or did things their own way instead of following God's instructions. “Cursed be he who does the work of God deceitfully.” Achan died shortly after Israel entered the promised land because he “saw,” “coveted,” and “took” what was forbidden. Uzzah died when he thoughtlessly reached out his hand to steady the ark of God, which had been placed on a new cart instead of being carried by the priests. Ananias and Saphira died because they wanted praise for their generosity and deceitfully tried to misrepresent their actions out of love for money.
Warnings are issued for a reason, and we should not ignore them. To dismiss what God says as unimportant challenges God's character and integrity. Order in holy and spiritual matters is not open for debate based on our convenience. Whether someone is called to serve God publicly, like priests, or to serve personally with others, the point remains: we all have a role in the worship and work of a congregation of believers.
The priests, including Moses and Aaron's families, were positioned in front of the Tabernacle facing east. On the Tabernacle's north side was the Merari family, who carried the boards, sockets, posts, and pins when the Israelites were on the march. The family of Gershon carried all the Tabernacle coverings, the veil, and the curtains of the courtyard. The family of Kohath transported the furnishings and the furniture of the Tabernacle. That gathering center was protected by those who were called by God to serve Him and who guarded that place with their lives.
The tribe of Levi was designated the place of the nation's firstborn sons of each family. Two censuses were conducted to determine how many were suitable for military service and how many were available for sanctuary service. The redeemed nation God had saved from bondage to be His own needed security and sanctity to function safely and spiritually. There were 22,273 firstborn sons in the nation and 22,000 Levites to take their place, so the redemption price had to be paid for the 273 firstborns that the Levites were responsible for. The Levites were to serve in the Tabernacle by erecting it, dismantling it, carrying it when they moved forward, and setting it up again. Only the priests ministered within the Tabernacle, and only the high priest entered the holiest once a year.
Serving the Lord as workers for Him is a great privilege, and that work deserves our best efforts. Hallowed service is honorable regardless of its kind. To observers from afar, when the guardians of the Tabernacle gathered to move it, it might have looked like the entire tent had melted into bundles and burdens carried among two million people. When the cloud or pillar of fire stopped, the Tabernacle was quickly raised, like something growing before the eyes of witnesses. Each person doing what God calls us to do fits perfectly with the work of those with whom we share life and fellowship.
Distributing what God has given us in His name is a responsibility, a trust placed in those who serve. Helping with an eternal effort is a sacred honor. Bringing some contentment to someone who has entrusted us with something valuable, and thereby glorifying the Lord Jesus, is an act of ministry. Answering a call from One who is superior in every way, our Lord, who knows every need, is also an act of ministry. Attending to and completing the work He has given as stewards is ministry. Forwarding the plans entrusted to me and seeing a project through is ministry. Providing what is lacking in a project for the Lord, or stepping into someone else’s need, is to serve.
Believers today who are part of the body of Christ have “relative duties” to each other, which are not rigid but are important. The book of Hebrews mentions quite a few of these duties. They are clear, planned, and established by God for the benefit of the church. When these are properly attended to, the body functions smoothly. If someone neglects or fails in their responsibility, that function is lost, and the entire body suffers.