"They're Gonna Need Help..."

After that, the Levites came to do their work at the tent of meeting under the supervision of Aaron and his sons. They did with the Levites just as the Lord commanded Moses.  Numbers 8:22

"They're Gonna Need Help..."
By Rev. William Dohle
Last Sunday was awesome at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Peoria!

It began with a tremendous service, with carols played by Debbie.  Then the sermon itself led right into the band's song where seven musicians each walked forward, one by one, to sing a Christmas version of "Halleluiah!" by Coen.  Talk about spine chilling!  Wow!

Then came the Christmas program itself.  The treats were already made and set out by our talented Ms. Amie, our youth director.  The kids all arrived via their parents and, an hour later, a cast of more than twenty, directed by three ladies (Ms. Amie and the two Jennifers), led us to the manger via posted signs.  The band sang again, this time recorded over the sound system.

It was awesome!

What was even better was how many people there were involved in the whole thing.  I can't even count the number of talented individuals it took to put it all together on Sunday.  From the band to the ushers to the organist to the kids to their parents to our youth director to the director ladies to the costume makers to all of those who attended.  The work

That's amazing!

It's something that couldn't have happened with just one or two of us.  It took a whole village of people to make it all work!

That's the insight this passage from Numbers gives us.  God sets apart an entire tribe of people, the Levites, to assist Aaron in tending worship.  Aaron from the beginning was always THE man.  He was THE mouthpiece of Moses, relaying everything that Moses tell him to the people and to Pharaoh.  When the tabernacle was set up, Aaron was THE MAN who tended the tabernacle and made sure that sacrifices were made properly.  Aaron seemed to be the ONLY person who could do the job too.  Even Aaron's own sons didn't do it right.  And they ended up dead!

So can you imagine the pressure that Aaron had riding on his shoulders.  He needed help!

And God answered him.  God set aside an entire tribe of people, the Levites, whose sole purpose was to help Aaron and become priests in his stead.

After you have purified the Levites and presented them as a wave offering, they are to come to do their work at the tent of meeting. ¹⁶ They are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to me. I have taken them as my own in place of the firstborn, the first male offspring from every Israelite woman. (Num. 8:15-16)

And they are given to the people and to Aaron.  As a gift and a helper!

From among all the Israelites, I have given the Levites as gifts to Aaron and his sons to do the work at the tent of meeting on behalf of the Israelites and to make atonement for them so that no plague will strike the Israelites when they go near the sanctuary. (Num. 8:19)

Can you imagine how relieved Aaron must have felt, knowing that the work of God was being done by others, not just him?  Can you see the smile on his face when he finally gets to sit down and relax after a hard day, knowing that others are caring for the people in his stead?

I am so blessed to have so many able-bodied people sent by God to do the ministry of God at St. Paul with me.  I'm not alone!  I have an excellent praise team!  An amazing two organists.  An astounding pianist.  A secretary who does an amazing job.  A youth director who continues to surprise me with her many gifts.  A council who takes their role as leaders of the congregation seriously.  Parents of our students who understand they have a part to play in their kids' faith development.

Not to mention all the people who assist with various tasks.  The greeters.  The ushers.  The acolytes.  The Assisting Ministers.  The women's groups who all lead their own studies without me.  The men's group who know how to run a kitchen.  And even some talented substitute preachers and teachers who can fill in when I can't be in two places at once.

There are more, of course.  The list goes on and on.  I am not alone.

I know what it's like to feel totally responsible for services.  It's not a good feeling.

But thankfully, we don't have to feel totally responsible for anything.  We have a community.  Paul describes the church as a body and just as the body has many members, so the body of Christ does too.  We cannot do everything by ourselves.  We need help.  And God has answered our prayer.

Praise God that God has not put the whole world on our shoulders, but has given us a community that can shoulder the responsibility along side us so that, together, we might welcome God's kingdom and the finishing of all creation!

Thank you, God, that you have consecrated your community.  Send us forth as leaders and support staff to do your work.  Amen.