Originally posted: 05/27/2019
Allocate: to set apart for a particular purpose.
Since I find the camping experience more than challenging and somewhat daunting, I am utterly fascinated by the thought of some two million people setting up and breaking down camp to move.
But there was so much more than their personal tents, belongings, and children. There was the sacred tabernacle, the place of His Holy Dwelling, that must be cautiously and carefully disassembled and arranged for the journey before God’s people would take their first step.
The LORD made prudent provision for the wise and careful transport of His tent of meeting, the place of His Dwelling, in His Allocation of Assignments.
Consider His Allocation of Assignments
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 2 “Take a census of the descendants of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, by their families, by their fathers’ households, 3 from thirty years and upward, even to fifty years old, all who enter the service to do the work in the tent of meeting. 4 This is the work of the descendants of Kohath in the tent of meeting, concerning the most holy things…” (4:1-4… through verse 15).
Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,22 “Take a census of the sons of Gershon also, by their fathers’ households, by their families; 23 from thirty years and upward to fifty years old, you shall number them; all who enter to perform the service to do the work in the tent of meeting. 24 This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, in serving and in carrying…” (4:21-24… through verse 28).
“As for the sons of Merari, you shall number them by their families, by their fathers’ households;30 from thirty years and upward even to fifty years old, you shall number them, everyone who enters the service to do the work of the tent of meeting. 31 Now this is the duty of their loads…” (4:29-31… through verse 33).
According to the commandment of the Lord through Moses, they were numbered, everyone by his serving or carrying; thus these were his numbered men, just as the Lord had commanded Moses, (4:49).
- His Allocation of Assignments was determined solely by His choosing.
- His Allocation of Assignments counted and named those eligible for His service.
- His Allocation of Assignments established the criteria for service.
- His Allocation of Assignments defined their duties and works of service.
- His Allocation of Assignments was not up for discussion or input.
How do we respond to His Allocation of Assignments?
As we consider His Allocations of Assignments, let us remember He never changes.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever, (Hebrews 13:8).
When we place our faith in what only Jesus can accomplish for our salvation by His sinless life, death, and resurrection, His Holy Spirit then makes His dwelling place within us.
Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16).
As the temple of the Holy Spirit, it is always His Allocation of Assignments that must govern who, when, where, and how to move for His service.
- His Allocation of Assignments is determined solely by His choosing.
- …just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him, (Ephesians 1:4).
- But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; (1 Peter 2:9).
- His Allocation of Assignments counts and names those eligible for His service.
- Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God,” (John 3:3).
- “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth,” (John 4:23-24).
- His Allocation of Assignments establishes the criteria for service.
- But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. 26 It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, 27 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many,” (Matthew 20:25-28).
- “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. 26 If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him,” (John 12:24-26).
- His Allocation of Assignments defines our duties and works of service.
- For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: (Romans 12:4-6).
- But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired, (1 Corinthians 12:18).
- His Allocation of Assignments is not up for discussion or input.
- Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me,” (Matthew 16:24).
- “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments,” (John 14:15).
It is important to note, while distinction is made about the types of service for transporting the tabernacle in “serving or carrying,” there was but one unified goal in mind: moving the tent of meeting as He commanded.
…everyone who could enter to do the work of service and the work of carrying in the tent of meeting… 49 According to the commandment of the Lord through Moses, they were numbered, everyone by his serving or carrying; thus these were his numbered men, just as the Lord had commanded Moses, (4:47, 49).
Whether we are “serving or carrying,” let us entrust His Allocation of Assignments that we may wisely and carefully move as His living temple, just as He commands.
Let us joyfully accept His Allocation of Assignments; that we may be equipped and built up to go when, where, and how He commands; that we would become His tent of meeting to every person we encounter.
And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; (Ephesians 4:11-12).