If You are a Leader, Please – Don’t Let Them Die!

Numbers 4:17-20
(17 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, (18) “See that the Kohathite tribal clans are not destroyed from among the Levites. (19) 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. (20) But the Kohathites must not go in to look at the holy things, even for a moment, or they will die.”

A leader at any level or even a parent needs to take note of this message. We all lead at different levels. Some may not be as significant as others, but it is still leadership. A leader is in a position to influence people’s lives for better or for worse. We can’t wish away leaders, they are God-given and we can’t do without them unless God says so. Knowingly or unknowingly you are a leader of sorts. This is your message.

Numbers chapter four which we are considering in our sequel today, is focused on sub-tribes of the Levite Clan who serve God at the Sanctuary. God through Moses and Aaron the leaders, gave assignments to be done by these sub-tribes of the Levites. The Kohathites were to carry already wrapped and packed core furniture of the Sanctuary. These were the holiest stuff of the Sanctuary. Their assignment was to carry only. They don’t pack or unpack. Only carrying, nothing more!

The Gershonites were assigned the work of carrying all the Curtains of the Sanctuary tent. Curtains are the walls of a tent. They only carried curtains, nothing more. The Merarites carried all the frames of the Sanctuary tent. Nothing more and nothing less. What we find here is that God accomplishes a huge task by attempting small tasks and assigning each person a small role. Specialization increases the perfection of the work since each individual focuses on just one area.

At the end of the job assignment, God gives a serious message to Aaron and Moses the leaders of Israel. This message is in our text today. This is the message to all leaders. God says to them, that, please do not let the people assigned to work under you die of carelessness in Sanctuary work. Please, don’t let them die!

That means a leader has the power to let a person die. That means by certain actions or inactions the leader can cause someone to die. God tells these two leaders, please, don’t let them die!

You can blame the people for the death but God blames the leaders for letting it happen. There is where a person is responsible for his or her own death, but in other instances, the leader is responsible for letting it happen. Don’t let them die!

(19) 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.

God tells the two leaders that to prevent the deaths of the Kohathites, they should have someone else distribute work to them. Do not let them go and scramble for what to carry. If you let them scramble, they will act irreverently and God promises that He will kill them. To prevent that death, God asks leaders to be so organized to ensure no scrambling takes place. Let them be assigned duties. Don’t allow a situation where they will cause their own death. Please, don’t let them die!

(20) But the Kohathites must not go in to look at the holy things, even for a moment, or they will die.”

God further tells the two leaders that to prevent the deaths of these people who are under them, they should not allow them to look at the holy things. Pack before they come to carry. Pack before they arrive. Pack in a way that they can’t see. Pack in a way that even the shape of the package doesn’t betray what is in it. If the Kohathites look at holy things they will die. Pack so well so that they can’t see what is in it. Please, don’t let them die!

As you bring up your children, please don’t let them die. Teach them reverence for the things of God. Pray for them. Guide them. Don’t let them die. Tell them about drugs and drug abuse. Tell them about sexual promiscuity. Tell them that all achievements academically without God amount to nothing. Tell them these things so that they don’t die. Please, don’t let them die!

Protect the workers under you from stealing so that they don’t steal and get punished. You can prevent their deaths by ensuring they can’t steal. Please, don’t let them die! As we relate with people, we can foresee the end of their bad behavior. If we keep quiet, they will surely go into their own destruction. If we talk to and help them, they can avoid self-destruction. If we choose silence and do nothing about it, God records it as letting them die. Please, don’t let them die!

Teach your congregation that the church is a holy place. Teach them to avoid wrangles based on tribe and race. Teach them to avoid scheming against each other. Teach them to deal with each other honestly. Teach them to come early to church. Teach them to be reverent at the place of worship. Teach them that common talk and irreverent use of phones can offend God. Teach them to give credit to God for all their achievements. Teach them to return tithes and offerings. Teach them to avoid erratic attendance. Because these things can cause death from an offended God. Please, don’t let them die!

Don’t let your boyfriend or girlfriend die. Don’t let your children die. Don’t let the workers under you die. Don’t let the congregation you lead die. Whatever you do, please, don’t let them die! Help us towards this end, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

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