Thought from today’s Bible reading from Numbers 1-2.
The book of Numbers begins with a census being taken of certain ones from among the people: “From twenty years old and upward, whoever is able to go out to war in Israel, you and Aaron shall number them by their armies” (Numbers 1:3). But those of one particular tribe were exempted.
“The Levites, however, were not numbered among them by their fathers’ tribe. For the Lord had spoken to Moses, saying, ‘Only the tribe of Levi you shall not number, nor shall you take their census among the sons of Israel. But you shall appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the testimony, and over all its furnishings and over all that belongs to it. They shall carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings, and they shall take care of it; they shall also camp around the tabernacle” (Numbers 1:47-50).
The nation of Israel was about to go to war. This census was taken in order to number and organize the fighting force. War is a time of sacrifice, not only for the fighting men, but also for their families and the nation as a whole. But despite these collective hardships and sacrifices, the Levites were set apart for a different task. They had a special responsibility in regard to the tabernacle.
We do not live in quite the same circumstances today – a special class of priests, a tabernacle, and a divinely-mandated war for the land of Canaan. But there is a lesson for us in this: no matter what is going on around us, the regular spiritual service to God must continue.
There will inevitably be difficulties, suffering, opposition, and so on; but we must serve God faithfully and consistently through it all.
Tomorrow’s reading: Numbers 3-4
[I’m using the Chronological reading plan on the Bible Gateway website if you’d like to follow along, too.]
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