“So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses, and He said: ‘Is not Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well. And look, he is also coming out to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. Now you shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth, and I will teach you what you shall do. So he shall be your spokesman to the people. And he himself shall be as a mouth for you, and you shall be to him as God. And you shall take this rod in your hand, with which you shall do signs.’…Then Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel. And Aaron spoke all the words which the Lord had spoken to Moses. Then he did the signs in the sight of the people. So the people believed; and when they heard that the Lord had visited the children of Israel and that He had looked on their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshiped.” (Exodus 4:14-17, 28-30.NKJV).Do you like to read biographies of people who made a difference in their world by who they were and what they did? I do. And I hope this next phase of these devotional thoughts will whet your appetite for biography, learning from others, because we turn now to a different subject. Leaving our walk-through the Ten Commandments (we hope, with some thoughts you can still consider about them), we move to look at some people whom God called to special tasks.
Let us consider Aaron, the first in a long line of high priests in Israel’s history. We know the story of Aaron’s appointment by God. Moses had encountered God in the burning bush experience. Scholars believe this event took place about 1491 B. C. The date is not that important, but the calling of Moses is a pivotal point in history. After killing an Egyptian and fleeing for his life, Moses, now a sheepherder, saw the burning bush on Mt. Horeb in the Desert of Midian and heard the voice of God commanding him to go back to Egypt and plead before Pharaoh to let God’s people loose from servitude. Immediately Moses had excuses, one of which was: “I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.” (Exodus 4:10). God had an answer. “Aaron, your brother, can be the spokesperson.” (Exodus 4:16). And so it was arranged. The people believed Aaron as he spoke. God gave the words through Moses that Aaron should speak. They were paired, brothers-in-the-flesh, but partners-in-the-Lord’s-mission. Aaron faltered and failed at times.
While Moses was on Mt. Sinai praying to God and receiving the 10 Commandments, Aaron complied with the people’s wishes and allowed them to build an idol, a golden calf, even giving instructions on how to build it (see Exodus 32:1-10). This was an abominable thing for the people to do, and for Aaron to participate in, much less allow. It was only through Moses’ intercession that God’s wrath was lifted from Aaron (see Deuteronomy 9:20). Through Aaron, the priesthood was established, and the principles of worship were set in motion. In those days of drawing a new nation to God’s purposes, Aaron’s rod produced buds, blossoms and almonds, showing that God had indeed chosen Aaron as high priest (see Numbers 17: 1-10).
We may not experience such visual manifestations of God’s presence and approval today in our worship, but certainly Jesus, our Great High Priest, can bring our faith to bud and help us blossom and produce spiritual fruits as we draw near to Him.
c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Sunday, August 15, 2010
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