devotional post # 2268

Numbers 4:13-16

Num 4:13 And they will take away the ashes from the altar and spread a purple cloth over it.
Num 4:14 And they will put on it all the utensils of the altar, which are used for the service there, the fire pans, the forks, the shovels, and the basins, all the utensils of the altar; and they will spread on it a covering of goatskin, and will put in its poles.
Num 4:15 And when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, as the camp sets out, after that the sons of Kohath will come to carry these, but they must not touch the holy things, or else they will die. These are the things of the conference tent that the sons of Kohath are to carry.
Num 4:16 “And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest will have charge of the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the regular grain offering, and the anointing oil, with the oversight of the whole tabernacle and all that is in it, of the sanctuary and its vessels.”

a restrictive vocational system

The Kohathites were only responsible to transport the sacred tabernacle objects. They were not allowed to handle them, or even to pack them for transport. Those duties fell to the priests — the sons of Aaron. This was a restrictive vocational system, and those of us who are blessed to live under a vocational system that champions equality are often troubled by it. But God had his reasons. We must be careful, however, not to conclude that God endorses other restrictive vocational systems. In Christ, there are no slaves (Gal. 3:28).

LORD, we thank you for the freedom we now have in Christ.