This chapter covers the work of the Levites (Kohathites, Gershonites and Merarites).
All people assigned to work were male from 30 to 50 years old.
The service of the Kohathites related to the tent of meeting concerned the most holy things.
The service of the Gershonites consisted on serving and bearing burdens: carrying the curtains of the tabernalce, and the tent of meeting with its covering, etc (see Numbers 4:25-28).
The service of the Merarites consisted on carrying the frames of the tabernacle and the pillars of the court with all of its accessories (4:29-33).
Something I found very interesting from this chapter was about the work of the Kohathites carrying the most holy things.
Aaron and his sons were to cover all the most holy things before the Kohathites carried them. They couldn't look into them or touch them or they'd die.
You can read the whole process in Numbers 4:5-15. Most of the things were to be covered with a blue or purple cloth and fine leather.
On verse 17 God tells Moses and Aaron the reason for so much covering and wrapping stuff so the Kohathites wouldn't come in contact with the most holy things and die.
"The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 18 “Let not the tribe of the clans of the Kohathites be destroyed from among the Levites, 19 but deal thus with them, that they may live and not die when they come near to the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in and appoint them each to his task and to his burden, 20 but they shall not go in to look on the holy things even for a moment, lest they die.' "
God is Holy. The things used for His service are holy because of His presence. Any contact with such holiness will bring death. He does not desire for anybody to die because of this. He desires us to live just as He desired for the Kohathites who served Him to live and not die. That's why He made provisions, that's why He warned Aaron and his sons to instruct the Kohathites so they wouldn't die.
2 Corinthians 5:17-19
"17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.[b] The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling[c] the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation."
The thought of a God so great, so majestic and so gracious and loving overwhelms me. When I see His desire to be with me and I see myself, I am convicted of my unworthiness, I am humbled. I am left with no argument in front of such kindness.
All leaders, as Aaron and his sons, have this incredible responsibility to teach what the Lord has commanded us faithfully so that others may live and not die.
He has always and forever wanted us to live with Him. So, He made a provision. In the Old Testament through the whole ritual we read on Numbers (shadow of what was to come)- He is so Amazing, so Intelligent, so Beautiful!- and then He sends Jesus, to cover us, to reconcile us to Himself. I can see now everything pointing at Jesus.
No matter where you are, what you have done or who you think you are. God desires to be with you and He has made a way for this. He is not unapproachable. He has provided Jesus because He wants us to live and not die.
