We are in Numbers chapter four with our word for today which is a phrase. מַשָּׂאcarrying, load, burden, lifting, bearing. It is used 45 times in the Old Testament, 10 times in our chapter. Let’s look at some of them. Numbers 4:15, 19, 24, 27, 31-32, 46-49 And when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, as the camp sets out, after that the sons of Kohath shall come לָשֵׂ֔את [this is a different form of our word with the same root word] to carry these, but they must not touch the holy things, lest they die. These are the things of the tent of meeting that the sons of Kohath are to מַשָּׂ֥א carry … 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 מַשָּׂאֽוֹ his burden … This is the service of the clans of the Gershonites, לַעֲבֹ֖ד וּלְמַשָּֽׂא [literally to serve to bear burdens] in serving and bearing burdens … All the service of the sons of the Gershonites shall be at the command of Aaron and his sons, in all that they are to מַשָּׂאָ֔ם carry and in all that they have to do. And you shall assign to their charge all that they are to מַשָּׂאָֽם carry … And this is what they are charged to מַשָּׂאָ֔ם לְכָל־עֲבֹדָתָ֖ם [we have another use where our word is used with service] carry, as the whole of their service in the tent of meeting: the frames of the tabernacle, with its bars, pillars, and bases, and the pillars around the court with their bases, pegs, and cords, with all their equipment and all their accessories. And you shall list by name the objects that they are required to מַשָּׂאָֽם carry … All those who were listed of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the chiefs of Israel listed, by their clans and their fathers’ houses, from thirty years old up to fifty years old, everyone who could come to do the עֲבֹדַ֧ת עֲבֹדָ֛ה [this is just the same word used twice so literally the service of service or the ministry of ministry] service of ministry וַעֲבֹדַ֥ת מַשָּׂ֖א and the service of bearing burdens in the tent of meeting, those listed were 8,580. 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. Did you see that our word is described as a service to God twice in our chapter? Throughout the Bible we see two basic kinds of ministry. There is service that is out front, direct, more visible. And then there is service that supports those who are out front that behind the scenes, indirect, less visible, in the background. The Holy Spirit writing through Paul identifies this in teaching about Spiritual Gifts that empower us to serve God effectively both in his church and as his church. I’ll close with these great passages that remind us of the many different kinds of service to God all for the purpose of glorifying Him. 1 Peter 4:10-11 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Romans 12:4-8 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
