Numbers 4:42-49: a reflection

42Those who were counted of the families of the sons of Merari, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, 43from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old—everyone who entered into the service for work in the Tent of Meeting, 44even those who were counted of them by their families, were three thousand two hundred. 45These are those who were counted of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron counted according to the commandment of the LORD by Moses. 46All those who were counted of the Levites whom Moses and Aaron and the princes of Israel counted, by their families and by their fathers’ houses, 47from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who entered in to do the work of service and the work of bearing burdens in the Tent of Meeting, 48even those who were counted of them, were eight thousand five hundred eighty. 49According to the commandment of the LORD they were counted by Moses, everyone according to his service and according to his burden. Thus they were counted by him, as the LORD commanded Moses.

As the counting of the Levites for service concludes, a phrase stands out: they were counted, everyone according to his service and according to his burden. Each Levite had his own particular service to render and his own particular burden to bear; not all had the same task, but each had his own. God assigned to each his own portion of the work and his own load to carry, and counted him for it. The service was not identical for all; each had his own service and his own burden.

Notice that each was assigned his own service and his own burden, not the same for all. The Levites did not all carry the same load or do the same work; each had his own particular service and his own particular burden, assigned to him. God did not give everyone an identical task; he apportioned to each his own work and his own load. Each was responsible for his own service and his own burden, the one given specifically to him, not for another's.

That is worth taking to heart, for we can compare our service and burden with others', wishing for theirs or resenting our own. We can look at another's task and load, and think ours heavier or lesser, comparing what God has assigned to us with what he has assigned to another. But each Levite had his own service and his own burden, given specifically to him; and so do we. Do not compare your service and burden with another's, coveting theirs or resenting yours; God has given you your own particular service and your own particular burden, as he gave each Levite his. Carry your own burden and render your own service faithfully, the one God has assigned specifically to you, rather than measuring it against another's; for each has his own service and his own burden, given by God, as each Levite was counted according to his own service and his own burden, and not according to another's.

Lord, as the counting of the Levites for service concludes, a phrase stands out: they were counted, everyone according to his service and according to his burden. Each Levite had his own particular service to render and his own particular burden to bear; not all had the same task, but each had his own. You assigned to each his own portion of the work and his own load to carry. The service was not identical for all; each had his own. Show me that each was assigned his own service and his own burden, not the same for all. The Levites did not all carry the same load or do the same work; each had his own, assigned to him. You did not give everyone an identical task; you apportioned to each his own work and his own load. Each was responsible for his own service and his own burden, not for another's. Take that to my heart, for I can compare my service and burden with others', wishing for theirs or resenting my own. I can look at another's task and load, and think mine heavier or lesser. But each Levite had his own service and his own burden, given specifically to him; and so do I. Keep me from comparing my service and burden with another's, coveting theirs or resenting mine; you have given me my own particular service and my own particular burden. Help me carry my own burden and render my own service faithfully, Lord, the one you have assigned specifically to me, rather than measuring it against another's.