The Book Of Numbers | A Journey Toward Human Freedom Under God's AuthoritySample

"A Servant Leadership"

In Numbers 4, God speaks to Moses and Aaron regarding the Kohathites. In Numbers 4:19b it says that God directed every man from of Kohathite descent to be “appointed a task and to a burden.” At the command of the Lord we are told in 4:49 that “according to the commandment of the Lord through Moses, they were listed, each one with his task of serving or carrying. Thus they were listed by him, as the Lord commanded Moses.” In verse 1-15 it tells us that Kohath’s task within the temple was to take care of the most holy things. 

What is important to note from the start is not so much the specifics of what was to be carried, but the nature by which they were assigned. God’s system of authority is not one of control or of cowardice, but one of service. 

Everyone within God’s system had a role and function; not only before God, but unto one another. Though each person’s role in Israel carried with it a different set of responsibilities and items for transport, each job was essential enough for God to include it in the Bible. Everyone had their responsibility and was in authority, and in another respect everyone was under authority. In vs. 19 of Numbers chapter 4, God says that if the Kohathites were to wane in their care of the Holy things, they must be “thusly dealt with.” This “dealing with,” was done in order to keep the line of holiness sketched clearly. 

It is God’s plan for leadership to protect his image in and amongst the people. It is his plan to help his people through loving them and, when called for, in executing extreme correction and discipline when his house is profaned through lack of service. Without such a system in place, people might venture into areas of lesser satisfaction. If a root of rejection towards authority is allowed to enter at any point, people might fall prey to letting something else or someone else rule over them in dealing “thusly with them.” This allows for another round of slavery to enter at the hands of a new taskmaster, and ultimately winds up imprisoning people all over again. 

When reading, consider your role of being “in” and “under” authority in service to others, and the role correction plays in following God in safety.