1 Chronicles 23:12-20: a reflection

12The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four. 13The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses; and Aaron was separated that he should sanctify the most holy things, he and his sons forever, to burn incense before the LORD, to minister to him, and to bless in his name forever. 14But as for Moses the man of God, his sons were named among the tribe of Levi. 15The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer. 16The sons of Gershom: Shebuel the chief. 17The son of Eliezer was Rehabiah the chief; and Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very many. 18The son of Izhar: Shelomith the chief. 19The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the chief, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth. 20The sons of Uzziel: Micah the chief, and Isshiah the second.

Buried in this Levite genealogy is a quiet, telling detail. Aaron, it says, was set apart to consecrate the most holy things, he and his sons forever, the priesthood established in his line. And then, almost in passing: as for Moses the man of God, his sons were named among the ordinary tribe of Levi. Moses, the towering figure who led the exodus and spoke with God face to face, did not pass any special status to his own children. His sons were just Levites, unremarkable, holding no privileged office.

Notice what that says about Moses, and about God's ways. Moses did not use his position to secure standing, honor, or office for his family. His greatness did not become a dynasty. His sons melted into the ordinary ranks, while the priesthood went to Aaron's line by God's appointment, not by Moses pulling strings for his own. There is a humility in that, an absence of the nepotism that so easily attaches to those in high position.

That is worth pondering in a world where people routinely leverage their position to advantage their own. Moses, who could have, did not. God's callings and honors are his to give; they are not hereditary entitlements to be secured for our children by our influence. Whatever position or standing you are given, hold it as a stewardship from God, not a lever to procure privilege for your own. Moses' sons were content to be ordinary Levites. Do not grasp for your family what God has not appointed; hold your position humbly, as he did.

Lord, Moses did not use his position to secure special standing for his own children but held his calling humbly. Keep me from leveraging whatever position you give me to grasp privilege for myself or my family. Help me hold my standing as a stewardship from you, not a lever, and to be content with what you appoint.