Called to Carry

Meaning of Carry

Support and move someone or something from one place to another.

Biblical View of Carry

Then David said, none ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them hath the LORD chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister unto him for ever. 1st Chronicles15:2 NIV

How many people does it take to run a large Church? According to the Bible it took 8,580 Levite’s to care for and carry the Tabernacle under the direction of Aaron and his sons, whom God had put in charge.

From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that came to do the service of the ministry, and the service of the burden in the tabernacle of the congregation.

Even those that were numbered of them, were eight thousand and five hundred and fourscore. Numbers 4:47-48 KJV

Moses is the author of the book of Numbers, according to Numbers 4:16 -19 and Exodus 28:1 God gave everyone specific job descriptions.

“Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest, is to have charge of the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the regular grain offering and the anointing oil. He is to overseer of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, including its holy furnishings and articles.”

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron,

“See that the Kohathite tribal clans are not destroyed from among the Levites

So that they may live and not die when they come near the most holy things, do this for them: Aaron and his sons are to go into the sanctuary and assign to each man his work and what he is to carry. Numbers 4”16-19 NIV

And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons.

Exodus 28:1 NIV

According to Numbers 3:17 Kothath was a Kohathites one of Levi’s son who were called to carry the objects associated with the sanctuary: just as their leaders were called to be in charge. Aaron and his sons prepared the holy things to be moved when God said so, and then the Kohathites came to do the carrying. Sometimes we as Christians are chosen to carry but we are disobedient and want to be the leader when we are call to carry.

These were the names of the sons of Levi:

Gershon, Kohath and Merari. Numbers 3:17 NIV

Two generations later, Korah, Kohath’s grandson was mentioned in Numbers 16:1 and others of his peers became insolent and incited a rebellion along with 250 community leaders.

Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men: Numbers 16:1KJV

In those days leaders are the one who is in charge or commands a group, organization or country, so they came to Moses on Aaron and told them that they have gone too far and what right do you have to act as though they are greater than anyone else among all those people of the Lord?

And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord? Numbers 16:3 Numbers KJV

In other words they want to be in charge:

To be a leader

The priest

Not the grunt workers

And he hath brought thee near to him, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also? Numbers 16:10 KJV

Being in charge looked like so much fun then being called to carry! But God had not put then in that position. Moses reminded them, “Does it seem a small thing to you that the God of Israel has chosen you from among all the people of Israel to be near him as you serve and to stand before the people to minister to them? He has given the special ministry only to you”

Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the Lord, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them? And he hath brought thee near to him, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also? Numbers 16:9-10 KJV

But they refuse to accept their position and want more the rebellion ended in their death it was they who had “gone too far”

There is great joy in accepting the place God has assigned us among his people. Paul tells us in the New Testament that confusion and divisions come when we write our own job descriptions. (1st Corinthians 12:4-31) A sense of contentment and belonging comes when we discover niche. No ministry should be seen as a “small thing”, for God has given a special ministry “only to you”. Have you been called? Then carry with joy and pride. For God choose you for that special task.

Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.

And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

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.

For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

For the body is not one member, but many.

If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

And if they were all one member, where were the body?

But now are they many members, yet but one body.

And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:

And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked.

That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracle, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.