Numbers 3 ORDER IN THE TABERNACLE Both the Tabernacle and the firstborn were hallowed by God. The Tabernacle as the dwelling place of God, and the firstborn for the service of God. But because of the event of the children of Israel in making a golden calf to worship while Moses was on Mt. Sinai speaking with God, the Levites alone came over to Moses when the call went out, "Who is on the Lord's side?" From that time on the tribe of Levi took the place of the firstborn of the children of Israel. Levi had been prophesied by Jacob to be a belligerent tribe who didn't see parents, family or children. But God is able to take those He chooses and make them into the kind of people He wants us to be.
There were three identifiable groups in the congregation in the wilderness. There were the warriors from eleven tribes in the nation. Then there were workers, the Levites, who were non-combatants responsible for the house of God. And there were also worshippers from every tribe but the priesthood from Aaron's family were 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 who would be expected to do the work of the Lord. But 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 were identified with that sinless animal as the substitute for their sin. Then they went from that bullock to the other one and put their hands on its head as a burnt-offering to God by which they would be accepted for service because of the perfection of the sinless sacrifice - a type of the perfections of Christ.
The whole tribe from Aaron and his sons including all others too, remind us of the exceeding grace of our Sovereign God who cleanses us from all sin. God expects self-judgment from us to deal with polluting habits, typified by all those men shaving themselves with a razor and presenting themselves to God as they really were. The call of God to special service is no light matter. Those warrior-like people now became those on whom God had laid a special work to be done for Him. They were numbered from one month old and up. The affairs of those involved in spiritual work affects our children from earliest days. How careful we must be when speaking for the things of God, the work of God, the people of God and the Word of God.
Little ones around us may not say anything, but impressions are being made that will last a long, long time. It wouldn't be hard to imagine young people learning from their parents how to serve God acceptably by watching, listening and participating with them in the work they do for the Lord.
The priests including all the families of Moses and Aaron were positioned in front of the Tabernacle facing east. On the north side of the Tabernacle was the family of Merari who carried the boards, sockets, posts and pins when the Israelis 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 carried 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.
To serve the Lord in any way as workers for Him is a great privilege and that work deserves our best efforts. Hallowed service is honorable of whatever kind it is. To those looking on from a distance, when those guardians of the Tabernacle gathered to move the Tabernacle, it would have looked like the whole tent- building just melted down into bundles and burdens moving along in the middle of two million people. When the cloud or pillar of fire stopped, the Tabernacle would quickly be raised like a growing thing before the eyes of those observing. Each person doing what God wants in the work to which we are called, fits perfectly with the work of those with whom we share our life in fellowship.