THE NEW TESTAMENT KOHATHITES

"This shall be the service of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation, about the most holy things...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..." (Numbers 4:4–15)

When I first read this passage in Numbers about the sons of Kohath, it seemed like nothing more than a historical account—a recounting of the journey of the Israelites and the responsibilities assigned to them. But on closer inspection, I began to realise that this was no small assignment that had been entrusted to the Kohathites.

And then I began to wonder: Are we not, in our own way, Kohathites?

We, as Christians and ministers of God, are called to represent Jesus and bear witness to Him. In this sense, we are bearers of His sacred presence, and that means we cannot afford to live anyhow.

The Kohathites were called apart and entrusted with the responsibility of carrying the most holy things in the tabernacle. The Ark of the Covenant, in particular, represented God's presence among His people in the Old Testament. But now, under the New Covenant, the Holy Spirit dwells in us as believers. We are His temple, and our lives are to reflect His presence.

Therefore, as those who bear the presence of the Holy Spirit, we must be attentive to His leading, walk in sanctification, and live in obedience to His instructions.

One thing that stands out to me in this passage is how the Lord gave the Kohathites specific instructions concerning the discharge of their duties. They had been chosen for a sacred assignment, but their calling did not exempt them from following instructions.

The fact that God has entrusted us with something sacred does not take away the place of instruction, nor does it diminish the necessity of obedience.

As much as the Lord has entrusted us with various assignments and burdens, we are mandated to carry them out according to His will and in the manner He has prescribed. The Kohathites were chosen by God for a special assignment, but they still had to do it God's way. To contravene His instructions was to put themselves in danger.

The same principle applies to us today. Whether in our businesses, ministries, places of service, or the various burdens the Lord has placed upon our hearts, we must remember that we are accountable to Him for how we carry out what He has entrusted to us.

We cannot claim to represent God and then disregard His instructions. We cannot claim to bear His presence and live in a manner that contradicts His nature.

The Lord is sacred. His name is sacred. His work is sacred. And the things He entrusts to us must be handled with reverence.

We must guard these responsibilities jealously, not by doing whatever seems right in our own eyes, but by carefully following His instructions and remaining obedient to His will.

Being chosen is a privilege, but it is also a responsibility. And if we are going to be faithful bearers of His presence, we must learn to carry what He has entrusted to us His way, not ours.