NUMBERS LESSON 7
We will begin this lesson in Numbers 4:21 "And the LORD spake
unto Moses, saying,"
In the last lesson, and in this lesson the message is for the
Levitical tribe. We see, again, the chain of Command of these messages
from God. They go first to Moses.
Numbers 4:22 Take also the sum of the sons of Gershon, throughout
the houses of their fathers, by their families;
Gershon is a descendent of Levi. This is not speaking to the
Kohathites now. God commanded Moses to count the tribe of Gershon.
Numbers 4:23 "From thirty years old and upward until fifty years
old shalt thou number them; all that enter in to perform the service,
to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation."
These, again, are for service in the ministry, and their best
years are from the time they are thirty to the age of fifty. A man's
physical stamina is the greatest during these years.
Numbers 4:24 "This [is] the service of the families of the
Gershonites, to serve, and for burdens:"
It appears, they are to work as burden-bearers of the things of
the sanctuary. The ministry consists of more than just the high
priest. It takes a number of people working together, in the job God
has called them to, to make the tabernacle, or the church, to work.
Each call is different, and each call is important. Each person must
seek to find God's will for his own life. Do not look at someone
else's call, and wish it were yours. God knows what you can do the
best. He has called you to service in a place where you can excel.
Numbers 4:25 "And they shall bear the curtains of the tabernacle,
and the tabernacle of the congregation, his covering, and the covering
of the badgers' skins that [is] above upon it, and the hanging for the
door of the tabernacle of the congregation,"
This tribe does not carry the boards. They carry the curtains,
and various coverings. They are responsible to carry them, and even to
hang them, when the tabernacle stops.
Numbers 4:26 "And the hangings of the court, and the hanging for
the door of the gate of the court, which [is] by the tabernacle and by
the altar round about, and their cords, and all the instruments of
their service, and all that is made for them: so shall they serve."
Again, we see things that are used with the curtains and the
badger's skins. They keep all of this together, so it will be less
difficult to set it up, when the tabernacle stops.
Numbers 4:27 "At the appointment of Aaron and his sons shall be
all the service of the sons of the Gershonites, in all their burdens,
and in all their service: and ye shall appoint unto them in charge all
their burdens."
Aaron and his sons will appoint a job for each of them to do in
service for the Lord.
Numbers 4:28 "This [is] the service of the families of the sons
of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation: and their charge
[shall be] under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest."
Ithamar, the son of Aaron, was in charge of this particular group
and the particular jobs they were to care for. Ithamar was a priest.
Ithamar had been involved in the construction of the tabernacle.
Exodus 38:21 "This is the sum of the tabernacle, [even] of the
tabernacle of testimony, as it was counted, according to the
commandment of Moses, [for] the service of the Levites, by the hand of
Ithamar, son to Aaron the priest."
Numbers 4:29 "As for the sons of Merari, thou shalt number them
after their families, by the house of their fathers;"
Merari was the third of the Levitical tribes. They were chosen to
serve the Lord, the same as the others. We have mentioned before, that
God has a specific job for each of us to do. I Corinthians 12:5 "And
there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord."
I Corinthians 12:4 "Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same
Spirit." Just because we have a different job than someone else, does
not mean we are not called of God.
Numbers 4:30 "From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty
years old shalt thou number them, every one that entereth into the
service, to do the work of the tabernacle of the congregation."
The age is the same as for those who were priests and high
priest. The caring for the church is just as sober a call, as being a
minister.
Numbers 4:31 "And this [is] the charge of their burden, according
to all their service in the tabernacle of the congregation; the boards
of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and
sockets thereof," Numbers 4:32 "And the pillars of the court round
about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords, with all
their instruments, and with all their service: and by name ye shall
reckon the instruments of the charge of their burden."
This is stating, again, the items they were responsible for. The
boards were heavier, than the curtains the tribe of Gershon was
responsible for. Everyone had to do their particular job, for the
tabernacle to be set up, and function properly.
Numbers 4:33 "This [is] the service of the families of the sons
of Merari, according to all their service, in the tabernacle of the
congregation, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest."
Each of the items had a specific place in the tabernacle, so they
had different people to care for the same thing each time, so as to
not get them mixed up.
Numbers 4:34 "And Moses and Aaron and the chief of the
congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites after their families,
and after the house of their fathers,"
We see this numbering was done by Moses and Aaron, because of its
importance in the tabernacle.
Numbers 4:35 "From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty
years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in
the tabernacle of the congregation:"
Again, they re-emphasize they must not be extremely young, or
extremely old. They needed them to be old enough to be responsible,
and young enough to be physically able to keep up the work.
