Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command. So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.
Moses then said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD spoke of when he said: “‘Among those who approach me I will show myself holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored. ’” Aaron remained silent. - Leviticus 9:1-3 NIV
Aaron was silent. He had just seen two of his sons consumed by a fire that came out from the presence of the Lord. Now his sons are lying dead in front of the sanctuary. Was he thinking, 'I must have done something wrong, I must not have trained my sons right'? A myriad of thoughts must have been running through his head. 'Is it my fault that they sinned? Is it my fault that they were show-offs? Is it my fault that they thought the rules didn't apply to them? Is it my fault that they did not understand how we are to approach God? Is it my fault they did not understand the implications of God's anointing? Is it my fault that they could not tell the difference between the holy and the profane?'
Today, we are so relaxed in how we approach God. While the new covenant brought about by Christ's sacrifice gives us freedom from all of the old laws, it does not change the nature of God. God is still the awesome, mighty, everlasting creator of the universe that he has always been. He is still the Great I Am. It would still behoove us to approach him with the awe and wonder that he deserves. Even today, he can destroy any of us with one fell swoop.
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Leviticus 8: The Perfect High Priest
Moses said to the assembly, “This is what the LORD has commanded to be done. ”
Then Moses brought Aaron and his sons forward and washed them with water. He put the tunic on Aaron, tied the sash around him, clothed him with the robe and put the ephod on him. He also tied the ephod to him by its skillfully woven waistband; so it was fastened on him. He placed the breastpiece on him and put the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece. Then he placed the turban on Aaron’s head and set the gold plate, the sacred diadem, on the front of it, as the LORD commanded Moses. - Lev. 8:5-9 NIV
How did Aaron get to be the High Priest. He certainly was not a likely candidate. He was, after all, the one who could not stand up to the people, but crafted a golden calf for them after they thought God had abandoned them in the wilderness when Moses was too slow in coming down from the mountain. This is Aaron, whose sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and then offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to his command. This is Aaron, who along with his sister, Miriam, began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife which resulted in Miriam becoming leprous. This is Aaron, who did not seem to have a word of his own, who did not hear directly from God, but from Moses instead. How is it that this, Aaron, was the one, the only one, authorized to accept and present the sacrifices of the people to the Lord?
The author of Hebrews explains it this way: Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray since he himself is subject to weakness. This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was. (Hebrews 5:1-4 NIV) Only those who are called by God, only those who are painfully aware of their limitations are truly qualified to deal with the rest of us who are always tempted to go astray. Our earthly priests are still capable of sin, they will disappoint us, just as Aaron did. The one exception to this is Christ, who was tempted just as we were, yet without sin. Jesus understands all of our weaknesses, he faced the same temptations, yet never sinned. Christ is the perfect High Priest, the one and only perfect High Priest.
For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son who has been made perfect forever. - Hebrews 7:28 NIV
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Then Moses brought Aaron and his sons forward and washed them with water. He put the tunic on Aaron, tied the sash around him, clothed him with the robe and put the ephod on him. He also tied the ephod to him by its skillfully woven waistband; so it was fastened on him. He placed the breastpiece on him and put the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece. Then he placed the turban on Aaron’s head and set the gold plate, the sacred diadem, on the front of it, as the LORD commanded Moses. - Lev. 8:5-9 NIV
How did Aaron get to be the High Priest. He certainly was not a likely candidate. He was, after all, the one who could not stand up to the people, but crafted a golden calf for them after they thought God had abandoned them in the wilderness when Moses was too slow in coming down from the mountain. This is Aaron, whose sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and then offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to his command. This is Aaron, who along with his sister, Miriam, began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife which resulted in Miriam becoming leprous. This is Aaron, who did not seem to have a word of his own, who did not hear directly from God, but from Moses instead. How is it that this, Aaron, was the one, the only one, authorized to accept and present the sacrifices of the people to the Lord?
The author of Hebrews explains it this way: Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray since he himself is subject to weakness. This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was. (Hebrews 5:1-4 NIV) Only those who are called by God, only those who are painfully aware of their limitations are truly qualified to deal with the rest of us who are always tempted to go astray. Our earthly priests are still capable of sin, they will disappoint us, just as Aaron did. The one exception to this is Christ, who was tempted just as we were, yet without sin. Jesus understands all of our weaknesses, he faced the same temptations, yet never sinned. Christ is the perfect High Priest, the one and only perfect High Priest.
