Numbers 3:21-26: a reflection

21Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimeites. These are the families of the Gershonites. 22Those who were counted of them, according to the number of all the males from a month old and upward, even those who were counted of them were seven thousand five hundred. 23The families of the Gershonites shall encamp behind the tabernacle westward. 24Eliasaph the son of Lael shall be the prince of the fathers’ house of the Gershonites. 25The duty of the sons of Gershon in the Tent of Meeting shall be the tabernacle, the tent, its covering, the screen for the door of the Tent of Meeting, 26the hangings of the court, the screen for the door of the court which is by the tabernacle and around the altar, and its cords for all of its service.

As the duties of the Levites are assigned, the sons of Gershon are given the care of the tabernacle's coverings and hangings: the tent, its coverings, the screen for the door, the hangings of the court and their cords. These were humble, unglamorous tasks, the tending of curtains and cords, not the more visible or prestigious duties; yet they were real service to God, a needful part of the care of his dwelling. Someone had to tend the coverings, carry the hangings, keep the cords; and God appointed this to the Gershonites as their share in his service. The humble, unglamorous tasks were not beneath notice or unimportant; they were part of the service of God's house, and God assigned them as a real trust. Even the least visible tasks in God's service matter, and are given as a genuine part of his work.

Notice what the Gershonites were given: humble, unglamorous tasks that were nonetheless real service to God. The care of curtains, coverings, and cords is not the sort of duty that draws attention or admiration; it is quiet, behind the scenes, easily overlooked. Yet it was a needful part of the care of God's dwelling, and God appointed it as the Gershonites' share in his service. The humble tasks were not less genuinely service to God than the more visible ones; someone had to do them, and God gave them as a real trust. This tells us that in God's service, the humble and unglamorous tasks matter, and are given as a genuine part of his work, not beneath notice. There are no throwaway tasks in the service of God; the tending of curtains and cords was as much a divine appointment as any. Faithful service in the small, unseen tasks is real service to God.

That is worth taking to heart, for the humble, unglamorous tasks in God's service are real service, given as a genuine part of his work. We can despise the humble tasks that fall to us, the quiet, unglamorous, unnoticed work, wishing for something more visible or prestigious; but God gave the Gershonites the care of curtains and cords as their real share in his service. The humble tasks are not beneath notice or unimportant; they are a genuine part of God's work, given as a real trust. Do not despise the humble, unglamorous tasks that fall to you; they are real service to God, as needful as any. Value the humble, unglamorous tasks in God's service as real service, given as a genuine part of his work, as God appointed the Gershonites to tend the coverings and cords of the tabernacle; for in the service of God there are no throwaway tasks, and the quiet, unnoticed work is as much a divine appointment as the visible and prestigious, so that faithful service in the small and unglamorous is real service to God, not beneath his notice or ours.

Lord, as the duties of the Levites are assigned, the sons of Gershon are given the care of the tabernacle's coverings and hangings: the tent, its coverings, the screen for the door, the hangings of the court and their cords. These were humble, unglamorous tasks, the tending of curtains and cords, not the more visible or prestigious duties; yet they were real service to you, a needful part of the care of your dwelling. Someone had to tend the coverings, carry the hangings, keep the cords; and you appointed this to the Gershonites as their share in your service. The humble, unglamorous tasks were not beneath notice or unimportant. Show me what the Gershonites were given: humble, unglamorous tasks that were nonetheless real service to you. The care of curtains, coverings, and cords is not the sort of duty that draws attention or admiration; it is quiet, behind the scenes, easily overlooked. Yet it was a needful part of the care of your dwelling, and you appointed it as the Gershonites' share in your service. The humble tasks were not less genuinely service to you than the more visible ones. In your service, the humble and unglamorous tasks matter, and are given as a genuine part of your work. Take that to my heart, for the humble, unglamorous tasks in your service are real service, given as a genuine part of your work. I can despise the humble tasks that fall to me, the quiet, unglamorous, unnoticed work, wishing for something more visible or prestigious; but you gave the Gershonites the care of curtains and cords as their real share in your service. Keep me from despising the humble, unglamorous tasks that fall to me; help me value them as real service to you, Lord, as needful as any, for in your service there are no throwaway tasks.