1 Then the Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying, 2 “Take a census of all the congregation of the sons of Israel, by their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, every male, head by head 3 from twenty years old and upward, whoever is able to go out to war in Israel, you and Aaron shall number them by their armies. -Numbers 1:1-4 NASB
All of the men, head by head, from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war in Israel numbered 603,550. This list of men did not include the tribe of Levi as they were not given to war, but to serve the LORD on behalf of the people of Israel in everything that was required for the tabernacle. Two groups of men in Israel. One group served by preparing themselves for war. The other served by preparing themselves to lead in worship.
When I was in the Army, the non-active duty guys were looked down on because they eventually went back home to live a somewhat normal life. We viewed them as pretend soldiers only playing one weekend a month and one month a year. As we viewed it, the real men were active duty and the boys went home to mama. You might be asking, “What does this have to do with Numbers chapter 1?” The armies of Israel, made up by the other eleven tribes were the real men of Israel. The tribe of Levi was given a softer, non-aggressive work. It seemed to be a life of linens, poles, instruments, and making house. They put the tent of meeting up and took it down. They carried the holy things. How long do you think it took before these two groups developed a view much like that of mine in the army?
Remember what became of the worship of God only a couple of generations later. The Levite man who wandered looking for a place and landed in the house of an idolater of the house of Ephraim only to become his personal priest (Judges 17). After the people had returned from exile, the Levites were still looked down on. Nehemiah had reordered everything before he had to go back to his post as the king’s cupbearer. During his leave, the Levites were not cared for and had to leave off their work of worship just to survive (Nehemiah 13:10-14). Too often we judge things in our lives as not being fair. It doesn’t seem fair that the sons of Israel had to sacrifice their lives in war, while the sons of Levi didn’t. It doesn’t seem fair that they didn’t have to pull long nights guarding the nation. It doesn’t seem fair that the Levites received the choice pieces of meat from the sacrifices.
The concept of fairness is really what drove the unhealthy view that I had of the non-active duty army guys. The concept of fairness still plagues us today. I would even guess it is something that you have to struggle against. It doesn’t seem fair that you are at home, while the rest of us gather. It doesn’t seem fair that you are restricted by health, while the rest of us are free to run. It doesn’t seem fair that you suffer, while we rejoice. I would remind you that it was the LORD who separated the men of war from the men of worship. It is still the LORD who separates us today. He didn’t separate the men for their harm, nor does He separate us for harm today. It isn’t about fairness, rather it is about faithfulness. Each of us must be faithful to serve the LORD in the capacities He has given us. Be faithful to sing praises to the Lord, to pray to Him, to read His word, and to share His love right where you are today. Be faithful.