For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son who has been made perfect forever. - Hebrews 7:28 NIV
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Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Leviticus 5: Wrongdoing Against The Lord
"If a person sins and does what is forbidden in any of the LORD’s commands, even though he does not know it, he is guilty and will be held responsible. He is to bring to the priest as a guilt offering a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value. In this way the priest will make atonement for him for the wrong he has committed unintentionally, and he will be forgiven. It is a guilt offering; he has been guilty of wrongdoing against the LORD." - Lev. 5:19-19 NIV
I look at this in light of the world today and wonder how different our society would be if we had to make a sin offering for every unintentional sin. Instead of, "It's not my fault," we would be paying the consequences. We would have to offer up an innocent ram, a blood sacrifice, for our carelessness. Surely, this would keep us aware of the consequences of our actions, that for any sin, something must die.
Contrast that with our current reality, where there are seldom repercussions for what would be considered flagrant sins by Old Testament standards. Anything has become permissible and sin runs rampant. As Christians, we need to remember that any sin, even that which is unknown, requires a sacrifice. We have been made whole in Christ, but we cannot take his sacrifice lightly. Blood, innocent blood, had to be shed on our behalf. In even the smallest sin we are guilty of wrongdoing against The Lord.
Monday, January 27, 2014
Exodus 40: Beyond the Wildest Dream
Then Moses set up the courtyard around the tabernacle and altar and put up the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard. And so Moses finished the work.
Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. - Exodus 40:33-35 NIV
Did Moses ever dream that the latter part of his life would be so full, that he would be leading a people, however rebellious, out of bondage into a land promised by God to his forefather, Abraham? Did he ever imagine that he would be in the presence of the creator of heaven and earth, that he would see his glory? How could God use someone like Moses with such a checkered past, a murderer and then after he fled to Midian, a sheepherder for his father-in-law? Did he think that was how his life was going to be for the rest of his life? Did he think that all of his good years were in the past?
God doesn't always use just the young and energetic. Sometimes he even chooses those who are way past their prime, such as Abraham. God will use anyone, at any stage in their life, as long as they are listening to the voice of God, as long as they are willing to follow even when his requests seem somewhat implausible. He's looking for those with open eyes and ears and willing hearts. He's looking for those with faith.
By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.
By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.
By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned. - Hebrews 11:23-29 NIV
Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. - Exodus 40:33-35 NIV
Did Moses ever dream that the latter part of his life would be so full, that he would be leading a people, however rebellious, out of bondage into a land promised by God to his forefather, Abraham? Did he ever imagine that he would be in the presence of the creator of heaven and earth, that he would see his glory? How could God use someone like Moses with such a checkered past, a murderer and then after he fled to Midian, a sheepherder for his father-in-law? Did he think that was how his life was going to be for the rest of his life? Did he think that all of his good years were in the past?
God doesn't always use just the young and energetic. Sometimes he even chooses those who are way past their prime, such as Abraham. God will use anyone, at any stage in their life, as long as they are listening to the voice of God, as long as they are willing to follow even when his requests seem somewhat implausible. He's looking for those with open eyes and ears and willing hearts. He's looking for those with faith.
By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.
By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.
By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned. - Hebrews 11:23-29 NIV
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Exodus 33: Fellow Travelers
Moses said to the LORD, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”
The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” - Ex. 33:12-14 NIV
We all need someone to go with us; this journey is too much to undertake on our own. God waking with us should be enough, but most of the time, we are not looking for God to walk with us, we are looking for earthly companions. His presence gives us peace, gives us rest, but few of us take advantage of what he offers. We are looking for help on the human level rather than the help that comes from God. We rely on those we feel are more holy, more religious than us to be our guide rather than on God's word and his Holy Spirit. Many of us spend more time reading books by Christian authors than the Word of God. Many of us spend more time listening to the latest televangelist or video teaching than we do listening to God. Many of us spend more time telling our brothers and sisters our problems than we do telling God. That's not to say that others don't bring us comfort or share our burdens, but they will never be for us what God is meant to be.
God had confidence in Moses because Moses sought the Lord. Moses wanted to know God because he knew that only God could give him what he needed to lead this undisciplined people that God had saddled him with. While Moses may not have recognized it, God also gave him the others he needed to share the journey with. He had Aaron and Miriam, although sometimes they were more of a hindrance than a help. He had Joshua, Joshua who was everything that Moses might have been were he younger, Joshua, who would not leave the Tent of Meeting where God spoke with Moses, Joshua who would someday lead the people. God also gave Moses Caleb who was not afraid, even of giants. When Moses became content with God being his only companion, God gave him others to share the journey.
