Kohathites!!

“But Moses did not give any to the Kohathites, because they were to carry on their shoulders the holy things, for which they were responsible.” – Numbers 7:9 NIV

In Numbers 7, after the tabernacle had been completed, Moses received carts and oxen from the leaders of the tribes which were to be given to the Levites for their service. However, the Kohathites were not given a share of the carts and oxen.

The Kohathites were in charge of carrying the Holy things in the temple (the ark, table, candlestick, altars and the vessels in the sanctuary) Num. 3:31 and God had commanded that the Holy things are to be carried only on the shoulders of the Kohathites.
The Gershonites and Merarites on the other hand did receive carts and oxen to help them carry their designated items of the tabernacle. Num. 7:7-8, Num. 3:27-38

From the passage, it is obvious that the carts and oxen would have made the assignment of the Kohathites easier but there were clear terms on how God wanted them to execute their assignment. In our quest and desire to obey God, we must pay attention to the instructions attached.

We are not to choose convenience and ease at the expense of total obedience especially when we have the means to . There are some areas of our lives that will ease up as we get richer and become greater but there are some areas of our lives that God expects us to remain committed and consistent with practice regardless of our standing.

The Holy things of God must not be carried by carts and oxen but on our shoulders. Your prayer life must not dwindle because you became wealthy. Your Bible study shouldn’t be affected by your knowledge and exposure. Your service in the house of God should not be halted because you’re influential. Your spiritual life shouldn’t be delegated to your pastor because you are a big contributor to the church. You’re supposed to live it by yourself!

In 2Sam. 6:1-7, the Israelites disobeyed and carried the ark of the covenant in a brand new cart to be brought from Baalah to Jerusalem. Along the road, the oxen stumbled and Uzzah took hold of the ark because it was about to fall. The anger of the Lord burned against Uzzah and struck him dead right beside the ark.
Was God’s anger against Uzzah because he was not a Kohathite? No. His anger was because they had disobeyed the command of how the Holy things of God are to be treated.

I entreat us, brethren, to follow the ancient paths on how to walk with God. There’s no need for innovations and modifications. We must carry the Holy things of God on our shoulders and not on a cart. We are to offer our bodies to God and not just our money. We are to live for God regardless of the circumstances and not only when it’s convenient.

Although the things they carried on their shoulders were heavy, they never stumbled because the strength of the Lord is made perfect in our weakness. Choose to obey God to the latter.

Further reading: II Corinthians 12:9, Romans 12:1, Jeremiah 6:16