Numbers 4:34-41: a reflection

34Moses and Aaron and the princes of the congregation counted the sons of the Kohathites by their families, and by their fathers’ houses, 35from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who entered into the service for work in the Tent of Meeting. 36Those who were counted of them by their families were two thousand seven hundred fifty. 37These are those who were counted of the families of the Kohathites, all who served in the Tent of Meeting, whom Moses and Aaron counted according to the commandment of the LORD by Moses. 38Those who were counted of the sons of Gershon, by their families, and by their fathers’ houses, 39from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old—everyone who entered into the service for work in the Tent of Meeting, 40even those who were counted of them, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, were two thousand six hundred thirty. 41These are those who were counted of the families of the sons of Gershon, all who served in the Tent of Meeting, whom Moses and Aaron counted according to the commandment of the LORD.

As the Levites are organized for the service of the tabernacle, they are counted, family by family, each man numbered for the work he would do. Moses and Aaron counted the Kohathites and the Gershonites, each by their families, everyone who entered the service for work in the Tent of Meeting. Each servant of God was counted individually, known and numbered for his particular service. No one was a faceless part of a mass; each was counted, family by family, for the work assigned to him.

Notice that each servant was counted individually, known for his particular service. God did not deal with the Levites as an anonymous crowd; each was numbered, family by family, name by name, for the specific work he would do. Each one was known and counted, his service noted. The counting was not a mere headcount, but a recognition of each individual servant and the work assigned to him. God knew each of his servants individually, and the particular service each was to render.

That is worth taking to heart, for we can feel we are anonymous in God's service, one of a faceless mass. We can imagine that God does not particularly know us or our service, that we are lost in the crowd of his people. But God counted each Levite individually, knowing each one and his particular work. You are not anonymous to God, one of a faceless mass; he knows you individually, and the particular service you render. Do not imagine yourself lost in the crowd, unknown and uncounted in God's service; God knows you by name, and the work he has given you, as he counted each Levite individually for his service. Serve God knowing that he sees and knows you individually, not as one of an anonymous mass but as a particular servant, counted and known, with your own assigned work, as each Levite was counted, family by family, for the service he was to render in the house of God.

Lord, as the Levites were organized for the service of the tabernacle, they were counted, family by family, each man numbered for the work he would do. Moses and Aaron counted the Kohathites and the Gershonites, each by their families, everyone who entered the service. Each servant of yours was counted individually, known and numbered for his particular service. No one was a faceless part of a mass; each was counted for the work assigned to him. Show me that each servant was counted individually, known for his particular service. You did not deal with the Levites as an anonymous crowd; each was numbered, name by name, for the specific work he would do. The counting was a recognition of each individual servant and the work assigned to him. You knew each of your servants individually. Take that to my heart, for I can feel I am anonymous in your service, one of a faceless mass. I can imagine that you do not particularly know me or my service, that I am lost in the crowd. But you counted each Levite individually. I am not anonymous to you, one of a faceless mass; you know me individually, and the particular service I render. Keep me from imagining myself lost in the crowd, unknown and uncounted in your service; you know me by name, and the work you have given me. Help me serve you knowing that you see and know me individually, Lord, not as one of an anonymous mass but as a particular servant, counted and known, with my own assigned work.