God never fails to put fellow travelers in the path of those whose eyes are set on him.
The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” - Ex. 33:12-14 NIV
We all need someone to go with us; this journey is too much to undertake on our own. God waking with us should be enough, but most of the time, we are not looking for God to walk with us, we are looking for earthly companions. His presence gives us peace, gives us rest, but few of us take advantage of what he offers. We are looking for help on the human level rather than the help that comes from God. We rely on those we feel are more holy, more religious than us to be our guide rather than on God's word and his Holy Spirit. Many of us spend more time reading books by Christian authors than the Word of God. Many of us spend more time listening to the latest televangelist or video teaching than we do listening to God. Many of us spend more time telling our brothers and sisters our problems than we do telling God. That's not to say that others don't bring us comfort or share our burdens, but they will never be for us what God is meant to be.
God had confidence in Moses because Moses sought the Lord. Moses wanted to know God because he knew that only God could give him what he needed to lead this undisciplined people that God had saddled him with. While Moses may not have recognized it, God also gave him the others he needed to share the journey with. He had Aaron and Miriam, although sometimes they were more of a hindrance than a help. He had Joshua, Joshua who was everything that Moses might have been were he younger, Joshua, who would not leave the Tent of Meeting where God spoke with Moses, Joshua who would someday lead the people. God also gave Moses Caleb who was not afraid, even of giants. When Moses became content with God being his only companion, God gave him others to share the journey.
God never fails to put fellow travelers in the path of those whose eyes are set on him.
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Exodus 31: A Sign Forever
The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he abstained from work and rested.’” -Ex. 31:16-17 NIV
One of the things you have to say about the Israelites, or Jews as we know them today, is that they took God's commands about the Sabbath seriously. Just like the rainbow is a sign of God's covenant with man that he will never again flood the earth, the Jews observance of the Sabbath is a sign that they have never forgotten their covenant with God. They continue to observe the Sabbath, even as they have had to adapt it to modern If ever you are staying in a hotel in Israel on the Sabbath, you will be aware of this when you notice that the elevators have a mind of their own from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown. They will stop on every floor for people to board so they do not have to push the elevator buttons. Some of us may think this is taking things a little too far, but at least they are aware of God's commands and are still, after all these centuries, trying to stay faithful to those commands.
If remembering the Sabbath is a sign of God's covenant with the Jews, what is the sign of our covenant with him? It might be that we are to show we love one another. A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John 13:34-35 KJV). If so, I'm not sure we have been as faithful to that covenant as the Jews have been with their observance of the sabbath.
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John 13:34-35 KJV). If so, I'm not sure we have been as faithful to that covenant as the Jews have been with their observance of the sabbath.
Friday, January 24, 2014
Exodus 28: Holy to The Lord
"Make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it as on a seal: HOLY TO THE LORD. Ex, 28:36 NIV
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light - 1 Peter 2:9 KJV
If we are, as Peter says, a royal priesthood, can we imagine ourselves with an engraved plate on our forehead that says "Holy to The Lord"? Is that what others see when they come into contact with us? Do they see our consecration, our commitment to the Lord, or do they see something else. Do they see our commitment to ourselves? Do they see our commitment to our jobs, to our houses, to our way of life, to our entertainment, to our leisure, to our political views, or even our commitment to our families, more readily than they see our commitment to God. I think most of us today don't want to be a peculiar people, we don't want to be set apart, we don't want to embarrass non-believers with our faith. Perhaps our message and influence on the world would change if we truly saw ourselves as "Holy to The Lord".
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light - 1 Peter 2:9 KJV
If we are, as Peter says, a royal priesthood, can we imagine ourselves with an engraved plate on our forehead that says "Holy to The Lord"? Is that what others see when they come into contact with us? Do they see our consecration, our commitment to the Lord, or do they see something else. Do they see our commitment to ourselves? Do they see our commitment to our jobs, to our houses, to our way of life, to our entertainment, to our leisure, to our political views, or even our commitment to our families, more readily than they see our commitment to God. I think most of us today don't want to be a peculiar people, we don't want to be set apart, we don't want to embarrass non-believers with our faith. Perhaps our message and influence on the world would change if we truly saw ourselves as "Holy to The Lord".
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