devotional post # 2272

Numbers 4:34-49

Num 4:34 And Moses and Aaron and the chiefs of the congregation mustered the sons of the Kohathites, by their clans and their fathers’ houses,
Num 4:35 from thirty years old up to fifty years old, everyone who could come on duty, for service in the conference tent;
Num 4:36 and those mustered by clans were 2,750.
Num 4:37 This was the list of the clans of the Kohathites, all who served in the conference tent, whom Moses and Aaron mustered according to Yahveh’s command by Moses.
Num 4:38 Those mustered of the sons of Gershon, by their clans and their fathers’ houses,
Num 4:39 from thirty years old up to fifty years old, everyone who could come on duty for service in the conference tent–
Num 4:40 those mustered by their clans and their fathers’ houses were 2,630.
Num 4:41 This was the list of the clans of the sons of Gershon, all who served in the conference tent, whom Moses and Aaron mustered according to Yahveh’s command.
Num 4:42 Those mustered of the clans of the sons of Merari, by their clans and their fathers’ houses,
Num 4:43 from thirty years old up to fifty years old, everyone who could come on duty, for service in the conference tent–
Num 4:44 those mustered by clans were 3,200.
Num 4:45 This was the list of the clans of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron mustered according to Yahveh’s command by Moses.
Num 4:46 All those who were mustered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the chiefs of Israel mustered, by their clans and their fathers’ houses,
Num 4:47 from thirty years old up to fifty years old, everyone who could come to do the service of ministry and the service of bearing burdens in the conference tent,
Num 4:48 those mustered were 8,580.
Num 4:49 According to Yahveh’s command through Moses they were mustered, each one with his task of serving or carrying. Thus they were mustered by him, as Yahveh commanded Moses.

a place in God’s work

When the mustering of the Levites was complete, there was found to be over 8 1/2 thousand men eligible for service at the sanctuary. Every one of them had a job, and every job was based on who they were — their ancestry. There may not have been need for all of them on any particular day, but the work force was there, and every man had his place.

You and I have a place in God’s work as well. We are not chosen or qualified by our ancestry, but by the Holy’s Spirit’s gifting and calling.

LORD, thank you for giving us a place in your work.