The Church Member

In the Book of Numbers, we find God taking the initiative concerning His plans and purposes for His people. God is a God of order and discipline, so He is organizing His people. The tribe of Levi was chosen and separated from the other tribes for a specific duty.

“Thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among the children of Israel: and the Levites shall be mine. And after that shall the Levites go in to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation: and thou shalt cleanse them, and offer them for an offering. For they are wholly given unto me from among the children of Israel; instead of such as open every womb, even instead of the firstborn of all the children of Israel, have I taken them unto me.” Numbers 8:14-16.

The Levites were chosen for a personal relationship with Jehovah. They had a specific service to perform.

“But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle.” Numbers 1:50.

The sons of Levi had their own particular ministry. And these specific tasks were appointed by the High Priest under the will of God.

The Gershonites had to look after the curtains of the tabernacle and carry them on the journey. The Kohathites carried the furniture and the sacred vessels from inside of the tabernacle. And the Merarites transported the boards and other props of the tabernacle.

This is a picture or type of church today. Each church member has a specific service to perform for the church to develop and function as specified by God.

The Merarites who were responsible for the materials for the foundation and structure of the tabernacle can be compared to the modern evangelists and soul winners who go out and work in the pioneering work of forming a new local church in the wilderness.

Without the foundation and structure, there could be no tabernacle (church). The work of the Gershonites is a type of the modern pastor. The curtains, hangings and coverings typify for us the righteousness of Christ. It is the task of the pastor to stay with the newborn babes and to lead the flock into the growth of spiritual maturity.

The Kohathites were given the task of carrying the sacred vessels from within the tabernacle. This is a type of Bible teacher. The teacher speaks of deeper truths of sacred scriptures and conveys the message of the Word of God to God’s people.

It was necessary for all the Gershonites, Kohathites and Merarites to perform their duties to make possible the tabernacle to carry the whole council of God. It is the same in the modern church today. Each child of God in the church should pay faithful attention to their calling to complete the body called the church.

“For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.” 1 Corinthians 12:12.

When a church member is not performing the tasks and gifts given to them, the church is not functioning at maximum capacity. Each church member must seek God’s will for them and contribute to the church body.