Burdens and Blessings 7/7/2019

Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  30:56
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Sometimes life leaves us feeling like God has passed us over. We carry a burden that we don’t understand why God leaves it with us. Burdens can become blessings when God is involved.

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Numbers 7:1–9 NKJV
Now it came to pass, when Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle, that he anointed it and consecrated it and all its furnishings, and the altar and all its utensils; so he anointed them and consecrated them. Then the leaders of Israel, the heads of their fathers’ houses, who were the leaders of the tribes and over those who were numbered, made an offering. And they brought their offering before the Lord, six covered carts and twelve oxen, a cart for every two of the leaders, and for each one an ox; and they presented them before the tabernacle. Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Accept these from them, that they may be used in doing the work of the tabernacle of meeting; and you shall give them to the Levites, to every man according to his service.” So Moses took the carts and the oxen, and gave them to the Levites. Two carts and four oxen he gave to the sons of Gershon, according to their service; and four carts and eight oxen he gave to the sons of Merari, according to their service, under the authority of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because theirs was the service of the holy things, which they carried on their shoulders.
Have you ever felt slighted? Of course you have. We all have felt slighted at times.
It may have been the end of the year bonus at work. You learned that someone who had been with the company less time, done less work received the same bonus.
It is not uncommon when it comes to the process of settling the final wishes of a loved one a sibling might feel slighted. Unhappy with their inheritance compared to others of the family.
We have all lived long enough to know that in life. When the things of life are dealt out. The things that we want or even need are given, invariably someone gets left out. Regardless of how bad we may want them or need them. We can get left out.
A lot of time and energy goes into not letting hurt, anger and bitterness from being passed over get into our hearts. Especially when we believe that God is the one doing the passing out.
The Psalmist said
Psalm 73:3 NKJV
For I was envious of the boastful, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
Psalm 73:7 NKJV
Their eyes bulge with abundance; They have more than heart could wish.
He said I looked and was confused. I didn’t understand. They have prospered and have more than the heart could wish for.
He even goes on to say what many of us may have thought but never had the courage to say.
Psalm 73:13–14 NKJV
Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, And washed my hands in innocence. For all day long I have been plagued, And chastened every morning.
Have I done all this in vain? Look over there. They live in abundance. Who has been blessed here?
Can I say that not everything in life is as it appears.
There are many things that don’t make sense. It is true that there are many things that you don’t understand and I don’t understand.
Regardless of it making sense, or our understanding we have to just put our hand into His hand. To trust Him in this journey of life. Trusting that He sees what we cannot see.
Isaiah 55:9 NKJV
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.
He sees what we cannot. He knows what we cannot.
The psalmist understood better when he made it to the house of the Lord.
Psalm 73:17 NKJV
Until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then I understood their end.
He had to see as God saw.
Romans 8:28 NKJV
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
All things, not some things. Not occasional things. All things. The good things. The bad things. The burdens and the blessings.
Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith.
It may appear that you have been left out, let it be known that He has not done so. He has never left you out or slighted you.
Jesus Christ has never left you out. It is not what it appears to be.
Numbers 7:1–9 NKJV
Now it came to pass, when Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle, that he anointed it and consecrated it and all its furnishings, and the altar and all its utensils; so he anointed them and consecrated them. Then the leaders of Israel, the heads of their fathers’ houses, who were the leaders of the tribes and over those who were numbered, made an offering. And they brought their offering before the Lord, six covered carts and twelve oxen, a cart for every two of the leaders, and for each one an ox; and they presented them before the tabernacle. Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Accept these from them, that they may be used in doing the work of the tabernacle of meeting; and you shall give them to the Levites, to every man according to his service.” So Moses took the carts and the oxen, and gave them to the Levites. Two carts and four oxen he gave to the sons of Gershon, according to their service; and four carts and eight oxen he gave to the sons of Merari, according to their service, under the authority of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because theirs was the service of the holy things, which they carried on their shoulders.
It seemed like a simple task for Moses. There were the three generations of sons to divide these offerings among.
The oldest of the sons of Levi were the sons of Gershon, the sons of Kohath were the second oldest, and the sons of Merari were the youngest.
There were 12 ox and 6 carts given as an offering. Those leaders of Israel once the Tabernacle was finished saw that there would be a lot of heavy things that would need to be moved every time the camp moved. So they brought an offering.
Moses could have given four ox and 2 carts to each. But he didn’t. He gave 4 ox and 2 carts to the sons of Gershon. He gave 8 ox and 4 carts to the sons of Merari.
He gave none to the sons of Kohath. They got nothing to help them in their tabernacle work.
Do you think they felt slighted? Do you think the sons of Kohath probably didn’t understand?
Numbers 7:9 NKJV
But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because theirs was the service of the holy things, which they carried on their shoulders.
Numbers 3:31 NKJV
Their duty included the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the utensils of the sanctuary with which they ministered, the screen, and all the work relating to them.
Sons of Merari had the duty of transporting the pillars, sockets, and cords.
Sons of Gershon had the duty of transporting the boards, the tent and tabernacle, and the door.
Sons of Kohath carried upon their shoulders the ark, the lampstand, the altars. The Bible says that as they carried their burden they were to sing a song.
Merari carried no burden and had no song.
Gershon carried no burden and had no song.
Kohath carried a burden they didn’t understand and they had a song to sing.
They never saw the precious things they were trusted to carry only in their hands and upon their shoulders. The priest would have it all wrapped up before they lifted it.
They carried a burden they didn’t understand.
You may have a burden you cannot understand why, you may feel like you have been slighted. But it is not what it appears to be. Your burden is a blessing that is hidden from your perspective.
God trusted Kohath to carry the precious things He had chosen. All they knew was they carried a burden.
We are fearfully and wonderfully made. Everyone of us has something that no one else can do, that we are called to do in the Kingdom of God.
God does not have to explain Himself. We cannot see the whole picture. But God does, He saw the end from the beginning.
He sees you. Knows you...
If you feel passed by or passed over, leave the results to God.
Altar Music
Simon was grabbed out of a crowd. Forced under a cross and given a burden to carry up a hill. He didn’t understand it. He could not know the importance of the cross or the person whose burden he briefly lifted upon his shoulder.
Simon carried a burden he didn’t understand.
But that burden would change his life forever. Because that burden became a blessing.
Mark gives the names of Simon’s sons in his gospel. Rufus and Alexander. Paul in writing to the church in Rome named Rufus and ask that the readers greet him for Paul.
Romans 16:13 NKJV
Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.
The burden that was forced upon Simon became a blessing to himself and his entire household.
What are we to do when we have a burden we don’t understand that we are forced to carry?
We do as the sons of Kohath.
We faithfully carry the burden.
We sing the song the Lord has given while we carry the burden.
We trust that He is working all things to our good.
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