Ready for battle, ready to serve

We now reach the book of Numbers.  This book was named so because the people were numbered twice in this book.

The first two chapters detail the numbering of 11 of the 12 tribes of Israel. 

The purpose of this numbering was to see how many people were available for battle when the Israelites entered Canaan. 

After the people were numbered, they were assigned a certain place in the camp, basically placed there by tribe.

The next two chapters detail the numbering of the last tribe, the Levites and detailed their responsibilities.

The words I see most often in these 4 chapters are “assigned,” “set out,” “appointed,” and “responsible for.” 

I think we can get two things out of this.

First, as God’s people, we are in a spiritual war.  In Ephesians 6:12, it says,

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

And as part of God’s army, we are assigned a certain place in that war, just as the Israelites were. 

All of us are assigned to take the gospel of Jesus Christ into a dying world in order to set free those who are captive to Satan’s kingdom. 

Wherever you are, whatever you do, you have your place in that battle.  Whether you are in your neighborhood, or in your workplace, or in your school, God has called us to war against Satan and his forces.

But just as the Levites were called to serve in the tabernacle, we’re also called to serve within the body of Christ, that is, within his church. 

I’m not just talking about serving in the church building.  But serving his people with the gifts God has given you. 

As it says in Romans 12,

Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.

If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.

If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. (Romans 12:4-8)

Soldiers.  Servants.  That’s our calling as Christians while we’re here on earth. 

May we all take our assigned places that God has set out for us, and fulfill the responsibilities he has appointed each one of us for.