Torah Portion: Numbers 4:21-7:89
Naso (‘To raise up’)
This is the 35th of the 54 Torah portions, and is the longest, having 8,632 Hebrew letters, 2,264 Hebrew words, 176 verses, and 311 lines in a Torah scroll. Like all of the portions (parashot) it contains many themes one could choose to draw out.
A theme that over-arches all of Torah is precision. God is absolutely and intentionally clear in his instructions for how to order the community of Israel and one need not go far in this week's portion (parasha) to find an example of this. As always, a simple principle carries deep implications for both ancient Israel and today.
Levitical Duties
In chapter 4 of Numbers, where duties are assigned to the Levites, we read several times: “From thirty years old and above, even to fifty years old, everyone who entered the service for work in the tabernacle of meeting…” (e.g. verses 34, 39). This is a simple instruction on God's requirement for the administration of the ministry of the tabernacle but, as with all Torah issues, wider applications can also be searched out.
First, we note the emphasis is on service. The word used in Christian circles that reflects this is ministry. We often forget that the call to ministry is a call to serve. One can go wider than the Church, however, and recall a time when young people were taught to serve. This was typified in the old-type apprenticeships. Once, a boy would leave school at the age of 14 and be indentured to a master craftsman for up to five years, where he gradually learned to serve within a specific craft.
That takes us to a second principle in the appointment of Levites: the emphasis on the role of different generations. We can imagine how younger men would be prepared for formal service but not given responsibility until they were 30 years old. Then at 50, they would give way to the next generation and act in a role of oversight and help. By this means order was maintained that respected all generations and brought continuity throughout Israel's history.
This distinguishing between the roles of generations has all but disappeared from our world. Older people are shown less respect and younger people gain responsibility too easily. This is but one feature of a world that has rejected biblical principles (family breakdown being another).
Yeshua’s Ministry
If we think that all this was ‘Old’ Testament and of no present value, we would be wise to consider Yeshua's own ministry. According to rabbinical tradition, reflecting the appointment of Levites, He did not commence His public ministry until He was 30 years old.
Food for thought this week.
Author: Clifford Denton