Numbers

Numbers 4: God guards those who serve Him

Begin in prayer

Before we learn how God protected those who carried His holy tent, let us bow before Him with care. Ask Him for willing hearts that honour His Word and see our need of Christ.

You have commanded your precepts, that we should fully obey them.

Psalm 119:4

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Teach us to serve You with care, and show us how Jesus brings sinners into Your holy presence. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

God tells Moses and Aaron to count the Levites aged thirty to fifty who will carry the Tent of Meeting. Before the Kohathites carry the holy furnishings, the priests must cover them. The carriers are forbidden to touch the holy things or go in to see them, on pain of death. God assigns the curtains and coverings to Gershon’s family, and the frame, pillars and pegs to Merari’s family. Each man receives his service and his burden, so the whole tent can travel as God commands.

As you read Numbers 4, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God assigns His servants their work and teaches them to honour His holiness.

Moving God’s tent is holy work, and God cares for the people who carry it. The priests cover the holy things before the Kohathites come near. The carriers must neither touch the holy things nor go in to see them, or they will die. Aaron and his sons must protect them by giving each man his own task. Other families carry the curtains and the frame under the same priestly care. Even a peg has someone appointed to carry it. Please show your children how careful service honours the Lord whose presence is among His people.

How does Numbers 4 show us that God assigns His servants their work and teaches them to honour His holiness?

God’s holiness must be honoured by those who serve Him.

A useful job never gives a person leave to ignore God’s command. The Kohathites must carry what the priests have covered without touching the holy things. The warning of death teaches them how serious it is to approach the holy God.

God gives His servants clear work and careful protection.

Aaron and his sons must tell each Kohathite what to carry. God commands this so the workers may live when they approach the holy things. Leaders must take care that those under them serve as God has commanded.

God values careful service in every part of His tent.

Some men carry holy furnishings, while others carry curtains, boards or pegs. Each burden helps the whole tent move to its next resting place. God gives even the small pieces to someone’s care, so humble work deserves faithful attention.

Memorise

According to the commandment of Yahweh they were counted by Moses, everyone according to his service, and according to his burden.

Numbers 4:49

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, where am I careless about God’s holiness and in need of Christ’s mercy?

God tells the priests to appoint each man his burden “that they may live, and not die”. His commands guard the men who carry His holy things. No one may treat His presence as an ordinary thing.

We have treated God lightly, and our sin deserves death. Jesus entered God’s presence for His people through His own blood, as Hebrews 9 verse 12 explains. At the cross He suffered the punishment of their guilt in their place. He rose from the grave with their redemption secured. His sacrifice is complete and enough for their whole salvation.

So turn from your sin and put your faith in Jesus. All who trust His cleansing blood receive forgiveness. Come with reverence and hope. The Savior who has paid for sin teaches His people to serve the holy God with willing hearts.

Parent's note

Tell your children that serving God calls for reverence, and Jesus alone makes guilty people fit to come near. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for caring for the servants who carried His holy tent, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth.

John 17:17

Father, thank You for giving Your servants work and for guarding their lives. Forgive our careless hearts. Please lead each of us to turn from sin and trust Jesus, whose sacrifice brings His people near You. Help us to serve You with care in the tasks You give this week. Amen.