Numbers 4:12-16: a reflection

12“They shall take all the vessels of ministry with which they minister in the sanctuary, and put them in a blue cloth, cover them with a covering of sealskin, and shall put them on the frame. 13“They shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth on it. 14They shall put on it all its vessels with which they minister about it, the fire pans, the meat hooks, the shovels, and the basins—all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread on it a covering of sealskin, and put in its poles. 15“When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the furniture of the sanctuary, as the camp moves forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to carry it; but they shall not touch the sanctuary, lest they die. The sons of Kohath shall carry these things belonging to the Tent of Meeting. 16“The duty of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be the oil for the light, the sweet incense, the continual meal offering, and the anointing oil, the requirements of all the tabernacle, and of all that is in it, the sanctuary, and its furnishings.”

In the ordering of the tabernacle's transport, each group and each person is given a specific, appointed duty, and is to keep to it. The sons of Kohath were to carry the holy things but not touch them directly; Eleazar was charged with the oil, the incense, and the oversight of the tabernacle. The duty of Eleazar was the oil for the light, the sweet incense, and the oversight of all the tabernacle, the instruction says. Everyone had his own appointed task and responsibility; the Kohathites carried but did not touch, Eleazar oversaw, each keeping to his assigned duty. This shows the value of each faithfully doing his own appointed task, keeping to his responsibility. Each had an appointed duty and was to keep to it. Faithfulness meant doing one's own assigned task. Each person had a responsibility to keep. Everyone had his appointed role in the work.

Notice how carefully the duties are assigned and bounded. The Kohathites had their task, to carry the holy things, but they were not to touch them directly; Eleazar had his charge, the oil, the incense, the oversight of the tabernacle. Each had his own appointed responsibility, and each was to keep to it, neither neglecting it nor overstepping into what was not his. This reflects a good pattern for serving God and working together. In the work of God, and in life together, each of us has our own appointed part, our own responsibility to carry faithfully. The work goes well when each does his own part faithfully and keeps to it, rather than neglecting his responsibility or overstepping into what belongs to another. There is a humility and an order in doing faithfully the task that is ours, and not despising it or grasping after another's. To do our own appointed task faithfully, keeping to our responsibility, serves the whole. Each doing his own part faithfully makes the work go well. Keep to your appointed task, neither neglecting nor overstepping it. Faithfulness is doing well the part that is yours.

That is worth taking to heart, for each of us has an appointed task and responsibility, and the work goes well when each does his own part faithfully and keeps to it. We can neglect the responsibility that is ours, or overstep into what belongs to another, or despise our own task as too small; but in the tabernacle's service each had his appointed duty, the Kohathites to carry and Eleazar to oversee, and each was to keep to it. Faithfulness is doing well the part that is yours. Do your own appointed task faithfully, neither neglecting your responsibility nor grasping after another's. Do your own appointed task faithfully, keeping to the responsibility that is yours rather than neglecting it or overstepping into another's, as in the ordering of the tabernacle's transport each group and person had a specific, bounded duty, the sons of Kohath carrying the holy things but not touching them and Eleazar charged with the oil, the incense, and the oversight of the tabernacle; for in the work of God and in life together each of us has our own appointed part and responsibility to carry faithfully, and the work goes well when each does his own part faithfully and keeps to it, rather than neglecting his responsibility, overstepping into what belongs to another, or despising his own task as too small, so that there is a humility and an order in doing faithfully the task that is ours, which serves the whole.

Lord, in the ordering of the tabernacle's transport, each group and each person is given a specific, appointed duty, and is to keep to it. The sons of Kohath were to carry the holy things but not touch them directly; Eleazar was charged with the oil, the incense, and the oversight of the tabernacle. The duty of Eleazar was the oil for the light, the sweet incense, and the oversight of all the tabernacle, the instruction says. Everyone had his own appointed task and responsibility, each keeping to his assigned duty. This shows the value of each faithfully doing his own appointed task. Show me how carefully the duties are assigned and bounded. The Kohathites had their task, to carry the holy things, but were not to touch them directly; Eleazar had his charge. Each had his own appointed responsibility, and each was to keep to it, neither neglecting it nor overstepping into what was not his. This reflects a good pattern for serving you and working together. In your work, and in life together, each of us has our own appointed part, our own responsibility to carry faithfully. The work goes well when each does his own part faithfully and keeps to it, rather than neglecting his responsibility or overstepping into what belongs to another. There is a humility and an order in doing faithfully the task that is mine, and not despising it or grasping after another's. Take that to my heart, for I have an appointed task and responsibility, and the work goes well when I do my own part faithfully and keep to it. Keep me from neglecting the responsibility that is mine, overstepping into what belongs to another, or despising my own task as too small; help me do my own appointed task faithfully, Lord, keeping to the part that is mine, that I may serve the whole with humility and order.