January 26, 2022 - Numbers 1-4

A census is taken of “all in Israel who are able to go to war” (1:3). There’s work to be done. The people must be prepared to fight for their own interests and to see God’s promises fulfilled. After the census is taken, the Lord gives instructions for service at the tabernacle. The sons of Kohath, the sons of Gershon, the sons of Merari, and others are given their duties one by one. All pitch in and everything gets done. This is sort of the Old Testament parallel, it seems, of Paul’s words to the church that every part of the body has its part to play. Remember that encouragement? “We are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love” (Ephesians 4:15-16). Perhaps our prayer, today, should be: “Lord, help me always faithfully to carry my load.”

A charge to keep I have,

A God to glorify,

A never-dying soul to save,

And fit it for the sky.

To serve the present age,

My calling to fulfill;

Oh, may it all my pow’rs engage

To do my Master’s will! -- Charles Wesley (1762)