They may assist
. . . but they themselves must not do the work (Numbers 8:26).
If you read chapter
seven, you probably join me in being thankful there were only twelve tribes. Am
I right? Every day representatives brought offerings on behalf of their tribes.
The first day Nahshon brought Judah’s gift. The second day Nethanel brought
Issachar’s gift. The third day Eliab of Zebulon, the fourth day Elizur, the
fifth day… and day after day another leader, another tribe, another gift for
the tabernacle. After 12 tribes in 12 days and 89 repetitive verses, I have to
admit I am always ready for chapter eight.
Chapter eight
includes Israel’s blueprint for apprenticeship, career, mentoring and
retirement. Notice that Levite men could start working at age 25. Then after a
25-year career, they encountered the Levitical retirement requirement. But they
didn’t move to Florida to play shuffleboard the rest of their lives; they
retired to teach. They initiated the age old mentoring formula: 1) I do; 2) I
do, you help; 3) you do, I help; 4) you do. Hey, it still makes good sense.
Did someone come
alongside you when you were getting your start, or did you just get thrown in
the deep end of the pool? Congratulations on your appointment! Sink
or swim! I know too often that’s
the way we do things in the church. But every one of us should be recruiting
and training our replacement. Who mentored you? Who are you mentoring?
TODAY’S MEDITATION
When you hang up your spurs,
who’s going to take your place? Ask God to whom the mantle should be passed.
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