Carts make heavy lifting lighter work. When I used to work in the shipyard, having a motorised cart for hauling tools and materials over long distances was critical for efficiency. Carts are also useful when moving multiple books, totes, or packages at once. One cart greatly reduces the amount of trips necessary to move items from one location to another. People might say the use of a cart is working smarter, not harder. This is usually true - but not always. God wisely directs us in what must be done and how to do it. Sometimes the way that seems easier and more efficient isn't the right way.
After the tabernacle was built, anointed, and sanctified by Moses, the princes of the people brought an offering of six carts and 12 oxen. Numbers 7:4-9 reads, "Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 5 "Accept these from them, that they may be used in doing the work of the tabernacle of meeting; and you shall give them to the Levites, to every man according to his service." 6 So Moses took the carts and the oxen, and gave them to the Levites. 7 Two carts and four oxen he gave to the sons of Gershon, according to their service; 8 and four carts and eight oxen he gave to the sons of Merari, according to their service, under the authority of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. 9 But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because theirs was the service of the holy things, which they carried on their shoulders." Moses distributed the oxen and carts to the Levites to help them in their service unto the LORD. Though true Levites, the sons of Kohath were not given carts. Their role was to carry the holy things of God upon their own shoulders.
The special role of the Kohathites is explained in detail in Numbers 4:1-20. Their privileged responsibility was to carry the most holy articles in the tabernacle when it was moved. The high priests and his sons were to cover the ark of the Covenant, table of showbread, lampstand, altar of incense, and all the instruments used in the service of God. The coverings of skin and cloth was for their protection. Things they were not permitted even to look upon they could carry when properly prepared. Once covered, the sons of Kohath were tasked to carry these items directed by the high priest as commanded in Numbers 4:15: "And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation." They were not to place any of the most holy things on a cart but to be carried on their shoulders. The most holy things were not to be treated as bricks, lumber, grain, or goods for trade: they were specially designed and made for use in the worship of God and should be treated as ordained by God.
What I find particularly special is the connection between the duties of the Kohathites and that of the high priest. Though the high priest was granted carts to be used by his authority, he was called to bear the names of the tribes of Israel on his shoulders before the LORD. Exodus 28:12 states, "And you shall put the two stones on the shoulders of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. So Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD on his two shoulders as a memorial." Even the Messiah revealed as Jesus Christ, both King and High Priest, would bear the government on His shoulders. It was prophesied in Isaiah 9:6, "For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." There are some burdens and responsibilities God has ordained men to carry in a particular manner, and this is even true concerning the Messiah.
A personal application for bearing burdens ordained by God is found in Galatians 6:2-5: "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For each one shall bear his own load." In ministering unto the LORD, we find ourselves with a weight of responsibility. We can succumb to the temptation of putting the ark of God on a cart as a common thing, to try to lighten our load in ways contrary to God's plan. We are called as one body to bear one another's burdens, but we are also called to carry our own load. Fatigue and burnout comes from the neglect of our responsibility before God to carry our divinely prescribed burden or trying to carry things for ourselves or others in a way God has not permitted. We are not to look at other people using "carts" and wish we might have a reprieve from our responsibilities before God, but to examine our own work. Ask yourself: am I faithfully carrying the thing God has called me to do? Am I taking shortcuts or shifting my duty onto the shoulders of others? Am I doing the right thing in the right way?
God did not load the Kohathites with unnecessary burdens, nor give them an impossible task. They were to submit to the guidance of the high priest and do as they were told. It is the same with every Christian, for Jesus is our High Priest. He has provided us wisdom and guidance through His Word and the Holy Spirit. We can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens us. Ensure every burden you carry has been first covered by Jesus and divinely distributed for you to shoulder in obedience. We will find ourselves strangely, amazingly helped and able to endure. Let us rejoice in the privileged duties with which God has tasked us, for even as we bear burdens on our shoulders our King and High Priest bears us upon His.
After the tabernacle was built, anointed, and sanctified by Moses, the princes of the people brought an offering of six carts and 12 oxen. Numbers 7:4-9 reads, "Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 5 "Accept these from them, that they may be used in doing the work of the tabernacle of meeting; and you shall give them to the Levites, to every man according to his service." 6 So Moses took the carts and the oxen, and gave them to the Levites. 7 Two carts and four oxen he gave to the sons of Gershon, according to their service; 8 and four carts and eight oxen he gave to the sons of Merari, according to their service, under the authority of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. 9 But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because theirs was the service of the holy things, which they carried on their shoulders." Moses distributed the oxen and carts to the Levites to help them in their service unto the LORD. Though true Levites, the sons of Kohath were not given carts. Their role was to carry the holy things of God upon their own shoulders.
The special role of the Kohathites is explained in detail in Numbers 4:1-20. Their privileged responsibility was to carry the most holy articles in the tabernacle when it was moved. The high priests and his sons were to cover the ark of the Covenant, table of showbread, lampstand, altar of incense, and all the instruments used in the service of God. The coverings of skin and cloth was for their protection. Things they were not permitted even to look upon they could carry when properly prepared. Once covered, the sons of Kohath were tasked to carry these items directed by the high priest as commanded in Numbers 4:15: "And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation." They were not to place any of the most holy things on a cart but to be carried on their shoulders. The most holy things were not to be treated as bricks, lumber, grain, or goods for trade: they were specially designed and made for use in the worship of God and should be treated as ordained by God.
What I find particularly special is the connection between the duties of the Kohathites and that of the high priest. Though the high priest was granted carts to be used by his authority, he was called to bear the names of the tribes of Israel on his shoulders before the LORD. Exodus 28:12 states, "And you shall put the two stones on the shoulders of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. So Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD on his two shoulders as a memorial." Even the Messiah revealed as Jesus Christ, both King and High Priest, would bear the government on His shoulders. It was prophesied in Isaiah 9:6, "For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." There are some burdens and responsibilities God has ordained men to carry in a particular manner, and this is even true concerning the Messiah.
A personal application for bearing burdens ordained by God is found in Galatians 6:2-5: "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For each one shall bear his own load." In ministering unto the LORD, we find ourselves with a weight of responsibility. We can succumb to the temptation of putting the ark of God on a cart as a common thing, to try to lighten our load in ways contrary to God's plan. We are called as one body to bear one another's burdens, but we are also called to carry our own load. Fatigue and burnout comes from the neglect of our responsibility before God to carry our divinely prescribed burden or trying to carry things for ourselves or others in a way God has not permitted. We are not to look at other people using "carts" and wish we might have a reprieve from our responsibilities before God, but to examine our own work. Ask yourself: am I faithfully carrying the thing God has called me to do? Am I taking shortcuts or shifting my duty onto the shoulders of others? Am I doing the right thing in the right way?
God did not load the Kohathites with unnecessary burdens, nor give them an impossible task. They were to submit to the guidance of the high priest and do as they were told. It is the same with every Christian, for Jesus is our High Priest. He has provided us wisdom and guidance through His Word and the Holy Spirit. We can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens us. Ensure every burden you carry has been first covered by Jesus and divinely distributed for you to shoulder in obedience. We will find ourselves strangely, amazingly helped and able to endure. Let us rejoice in the privileged duties with which God has tasked us, for even as we bear burdens on our shoulders our King and High Priest bears us upon His.
Wow. This just brought so much light to this scripture for me and the connection to the High priest and Christ Jesus are mind blowing. Thank you
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