Numbers 4:36 "And those that were numbered of them by their
families were two thousand seven hundred and fifty." Numbers 4:37
"These [were] they that were numbered of the families of the
Kohathites, all that might do service in the tabernacle of the
congregation, which Moses and Aaron did number according to the
commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses."
The tribe of Kohath numbered 2,750. We remember these were like
Moses, Aaron, Aaron's sons, and those in training to minister in the
tabernacle. They handled the holy things.
Numbers 4:38 "And those that were numbered of the sons of
Gershon, throughout their families, and by the house of their
fathers," Numbers 4:39 "From thirty years old and upward even unto
fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the
work in the tabernacle of the congregation," Numbers 4:40 "Even those
that were numbered of them, throughout their families, by the house of
their fathers, were two thousand and six hundred and thirty."
The tribe of Gershon numbered 2,630. They handled the curtains,
and the ties, and the veil.
Numbers 4:41 "These [are] they that were numbered of the families
of the sons of Gershon, of all that might do service in the tabernacle
of the congregation, whom Moses and Aaron did number according to the
commandment of the LORD."
We must, also, notice that God chose them to do the work they
were doing. He sent His wishes through Moses to their leaders. They
did just as they knew was the will of God.
Numbers 4:42 "And those that were numbered of the families of
the sons of Merari, throughout their families, by the house of their
fathers," Numbers 4:43 "From thirty years old and upward even unto
fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the
work in the tabernacle of the congregation," Numbers 4:44 "Even those
that were numbered of them after their families, were three thousand
and two hundred."
We see that the tribe of Merari numbered 3,200. This tribe was in
charge of the boards and the heavy framing for the tabernacle.
Numbers 4:45 "These [be] those that were numbered of the families
of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the
word of the LORD by the hand of Moses."
Even though the message came from God to each of these tribes,
the message came through Moses and Aaron. The tribe accepted their
call, as did the tribe of Gershon.
Numbers 4:46 "All those that were numbered of the Levites, whom
Moses and Aaron and the chief of Israel numbered, after their
families, and after the house of their fathers," Numbers 4:47 "From
thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that
came to do the service of the ministry, and the service of the burden
in the tabernacle of the congregation," Numbers 4:48 "Even those that
were numbered of them, were eight thousand and five hundred and
fourscore."
These are the same statements that have been made of these tribes
individually. The difference, here, is they are spoken of as a unit.
The total number of young men that were the age to serve was 8,580.
Numbers 4:49 "According to the commandment of the LORD they were
numbered by the hand of Moses, every one according to his service, and
according to his burden: thus were they numbered of him, as the LORD
commanded Moses."
This again, explains that the numbering was by command of God.
The message came through Moses. One of the reasons this is stressed
over and over, is the fact that God gets angry when you number the
people without His permission. David found this out, when he numbered
the people, and God greatly punished him for it. II Samuel 24:10 "And
David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And
David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done:
and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy
servant; for I have done very foolishly." I Chronicles 21:10 "Go and
tell David, saying, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three [things]:
choose thee one of them, that I may do [it] unto thee." I Chronicles
21:11 "So Gad came to David, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD,
Choose thee" I Chronicles 21:12 "Either three years' famine; or three
months to be destroyed before thy foes, while that the sword of thine
enemies overtaketh [thee]; or else three days the sword of the LORD,
even the pestilence, in the land, and the angel of the LORD destroying
throughout all the coasts of Israel. Now therefore advise thyself what
word I shall bring again to him that sent me." I Chronicles 21:14
"So the LORD sent pestilence upon Israel: and there fell of Israel
seventy thousand men."
Numbers 7 Questions
1. This lesson is to the ___________ tribe.
2. What age males were to be counted of the Gershons?
3. The tribe of Gershon are to work as __________ __________.
4. Who really makes a church, or a tabernacle, work?
5. Each person must seek to find ________ _______ for his life.
6. What is the tribe of Gershon to do?
7. Who tells them what their specific job is?
8. What specific person is their overseer?
9. Quote 1 Corinthians chapter 12 verse 5.
10. There are diversities of ________, but the same Spirit.
11. What was the tribe of Merari responsible for?
12. Who numbered them?
13. How many were numbered of the tribe of Kohath?
14. How many were numbered of the tribe of Gershon?
15. How many were numbered of the tribe of Merari?
16. The numbering was by command of _____.
17. What had David done, that was so bad in God's sight?
18. What three choices of punishment did he have?
19. What punishment came?
20. How many were killed during the punishment?
21. Do you think we should number our people without God's permission?
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